Malaysia is blessed by beautiful rainforests with spectacular hiking trails. Ranging from easy to challenging, hikers are sure to find something suited to their fitness level.
A depraved city bumpkin, Phoenix Trails plays catch-up with back-to-nature pursuits that was sorely missing in her childhood by checking out urban jungles around Kuala Lumpur on Saturdays, rain or shine. Believing in moderation, hike sites are within an hourās drive and hikes typically last between two and four hours.
Below is a compilation of hiking articles published in Star Metro. Click on the title to read more.
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Dubrovnik – city of stone steps
After a 5-hour bus journey from Podgorica, I got into Dubrovnik just after noon. My decision to stay close to the old town, though more costly, was justified. Over the next 3 days, I was able to fully explore the old town’s rich history, churches, monasteries and cobbled streets numerous times and at different hoursā¦
Dubrovnik City Walls, Croatia
Rising above the sparkling Adriatic sea, the Dubrovnik City Walls are a stone fortress turned spectacular viewpointāan unbroken loop of towers, battlements, and centuries-old tales. Systematically Built and Strengthened As defense against land and sea attacks, the Republic of Ragusa fortified the old town with centuries-old walls built between the 13th and 17th centuries. Perchedā¦
Victoria Bridge, Kuala Kangsar
Following the discovery of coal in the 1890s, the sleepy settlement of Karai was transformed into a coal mining hub. Recognising its economic importance, the British facilitated the town’s rapid development through infrastructure improvements. When the pontoon bridge used to transport coal across the Perak River was washed away by a huge flood in 1897,ā¦
Taiping : the ‘Rain Town’ of Perak
It was my very first visit to Taiping and I naturally wanted to see everything, in one day. Taiping’s has ’33 historical firsts’ of which I only managed to see a fraction of. Some of the more notable first-of-their kind-in-Malaysian-history sites include the Taiping Lake Gardens, Perak Museum, Taiping Prison, Taiping Railway, Taiping Post-Office, Taipingā¦
Papan – a town frozen in time
There is a lot more to discover in Perak beyond limestone caves, glorious tin mining past and Ipoh White Coffee. 4 AUGUST 2025Leaving KL at 10am, our road trip to Taiping included the following off-the-beaten-path and small town must-eat detours : Papan Heritage Village One such hidden gem is Papan Village ā a single-street townā¦
Nijagara Falls, Montenegro
14 SEPTEMBER 2024From Shkoder, we got into Podgorica early, like 6am. Luckily, we were able to drop off our bags allowing us to walk around freely in search of coffee and breakfast. After passing several ‘about-to-open’ cafes, we decided to switch tactics. True enough, the Main Bus station was open and we managed to getā¦
Rozafa Castle, Shkodƫr
From Tirana, it was an easy 2-hour bus journey to ShkodĆ«r – one of three starting points to the Peaks of the Balkans (POB). After a late lunch, we had the rest of the afternoon to sightsee ShkodĆ«r, ahead of our 10-day POB hike. Rozafa Castle sits on a triangular hilltop that overlooks the confluenceā¦
Tujani Peak, Dajti Mountain National Park
The bustling capital of Tirana is not just about museums, vibrant cafes and interesting architecture. The serene slopes of Dajti mountain range is especially soothing, after a disturbing visit to BunkArt1, where we had a crash course on Albania’s turbulent history, including 45 years of terror reign under a paranoid dictator. 2 SEPTEMBER 2024After aā¦
Tirana City Walk
For my first visit to Tirana Albania, I had budgeted 2 full days to sightsee attractions around the compact city which can be explored easily on foot. But, things do not always go as planned. I arrived 12 hours late and lost a full day of immersing myself in the sights and smells of thisā¦
Bunk’Art Museums, Tirana
Travel broadens perspective through discovering new places, exploring different cultures/history, and interacting with locals to experience their way of life. Once in a while, an attraction spot leaves me disturbed and unsettled for the next few days. This is one of them. Other destinations with this disquieting effect on me include Cambodia’s Tuol Sleng Genocideā¦
POB Day 10 : Vusanje – Theth – Shkoder
Rained Out The hike was cancelled due to bad weather. Yesterday Sunny (left) fvnldfv vs fvnldfv Rain/Thunderstorm (right) The night before at dinner, we were given the choice of hiking to Theth or driving directly to ShkodĆ«r. Two thirds of the group had requested for vehicular transport while 10 die-hards stuck with the plan -ā¦
