Cycling In Malaysia: Cool Routes To Escape The City Heat
/The main highways in Malaysia are often filled with motorbikes, cars with barely-there lanes for bicycles.
Heat is a mainstay in Malaysians lives - we spend all our time in cool places such as shopping malls, and rarely can imagine working up a sweat to cycle in the Malaysian unforgiving heat - the eternal struggle of every local over here.
Cycling has radically changed for the better! We are seeing a shift in spending on usual conventional leisure activities to something simpler and more solitary, cycling and even walking.
The blue lanes in Malaysia may have faded and the infrastructure, barely-there lanes and construction may have become a civilian obstruction.
With plans to make KL a pedestrian-friendly city by 2025 and the River of Life slowly coming to fruition, cycling offers a chance for Malaysians to change their mindset and experience the intricacies of local urban culture.
Sometimes the parks don’t count as it is not as fun as climbing pure stretches of asphalt and stopping every now and then to cool with a sweet cup of ‘Teh Tarik’ and a plate of Nasi Lemak and Roti Canai. I have not even covered all the places in Malaysia, and as someone who is fairly new to bicycle touring and cycling, I will continue updating this list as we go along.
But for now, let me walk you through the uphill and downhill pursuits of cycling in a tropical country like Malaysia.
If you also would like some cycling tours in the city, here are some great starting points:
Kuala Lumpur: Bicycle Brunch Tour: Brew your own tea, make your own roti, and cycle past some of Kuala Lumpur's hidden gems on this bike tour.
Hidden Kuala Lumpur: 4-Hour Bike Tour: This is essentially a ‘secret’ Kuala Lumpur, far from public view is where a dark single file passage opens to secret morning junk market that only locals go to, and unique historical gems.
Kuala Lumpur: Evening Food Tour by Bike: This bike tour is perfect for food enthusiasts and those looking to be culinary adventurers.
Cool cycling routes from Kuala Lumpur, the city centre
#1 Bukit Tunku
Amidst the concrete jungle in Malaysia, there are places to cycle in Kuala Lumpur even if that involves cycling in a posh neighbourhood, with large sprawling estates and green foliage in the backyard.
Bukit Tunku, also known as “The Beverly Hills of Kuala Lumpur” is a quick favourite for many urbanites in Malaysia and weekend cyclists to come together. We are used to the city heat and it comes as a blessing to be able to find green breaks in Kuala Lumpur. The ride to Bukit Tunku is not steep (average 3% gradient) and it gives you a taste of cycling in Malaysia.
This ascend gradually connects to Jalan Duta, Mont Kiara and Segambut as well as Dataran Merdeka, Bank Negara, Mont Kiara and Chow Kit. You can begin your route from Taman Tugu and at the turn off head to the KL Mayor’s residence for a sweeping view of KL’s stunning skyline. I like to stop here for a break and also enjoy the downhill rush on my descent!
On your way down, stop at the neighbourhood’s favourite cafes at Bukit Tunku’s new Stories of Taman Tunku. Besides Kenny Hills Bakers Cafe, there’s the new grocery store called Qra and a nice al-fresco cafe called Wolf & Turtle cafe.
#2 Lake Gardens / Perdana Botanical Gardens & Tugu Negara
It is one of my go-to places to cycle around in Klang Valley. You have got the Lake Gardens, the hibiscus garden and rounds near the Islamic Arts Museum as well as the National Mosque of Malaysia. It is scenic and easily a bike ride away from KL sentral. You could start from the Muzium Negara MRT (Gate B) exit and there’s an entrance to the park, from there on make your way towards Tun Abdul Razak memorial and complete a loop and head out further into Taman Tugu Negara.
There are plenty of gentle slopes, monkeys after 6.00pm and wonderful gazebos to idly lay around and do nothing, but just ride.
#3 Cycling in Lorong Travers - Bangsar - Federal Hill/ Lorong Travers - Galeria Sri Perdana
Behind the busy Jalan Travers is Lorong Travers and Jalan Bukit Travers, which are lined with old bungalows and lush greenery all the way up to Federal Hill there is plenty of time to enjoy the cool breeze in a hidden spot in KL. During the colonial times, this street was named after a doctor who restored hope and dignity to leprosy patients, and now these lush settings are home to the elite few of KL. Years ago, the Star newspaper even had a small office here.
