The best hikes and trails in and around Kuala Lumpur

How far? A full loop of the main trails at Taman Tugu (combining Green 1.5km, Yellow 1.5km, White 1km and Orange 1km) totals 5km. The Nursery trail is 1km. Depending on one’s fitness level, you can choose to do only the Green trail or the Yellow trail or hey, do the full 5km trail twice.

How long will it take? It depends on the trail you choose, but you could easily spend a few hours here as there are many things to do and see.

Why go? For newbies or those with young tots, these trails are suitable for beginners and all age groups. Besides the clean, lovely, and mostly-flat forest trails, the 66-acre Taman Tugu site even has washrooms and shower stalls. Drinks, snacks and essentials such as insect repellent are sold at the Taman Tugu Booth. There’s also a lot of history here: pre-Merdeka, it was home to British residences, and post-, Malaysian government officials, including our longest-serving finance minister Tun Tan Siew Sin, lived here.

What's there to see? Indigenous trees, such as Jelutong and Tembusu, many more than one meter in diameter and possibly hundreds of years-old. Footprints of old government quarters. It’s also an opportunity to learn; there are nature education programs and treasure hunts within the trails designed for families with children, and for the rest, check out the calendar for talks, workshops and guided walks. Don’t be surprised to see beginner yogis, zumba dancers and buskers, too – Taman Tugu really pops off on weekends. Follow them on Instagram to keep up to date.

Difficulty A walk in the park.

How far? There are multiple trails spanning up to 2km, including an awe-inspiring, extremely-Instagrammable canopy walkway — a wood-and-steel aerial bridge suspended 21m above ground with views of the city skyline.

How long will it take? About two hours, end-to-end. 

Why go? Sure, we know this is a bit of an obvious pick but we stand by it seeing as it’s the most easily-accessible trail in the city; car-free readers can even get there via monorail. The term ‘concrete jungle’ couldn’t be more fitting if we tried; buildings and skyscrapers surround the park, which is located next to one of Malaysia’s most iconic landmarks, the Kuala Lumpur Tower.

What's there to see? Lush greenery and stunning views of the city skyline. It’s the best of both worlds.

Difficulty The canopy walkway is, you might guess, pretty easy. For a challenge, take on the Jelutong trail, which has an elevation of 300m. 

How far? The longest loop covers a distance of 6km from Bukit Gasing to Bukit Kerinchi’s outer lap, including the steep set of steps named Stairway to Heaven, and back.

How long will it take? About two hours. But if you do a shorter route, for example, within Bukit Gasing or a trail within Bukit Kerinchi, an hour or less ought to do it. 

Why go? It’s a hiking haven offering easy breezy walks on paved paths, challenging terrains and elevation gains (up to 160m above sea level). A popular spot for hiking and running (read: it pulls a crowd on weekends) thanks to its central address connecting Kuala Lumpur and Petaling Jaya, the trails are well-maintained and open all-year round.

What's there to see? Depending on your trail, you’ll likely encounter: a lush rainforest with towering trees, exotic flowers and fungi, a stream or two, at least two suspension bridges, a watchtower, free-roaming monkeys, and uncles and aunties (fitter than you) cheerfully calling out “hello!”. 

Difficulty Moderate. Suitable for beginners and more experienced hikers.

How far? The longest trail spans about 12km, but most hikers clock in between 4km to 6km on the more popular, well-trodden loops. 

How long will it take? A good few hours. 

Why go? You couldn’t possibly get bored of Bukit Kiara’s many trails featuring mixed conditions ranging from easy to rocky to technical with exposed tree roots. Tip: Bukit Kiara’s trails can be taken from Mont Kiara, Sri Hartamas or Taman Tun Dr Ismail, with multiple entry points depending on your desired route. 

What's there to see? If you love bird-watching, this one’s for you. Hikers have reported sightings of the brown shrike, the crested goshawk, and the oriental hornbill, to name a few. Look out for wildlife, such as dusky leaf monkeys and surili monkeys, monitor lizards, tortoises, and even snakes. At one of the peaks with an elevation gain of 310m, the Kiara waterfall awaits with clear water to dip in. Exercise caution.  

