This forest possesses an immense wealth of flora and fauna with much of the area still unexplored and undisturbed by humans.

Various tour operators now offer guided tours to certain areas of the reserve and will arrange for the necessary permits, river and road transport and accommodation, which may include camping.

How to get there

By Road

To get there from Kuala Lumpur, take the North-South Expressway and head north towards Ipoh. Passing Ipoh, take the Kuala Kangsar exit, and head towards Gerik. Take route 4, which is the East-West expressway. This will take you to Pulau Banding, the jumping off point for your adventure. The journey from KL is about 5 1/2 hours. Admission to Belum Rainforest is best arranged with resort owners in the area.

Located in the vicinity of Gopeng, 24km south of Ipoh, the cave is approximately 1.5km long.

Made up of five huge domes which ceilings resemble coconut shells, each dome has different formations of stalagmites and stalactites.

The domes also differ from one another in terms of temperature, water level, content of limestone and marble.

How to get there

Road

The cave is located in the vicinity of Gopeng, 24km south of Ipoh.

Its unique concept of a specially designed free flowing Hot Springs Swimming Pool and Therapeutic Park at the foothill of the Titiwangsa Range 200 feet above sea level is indeed creatively engineered to attract visitors who appreciate the wonders of nature. Families visiting the park can try out the family baths and enjoy the privacy of this special treat. Another popular family activity not to miss out on is the hot springs egg-boiling experience.

For visitors who are keen to experience the local Malay massage, the park offers one of the finest traditional massage packages to benefit from.
For more adventure, visitors can take on the challenge of the Sungkai River or work off the calories trekking in and around the park as you immerse yourself in the natural wonders that surround the location.

How to get there

By road

From the North-South Expressway (PLUS), get off at the Sungkai Toll Exit and turn left at the junction. Just 1km down the trunk road, turn left and follow the signs. The park is just after the Sungai Klah FELDA village.

According to legend, the cave was discovered in 1890 by a monk from China who was passing through Ipoh; he decided to make it his home and a place for meditation. He remained there for 20 years until his death. Till today, nuns and monks who dedicate their lives to Buddha still occupy the Sam Poh Tong.

The present temple facade dates back to the 1950s and a stiff climb of 246 steps will lead you to an open cave with an excellent view of Ipoh and its surroundings. Other attractions at the temple include a beautiful Japanese pond full of Japanese carps and tortoises, which are a symbols of longevity.

Within the temple, visitors can discover the artistic works of man and nature – beautifully carved statues of buddha in various forms sit amidst amazing stalacties and stalagmites.

How to get there

By Road

It is located in Gunung Rapat, just 5km south of Ipoh.

This is the place where the flames of Malay nationalism had first stirred. When the then British Resident of Perak, J.W.W. Birch was assassinated on the bank of Sungai Perak (Perak River), tension between the British colonial administration and the Malays rose. It escalated into open conflict which eventually led to the country’s declaration of independence.

Other attractions at the complex include the J.W.W. Birch Monument, the grave of Sipuntum (the alleged assassin), Datuk Maharaja Lela’s fort, the Lela Rentaka cannons used against the British colonial army, and two Rumah Kutai (Perak traditional house) filled with local historical and cultural artefacts.

How to get there

By road

From the North-South Expressway (PLUS), EXIT at Simpang Pulai Interchange. From there, take the route to Batu Gajah, turn towards Kampung Gajah and follow the signboard to Pasir Salak Historical Complex.

During the migration season between August and April every year, more than 200,000 migratory birds representing some 50 species are estimated to stop over here.

There are also well-equipped and informative visitor centres where you can get detailed educational programmes and displays, which focus on the importance of safeguarding and preserving the mangrove ecosystems and the large numbers of resident and migrant bird species.

The Kuala Gula Bird Sanctuary has won the “Best Tourist Attraction (Natural Attraction)” category during the Malaysia Tourism Awards, a prestigious award presented to agencies and organisations which contribute to the development of tourism in Malaysia.

