Everything You Can Expect from a Visit to Sungai Chiling
Sungai Chiling was built to preserve the Mahseer fish species, but it quickly grew to be one of the favourite destinations of locals and tourists alike. Thanks to its secluded location, and activity opportunities, it’s now frequented by visitors to unwind and escape the city life!
In this guide, we’ll give you an idea of what you can expect from a visit to this sanctuary. We’ll also list down some of our recommended hotels and favourite restaurants to check out during your trip for a more seamless visit – check it out!
Best Time to Go
The best time to visit Sungai Chiling would be during the months that see the least amount of rainfall, which is from December to February. This way, you can enjoy every activity that the sanctuary has to offer without worrying about getting your plans cancelled or getting wet.
As much as possible, we discourage anyone from visiting the attraction during the monsoon season, as it may pose problems when hiking. Rainfall will immediately make hiking in the waterfall and its surrounding areas riskier, as the rocks will become more slippery.
Furthermore, the level of the water in the fish sanctuary will rise higher than usual during these months, which can also pose dangers to visitors.
Things to Know
Contact details: +60 3-6064 1214 (Fish Sanctuary)
Address: 44000 Kuala Kubu Bharu, Selangor, Malaysia
Opening hours:
- Fish Sanctuary: 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM
- Waterfalls: Will close no later than 3:00 PM for safety reasons. Also, the waterfall will be closed to guests from Monday to Thursday as well as all public holidays.
Pro tip:
Make sure to check the schedule online beforehand. The sanctuary will sometimes close its doors indefinitely because of the monsoon season and to give ample space and time for the fish to reproduce.
Facilities:
- Parking (roadside)
- Changing rooms
- Toilets
- Prayer rooms
- Rest huts
Entrance fee: RM1 per entry, but guests will be asked to deposit RM3 for every plastic bag/bottle you bring into the park. You can get the deposit back once you return with the same number of plastic bags/bottles.
How to Get Around
Trains: If you want to save money but want a fast method of transportation at the same time, we recommend taking the train. From Kuala Lumpur, you can hop on a train going to Kuala Kubu Bharu and from there, you can simply ride a taxi to Sungai Chilling.
Doing this would take you approximately one hour and 38 minutes to complete–not bad for a public mode of transportation.
Buses: You can also take the bus if you don’t mind taking your time getting to the sanctuary. From KL, you can ride a bus going to Awana Bus Terminal where you can then hop on a taxi going to Sungai Chilling.
Overall, this journey will take around two hours and 47 minutes.
Taxis: If you prioritise convenience above all, you can take a taxi from Kuala Lumpur, which can drop you off directly at Sungai Chilling. The total travel time would be around an hour but will be more expensive than, let’s say, riding the bus or the train.
Car rental: Our most recommended method of getting to Sungai Chilling is driving a rental car. This is the most convenient and private way you can travel to the sanctuary, which is perfect for families, especially those with little kids.
Plus, driving your own car will give you the convenience of making as many pit stops as you need. You can check out our guide to choosing a rental company here to help you get started.
Where to Stay
The Sticks
Address: Lot 213 Jalan KKB – Fraser’s Hill, 44000 Kuala Kubu Baru, Selangor, Malaysia
Contact details: [email protected]
Pricing: $$
If you don’t want to break your connection with nature even during your downtime, we recommend staying at The Sticks. Located in the middle of lush greenery, this cosy resort will treat you to one of the most picturesque stays in the area–anyone up for soul searching?
The rooms featured here are world-class, as they’re fitted with premium amenities that you’d typically see in hotels. Well, minus the air conditioning because you don’t need one thanks to the cool breeze coming from Mother Nature itself!
Athome Resort
— From: jianlin93
Address: Jalan Karak, 28700 Bentong, Pahang, Malaysia
Phone: +60 16-945 6217
Pricing: $$
Athome Resort definitely lives up to its name, as it provides guests with a homey and cosy kind of stay, even though it’s located in the middle of nature. It’s sort of like a camping spot but elevated to the next level by featuring premium cabins and a boatload of facilities.
For instance, each cabin comes complete with a shower, complete with toiletries, plush beds and of course, stunning views of the surrounding areas. However, the main highlight of this place is the in-house restaurant and bar, which is perfect for foodies and night owls!
