# The 5 Best Day Trips from Kuala Lumpur > We rounded up 5 day trips from Kuala Lumpur: history, nature and beaches right next to the capital. Find out where to head first thing tomorrow morning. - URL: https://langandtrip.com.ua/en/article/naikrashchi-5-odnodennykh-poizdok-z-kualalumpura/ - Language: en - Published: 2024-08-13 - Categories: Culture, Historic Sites, Leisure, Beaches, Tours, Malaysia --- Once you have found your way out of the maze that is Kuala Lumpur International Airport and explored the city itself, these five day trips are well worth adding to your itinerary. ## Melaka This historic seaside town is the first stop for anyone curious about Malay culture and cuisine. It embodies Malaysia's multicultural past. Here you will find not only the more common Islamic, Chinese and Indian influences, but also a rich European heritage. Why go?: Over the centuries, Malacca (Melaka in Malay) was colonised by the Portuguese, the Dutch and the British, and there is plenty of evidence of its colourful past. Its great historical significance earned Melaka UNESCO World Heritage status, and its small size makes it easy to wander the shady lanes and passageways on foot or by trishaw. The city's colonial heart sits on the eastern bank of the Melaka River (Sungai Melaka) and boasts the ruins of the old Portuguese fort of Porta de Santiago and St Paul's Church. St Paul's Hill offers a wonderful view over the town. The town square recalls Melaka's Dutch past, and the old Town Hall (Stadthuys) and Christ Church look like a little slice of Amsterdam. But it is not all ruins and architecture. Visitors can also savour the famous local cuisine known as Nyonya, which is hard to find anywhere else. It is a fragrant blend of Chinese and Malay cooking, shaped over centuries of intermarriage in the area. Top tip: A 15-minute walk to Kampung Morten in the north of town is worth an evening visit. A stroll along the waterfront reveals Melaka's traditional fishermen's houses and some intriguing river wildlife, including monitor lizards and the odd mudskipper. The whole area is also beautifully lit up at night. Getting there: It is a two-hour drive south of Kuala Lumpur along the North-South Expressway, or there are buses every half hour from the Puduraya bus terminal. ![](/storage/image/prev/august-article-image-97-1-2024.jpg) ## Kuala Gandah Elephant Sanctuary This is the only centre of its kind in Malaysia. The sanctuary helps track, relocate and care for displaced or orphaned elephants from across Southeast Asia. Why go: Asia's forest elephants are rare and elusive animals, and Kuala Gandah is the best place to get up close to these gentle giants of the jungle. You can hand-feed the elephants, and braver visitors can even ride them into the muddy river, plunging beneath the water in a frothy flurry of muddy bodies and nervous laughter. There is also an information centre with educational videos and detailed information about this important conservation work. Top tip: Anyone hoping to splash about in the river with the elephants should bear in mind that the water is brown not just from the mud, the elephants also use the river as a toilet! There are showers, though, to rinse off the grime once the fun is over. Getting there: The sanctuary is in Pahang state near Lanchang, about a two-hour drive northwest of Kuala Lumpur. It is worth booking an organised tour through a travel agency, as the rural route from Kuala Lumpur is not straightforward. ![](/storage/image/prev/august-article-image-97-2-2024.jpg) ## The Fireflies of Kuala Selangor Fireflies, or "kelip-kelip", are actually tiny flying beetles that give off a bright glow caused by a chemical reaction in their abdomen. They live in the mangrove trees (berembang) along the banks of the Selangor River near Kampung Kuantan. Both males and females produce light to attract a mate. Why go: Drifting down the Selangor River in a small sampan (a flat-bottomed boat) while the mangroves pulse with thousands of shimmering lights is a spectacular sight. It is one of the best places in the world to see these fascinating creatures, though bear in mind that flash photography is largely forbidden. Top tip: Try to plan your visit for a dry, moonless night, just after dark and no later than 11 pm, when the mating ritual comes to an end. It is also wise to go on a weekday to avoid the crowds. Getting there: The two-hour drive north to Kampung Kuantan (8 km east of Kuala Selangor) from Kuala Lumpur is not easy, especially once you reach the surrounding country roads. It is sensible to book a tour or haggle for a return taxi from Puduraya station. The last bus from Kuala Selangor to Kuala Lumpur leaves too early, so you can only take the bus one way and catch a taxi back. ![](/storage/image/prev/august-article-image-97-3-2024.jpg) ## Port Dickson The appeal of Port Dickson (known locally as PD) lies not so much in the town itself as in the 17 kilometres of nearby beaches set against a backdrop of palms and banyan trees. Why go: Kuala Lumpur has almost everything, but one thing it lacks is a beach where you can cool off. The only sandy beaches close enough for a day trip are those stretching along the coastal road south of Port Dickson. The road runs right along the shore, so it is easy to find a good spot to stop. Top tip: Sixteen kilometres south of Port Dickson lies the Blue Lagoon, a small bay next to Cape Rachado. A little coral reef a short distance from the beach helps protect the lagoon, providing some of the cleanest water in the area. Getting there: It is a 90-minute drive south of Kuala Lumpur along the North-South Expressway. Anywhere along the coastal road between Port Dickson and Cape Rachado offers beach options, though Teluk Kemang is the most popular. Regular buses from Kuala Lumpur to Port Dickson leave from Puduraya station. ![](/storage/image/prev/august-article-image-97-4-2024.jpg) ## Fraser's Hill Malaysia meets Scotland at this quirky little mountain resort in the clouds. Fraser's Hill is named after James Fraser, a Scottish pioneer who mysteriously vanished after setting up a tin-ore trading post in the 1890s. It rises 1,500 metres above the heat and humidity of sea level and blends an intriguing mix of cloud forest and British colonial architecture. Why go: The cool, fresh air and wide range of outdoor activities help revive weary bodies and refresh tired minds. Nature trails wind beneath a tropical canopy that chirps and hums with bird and insect life. A five-kilometre hike to Jeriau Waterfall gives you the chance to take a dip in the invigorating pool below it. Fraser's Hill hosts an annual bird-watching event in June, a testament to the area's rich wildlife. If walking sounds like too much hard work, there are pedal boats on a small lake called Allan's Water, or you can rent inexpensive fishing rods. There is even a nine-hole golf course at the Royal Fraser's Hill Golf Club. Top tip: When travelling to and from the resort, keep in mind that the last eight kilometres up to Fraser's Hill is one-way traffic that alternates direction. When heading up to the resort, there is a 35-minute window to begin the climb every two hours, starting at 7 am. Getting there: Fraser's Hill is 100 kilometres to the north along the Karak Highway, and getting there without your own transport is a little tricky. However, you can catch one of the buses that run every hour and a half from Puduraya station to the nearby town of Kuala Kubu Bharu, then take a taxi. It is worth haggling over the price for a return taxi, as they are hard to find at Fraser's Hill.