The road is only a short stretch linking Jalan Bangsar, Jalan Damansara and Jalan Tun Sambanthan and you can cycle all the way to Jalan Jelutong, make a loop at Dunia Melayu and return to Federal Hill with a short detour to Galeria Sri Perdana. You can even venture and see our ex-Prime Minister’s house Tun Mahathir Mohamed at the Galeria Sri Perdana overlooking KL. It was during his time where he served his term from 1983 to 1999.
To cut into Bangsar, there’s a staircase just below Federal Hill that will take you to Jalan Maarof.
#4 Jalan Kerayong / Seputeh - Kampung Attap - Petaling Street
This is probably a scenic and creepy route for many since it passes through the Kwong Tong in Cemetery in Bukit Seputeh. However, riding and exploring through this route provides a ride through memory lane. There are several unmarked graves that traces back to the racial riots in 1969.
Follow the route to Glasshouse Seputeh and turn left into a long narrow road. Once you exit the graveyard, you’ll see some old Chinese temples and even come across Taman Dusun Bandar, an abandoned park that no one knows about.
It is strange to see all these new places that have not been promoted much. The famous Ikan Bakar at Jalan Bellamy at the exit of the park may be a nice place to stop for some Otak-Otak. As you venture further out, you will also see the UN High Commissioner for Refugees and it is almost parallel to Istana Negara which is now a museum.
Going ahead will take you to Puspanita before you come in at Jalan Maharajalela and it is time to cross the road with your bikes over the pedestrian pass. The best thing about coming to Petaling Street is pausing to take a break and enjoy a nice kopitiam break at Ali, Muthu and Ah Hock cafe.
#5 Cycling along River of Life
The River of Life project that breathes life into the areas near Sungai Gombak and Klang River in the city is one of the nice and easy gentle rides to do on the boardwalk. You can start from Seputeh, Brickfields or even Petaling Street. The passage can be quite narrow when making your way towards Brickfields but it expands further.
It is a sorry sight to see homeless people on the benches as you head closer to Petaling Street. While DBKL did set up transit centres for them, due to the pandemic the situation has worsened and now falls under the jurisdiction of the Welfare Department.
As you cycle along, you’ll notice the famed intricate mural depicting Klang River undergoing massive transformation.
#6 Cycle from Kuala Selangor to Sekinchan and back!
If you want to explore the paddy fields in Malaysia and want a flat as a pancake ride, the route from Kuala Selangor to Sekinchan makes up for some scenic routes where you can explore the best of both worlds — Kuala Selangor and Sekinchan.
We started our ride in the coastal town of Kuala Selangor and visited the old British Fort where silvered leaf monkeys were swinging their way from tree to tree.
After doing a short morning ride around Kuala Selangor, we headed towards Sekinchan but ended up using the main highway which was not the most scenic. On your way back, look out for Kedai Kopi 168 and head towards the paddy fields to make your way back to Kuala Selangor.
In Sekinchan, we spent a lot of time in Redang Island, the paddy fields, wishing tree, Ah Ma House and the mango king shop and just idly stealing some breaks to avoid the sun when we could! It took us 78km to and fro for this day trip and I highly recommend carrying a strong sunscreen and choosing a cloudy day or starting really early to enjoy the morning sun instead of the afternoon heat!
#7 Cycling from Jenjarom to Bukit Jugra and Pantai Morib
When Covid hit and interstate travelling was not around, we mapped out routes to travel in Selangor for a day trip and there were so many towns in Selangor that we knew little about.
In the early 20th century, Jenjoram was an agricultural village, with around a dozen shops along the main street and now remains largely industrial with the development of palm oil production which you’ll see aplenty as you cycle through these estates!
We began our trip by parking in Tesco Jenjarom early in the morning and made our way towards Bukit Jugra which is about 23km of riding. The traffic gets quite heavy in the mornings as well which is why it is best to start at 7am and not 9am like what I did. As you cycle along, take the right fork exit at Masjid Ar-rahman and head towards Banting town, you’ll climb a bridge over Langat river where you can see large palm oil estates.
