Take The Path Less Ordinary

There’s no signboard, no landmark, not even a clue on how to get there - which is not necessary a bad thing. After all, too much publicity will never make a good photography haven.

Getting there is an adventure itself. Strictly 4×4 stuff.

The outback of Malim Nawar is the prefect off-road retreat that has something for everyone - history, nature and great food. In 19th century, the vast frontier of Batu Gajah - Malim Nawar jungles was levelled to make way for tin mining by colonial English. Nonetheless, Mother Nature heals in a mysterious way.

Today, the hundreds of ex-mining pools and swamp pockets are prefect habitats from aquatic and semi-aquatic flora and fauna. What more, the ground is perhaps the only place in Malaysia where nature lovers can get up close to majestic big birds such as herons, storks and egrets. The frontier is strung together by a maze of sand trails carved by rural communities and with our insider accounts, urbanites can finally soak in wetland 4WD thrills minus the frills.

Quick Itinerary Glance

9.00am – Pick up at hotel. Introduction, trip briefings and safety procedures.
10.00am – See a hill-perched castle touted as “Kellie’s Castle” built by 19th century Scottish planter William Kellie Smith.
11.00am – Visit a 19th century hub at Jalan Changkat to learn about its vibrant colonial past. See Malaysia’s oldest golf course, the first Court House and a Tudor-style hospital that’s still running today.
12.00noon – Enjoy a splendid local lunch that includes the local delicacy – blue freshwater prawns.
1.00pm – Gaze at “TT5”, the last giant tin-dredge ship of its kind.
2.00pm – Go off-road and rummage the sand trails by 4WD in Malim Nawar wetlands to soak up its birdlife and wildlife splendour.
5.00pm – Return to hotel.

Key Detail & Cost

Duration: 1 day, 9am - 5pm, 8 hrs.
Group Size: 2 - 7 people (min. 2 persons)
Season: January - December
Price: RM280 per person valid for Jan-Dec 2010 bookings

This excursion departs from Ipoh, a town some 200km north or 2hrs bus ride from capital Kuala Lumpur. We can pick up and drop off at any taxi/bus station or hotel around Ipoh.

Price Includes …

- Lunch meal at midday with blue prawn “udang galah” as main dish.
- English-speaking naturalist guide.
- 4×4 transfer to all destinations & activities.

Trail tales

Built by Scotish William Kellie Smith, today the castle is striking reminder of colonial heydays

Lotus and semi-aquatic plants that blanket lakes and ponds in Malim Nawar are perfect habitats for local birds and wildlife

Otters feed on fishes found abundantly in the wetland

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Trip type - Travellers can expect a day of easy-going walks and ride in our 4WD vehicle. The field trip is suitable for the young and old as needs for safety and steadfast guidance are kept firmly in mind. Couples, families and friends travelling together will have a good balance between activity and relaxation. For avid photographers, we can tweak the trail to suit your pace and interest.

What to bring & wear - Relax and dress down in T-shirts, shorts and sandals. Bring a small bag to store personal essentials, water and don’t forget your photography gizmo. Weather is usually sunny and bright. If you’re a fan of manual camera, film of ISO50-100 would be best. Zoom lense would be great too as birds are very hard to get up close.

Local food delicacy - Lunch will be enjoyed in a countryside restaurant that’s hygienic and only uses locally sourced countryside ingredients.

The main must-eat in this region is the Malayan Blue Giant Freshwater Prawn (Macrobrachium rosenbergii), or locally known as “udang galah”. Mature prawn can grown up to 8 inches (20cm) in length. Its sweet and succulent meat is known to taste better than lobster.

Other good reads

1. How to reach Ipoh by public transport
2. Get to know Ipoh as a place for holiday stopover between KL and Penang
3. Our list of outdoor trip packages