ADVERTORIAL
Adrenalin junkies, thrill seekers and active travellers always make a beeline for Malaysia as it offers so many ways to leap, paddle or swing your way to an adventure.
Whether you’re into bungee jumping or rock climbing, whitewater rafting or skydiving, there are so many outdoor activities you can get up to across the country. Here is a look at some of the best options.
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Cleared for take-off
Paragliding in Malaysia is a popular adventure sport that allows you to experience the thrill of flying through the air while enjoying incredible views of the country’s natural landscape.
Fliers usually get up to a height of 400 metres, but strong winds can sometimes help you glide up to 600 metres. For the undecided, paragliding is not as dangerous as it may sound. You are connected to the wing by at least 30 lines, all strong enough to support your weight at higher altitudes.
One of the most well-known paragliding spots in Malaysia is Bukit Jugra in Selangor. Located just outside Kuala Lumpur, this site offers a memorable view of the countryside and the Straits of Malacca.
It is one of the most popular sites in Malaysia for tandem paragliding due to the exceptionally strong winds. It is suitable for both beginners and experienced paragliders, with various launch and landing sites.
In addition, visitors can paraglide in Kokol Hill and Ranau in the state of Sabah, which also offers amazing views and a unique flying experience.
Located outside of Kota Kinabalu, Kokol Hill provides panoramic views of Kota Kinabalu and the South China Sea, while Ranau offers flights over lush rainforests and mountains.
Both locations have experienced instructors and operators to ensure a thrilling adventure and paragliding experience.
RIVERBUG
Wild Waters
Malaysia is an ideal place for the young and restless seeking adrenaline pumping experiences such as white-water rafting, an exhilarating sport that involves navigating rivers in an inflatable raft.
It is typically done in rivers with fast-flowing turbulent waters, known as white water, which is created by obstacles such as rocks and boulders.
Rafters can enjoy impressive views of lush forests, towering cliffs and cascading waterfalls as they navigate through the river.
Two popular destinations for white-water rafting are Gopeng in Peninsular Malaysia and Padas in Sabah, Borneo.
In Gopeng, visitors can raft at Kampar River, with the journey lasting for two to three hours and offering an exciting adventure in the lush rainforest.
In addition, Padas River is known for its Grade III to IV rapids and is located in the state of Sabah. The rafting trip includes a scenic train ride from Tenom to Pangi which takes 90 minutes through lush greenery, villages and along rivers until the train stops in the middle of nowhere.
The exciting journey begins from here when guests start navigating thrilling rapids through the rainforest.
It is always recommended that these activities are booked through a professional travel operator.
SUNGAI CONGKAK
Skytrex SUNGAI Congkak
Scenic Trails
If you want to challenge yourself with a variety of thrilling activities in one place, why not head off to Skytrex Adventure Park, or just take a bike ride into the terrain trails at the ATV Adventure Park? You will certainly be spoilt for choice.
Skytrex Adventure Park offers eco-adventure sports set in a jungle setting. It guarantees hours of fun and excitement for everyone. It provides a tree to tree sky-trekking experience where you can fly, swing, glide and dangle on the various aerial obstacles suspended above the tropical rainforest. Enjoy several flying fox adventures while watching the river flow beneath you.
There are two routes available for visitors; River Thrill and Rapid Extreme, each with 25 different obstacles which take hours to complete. Meanwhile, Double Dare Circuit lives up to its name by featuring both routes.
All these activities can be found at Skytrex Adventure Park, which is located outside of Kuala Lumpur at Skytrex Sungai Congkak, Skytrex Melaka and Skytrex Langkawi.
Also located outside of Kuala Lumpur, ATV Adventure Park is one of the largest of its kind in Malaysia and offers various jungle trails for outdoor enthusiasts and all-terrain riders.
Be prepared to get muddy while riding a two-hour circuit and tackling all the turns and curves along the muddy terrain.
For those visiting Penang, ATV Extreme Park in Balik Pulau is the perfect place to experience eco adventure. Riders will tackle off-road terrain while seeing snippets of authentic local scenery such as rice paddy fields, mangrove forests and beach landscapes.
The 10km trail takes visitors to the best views the area can provide and is suitable for children, beginners, families or a group of friends.
Gua Kelam, Perlis
Rocking & Caving
Malaysia, a country known for its stunning landscapes, provides a perfect setting for these extreme sports.
Crawling on your hands and knees, scrambling over rocks, sliding, navigating tight spaces, or exploring hidden caverns requires lots of energy, hence it is important to pack some chocolate bars and keep hydrated for these activities.
Located on the northern region of Peninsular Malaysia is Bukit Keteri in the state of Perlis, which serves as a gateway to adventure and exploration.
The towering limestone hills provide a challenging but rewarding experience to climbers. With its diverse range of routes and memorable views, Bukit Keteri has become a popular destination for rock climbers from around the world.
For caving, head to Gua Kelam, which translates to Dark Cave in Malay and is a natural wonder. Its unique feature is a river that flows through the entire length of the cave.
Well-lit with a hanging bridge that leads through it, the cave is filled with interesting limestone formations and cave-dwelling bats.
The Mulu Caves in the state of Sarawak have some of the biggest and longest cave networks in the world.
The Sarawak Chamber is the largest known cave chamber in the world and is said to be large enough to house or fly a jumbo jet through.
The Deer Cave is said to have the world’s largest cave passage and is more than two kilometres in length and more than 90 metres high. A path reaches the Garden of Eden’ where green vegetables thrive due to the light streaming into the cave. There is also a spot where you will be able to see a profile of Abraham Lincoln at the southern entrance of the cave.
At 108km, Clearwater Cave is the longest cave in Asia. An estimated four million bats live in this cave system and between 5pm and 7pm, millions of them emerge in search of food.
This is indeed a wonderful experience, since the sight and sound of millions of bats exiting a cave entrance is not something that you get to witness every day.