We passed a row of shops in Banting and arrived in Jugra village — it is interesting to note that Jugra was a historical town and former royal town. The town exudes a certain old-world charm with its unique buildings, bridges and roads. We made that deathly climb up to Bukit Jugra, which is also a famous spot for paragliders. On our way down, we visited a museum which was previously a colonial-era police HQ and had an interesting collection of police artifacts.
The best part of the trip was the overcast skies which made our journey stunningly scenic as we headed towards Pantai Kelanang and Pantai Morib.
We didn’t want to move and spend a good two hours at the beach doing absolutely nothing and enjoying the weather, breeze and coconuts. If you’re feeling peckish and want to end the ride with good food, I have been told that Mansion 1969 offers a cafe-cum-heritage corridor in Jenjarom and Heritaste Jenjarom is great to pick up local delights like homemade peanut candies!
#8 Ride on Weekends and Take The LRT To Anywhere!
This is such great news for avid cyclists and people who don’t’ want to use the car over the weekend and actually cycle! Full-sized bikes are permitted on weekends, from 6:00 A.M. to midnight. More details here.
Cycling from PJ to Bangsar and over to Ampang is now possible thanks to this initiative. With the pandemic and current situation, I haven’t been able to explore this but hoping I’ll be able to update this post with more routes!
#9 Batu 18 Hulu Langat & Genting Peres
You can live all your life in Kuala Lumpur and not know about the hideaway trails nestled far away from Kuala Lumpur’s hustle and bustle. It was only through cycling that I discovered these trails and it has quickly become a known trail for cyclists to convene and start their weekend rides in Hulu Langat.
A 40 minute drive from Kuala Lumpur will take you to Batu 18 Hulu Langat, just 30km from the city centre. You can park your car around Batu 18 police station and you’ll see a lot of cyclists in these areas. It is the perfect slow and gentle ride to visit the Kampung life in Hulu Langat. Riding past clucking chickens, the morning breeze and the nippy mountain air will transport you to the innocence of the countryside.
After your 9km gentle ride, you’ll arive at a T-junction where you can choose to ride uphill to Genting Peres on the left which takes you to the border between Selangor and Negeri Sembilan or opt for a gentle ride to Semenyih Lake on the right and onwards towards Sungai Tekala, a recreational picnic site. It is particularly exciting to roll down the hills on your way down from Genting Peres after a hard climb. It can be pretty hot by the time you reach the dam, so my only suggestion is for you to start earlier as it can easily take half a day to complete your ride.
On your way down, other than drinking copious amount of water from your bike water bottle, indulge in some local kuih at the infamous Bahulu Clasiq cafe - their nasi lemak, local teh tarik and kuih is the perfect kind of delectable after a sweaty day out.
#10 Genting Sempah
Nothing like dancing clouds falling on the tropical trees in Genting Sempah while cycling uphill.
If visiting the cool Genting Highlands of Malaysia is somewhere down on your list, the journey to Genting Sempah might be a better activity as you get to reach the foothills of the highlands on a two-wheeler, pause and see KL from a different viewpoint.
A famous route among cyclists, Genting Sempah is known as the ultimate training ride before attempting any other challenging terrains in Klang Valley. The entire stretch is 17km long and starts from Hospital Orang Asli Gombak, Jalan Gombak right up to R&R Genting Sempah, the mountain pass on the border of Pahang and Selangor state in Malaysia.
It is often used as an alternative route to get to Janda Baik, Bentong and Bukit Tinggi. The entire path is shaded and you won’t feel the heat as much as cycling on the open roads, but you’ll be sharing the road with other cars and trucks but it is often not busy in the morning. The gradients starts at 3% but there are few short stretches where it reaches up to 10% and 12%.
#11 Fraser Hill
Situated in Pahang and once a colonial hill station by the former British colonial forces, Fraser Hill remains a highland resort for many Malaysians who want a taste of scones and British tea surrounded by greenary. It was discovered in the 1890s by the British who loved these lowlands and how it provided a welcome respite from the heat.
The cherry on the cake is the road that they built and turned it into a haven for cyclists. I visited Fraser Hill recently and went here on my birthday ride - it was one of the best rides that I had done. You can drive from Kuala Lumpur and park your car at KKB Curry House.
