6 Kayaking Spots in Malaysia You’ll Regret Not Visiting
If you want to impress your special someone when planning for a date in Malaysia, you have to think outside the box! Sure, you can take them to Instagrammable cafes and massive shopping malls, but if you want to connect and have fun at the same time, we recommend kayaking!
There’s nothing more romantic than being in the middle of a body of water with only you and your date to think of. Don’t get me wrong, though, as friend groups and lone wolves can also enjoy this fun and relaxing watersport!
So, regardless of whether you’re planning a trip with your date, family, or friends, or you’re travelling solo, you’ve stumbled upon the right listicle! Discover Malaysia’s top kayaking spots to enjoy a peaceful ambience and stunning sights.
Kilim Geoforest Park – Langkawi Tours
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Address: Kilim River Tourism Jetty, Mukim Kampung Kilim
Contact details: +60 4-959 2323
Operating hours: Daily from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM
Rates: RM200 per person
One of the best things about kayaking is it lets you explore bodies of water that you wouldn’t typically get a chance to—case in point, Kilim River. This river doesn’t run out of views to admire, from its lush mangroves to its natural limestone formations.
You can check out the kayaking package offered by Langkawi Tours, which features a 4-hour expedition across the Kilim River. Moreover, their packages include everything you need, from meals and refreshments to transportation back to your hotel.
Throughout the experience, you’ll have the opportunity to be in awe of local fauna, like sea eagles and monitor lizards. Furthermore, you’ll stop by a local fish farm, where you’ll have front-row seats to a fish-feeding show, courtesy of your guide.
Pro tip:
If you prefer a more relaxing exploration of Kilim Geoforest Park, we recommend opting for a boat ride instead. These experiences also come with a guide and meals, and they’ll make sure you explore every crevice of the river.
Taman Tasik Titiwangsa – White and Black Aquasports
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Address: Jalan Kuantan, Titiwangsa
Contact details: +60 17-307 4696
Operating hours: Daily from 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM
Rates:
- Locals:
- Adult: RM20 (RM15 per person if duo)
- Children: RM10
- Foreigners:
- Adult: RM30 (RM25 per person if duo)
- Children: RM20
If your itinerary mainly revolves around Kuala Lumpur (which isn’t bad), don’t worry! You can still enjoy a peaceful and sometimes competitive kayaking and paddle boating experience at the Titiwangsa Lake Gardens.
This massive park serves as a breath of fresh air, figuratively and literally, amidst the towering skyscrapers of Kuala Lumpur. The main highlights of this park are the two lakes, where you can try kayaking as a solo paddler or as a tag team with a plus one.
Each session only lasts 30 minutes, but it’s more than enough to explore both the smaller manmade lake and the larger one, which used to be a mining pond. You can also choose paddle boating if you want to experience something more laid-back.
Pro tip:
Consider packing snacks, refreshments, and meals on your kayaking trip to go on a picnic at the park afterwards! Titiwangsa Lake Gardens offers several picnic tables and benches, or you can go old-school and set up a blanket on the grass.
Putrajaya Lake – Lake Recreation Centre
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Address: Exit, Persiaran Utara, Presint 1
Contact details: +60 13-262 8857
Operating hours: Wednesday to Sunday: 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Rates:
- Single:
- Weekday: RM15
- Weekend: RM20
- Double:
- Weekday: RM10
- Weekend: RM15
- Kayak fishing: RM50
Putrajaya Lake is another oasis in the middle of the concrete jungle that is Kuala Lumpur, and it is one of the best kayaking destinations in the country! This is thanks to the titular lake, which spans 650 hectares, offering guests ample ground to cover in their small canoes.
We recommend Lake Recreation Centre for this particular activity because of its cheap offerings! Moreover, you can choose to ride solo or with your loved one, causing chaos together with your other friends in other kayaks.
Although it’s easy to be swayed away because of the volume of people, you won’t have to worry because you can still enjoy a peaceful experience. Speaking of peacefulness, this calming feeling can be further achieved when opting for the kayak fishing package.
Pro tip:
Before or after your kayaking experience, make sure to explore the surrounding parks and attractions, including the Taman Putra Perdana and the Seri Perdana Bridge. The latter is great for viewing the lake and taking photos of the famous Putra Mosque.
Kenyir Lake – Summer Cruise Malaysia
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Address: Pusat Perkhidmatan Gawi Pengkalan Gawi Tasik Kenyir
Contact details: +60 19-912 9966
Rates:
- Three days, two nights:
- Single: Starts at RM2,598
- Twin: Starts at RM1,598
- Four days, three nights:
- Single: Starts at RM3,498
- Twin: Starts at RM1,998
Kenyir Lake is one of the best nature getaway destinations in Malaysia because of its remote location. Moreover, it features Summer Cruise Malaysia, which allows you to stay in the middle of the lake on a lavish ship, complete with spacious suites and a plethora of activities to try.
One of these activities is kayaking, and it’s made much more special because of the beautiful emerald waters and the surrounding limestone cliff formations. Moreover, this scenery turns into a golden paradise come sunset!
Kenyir Lake is also a suitable kayaking destination because of its calm waters that even beginners can easily glide through. Speaking of the water, it’s also bustling with beautiful marine life, so be sure to try out snorkelling as well!
Pro tip:
Consider staying near the Terengganu Airport when booking a leisure package with Summer Cruise. It’s one of the select pickup points where they offer free land transportation from and to the jetty.
Semadang River – Semadang Kayak
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Address: Jalan Semadang, Jalan Puncak Borneo
Contact details: +60 11-6309 6899
Operating hours: Wednesday to Friday: 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Rates:
- Kayaking and caving: RM328
- Kayaking and mountain biking: RM580
- Semadang kayaking:
- Adults: RM238
- Kids: RM120
- Semadang River combo:
- Adults: RM368
- Kids: RM220
Thrill-seekers will love kayaking at Semadang River because instead of the usual relaxing ambience and calm waters, it offers quick rapids. This makes the experience that much more exciting, as it forces you to think on your feet and ensure you don’t go overboard.
The Semadang River also features numerous level changes, so be prepared for your stomach! It’s all part of the fun, though, as you’ll get to feel like you’re in one of those water log rollercoasters.
You can also opt for their kayaking and caving package to add more adventure to your experience! Caving in Kuching is exciting due to the numerous chambers you can explore and the indoor rivers that can be found.
Pro tip:
Consider staying at The Waterfront Hotel during your stay in Kuching for this trip. It’s a five-star establishment, and Semadang Kayak offers roundtrip land transfers from and to Kuching.
Sungai Sepang – Outdoorgate Sepang Mangrover River Kayaking
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Address: Jetty Kampung Tanjung Mas Batu 2
Contact details: +60 13-485 1228
Operating hours: Daily from 8:00 AM to 7:00 PM
Rates:
Sepang River’s vibrant ecosystem automatically earns its spot on our list of best kayaking spots in Malaysia. For starters, it features thriving mangroves, ones that aren’t just amazing to admire up close but also protect coastlines from tsunamis.
There’s just something about gliding through the middle of these mangroves and being under their shade that will make you feel like you’re in an Indiana Jones flick. Plus, Outdoorgate’s professional guides will give you a better idea of what these plants’ roles are in the ecosystem.
These instructors also do a fantastic job at providing paddling tutorials for beginners like myself. Also, they’ll come along for the ride just to make sure that everything goes smoothly.
Pro tip:
You can also pair your kayaking experience with an overnight stay at Outdoorgate’s floating house! It comes complete with communal facilities, and the rocking waves will surely put you to sleep.