Clustered with colonial buildings, Kuala Lipis is a historic gold-mining settlement that became the capital of Pahang under British rule. It lies at the junction of the Lipis and Jelai rivers, partway between bustling Kuala Lumpur and the wildlife-filled rainforests of Taman Negara.
Things to do in Kuala Lipis
Occupying a two-storey bungalow dating back to the 1920s is the Kuala Lipis Historical Heritage Museum, which explores the social history of the town. It was once the home of Abdul Razak Hussein when he served as the Secretary of the Government of Pahang. Learn about the British colonial years in Kuala Lipis and the fight for independence, as well as the region's traditional cuisine.
A short drive from Kuala Lipis is Kenong Rimba Park, a protected tract of rainforest where you can go jungle trekking, wildlife spotting and caving. It’s renowned for its abundance of orchids and parasitic plants and is home to the indigenous Batek people. Kenong Rimba Park provides a habitat for native bird species, as well as monkeys, civets and tapirs.
Sprawling north-east of Kuala Lipis is Taman Negara, a 4,343-square-kilometre national park that protects one of the world's oldest deciduous rainforests. It’s home to rare animal species that include Malayan tigers and Asian elephants, as well as a tiny population of Northern Sumatran rhinoceros. Soak up the views from Bukit Teresek or trek to Gunung Tahan, the highest point in Peninsular Malaysia.
Getting around Kuala Lipis
Kuala Lipis is around 2.5 hours’ drive from Kuala Lumpur and just over three hours from Kuala Lumpur International Airport, which has flights to destinations across the globe. Regular trains connect to the Kuala Lipis railway station and long-distance buses travel to the town. The centre of Kuala Lipis is compact enough to explore on foot.