Starting off, you pass by Kuala Khubu dam and slowly ascent to a gradual 40km climb which snakes through Malaysia’s rainforest. The theory of slow travel is best applied here where you feel unhurried and take time to notice the critters, and monkeys climbing from one tree to another.
There’s no traffic on the roads and the path leading to Fraser Hill is a one-way road. The long arduous climb ends at The Gap before you take on another crazy grueling climb where the last 8km gradient is atleast 12%. I didn’t make it to the top but with enough breaks, it is absolutely doable to persevere and reach your final destination.
#12 Cycling from KL to Klang on Federal Highway motorcycle lane
We all know about the famous Klang river, but we do not know much about the history about Klang and how it is known for its civil wars, tin mines and royal heritage. It was the former capital of Selangor city afterall. To cycle here, leave from KL Gateway-Universiti LRT station and head onto the motorcycle lane that will take you through Klang’s town directly. Due to speeding motorbikes, this route is best taken on the weekend or public holidays since the motorcycle lane is just 3-4mm wide.
Once you reach the mural, take a left onto the Kota Bridge that will take you directly to the oldtown and Klang railway station as well as pre-war shophouses. Some of the best things to do over here is take a walk down memory lane and see how the faded world of yesteryear comes alive. The town has recently started a Klang Walking / Heritage tour and even cycling lanes taking you to some of these hidden gems. Get your kopitiam fix at Family Kopitiam or Chong Kok and sample some of the best pandan layer cake at the Pandan Cake Shop.
If you’re too tired to cycle back, hop on the KTM train and you’ll be back in KL in just one hour for RM2. The government is trying to encourage more people to cycle in Klang and it is great that they have made it possible for people to bring their bikes on!
#13 Cycling in Parit to Bota and Manong Bridge
In a small town of roughly 2,000 people, Parit holds some of the most interesting architecture of Malaysia’s Rumah Kutai houses that are over 100 years old. It used to be once a convenient stop-over for Malaysians but due to increased urbanisation, small towns like Parit and Bota are often forgotten and people are seen thronging Ipoh and Penang instead.
Starting from Lanai Casuarina in Parit, we headed towards Bota Kanan and made a return journey to cycle towards Bota Kiri and Manong, Kuala Kangsar the next day.
The entire ride takes you into the heart of the rural heartland where you’ll see artistically carved houses in vibrant pastel colours further displaying the rich heritage of our country. With the principles and culture of Malay heritage houses on the verge of dissappearance, it was nice for time to stand still and for us to reassess our version of nostalgia post lockdown. We stopped at Kedai Kopi Hailam Sin Moh Seng for the best Mee Hailam and Appam Balik cake.
#14 Cycling in Kuala Khubu Baru to Ulu Yam & Genting Highlands
Kuala Kubu Baru, or KKB as it is fondly known, is often thought of by travelers as a sleepy town in Selangor, but a deeper look into its origins reveals a history that is both enriching and charming. It is located approximately 70 km from the capital city of Kuala Lumpur through Route 1 and is the main gateway for people heading to one of Malaysia's favourite hill stations, Fraser's Hill, which is a 45-minute drive away from KKB.
The easiest part of travelling in this town is the ability to hop on the KTM train with your bikes! You can opt to stop at Kuala Khubu Baru and use it as a base to explore the town the old-style and double-storied buildings.
Or the other option is to stop at Rasa KTM train station stop and cycle all the way to Sungai Chilling, stopping in between at Sungai Pertak. The scenic town of Kuala Khubu Baru carries a lot of nostalgia with old colonial-style buildings dating back to some 80 years ago.
Start your breakfast at Il Mio Cafe, a place that serves local favourites with antique clocks and finds with a bakery opposite that serves the best kaya puffs!
You can add another layer of adventure to your trip and cycle further up for 12km to cozy stays like The Sticks — even if you’re not up for staying, you can access the grounds from 9am to 6pm on a day trip and enjoy the relaxing surroundings.
If you want to push yourself for a scenic 35km ride, start from KKB and head to Ulu Yam and Kalong Tengah and end the ride in Genting Highlands.
