From the freshwater swamp forests of the Kinabatangan floodplain where Proboscis monkeys squat in treetops munching leaves, to the undisturbed dipterocarp rainforests of Taman Negara, one of Asia’s finest conservation areas, trekking in Malaysia is a rich and rewarding experience.

Seasoned trekkers my want to try the rigorous seven-day trek to the summit of Gunung Tahan in Taman Negara, Pahang. Novice trekkers can practise at Forest Reserve Institute of Malaysia (FRIM) in Kepong, Kuala Lumpur. The Malaysia Agriculture Park at Taman Bukit Cahaya in Shah Alam, Selangor or Air Keroh Recreational Forest in Malacca.

Acting as a buffer between land and sea, mangrove forests prevent coastal erosion and are vital as feeding and breeding grounds for fisheries. In Kuala Selangor Nature Park and other mangrove sites, where fiddler crabs dart into muddy holes to avoid hungry monkeys, boardwalks snake through the forest to make trekking easier.A prominent feature of both Peninsular Malaysia and East Malaysian hillsides, dipterocarp forests are one of nature’s most complex and diverse ecosystems. Hundreds of plant species including climbing vines and palms can be seen in a dazzling array of forms and functions. Large buttressed roots provide stability for trees while the tips aid water dripping.

Montane forests are a cooler alternative for trekking than the
dipterocarp forests and come with their own attractions and indigenous plant and animal life.