POB Day 9 : Three Peaks Trail Grebaje Valley
Starting from the beautiful Grebaje Valley, the Three Peaks (VoluÅ”nica ā Taljanka ā Popadija) hike is one of the most panoramic with mountain scenery perfect for photography. This 10km loop trail offers the best views of the Accursed mountains and the exceptionally wild & rugged Karanfili Massif. Must-do Detour Visible throughout most of the hike,ā¦
POB Day 8 : Babino Polje ā Plav ā Vusanje
The transfer hike from Babino Polje to the outskirts of Plav is a long but not difficult walk, followed by a 8km bus ride to Vusanje. The day starts with a gentle ascent to the beautiful Lake Hrid, going through the most protected part of the Accursed Mountain and the summer settlement of Treskavica. Lakeā¦
POB Day 7 : Milishevc ā Babino Polje
A day of FIRSTS Our crossover to Montenegro follows the ‘trail less travelled’ of the Accursed Mountains in Kosovo, rejoining the classic trail in the section Kuqishte – Babino Polje. The day of walking ends in Babino Polje, a typical Montenegrin shepherd village, famous for its local dairy products and hearty mountain fare. Duration | ā¦
POB Day 6 : Doberdol ā Milishevc
One of the longest and most beautiful day of hiking through wild mountain landscapes, crossing borders and high-altitude passes that connect Kosovo, Montenegro, and Albania. This awesome journey is filled with breathtaking panoramas, serene alpine meadows and ancient shepherd trails. The highlight of this trail is the magical Tromeda ‘Three Borders’ peak at 2,366m. Braggingā¦
POB Day 5 : Doberdol – Gjeravica Peak
8 SEPTEMBER 2024 This detour (optional) to Gjeravica Peak is an epic hike and rated as the most strenuous of our 10-day itinerary. The hike features two main climbs for the day. The first is right at the start and the second is at the base of Gjeravica. In between are lush meadows and scenic rollingā¦
Gunung Nuang via Janda Baik
I first met Gregor in February 2023, who said it was difficult for him to climb Gunung Nuang. No, he did not mean the physical hike, BUT the difficulty of getting a hiking permit. At the Selangor State Forestry office, he was told to download the application form, fill it up and then submit theā¦
Day Trip : Gangchon Rail Bike, Nami Island, Garden of Morning Calm
Having decided to visit Nami Island in Gapyeong, (an hour from Seoul) I decided to make a whole day of it to include other attractions nearby such as the Garden of Morning Calm and the Gangchon Rail Bike. I opted for an all-inclusive tour that offers pick-up from Seoul, round-trip transport between sites, admission tickets, English orā¦
POB Day 4 : Cerem ā Doberdol
Resigned to another day of over 1000m ascent to the high-altitude remote village of DobĆ«rdol (1,744m), the consolation is that once you gain elevation, you keep it. That said, it’s still a challenging hike with lots of ups and downs through enchanting old growth forests interspersed with exceptional views. Duration | 6 hoursDistance | 15.6kmElevationā¦
POB Day 3 : Valbona ā CeremĀ via Persllopi Pass
uneventful vs spectacularThere are two possible routes from Valbona to Cerem: the ālow/officialā (valley) route vs the āhigh/optionalā route via Persllopi Pass, that promises rare views of the Accursed Mountains bare stone harsh peaks. This alternate trail is one of the steepest of the Peaks of the Balkans and involves crossing from Albania to Montenegroā¦
POB Day 2 : Theth ā Valbona via Valbona Pass
Billed as the most popular day hike within Albania, the route moves up through the mountains, passing through forests, grasslands, bubbling streams, and meadows full of flowers and boulders. Apart from the incredibly rewarding views, you also get to see a different side of Albania. HIKE DETAILSDuration | 7 hoursDistance | 16.3kmElevation š”© ā¦
Seoul walking tours – Cheonggyecheon (Stream) & Seoul Old City Wall (Naksan Park)
We started our day by visiting the smallest of the five grand palaces built during the Joseon dynasty ahead of our free guided walking tours*. In between, we visited other attraction spots in the vicinity. 10 September 2023*8.20 am Deoksugung Palace*9.30 am Cheonggyecheon (stream)10.30 am Gwangjang Market12.30 pm Dongdaemun Design Plaza*1.00 pm Seoul Old Cityā¦
POB Day 1: Blue Eye Theth, Albania
Peaks of the Balkans (POB) The 192km POB trail loops through the spectacular borderlands of Albania, Kosovo and Montenegro in the Prokletije (“Accursed”) Mountain Range. Connecting characterful mountain villages by way of shepherdās paths and unpaved forest roads, this circular hiking trail traverses breathtaking mountain passes, pine forests, high alpine meadows, glacial lakes, and greenā¦
