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20 October, 2020

The short getaways of Malaysia you and your clients need to know about

By Christian Fleetwood

Chances are your clients will want to take it slow once they can travel overseas again.

But if they find themselves with a day or two free while exploring Malaysia, you’ll want to recommend these two regions:

Pahang

Peninsular Malaysia’s largest state, Pahang is home to the stunning Cameron Highlands (pictured above), one of the country’s oldest tourist destinations that attracts visitors eager to trade humidity for cool weather.

The region also happens to be a go-to for those who need a quick getaway, and a cuppa – alongside being brilliantly scenic, the Cameron Highlands is known for its perfect conditions for growing tea.

Breakfasts at plantations like BOH Tea Plantation café are popular experiences throughout the region.

But for nature lovers, a visit to the Mossy Forest is a perfect choice for a more thrilling adventure. This is the nation’s oldest forest at a mind-bending 200 million years old.

Getting there is also somewhat ground-breaking: with the forest found 2,031 metres above sea level, the journey to Mossy Forest by four-wheel drive is considered the highest drive in Southeast Asia.

In addition, along the 20-minute drive, your clients will be able to set their eyes on one of the most beautiful tea plantations in Southeast Asia, the Tea Plantation of Sungai Palas.

The Mossy Forest, found in Binchang, Malaysia, is thought to be 200 million years old (source: iStock/Oleh_Slobodeniuk)

Travellers will also find another part of one of the world’s oldest rainforests in Pahang, the 130-million-year-old Taman Negara, which also encompasses the Malaysia states of Kelantan and Terengganu.

Taman Negara is among Malaysia’s most stunning destinations for wildlife enthusiasts, providing the opportunity to see some of the nation’s rarest animals, including the Malayan tiger, Malayan gaur (a species of wild cattle known locally as seladang), and the Asian elephant.

Furthermore, the national park is home to thousands of endemic birds like the great argus, red junglefowl, and the rare Malayan peacock-pheasant (binoculars are worth packing for this).

Having been established in the 1930s under the name ‘King George V National Park’, Taman Negara is also considered Malaysia’s oldest national park. But on top of holding a mantle or two for its age, Taman Negara is also home to one of the world’s longest canopy walks.

The national park’s Canopy Walk, a rope bridge that stretches more than 1,500 feet across treetops, is an attraction that cannot be missed by travellers visiting Taman Negara. If your clients are lucky, they might just catch a glimpse of a hornbill or two, as well.

Perak

Thrill-seekers among your clients? Recommend white-water rafting on the Kampar River (source: Tourism Malaysia)

In the northwest of Malaysia, travellers will find the lesser-known state of Perak, a popular haunt for local travellers that attracts but a stream of international arrivals.

Perak’s capital city, Ipoh, is known for its British colonial heritage, like a baroque railway station, and the intriguing monument of Kellie’s Castle.

But while its colonial history is certainly fascinating, Perak is perhaps best enjoyed with an adventure among the state’s natural tropical beauty.

As part of the Belum-Temengor Forest Complex (BTFC), Royal Belum State Park is regarded as among the oldest rainforests in the world, having survived the past 130 million years to date in a primeval condition.

The park is also rich in wildlife, with the Malayan tiger, the Malayan sunbear, the White-handed gibbon, tapirs, hornbills, and the extraordinary rafflesia flower to be found here.

Furthermore, houseboats are available for bookings throughout Lake Temengor, Malaysia’s second-largest man-made lake after Lake Kenyir. Passionate anglers can enjoy fishing for a variety of freshwater fish species here, including Kelah, Toman, Sebarau, Tenggalan, and Baung just to name a few, which dwell in this lake’s ecosystem.

As part of the Belum-Temengor Forest Complex, Royal Belum State Park is regarded as among the oldest rainforests in the world (source: Tourism Malaysia)

Another great adventure that makes the most of the country’s wilderness is white-water rafting on the Kampar River. Travellers will also appreciate the sights of the beautiful Gopeng Forest, through which the Kampar River weaves.

Located about two hours from Kuala Lumpur, Kampar River is a hotspot for water rafting. The river provides three thrilling classes of rafting (Class I-III), which will require teamwork and endurance, as well as the expertise of paddling and navigating.

Furthermore, all three classes of rafting offer a different experience to visitors in terms of the flow of the river, the challenge of the course and the technical skills required by the participants.

However, the experience is suitable for all ages and skill groups, even if your clients are beginner white water rafters.

To discover more about Malaysia and all it has to offer, click here.

Featured image: Scenic view of the Cameron Highlands (source: Tourism Malaysia)

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