How to get there

By Road

Although the bird sanctuary is in the state of Perak, it is actually easier to get to it from Butterworth (Penang). Take the North-South Expressway south from Butterworth (Penang) for about 30 minutes, then turn off at Jawi for the town of Kuala Kurau. Another 30 minutes onwards and you should see the signs for the sanctuary.

William Kellie Smith was an interesting man who was popular with his South Indian workers. Kind at heart, he erected a Hindu shrine for his workers on the castle premises. As a token of appreciation, his workers erected a statue of Kellie complete with a white suit and hat.

Construction of this unique castle began in 1915. However, it came to an abrupt halt with Kellie’s sudden death in 1926. The solitary castle, looks almost surreal in these wild plantations of Perak, it projects a strong personality and an aura of mystery.

Recently, efforts have been made by the Perak State Government to rescue this magnificent structure from the encroaching foliage. Besides being haunted, the castle is believed to have hidden rooms and secret underground tunnels.

The road that leads to Kellie’s Castle follows the contours of the land in a dizzying, maze-like fashion, adding to the mystery and romance of the place.

How to get there

By Road

The castle is situated on the way to Batu Gajah town at the Kinta Kellas Rubber Estate, about a 30-minute drive and 14 km south of Ipoh City.

The Tea Garden House, situated mid-way up the hill, was once the office of a tea plantation. However, when their tea plants did not grow very well here, the British shifted their agricultural endeavour to the Cameron Highlands, where the Boh Tea Plantation is now. All types of Malaysian flowers including the rare giant fishtail palm thrive here while tulips are grown on an experimental basis. The golden sunflowers grown here are the largest in the country.

On a clear day, one can view the peninsular coastline and the Straits of Malacca, sometimes stretching as far as Penang to the north and Pangkor Island to the south. The scenery is captivating during the day, magical and bewitching at night. However, the view is often obscured by cloud build-up in the afternoon, especially from September to December.

How to get there

By road

On the North-South Highway, take the Taiping exit. Follow the signs leading to Taiping after the toll and from Taiping town head towards the lake gardens. There are signs showing the way to Bukit Larut (Maxwell Hill).

The best time to visit is at 10.00 am and again at 2.30 pm when the primates emerge from the forest for their daily ration of bananas and milk. You can see the orang utans being fed from a platform in the centre. Nicknamed the ‘Wild Man of Borneo’, the orang utans are returned to the forest when they can fend for themselves.

Aside from the orang utan, over 200 species of birds and a variety of wild plants can be found within the 5.666 hectares of forest reserve.

How to get there

By Bus

From the local bus stand next to the Sandakan waterfront market, board the blue bus marked ‘Sepilok Batu 14′ (Sepilok – 14th Mile). The 30-minute bus ride will take you directly to the rehabilitation centre. Regular buses, marked ‘Batu 14′ or higher, will drop you at the turn-off to Jalan Sepilok. However, you’ll have to walk 1.5km to get to the Orang Utan Centre.The last bus leaves Sepilok to Sandakan at 4:30 pm.

Take a walk through the park, or a stroll on wooden the suspension bridge at the 950 metres canopy walk and view countless of exotic wildlife.

Night walks along the trail also offer a chance to catch a glimpse of wildlife such as the cunning mousedeer, wily civet cats, cute tarsiers and various insects and birds.

There are also many magnificent flowering shrubs a the Plant Discovery Garden, with about 250 species of native orchids. The orchid family, is known to be the largest flowering plants with about 25,000 wild species throughout the world.

Enthusiasts, naturalists, budding scientists and nature lovers from all walks of life will get to know more of the wonders of the rainforests through this unique Rainforest Discovery Centre.

The RDC helps to raise public awareness and appreciation of the importance of conserving forests, as well as the sustainable use of forest resources.

How to get there

Car or local transportation

When in Sandakan, you could opt to drive or use local transportation. If driving, go along Jalan Labuk from Sandakan Town. Turn left at the Mile 14 roundabout (with large orang-utan statue). Drive along until you see the large, pictorial RDC sign and turn right. Drive for about 500 m to the RDC car park.