Unsure of where to go on your next vacation? Why not Malaysia? It’s one of the best backpacking destinations in the world, with plenty of incredible hikes that will show you the county in a brand new light. Still need winning over? Maybe you’ll agree once you see the best hikes for adventure lovers across Malaysia.
Climbing to the summit of Mt. Kinabalu will offer the most incredible sights
Some of the best hikes in Malaysia go to pretty high altitudes, particularly Mt. Kinabalu. The summit rests at 13,435 feet, so you’ll want to make sure you know how to keep altitude sickness at bay. You’ll also need several days to do this, as you can’t get there and back in a matter of hours. Fortunately, there are rest houses along the route, which also goes through mossy forests and flower-filled parks. It can be quite a physically challenging hike, but if you reach the summit for sunrise, it’ll be totally worth it.
It can take a week to traverse Taman Negara National Park, but you’ll see tons of wildlife
The best things in life rarely come quickly. That’s certainly the case with adventurous hikes in Malaysia, as some of them can last days. Exploring Taman Negara National Park on foot may require a week of your time as you walk and camp toward the summit of Gunung Tahan. With a guide’s help, you’ll see the beauty of the rainforest and go on an unforgettable adventure. Plus, you’ll probably discover more wildlife than you’d see elsewhere in the country unless you visited one of Malaysia’s incredible wildlife sanctuaries.
Taking the jungle trails up Penang Hill will introduce you to some intriguing flora and fauna
Not all of the best hikes in Malaysia are long and demanding. One of the easier and shorter hikes takes about four to six hours and entails ascending to the 2,723-foot summit of Penang Hill. A series of jungle trails that start at Penang Botanical Gardens offers the chance to discover dozens of different orchid species and potentially some endangered wildlife. Other options include riding the funicular up or taking the stairs, but those routes aren’t nearly as exciting.
Climbing up Gunung Api is a difficult but with it hike
Malaysia has many incredible dishes on offer, even in places like McDonald’s, and they’ll taste amazing after tackling one of the country’s hardest hikes. This is the trip up to Gunung Api, where some hikers get sent back by guides if they’re not deemed fit enough. It’s a tough climb to the 5,740-foot summit with a lot of steep tracks and staircases to ascend. If you make it to the top, though, you’ll be rewarded with a chance to see the Pinnacles. These are a series of limestone outcrops that look almost too incredible to be real.
Would you agree that the best hikes in Malaysia don’t disappoint? Some of them really put your legs to the test, but you wouldn’t be an adventure lover if you didn’t enjoy a challenge.
