Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM) Nature Trekking from Kuala Lumpur
Description
FRIM or Forest Research Institute of Malaysia,located at Kepong, is a must for all nature lovers who are in the capital city of Kuala Lumpur. It is located in the suburb city of Petaling Jaya, approximately 16 km north west of the capital city. It was founded in the year 1929 and is one of the leading institutions in tropical forestry research both locally and abroad. This 600 hectares tropical forest contains a wealth of flora and fauna with approximately 15,000 species of plants though for a layman in botanic, all of them look like greenery.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Tour start around 09:00 am and 02:00 pm for private and 09:00 am for Seat in Coach with the hotel pickup (selected hotel around Kuala Lumpur city). it will takes approximately 1 hour journey to the Forest Research Institute of Malaysia (FRIM). Along the way you pass through typical Malay Villagers and scenes of friendly people going about their daily chores. Once arrive at the forest institute , you will be introduced to the nature trekking guide. An introduction of the place and activities will be carried out immediately on arrival before proceeding with jungle trekking. Please wear a appropriate attire for this activities. As you enter the trekking trails, you will be amazed by the arboretums or living museum of trees. Walk through the many nature trails and discover the many species of flora and fauna here. Of particular interest is the "puzzle-like" pattern of the individual tree crowns separated by gaps and outlined against the sky. This phenomenon is called "Crown Shyness". The reason for its name is because the leaf tips of the Dryobalanops aromatica appear to be shy towards their own kind, hence forming the gap. This tree is also known as kapur tree and has a nice-smelling exudate known as camphor, one of the main component of making ointment. The ointment is used for stomach massages after child delivery. After about an hour in the jungle and enjoy learning new things, we packed up and return back to hotel.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
Free hotel pick up & drop off from your hotel located at Kuala Lumpur City Centre (5km radius from KLCC). You can also join our tour from Kuala Lumpur meeting point namely Malaysia Tourism Centre (MaTic): 109, Jalan Ampang, 55000 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. An additional surcharge for hotel pickup outside 5km radius from the city center is applicable and payable on the day of your activity.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Reviews(2)
FRIM is a government protected area dedicated to restoring natural life in all parts of Malaysia. Here, they have lovingly restored an old tin mine into a rainforest after 100 years of concerted efforts. We booked a guided tour for six persons (languages available are English, Malay, Chinese) on a Sunday morning and really enjoyed it. Our guide was a botanist who worked at FRIM and really knew his stuff. Our tour went from 8:30 to 11. You can see the famous crown shyness as well as all sorts of fauna. 1) Be sure to reserve your trek with an email to frim_enquiry@frim.gov.my and they will give instructions on availability, payment, and assign a guide. 2) be sure to bring your printed confirmation as the FRIM is a protected area and random cars cannot enter without registration. 3) our guide emailed us google map coordinates to the visitor information center. Be sure to follow those as it’s a rather long walk from the entrance. 4) be sure to wear long socks and long pants as there are plenty of bugs and even leeches. 5) bring lots of water as it can get quite hot, booking early in the morning is advisable. We paired our frim visit with a lunch in kepong (bah ku teh) then visited KLCC in the late afternoon. Amazing day.
“Thank you so much for sharing such a detailed and thoughtful review! We’re truly delighted to hear that you had an enjoyable and meaningful experience at Forest Research Institute Malaysia. It’s wonderful to know that your guided tour with our knowledgeable botanist brought the rainforest to life and made your visit even more special. We also really appreciate you highlighting these helpful tips for future visitors — they will certainly make the experience smoother and more enjoyable for others. Your combination of nature exploration, local cuisine in Kepong, and ending the day at Petronas Twin Towers sounds like the perfect itinerary! Thank you again for choosing this experience, and we hope to welcome you back for another memorable adventure in Malaysia soon!”
It was very informative. Great to learn more about the Malaysia forestry. it's a must to protect our forests.
Thank you for your thoughtful feedback! We’re delighted to hear that you found the experience informative and meaningful. We completely agree — protecting Malaysia’s forests is so important, and we’re glad the tour helped highlight that. We hope to welcome you again for another enriching experience.