Difficulty Suitable for all skill levels; with moderately challenging steep sections.

How far? About an hour’s drive from the city, Broga Hill is located in Semenyih on the border of Selangor and Negeri Sembilan. There are multiple peaks to conquer, with the first peak coming up to 3-4km in distance and the highest peak totalling about 12km out and back. 

How long will it take? About 45 minutes to get to the first peak, depending on your fitness level. From there, the strongest amongst you can continue on to Peak 2, Peak 3, Mount Tok Wan, and finally, Puncak 18 with an elevation gain of 800m. This takes four hours and 45 minutes to complete and is not for the faint of heart (beware leeches and wild boars).  

Why go? The multiple peaks at Broga Hill are perfect for hikers and outdoor enthusiasts at any skill level. There’s even an alternative trail passing through private lands that costs RM5 to access; it’s an easier, wider route recommended for beginners and children, plus it’s less crowded too. For the hardcore hikers: If your bucket list includes climbing Mount Kinabalu, Broga Hill is an ideal training ground. 

What's there to see? Start early so you can take in the sunrise from the summit. The views from the top will make it all worthwhile. 

Difficulty All levels; steep sections with ropes to help you along.

How far? A 4.8km out-and-back trek leading to Chiling Waterfall, situated within the Selangor State Park, about an hour’s drive from the city centre.  

How long will it take? Approximately an hour-and-a-half to complete.

Why go? Chiling Waterfall is, they say, one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Selangor. It’s also a fairly easy trek, which should make for a fun day trip out of the city for families and friends. 

What's there to see? The trek to the waterfall involves six river crossings, each a bit different than the last; some are shallow with soft sand, some with stronger currents at rockier parts, passing exotic flora like wild orchids and lots of lush greenery. There are actually three falls; adventure-seekers may climb up steep slopes towards and past the second waterfall (not accessible) to the third and last fall, which offers more private sites for picnics. Everyone’s bound to get wet. Bring appropriate footwear, drinks and snacks (but be sure to take your trash with you). 

Difficulty Easy.

How far? FRIM, short for Forest Research Institute Malaysia, is located in Kepong only a half hour’s drive from the city. As for hiking, take your pick from a short 2km walk to an 8km loop. 

How long will it take? That depends on your route. 

Why go? It’s the world’s oldest and largest recreated tropical rainforest on what was totally deforested and degraded land. The 545-ha park consists of a man-made tropical rainforest, a meandering stream, waterfalls, plus canopy walkways, research facilities, a herbarium and more, with a level of genetic diversity comparable to those of natural forests. 

What's there to see? FRIM has 184 species of birds, a quarter of the total birds recorded in Malaysia; 58 species of mammals, several fully protected under the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010 such as flying lemur, Malayan porcupine, and slow loris. There are reptiles, freshwater fish, insects, plus 204 species of butterflies that share habitats with beetles, while dragonflies are commonly found in the wet areas. Will you see all of the above? Likely not, but some is better than none. It goes without saying that there are also like, a lot of trees and plants. The diversity of the flora is so great at FRIM that new species of plants are still being discovered every year. FRIM also offers a paid tour of its forest skywalk at night.

Difficulty Easy to moderate.

How far? To get to Mirror Lake, a hidden lake (now of viral status) in the Shah Alam Community Forest, you can hike a 6.6km out-and-back trail or do an extended 10km loop.

How long will it take? About three hours (five if you take the extended trail). You can download a map via a QR code at the trailhead to help you navigate the forest. There are also signages in the forest put up by Shah Alam Community Forest Society.

Why go? The Shah Alam Community Forest is a rare green space in highly developed Selangor, but it’s in danger of planned development by the Selangor state government, while urban development in surrounding areas already threatens the forest and its inhabitants. The future of the forest is uncertain, so go while you still can. 

What's there to see? Along the route to Mirror Lake, you’ll see flowers, trees, and wildlife. Activists and conservationists have spotted endangered and vulnerable animals such as the dusky leaf monkey and long-tailed macaques. 

Difficulty Moderately challenging with steep stretches.