Free Walking tours in Seoul – Hanok Buckhon Village
Did you know that it is possible to see Seoul’s top attractions on foot on a FREE walking tour with a local volunteer guide? The Seoul Guided Walking Tour operated by Seoul Metropolitan Government has over 30 well-designed tour programs facilitated by multi-lingual tour guides (Korean, English, Japanese, and Chinese). I signed up for Buckhon Hanokā¦
Zaisan Memorial, Ulaanbaatar
It was a warm 23Ā°C when we landed, with temperatures soaring to 36Ā°C as we took in the city sights after lunch. 28 August 2023 Sukhbaatar Square Located in the heart of Ulaanbaatar, the cityās central square is must-visit – where history, governance, and social life intersect. The square is named after Damdin SĆ¼khbaatar, theā¦
Amarbayasgalant Monastery, Mongolia
Amarbaysgalant is a beautiful monastery located in Selenge Province of northern Mongolia. As one of the least destroyed monastic complex during the 1930s political upheavals, this most authentic of Buddhist monasteries is also one of the most well-preserved in Mongolia. The style of the monastery is predominantly Chinese, but with strong influences of Tibetan and Mongolianā¦
Petite Perlis – Part 2
Located on the Malaysia-Thailand border, our journey of discovery continues – for hidden charms and unrivalled beauty that cannot be found anywhere else but in the smallest state of Malaysia. 23 May 2024 Wang Kelian Viewpoint Renowned as the best place for unobstructed views of carpeted clouds stretching to the horizon, the Wang Kelian Viewpoint isā¦
Petite PERLIS packs a Powerful Punch!
Set against a backdrop of limestone hills jutting randomly out of endless miles of flat paddy fields as far as the eye can see, Perlis’ unique attractions range from rustic rural life, unspoilt nature & countryside to quaint fishing villages and traditional Malay food. Visitors game enough to venture this far north to the smallestā¦
Gua Kelam, Perlis
Gua Kelam (Cave of Darkness) is a 370-metre long limestone cave that thrills visitors with its one-of-a kind ‘cave walk’ where the entrance and exit are at different locations. Divided into two main sections, Gua Kelam 1 has a 400m underground river while above ground Gua Kelam 2 has a 1.5km passage consisting of aā¦
Mum’s day-out to Tanjung Sepat
I didn’t expect to see so many trees (banana, papaya, palm oil, coconut) just driving around the countryside. I don’t mind doing this once in a while. said Mum on our April road trip to Kuala Selangor & Sekinchan 16 May 2024This time around, we decided on Tanjung Sepat, a small seaside fishing village famousā¦
Uran Togoo National Park
Highlights : an extinct volcano, a typical Mongolian home & lunch, a copper mine and fields of gold. 6 September 2023The drive to our first stop – Uran Togoo National Park was a surprisingly short 30 minutes, mostly on grassland once Bune left the road from our camp in Selenge. The Uran Togoo and Tulgaā¦
Sunken vehicles of Lake Khuvsgul
The Blue Pearl of Mongolia delivered on its promise of amazing wilderness experiences. After four incredible days of ‘take nothing but pictures, leave only footprints’, we departed for our next destination with wonderful memories. 5 September 2023 8.47am Cooking breakfast on our last morning at Lake Khuvsgul, instant noodles generously paired with carrots, cabbage andā¦
Hiking @Khuvsgul Lake National Park
4 September 2023 A day of surprises…in a good way- no aches or soreness from previous day’s horse ride- did two (okay 1.5 ) hikes back-to-back – a ‘spur of the moment’ decision that made the day truly special! I had requested for a hike up the surrounding mountains for a view of the entireā¦
Horse Trek @Khuvsgul Lake
After the exertions of the previous day, some of us slept in, had a leisurely breakfast before getting ready for the day’s highlight. An enthusiastic LC was up early, heading to the nearby forested area to birdwatch and spot wildlife. Horse Riding 3 September 2023By consensus, we opted for a half day horse ride, leavingā¦
Khuvsgul Lake – Boat Ride to Khusliin Khad
We would be spending the next four days at Lake Khuvsgul – the Blue Pearl of Mongolia, famed for its crystal clear waters, lush forests, wildlife and pristine beauty. Formed over 2 million years ago, it is one of the world’s most ancient lakes. LAKE KHUVSGUL 1 September 20236.53pm : At Misheel Camp, for aā¦
Ketumbar Hill – non boar-ing, fun hike
