Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
230
There are outdoor activities for any level of adventurer. Short
jungle walks
to observe
nature are lovely, but then so are the hard-core 9-day treks or climbs up Gunung Tahan.
There are also overnight trips to night hides where you can observe animals up close. The
jungle canopy walk is one of the longest in the world, and at 25m (82 ft.) above ground,
the view is spectacular. There are also rivers for rafting and swimming, fishing spots, and
a couple of caves. Fishing permits must be obtained beforehand from the Ranger Head-
quarters.
If you plan y our trip thr ough one of the main r esort operators, they can arrange, in
addition to accommodations, all meals, tr eks, and a coach transfer to and fr om Kuala
Lumpur. Prices vary, depending on the season and your level of comfort desired. The best
time to visit is between the months of April and September; other times, it will be a tad
wet, and that's why it's called a rainforest.
Mutiara Taman Negara Resort
, well established in the business of hosting visitors
to the park, is the best accommodations in terms of comfort. It organizes trips for 3 days
and 2 nights or for 4 days and 3 nights, as w ell as an a la car te deal where you pay for
lodging and activities separately. Accommodations come in many styles: a bungalow suite
for families; chalet and chalet suite, both good for couples; standar d guesthouse rooms;
and dormitor y hostels for budget trav elers. To get an idea of pricing, a 3-day , 2-night
package runs about RM369 ($107/£66) per person, double occupancy in a chalet, with
air-conditioning with attached bathroom, plus full board, meals, and activities. What it
doesn't include is bus transfer from KL (RM80/$23/£14 per person round-trip) and the
boat upriver from the park entrance (RM56/$16/£10 per person r ound-trip). A la carte
activities include a 3-hour jungle tr ek, a 1
1
/
2
-hour night jungle walk, the half-day Lata
Berkoh river trip with swimming, a 2-hour cave exploration, and a trip down the rapids
in a rubber raft (Kuala Tahan, Jerantut, 27000 Pahang;
&
09/266-3500,
Kuala Lumpur
Sales Office 03/2782-2222, www.mutiarahotels.com).
13
Genting Highlands
The “City of Entertainment,” as Genting is known locally, serves as Malaysia's answer to
Las Vegas, complete with bright lights (which can be seen fr om K uala L umpur) and
gambling. And although most people come her e for the casino, ther e's a wide range of
other activities, although most of them seem to serve the purpose of entertaining the kids
while you bet their college funds at the r oulette wheel. While it lacks the sophistication
of other casino destinations, it is v ery popular with local punters and families seeking a
one-stop destination in the cool mountain air.
Genting has six hotels of varying prices within the resort. Rates vary depending on the
season, so be prepared for higher rates during the winter holidays.
Genting Hotel
is the
best choice—a newer property that's linked directly to the casino. Weekday rates are from
RM245 ($71/£44) for double occupancy , and w eekend rates ar e from RM355 ($103/
£64) double occupancy.
Outside of the casino, there's a pond, a bowling alley, and an indoor heated pool. For
children, the Genting Theme Park covers 9,300 sq. m (100,104 sq. ft.) of mostly rides,
plus many Western fast-food eating outlets, games, and other attractions. The
Awana
Golf and Country Club
(
&
03/6101-3025
) is the premier golf course in these hills.
For buses fr om Kuala Lumpur, call
Genting Highlands Transport,
operating buses
every half-hour from 6:30am to 9pm daily fr om KL Sentral train station. The cost one-
way is RM7.50 ($2.15/£1.35) and the trip takes 1 hour. The bus lets you off at the foot
of the hill, where you take the cable car to the top (price included with bus ticket). F or
bus information, call
&
03/6251-8398.
