Kuala Lumpur is one of the few Southeast Asian cities blessed to be surrounded by lush hills and forest reserves, making it easy for locals and visitors to get close to nature. Even if you only have one day to spare, you can escape the hustle and bustle of KL by hitting the following trails, all reachable from the city in an hour. So work out those leg muscles and hit the following trails for a nature experience that is less than an hour away from Kuala Lumpur.

1. Bouldering at Tabur Hill (Bukit Tabur), Taman Melawati

Bouldering to Bukit Tabur West Peak (Photo by Jonai Republica)

Also known as the Dragonback Trek, this hill poses exciting challenges such as bouldering limestone walls and hiking a tropical jungle. Popular to adventurous locals and foreigners due to its proximity to KL, Bukit Tabur has different trail options namely West, East, Far East, Extra and Extreme, all with amazing views of Malaysia’s landscapes. Permit is necessary and extra care is required when hiking this “dragon” which has already claimed a life. Getting a tour agency such as Open Sky Unlimited which provides a local guide is the best and safest option to conquer this peak. Having your headlamp, start the trek at 6 am to catch the sun rise from the Klang Dam from a viewpoint. There are no stores and toilets at the trailhead so make sure to bring your own supplies such as water and food. After 3 to 4 hours of hiking, a natural pool at the foot of the hill awaits hikers for a refreshing dip.

Getting there: Take an Uber or Grab for a 40-minute ride to Kaki Bukit Tabur (West) as seen from Google Maps
Elevation: 446 MASL
Hours to conquer: 3-4 hours
Recommendation: Hiking experience is required.

2. Walking at Forest Research Institute Malaysia or FRIM

An unpaved yet easy trek that would take you to walk on a canopy nestled among the trees of the jungle, FRIM is an invigorating nature experience for its visitors. It’s free to explore but you are required to book a slot at least a day before your visit. It could also get a little crowded during peak hours so it’s best to visit in the morning, as early as 9:30am when it opens to the public. Remember to bring mosquito repellent, drinking water, hat and, depending on the weather forecast, a raincoat.

Getting there: Take a train to Kepong station and ride a taxi to FRIM
Hours to visit: 3-4 hours
Recommendation: beginner-friendly 

3. Chasing Nature at Kanching Rainforest Waterfall, Rawang Selangor

Also called Templer Park, this waterfalls system lies just 30 minutes away from KL. A series of refreshing large waterfalls and several small ones with pools await visitors who are willing to hike further up. It is said to have 7 waterfall levels. The first waterfalls tend to be crowded as it is more accessible for visitors, especially those with children. But if you hike another 30 minutes more, you’ll find another waterfalls you can enjoy all to yourself. At the entrance of the park where you have to pay 5 ringgits are toilets, shower room, and a small restaurant. Aside from the waterfalls, the entire park is surrounded by the jungle and its wildlife including monkeys, so be careful not to bring out food in their presence to keep them from attacking.

Getting there:  Take a taxi, or board bus number 150 headed for Rawang for 3 ringgits. Tell the driver to drop you off at Kanching.
Hours to visit: 3-5 hours
Recommendation: beginner-friendly, but those expert in hiking can do all 7 waterfall levels 

4. Easy Hiking at Gasing Hill (Bukit Gasing), Petaling Jaya

Lying between Petaling Jaya and Kuala Lumpur is Gasing Hill, embedded in a 100-hectare stretch of forest reserve - an excellent choice for adventurous travellers, even for first time hikers. There are several routes and turning forks within the hill that you can navigate with. Since it summits at only 160 meters above sea level, it doesn’t make it too hard for anybody to accomplish, although there are steep slopes that you may encounter. No stores or toilets are available so bring your own supply and tissue.

Getting there:  Take a taxi or Uber, or board Kelana Jaya LRT, alight at Taman Jaya Station, then walk through Petaling Jaya (PJ) Section 10 (Taman Jaya) to PJ Section 5 to arrive at Gasing
Hours to visit: 2 hours
Recommendation: those who never hiked before 

5. Mountain Biking at Bukit Kiara Park, Kuala Lumpur

If you’re a biking enthusiast, you don’t have to go out of Kuala Lumpur at all to experience nature. Since there are not many options for mountain biking in KL, the 25-kilometer single track Kiara Park is the star. The route starts from the trailhead at the entrance of Jalan Bukit Kiara. The route is also used by trail runners. During your ride, you can encounter different wildlife such as snakes, tortoises, porcupines and scorpions. There are countless trails or routes in this park which you can explore, but some of them are in danger of being closed due to road development plans

Getting there: You can bike from KL to Bukit Kiara or if you’re jogging the trail, you can take an Uber or Grab.
Hours to visit: 2 hours
Recommendation: best for jogging and biking enthusiasts

There are more options which are more than an hour ride from Kuala Lumpur such as Gunung Datuk, Chiling Waterfalls, and Bukit Kutu, which you can visit if you have more hours and energy to spare. Whether you prefer the adrenaline rush of bouldering of Bukit Tabur, the relaxing feeling of easy walking of FRIM or Bukit Gasing, the excitement of chasing waterfalls in Kanching Forest or the hype of trail biking, always take into consideration safety precautions such as heeding weather conditions, bringing sun and rain protection, and bringing someone along with you. It is also best to inform your hotel of your itinerary in case of emergency situations.