Here is a look at six unique experiences you can discover outside the capital of Kuala Lumpur.
1 Mirror mirror in the sky
Visitors can take some amazing, once-in-a-lifetime photos on a “mystery island” where the sky meets the horizon.
Sky Mirror is located about 1.74 nautical miles off the coast of Jeram, a fishing village in Selangor that is just over an hour’s drive from Kuala Lumpur.
It was only revealed to the world in 2016 when a group of travellers heard stories from local fishermen about a “mystery island”.
Created by a submerged sandbank, the island only emerges for three to four hours in the morning during low tide, producing a mesmerising mirror-like reflection of the sky.
This unique destination is very popular with professional photographers and nature lovers who come from all around the world to experience this natural geographic landmark and reflective phenomenon.
Best time to see it is around the first and 15th of a lunar month and as it is only accessible during low tide you need to join an official boat tour to visit. The guided tour will take about four hours.
The boat journey takes 30 minutes from Jeram jetty and on the way look out for pink dolphins. Once on the island search for baby clams, sea anemones, shore crabs, soldier crabs, bamboo clams, sea grapes, bailer shell, sea snails and a variety of shells.
2 Flying high
For some fun in the forest, Malaysia’s first Flying Fox Park by Skytrex Adventure at Sungei Congkak guarantees hours of excitement for the whole family.
It provides a “tree to tree sky-trekking” experience where one can fly swing, glide and dangle on the various aerial obstacles suspended above the lush tropical rainforest and with a river flowing beneath.
There are two routes available for visitors: River Thrill and Rapid Extreme, each with 25 different obstacles, and each takes an hour to complete. Meanwhile, the Double Dare circuit lives up to its name, featuring both routes.
The aim of the facility is to take visitors closer to their natural environment through fun and educative eco-recreational activities. It provides an opportunity to learn about the rain forest and creates awareness on the fragile eco system.
Constructed with the environment in mind, all the Skytrex activities and forest rides meet international safety standards and practices.
3 Have a blast on a raft
If rushing water and getting barrelled around in a raft is your idea of a fantastic time, then head out to Kuala Kubu Bahru for white water rafting on a jungle river.
Here you will find a seven-kilometre stretch of river and rapids in the jungle reserves of Selangor just one hour’s drive from Kuala Lumpur.
Visitors will be completely immersed in nature at its finest at every turn and corner of the rugged rapids. No one is too old to enjoy getting splashed in the water.
For a gentler water-based alternative, water tubing is an activity where a person is supported on the water surface by a float.
This fun laidback activity can be found at Sungai Chiling, Hulu Selangor. Once the tubing is done, visitors may head to nearby waterfall and fish sanctuary to enjoy a more relaxed environment after the extreme ride.
Families and friends can also enjoy a picnic by the riverbank while watching the Sungai Chiling waterfall.
malaysia-whitewater-rafting.com
4 Glide like an eagle
Paragliding at Jugra Hill is gaining popularity among local enthusiasts as well as visiting tourists looking for a unique experience.
This recreational and competitive adventure sport has become a must-try experience for anyone who comes to Bukit Jugra.
The flying site is located in Jugra, a historical town in Kuala Langat that exudes an old-world charm with its stately buildings, bridges and roads.
Today, Bukit Jugra or Jugra Hill is still very much a popular venue, albeit for different reasons. Its undulating terrain and scenic views make it an excellent spot for outdoor activities, such as hiking, paragliding and downhill trikes.
If you are into for some thrill and adrenaline experiences, Bukit Jugra is a great choice of destination.
This is the place for a tandem paragliding experience. You will sit in a comfortable harness, attached to the paraglider and the instructor will take care of everything.
You may be able to control the paraglide yourself or just enjoy the view and take some photos. It is easy to launch, control and land.
Paragliding depends heavily on wind conditions, with March to September is the best time to soar through the air in Malaysia.
5 Walk among the trees
Founded in 1926, Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM) is one of the leading institutions in tropical forestry research in the world.
The Institute sits on a 545-ha site adjacent to the Bukit Lagong Forest Reserve in the Kepong municipality, 16km northwest of Kuala Lumpur. It offers a range of unique attractions that takes visitors into the treetops.
The Forest Skywalk is located at Kepong Botanic Gardens and at its highest point rises to 141 metres above sea level. Featuring 11 towers and eight bridges and with a total length of 250 metres, the Skywalk takes 30 to 40 minutes to complete a loop.
Guests can also experience the Skywalk at night, led by nature guides to see, hear and feel the attraction in a totally different atmosphere.
You’ll also enjoy the night view of Kuala Lumpur and Petaling Jaya including the various landmarks such as Petronas Twin Towers, KL Tower, Merdeka 118 Tower and The Exchange 106.
Meanwhile the Perah High Ropes Obstacle Course at the FRIM main campus offers an exhilarating adventure for visitors, challenging them with tightrope walks and suspension bridges among the treetops.
The course spans 225 metres and is suspended five to 15 metres above the ground, with five exciting challenges, comprising the postman walk, multivine walk, canopy walk and two thrilling flying fox rides.
6 Rice is twice as nice
Sekinchan is a well-known fishing and farming village in Selangor whose paddy fields cover a total area of 180 square kilometres. It’s a great place for a stopover for a picnic or a homestay on the way to experiencing the Sky Mirror.
The rice in Sekinchan is harvested twice a year – around May and June and around November and December. Sowing is done between March and April as well as August and September.
The paddy fields appear as a vast expanse of green during sowing months and turn into a golden sea during the harvest period.
There are factories here which allow visits and the staff will brief you on the paddy plantation process and the type of rice grown here, which you can also buy.
Besides rice visitors can also buy fresh mangoes from the stalls on Sekinchan’s main road. On the other side of the road is the fishing village where you can look at the fishing boats, the jetty and enjoy some seafood.
