Best camping sites in Malaysia

Rainforest Camping at Perhentian Island offers you the best of both worlds – a rainforest campsite and clear blue waters not too far away. Situated about an hour’s boat ride from Kuala Besut, Terengganu, Rainforest Camping is at the smaller (and less busy) sibling of the two Perhentian Islands, Perhentian Kecil. It isn’t exactly glamping here, but they do offer tents that are already set up, communal dinners and a café near the site.

The biggest perk of the campsite is that it’s located on the quiet side of the island, so you practically have your own private beach. Nothing says relaxation like waking up to the sounds of the forest and the waves crashing against the sand

RainForest Beach, Perhentian Kecil, Kuala Besut, Terengganu (017 931 7784). RM60 per night.

Endau-Rompin is one of the oldest tropical rainforests in the world and plays host to rock formations that are about 250 million years old. There are two public entry points – the first is the Peta entrance close to the Buaya Sangkut waterfall (the biggest waterfall in Johor); and the second is the Selai entrance, where you’ll go through Orang Asli villages and three other waterfalls.

There are various campsites to choose from, depending on what you want to see or do. If you want a trouble-free travel experience, hire local guides or packages from the travel service agencies in the surrounding towns of the park. Do note that a camping permit is required; you can get them at the park site office in Kahang or Bekok town.

Endau-Rompin (Selai) National Park and Endau-Rompin (Peta) National Park (johorparks.gov.my) RM60 for a permit.

Just a half-hour’s drive away from the city centre is the 25m-high Sungai Pisang waterfall, an accessible spot that takes about an hour’s hike to reach. To get here, turn left off the Karak Highway onto Jalan Sungai Pusu, then continue straight before turning right onto the old Gombak Road (Road 68). Be careful, however, as the narrow road gets busy with cyclists on the weekends.

There are two main routes to the falls: the first leads right to the base of the waterfall; and the second involves a short climb that takes you above the waterfall to the camping grounds at Lata Sungai Pisang and you’ll need to descend a steep ledge to get to get to the waterfalls’ base.  If you don’t plan on camping out, Jungle Lodge provides accommodation, guides and team-building activities.

Sungai Pisang Waterfall, Selangor. Jungle Lodge, from RM150

The highlights of pitching tent at Jerangkang Rainforest isn’t to enjoy lush greenery while sleeping under the stars, but rather to appreciate the massive 43-tier waterfall.

To get to the campsite, drive about 30km past Maran on the old trunk road from KL to Kuantan; use a 4WD. From the campsite, it’s another hour or more of hiking (depending on fitness levels) to get to the main waterfalls. But since the falls are multi-tiered, you’d be hiking along an endless succession of mini falls on your way up.

Kampung Paya Bungor, Huran Lipur Jerangkang, Pahang.