Malaysia is one of Asia’s most diverse countries. From buzzing modern cities, to remote jungle, Malaysia offers much to its visitors. That’s reflected in its growing tourist industry. While many of those tourists go just to lie on the beaches or explore Kuala Lumpur’s shopping and nightlife, many are discovering just how good a trekking destination Malaysia can be.
Malaysia’s highlands are a natural trekking destination. Much of the northern part of peninsular Malaysia is covered by the cool, hilly Cameron Highlands: the perfect contrast to the humid lowlands further south. The highlands’ green slopes, tea plantations, forests and rocky peaks are ripe for exploring. Trails criss-cross the highlands, although they can be difficult to find. But that’s just part of the fun. Temperatures are perfect: rarely over 25 degrees in the day, or below 12 degrees at night.
The Cameron Highlands are cool and beautiful, but the dense, hot rainforest has its own appeal. Both peninsular Malaysia and Malaysian Borneo have jungle-covered national parks for trekkers to explore. Jungle trekking can be tough going, but marked trails mean that finding your way through the jungle is not as daunting as it might be. The trek through the jungle to Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia’s highest mountain, is a popular and challenging route. Keep an eye out for orang-utans!
In many places, you can camp or stay overnight in longhouses, making your journey a real adventure. As well as thick forest, you’ll find swamps, rivers and waterfalls. At the edge of the jungle, there are pristine beaches: a welcome sight after a day’s hard trekking.
A Malaysia trekking trip is an adventure through remote and beautiful lands. Enjoy big mountain views and follow in the footsteps of the Victorian explorers as you find a path through the jungle.