18 July 2023My cousin wanted to see wild boars at the peak, so we did not waste time, taking the most direct (and steeper) trail to the top. Midway, we allowed ourselves a brief stop when a break in the foliage revealed the city skyline. Ten minutes later, we reached the peak only to learnā¦
’50:100′ Khuvsgul, Mongolia
According to Worldometer – real time world statistics provider, Mongolia is the- 19th largest country in the world by area – 3rd most sparsely populated (6 people per square mile)The landscape is largely steppe, desert, and semidesert, with 75% of the land used for livestock grazing. And that is what makes the Mongolian road tripā¦
Ogii Lake / Kharkhorin
Our next stop was Ogii Lake in the Arkhangai province of central Mongolia, 80km northeast of Kharkhorin. As such we had the morning free to visit the Kharakhorum Museum and Erdene Zuu Monastery. Erdene Zuu Monastery Founded in 1585, Erdene Zuu Monastery is Mongolia’s oldest surviving Buddhist shrine, built with stones from the ruined capitalā¦
Sekinchan paddy fields
I’ve always associated Sekinchan more with rice fields than a fishing village. As 180 sqm of paddy field transitions from growing to ripening, the vast expanse of green cultivated land transforms into a sea of golden fields. This colour changing landscape happens not once, but twice a year! Having seen lush green fields when Iā¦
Elsen Tasarkhai – Mongolia’s ‘Mini Gobi’
On this second trip, we decided to explore the northwest of Mongolia, namely Lake Khuvsgul. As two of our party of five are visiting for the first time, we included Hutsai and Karakorum into the itinerary. So when Hurley, our guide said that we will be stopping at Mini Gobi, I readily agreed. Five yearsā¦
Sky Mirror, Kuala Selangor
A visit to Sky Mirror is like a Jumanji adventure – where hidden dangers and pre-historic creatures lurk around every corner. Fasten your seatbelt and enjoy the ride! Jurassic Island – somewhere in the Strait of Malacca. Totally submerged most of the time, this unchartered island is only revealed briefly at low tide, for aboutā¦
Baegundae Peak, Bukhansan
I got my first taste of hiking in South Korea in 2016 at Jaunbong Peak, Dobongsan. The experience was so memorable I vowed to return, setting my sights on Baegundae Peak, which finally materialised on 11 September 2023. Highest point of Seoul At 836m (2,744ft), Baegundae Peak is 280m higher than the Lotte World Tower,ā¦
Bukit Cherakah, Puncak Alam
I felt very small and insignificant when I hiked Bukit Cerakah. The vast openness of the area, coupled with gigantic trees, boulders, borderless grassy plains and endless rows of palm oil effectively reduced me to Liliputian size. The trail head is easily accessible from Persiaran Puncak Alam 11, immediately going uphill along a double trackā¦
Bukit Pudu Ulu, Cheras
Though rare, there are positives arising from the pandemic. Bukit Pudu Ulu is one fine example. This little known hill experienced a revival and gained popularity as a neighbourhood hiking destination at the height of Covid-19 restrictions in 2020/21. Established by the community with an existing trail of about 700m, this small hill (172m) nestledā¦
Mirror Lake, SACF
A glimpse of Mirror Lake from a week ago, inspired this 4-5 hour hike from Alam Budiman trailhead. The budgeted time was based on taking the most direct approach and omitting Bukit Sapu Tangan. Starting from the double-track Trail 10, we stayed on the lower contour for its more gradual incline though longer meander toā¦
Shah Alam Community Forest via Alam Budiman
My previous three visits to Shah Alam Community Forest (SACF) formerly known as Setia Alam Community Trails were in 2015, via Setia Ecopark. This is the first time I am accessing from Alam Budiman and hopefully, it will not take another 7 years for my next visit. View of Budiman Lake from Budiman Peak, fringedā¦
Teluk Intan Leaning Tower & Food Hunt
7-8 August 2022 Teluk Intan is an easy 2-hour drive from Kuala Lumpur. An early start, say at 8am via the North-South Expressway exiting at Sungkai will get you to Teluk Intan in time for a late breakfast just after 10am. Kafe Xin Asia is a good choice as it has many stalls offering aā¦
Teluk Intan Birdwatching Cruise
Each evening at dusk, birds fly over Sungai Perak in flocks, heading home to roost on Pulau Bangau Bird Sanctuary. This daily performance of gliding birds by the thousands, lasts for about half an hour and is best seen on a river safari with panoramic views of the sky/river culminating with a glorious sunset. 7ā¦
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