Perhaps best known for the Petronas Twin Towers, there’s a huge range of cool tourist activities in Kuala Lumpur and nearby. From getting up close with wildlife in the Kuala Lumpur Bird Park to riding a cable car in the Genting Highlands or an ATV in Selangor, there’s fun for every age. Check out our list of things to do outdoors with friends, family or visiting guests!
#1 Birdwatching in Kuala Lumpur Bird Park
Kuala Lumpur Bird Park is the world’s largest free-flight and walk-in aviary. This eco-tourism park in Kuala Lumpur Lake Gardens spans 20 acres and houses over 3,000 birds from 200 species.
The park is divided into four zones: Zones 1 and 2 make up the free-flight area, Zone 3 is the Hornbill Park, and Zone 4 features birds in separate cages and mini aviaries. Zones 1 to 3 are areas wherein birds are free to roam in an atmosphere that imitates their natural habitat. This also allows them to breed naturally. You can enjoy watching colourful and melodic birds close-up, to experience a slice of life in a tropical rainforest. It’s also a wheelchair-friendly park.
Distance from Kuala Lumpur: 3.4 km (10-minute drive from the city centre)
#2 Exploring the Batu Caves
One of the quintessential Kuala Lumpur tourist activities, a trip to the Batu Caves is easy by car or public transport. Highlights include the climb up 272 rainbow-coloured steps to a Hindu temple, and then accessing the 400-million-year-old caves themselves. There’s also a huge golden statue of Lord Murugan, which at 42 metres is Malaysia’s tallest statue.
Note that if you visit around the time of the Thaipusam festival (usually January or February), you’ll be sharing the stairs and the cave with thousands of Hindus who come together to perform rituals and celebrate.
Distance from Kuala Lumpur: 15km (30-minute drive, or 40 minutes by KTM Komuter Train)
#3 Riding a cable car at the Genting Highlands
The Genting Highlands is well known in Malaysia, and one of top tourist activities there is the Genting SkyWay It’s a gondola lift that takes you across ancient rainforests and hilly landscapes, stretching between Gohtong Jaya Station and Highlands Station at the top.
The Genting SkyWay opened back in 1997 and is one of two lines in the area (the other is the Awana SkyWay). It was designed by Leitner Ropeways and can carry over 2,000 people an hour, with each gondola fitting eight people. The ride travels at six metres per second, taking around 15 minutes to reach the top. As far as things to do outdoors near Kuala Lumpur go, this is a good mix of fun and a nice way to see the landscape.
Distance from Kuala Lumpur: 50km (90-minute drive)
#4 Whitewater rafting on the Selangor River
The Selangor River offers a range of rapids – everything from level 1 to 4 difficulty – making it one of the top spots in Southeast Asia for this activity. Some of the rapids, like Broken Nose, Sandwich Rock and Chicken Drop, are reasonably intense with narrow drops and big rocks on both sides. On a rafting tour, aside from riding the rapids you’ll also get a chance to jump into the clear water from a big rock, slide down a section of rapids, and float along on the current.
If you book through Selangor Adventure Rafting, no prior experience is needed. Life jackets and helmets are provided (and must be worn the entire time) and there’s a thorough safety briefing before starting. The trip includes eight sections of rapids over a 9km stretch of river surrounded by nature. If you like things to do outoors with a rush of adrenaline, put this one on your list!
Distance from Kuala Lumpur: 70km (1 hour 45 minute drive)
#5 ATV riding in Selangor
Experience the thrill of an ATV (All-Terrain Vehicle) ride and tap into your love of speed and adventure! Rinching Adventure in the rainforest is less than an hour from Kuala Lumpur, and is great for riding ATVs and 4×4 buggies and hiking.
The staff at Rinching take pictures and videos so you can focus on handling your ATV. Walk-ins are welcome, but booking in advance is best for large groups. Choose the four-hour package, for example, and it includes a river visit for a soak. Bring extra clothes and be ready to get dirty! There are various ATVs, and the custom-made 4×4 buggy is highly recommended for its power and terrain capability.
Distance from Kuala Lumpur: 40km (90-minute drive)
#6 Paragliding in Bukit Batu Pahat
For more Kuala Lumpur tourist activities, head north to Selangor, which offers some fabulous paragliding adventures, including at Bukit Jugra and Bukit Batu Pahat. The latter has a launch spot that’s 400 metres above sea level.
A professional coach will guide you, making it suitable even for beginners with no prior experience. Your entire flight will also be recorded with a GoPro so that you can relive the adventure later. A paragliding experience in Selangor provides the perfect combination of recreation and excitement, and is one of the best things to do outdoors for the adventurous!
Distance from Kuala Lumpur: 70km (90-minute drive)
#7 Cycling around Putrajaya
One of the cool things to do outdoors in KL on a nice morning is to head to Putrajaya Botanical Garden – ideally with a bike! The garden is located in Presint 1 in the city’s south and has thousands of exotic plants. Cycle along the paths and see various species with signs showing their names and origins. Make sure to capture your experience on the Canopy Bridge, a popular Instagram spot.
The Moroccan Pavilion Putrajaya is a well-known tourist attraction with intricate Moorish designs. It symbolises the strong relationship between Malaysia and Morocco. Exploring the garden and pavilion can be a refreshing break from the usual routine and a simple way to spend the morning whether you’re cycling, taking photos or enjoying the sights.
Distance from Kuala Lumpur: 30km (one-hour drive)
#8 Stargazing in the Genting Highlands
Glamz is just a half hour from the Genting Highlands, and offers stargazing opportunities and great sunset and sunrise views. It caters to romantic getaways and family trips with various glamping domes. Each dome includes a hammock, letting you fall asleep under the stars and soak in the night view.
Aside from the astronomical angle, Glamz is also a nice spot for relaxing and connecting with nature, as it’s surrounded by trees and forests. Spend your day exploring the natural surroundings or just lounging in your dome.
Distance from Kuala Lumpur: around 50km (75-minute drive)
#9 Horseback riding in Fraser’s Hill
Animal lovers should try horseback riding at Fraser’s Hill. The Paddock is where you can enjoy the trails and nature on horseback. This equestrian centre along Valley Road, just before the Glen Bungalow roundabout, allows you to ride retired racehorses around a small track with a guide. It’s affordable and a lot of fun!
Besides the track, there’s a small garden area with benches to relax and enjoy the scenery and surrounding conifer trees. There’s also an archery range near the entrance if you want to try that. In all, this is a nice spot for spending a day outdoors and trying something different.
Distance from Kuala Lumpur: 100km (2.5-3 hour drive)
#10 Fishing at a lakeside resort
Looking for a chill place to unwind with family or friends? Head to Hulu Langat Fishing Resort. Just an hour from Kuala Lumpur, this is an ideal spot for an escape from city life if fishing is your thing.
The resort features a large fishing pond and cosy accommodation for overnight stays. You can fish from private, comfortable platforms. Don’t have gear? Don’t worry! Fishing rods, bait and other equipment are all available for rent. Join other fishing enthusiasts on the long jetty or enjoy a private fishing platform with a group of friends or family. What’s biting? With a bit of luck, you might catch a Mekong catfish, Siamese carp or an Amazonian catfish.
Remember, the resort practices catch-and-release to conserve the ecosystem, so take photos with your catch and then release it back into the pond.
Distance from Kuala Lumpur: 30km (one-hour drive)
Enjoyed reading about things to do outdoors and tourist activities near Kuala Lumpur? Now read about fun things to do indoors or the best places for expats to live in KL!