Sarang By The Brook
Address: Jalan Seruling 20,, 44000 Kuala Kubu Bharu, Selangor, Malaysia
Phone: +60 19-332 2448
Pricing: $-$$
If you’re looking for something more budget-friendly, Sarang By The Brook should be right up your alley. This place is essentially what you’ll get when you take those trendy freight container cabins and elevate them to the next level.
The containers found here have been decked out to look like premium hotel rooms that come with all the necessities for a comfortable night’s stay. Furthermore, it gets better when you head outside, as this is where you’ll find the outdoor swimming pool–afternoon swims, anyone?
Where to Eat
98 Seafood Restaurant
Address: 33 & 34, Jalan Dato Balai, Kampung Tun Abdul Razak, 44000 Kuala Kubu Baru, Selangor, Malaysia
Phone: +60 3-6064 1198
Pricing: $$$
98 Seafood Restaurant is a solid joint that will surely hit the spot for all your fresh seafood cravings. The dishes served here will be as fresh as they come so you can expect to taste the sweetest pieces of meat!
One of their best offerings is the grilled squid, which is stuffed with various kinds of fragrant ingredients. Meanwhile, if you’re not big into seafood, don’t worry because they also serve a variety of meat like pork, chicken and beef.
Restoran Ferozpur Curry House, Kuala Kubu Bharu
Address: 18, Jalan Dato Muda Jaafar, Pekan Kuala Kubu Bharu, 44000 Kuala Kubu Baru, Selangor, Malaysia
Phone: +60 3-6064 4110
Pricing: $$
Several Indian restaurants can be found around the area, but the one we recommend the most is Restoran Ferozpur Curry House. This place serves authentic dishes of this beloved cuisine, with the best-selling one being mutton curry–yum!
They also serve a bunch of vegetarian-friendly dishes, which is an instant A+ in our books. Plus, the price point of their offerings isn’t too expensive, making it a great budget-friendly restaurant.
Wong Ng Kee Restaurant
Address: 25, Jalan Mat Kilau, Kampung Tun Abdul Razak, 44000 Kuala Kubu Baru, Selangor, Malaysia
Phone: +60-3 6064 1457
Pricing: $
If you’re looking to treat yourself to delicious Chinese food without breaking the bank, we recommend checking out Wong Ng Kee Restaurant. They offer an impressive selection of this cuisine and every recipe is nailed to a tee–maybe because they’ve been around for 40 years.
Two of their bestsellers are the porkchop and spring rolls, both of which pair perfectly with their white rice. Also, it’s worth noting that the serving sizes for these dishes are for sharing–now that’s what you call a steal!
What to Do in Sungai Chiling
Admire the majestic waterfall
— From: jonathan_intasegram
One of the main reasons why people visit this secluded spot in the first place is to see its majestic waterfall. The Sungai Chiling is among the most beautiful waterfalls in Malaysia, and stands at a whopping height of 80 metres—now that’s pretty amazing!
The fall isn’t a straight drop either, as it features multiple turns, making it all the more alluring to look at. You can either admire the falls from afar or get up close and personal to get drenched by its refreshing water.
Go trekking through the lush forest
— From: Milan_Mike1
If you want to bring the outdoorsman in you, then you should try hiking through Sungai Chiling. This place features a dense forest that features various species of flora and fauna so be sure to keep your eyes open!
For instance, you’ll find tons of orchids here that feature different colours that stand out from the otherwise green forest. Aside from the views, what makes trekking here pleasant is the cool temperature, courtesy of the streams and the abundance of trees.
Overall, the 4.7 km trail will take an average of 1 hour and 20 minutes to complete.
Camp overnight
If you can’t get enough of the beautiful natural landscapes that this place offers, we recommend camping overnight. There’s a certain satisfaction to disconnecting from civilisation and getting to live on your own means in the middle of nowhere.
Also, it’s such a surreal experience to sleep while being in the middle of natural noises like rustling leaves, chirping birds and flowing water—natural ASMR, anyone?
Apps to Download for a Trip to Sungai Chiling
Travel Malaysia: A pocket travel guide to Malaysia
Maps.me: Offline map of the world
XE Currency App: Real-time currency exchange rate app
Grab: Ride-hailing app of Southeast Asia
Google Translate: word translation with offline capabilities
CatchThatBus: Bus ticket booking app