Cycling is one of the best ways to get to know a place. With your trusty two-wheel drive, you can speed by as the world goes on at its usual pace, or stop to experience the scenic sights or local culture as you wish. You can even get off the beaten track and pave your own path!
Most areas in Malaysia can be explored on a bike, with different trails catering to extreme mountain bikers and leisure cyclists. Here are 50 cycling spots in Malaysia for your next adventure!
- Cycling at Semenyih Dam – peak of Genting Peras Loop from SL 9
Expert road ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.
2. Cycling at Yellow Loop from KB07 UKM
Enjoy the 6-hour thrill of living an adventure as you go biking and sight seeing greenery forest.
This trail is a combination of Track A, Track C, To Look Out Point, To Ampang Look Out Point, and Jalan Ampang- Hulu Langat. It will take you past the Chinese Shrine and to Ampang Lookout Point and Ampang Lookout Tower. Here you will be able to see the view of Twin Towers (Menara Kembar), 118 Merdeka Tower and KL Tower (Menara KL ). There are steps on this trail. Some places this route is considered quite steep and challenging, and knotted ropes are available to help you climb. This route may become slippery and muddy in the rainy season. The recommeded parking to enter this trail area is along Jalan Saga 22, nearby the playground. Remember to bring enough drinking water!
4. Cycling at Half day Penang Countryside Cycling Tour
Explore the countryside of Penang by bicycle on a half-day cycling tour that takes you on less-traveled roads outside of George Town. Follow your guide through rural villages on a tour that allows you to view local life up close. Use of all bike equipment is included, and hotel pickup and drop-off is provided by air-conditioned van.
5. Cycling at Kuala Lumpur Sunset and Night tour
You will have an unforgettable experience and impression during 4 hours of cycling in 8 different areas of the inner city. It’s an easy pace. All routes are made in collaboration with cycling KL. Your local guide will show you the City of Contrasts and Diversity in a safe way. High visibility by wearing orange safety vests is provided. There are stops after each 10 – 12 minutes and the excellent speaking English guide tells interesting stories about the culture and history of the capital. In case you want to have the tour in another language and/or another starting time you book the tour as a private one; you can request this by mail to [email protected] On our Dutch orange bikes with a basket you are flexible and will easily go through the back alleys. You will visit a temple and taste fruit at an old market. A delicious local brunch with drinks will also be provided. We provide 1 guide up to 6 guests and 2 guides from 7 – 12 participants.
6. Cycling at 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.
7. Cyling at 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.
8. 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.
9. Cyling at 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.
10. 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.