Cycling Beyond KL: Other Routes
#15 Cycling in Balik Pulau Penang
Cycling alongside Batu Feringghi’s beach in Penang
There’s the beaches, the George town heritage trail, the awesome food and the multi-cultural part of Penang that makes this the perfect place to cycle in Malaysia. Currently in the works are the government’s masterplan to create a cycling lane along Penang’s coastal fringes - but while that’s in the process, other cyclists have found ways to incorporate various routes to explore this island on a two-wheeler. Most of the routes begin from Penang esplanade and there are countless routes that will take you past the city’s colonial past.
One favourite route among cyclist is visiting Balik Pulau on a bicycle, the southwestern part of Penang. You’ll see a different side of Penang and charming old shophouses. There’s even a really cute Saanen Dairy Goat Farm and old fishing villages, fruit orchards and mangroves. You can even stay in Titi Teras Village, a local style house surrounded by local village by Malay, Chinese and Indian communities.
What makes Penang great is its connectivity, and you could hop onto a flight and cycle onwards to Langkawi by bike.
#16 Cycling in Langkawi
The roads are pristine in Langkawi and it is no wonder that Langkawi is such a popular sport in Langkawi. While some areas are incredibly hilly, there’s a reason why Le Tour De Langkawi and Ironman Triathlons are such important sporting events making Langkawi the premier destination for cycling.
The best way to enjoy the island on a two-wheeler is to find beautiful routes where you can enjoy the sundown views. Drivers are quite used to seeing cyclists on the roads but just have proper cycling etiquette and keep to the side of the road. I rented a bicycle from JMB Cycle — a giant mountain bike for RM50 per day and rode from Kuah to Padang Matsirat and Pantai Cenang (avoiding the Bukit Malut route unless you don’t mind hills). The next day I went around Langkawi with Sandra Loh, a cyclist based in Malaysia who took me via Ulu Melaka paddy fields onwards to Tanjung Rhu and back to Kuah. If you want to test yourself, you could even do half-day cycling up to Gunung Raya in the morning.
#17 Cycling in Perak (Taiping and Ipoh)
Much has been said about Ipoh’s white coffee and about Taiping’s century old rain-trees, but not many have cycled past Perak’s charming old tin-mining towns. The best rides are the city rides; probably best done in the morning or evening to avoid the insane heat.
In Ipoh, traverse down Ipoh’s concubine lane and the Kinta riverside where you’ll see the stark contrast between the old and new Ipoh.
And in Taiping, grab your bicycle and visit Taiping’s iconic Lake Gardens filled with glorious 100-year-old raintrees. It is also known as as one of the top three sustainable destinations in the world. You could begin cycling from Teluk Intan, towards Lumut and then to Taiping.
Also Read: Cycling in Laos: Doing the unthinkable in 5 days
Where to rent/buy bicycles in Malaysia?
There are couple of places where you can rent your bicycles from in Kuala Lumpur as your starting point - but if you’re here for a long period of time, I suggest purchasing it from bicyclebuysell and selling it off at a later point.
The Basikal, Bangsar: Probably a decent place to rent a bicycle for a quick ride out in the city or for a few days / weeks.
There are other bike stores to purchase your bicycles from such as SA Bike Shop, Cyclogy, Rodalink, USJ Cycles, Foresttrek, KPro, Bangi Cycle Store (bear in mind though that most shops do not have stock due to the big bicycle boom but you could pre-order your bike from them)
The advice that I would give to fellow adventure-seekers: just do it. I know it might sound crazy, and the heat might be off-putting but these cool places to cycle in Malaysia can be quite an eye-opening experience.
You’ll pass by forgotten towns, see things that are not possible to see in a fast-moving vehicle and embrace the tropical surroundings.
It's time to experience the joy of riding through a city, and not experience the start and end of destinations. You may realise how each town is not a homogenous place; it’s an intricately connected tapestry of neighbourhoods, businesses, history, character, open spaces and people.
Cycling Etiquette
Update: With cycling becoming a boom in Malaysia and with no real rules and guidelines previously, things have changed! The government has now released a new set of rules. The most basic etiquette and guidelines include having a helmet, front and rear backlights, a bell and cycling in a row. Other basic rules include:
Ride with traffic not against it
Watch for cars on both sides
Don’t stop in front of cars at the traffic light, keep to the side
Watch out for car doors and POTHOLES ofcourse!
Give people space
Also Read: Cycling in Kyrgyzstan: Bicycle Touring The Silk Road in Central Asia
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