As the coronavirus outbreak continues to spread, Malaysians are starting to postpone or cancel their overseas holiday trips to stay safe.
The Malaysian government has unveiled a RM20bil stimulus package to offset the fallout from the Covid-19 coronavirus. It offers Malaysians personal income tax relief of up to RM1,000 on expenditure related to domestic tourism; digital vouchers for domestic tourism of up to RM100 per person for domestic flights, rails and hotel accommodations.
Hence, to support the local tourism sector, we’ve come up with a list of hidden gem staycations in Malaysia where you can avoid the hustle and bustle of the city and enjoy the peace and serenity of nature.
1) The Banjaran Hotsprings Retreat (Closed)
The Banjaran Hotsprings Retreat is a must visit when you’re in Ipoh as it’s one of the highly rated resorts to stay in with a 4.7 star rating on Google (as of writing).
The Banjaran Hotsprings Retreat is located in a 22.7-acre valley, cradled by 260 million-year old towering Paleozoic limestone hills, verdant rainforests, rejuvenating geothermal hot springs, natural caves and cascading waterfalls.
Guests can enjoy a peaceful stay within the mountainous region of Ipoh with three different luxury villas to choose from: Garden Villa, Water Villa, Lake Villa. Aside from the beautiful villas, guests also get to enjoy a variety of spa and wellness activities such as the Garra Rufa Doctor Fish Pool which helps to eliminate dead skin cells and rejuvenate the skin.
- Address: 1, Persiaran Lagoon, Sunway 3, 31150 Ipoh, Negeri Perak
- Price: RM1,200+ per night
- Website: https://www.thebanjaran.com/
2) Fig Tree Hill Resort
Fig Tree Hill Resort is a hidden gem on the island of Penang and away from the noise of George Town. It’s located in the hilly area of Sungai Ara, around 30 minutes from George Town and 15 minutes from the Penang International Aiport.
With up to six different villas for guests to choose from with different price points, there’s sure to be a perfect villa for everyone. The villas are all surrounded by the lush greenery of the hills, which also provides a magnificent view of the tropical hills.
They’ve incorporated recycled material for the construction of the villas and taken appropriate steps to ensure their facilities are as green as possible. These initiatives can be seen throughout the resort, such as the staircases standing out from old train tracks. So get your cameras ready for that instagrammable shot!
- Address: Jl. Kenari, Sungai Ara, 11900 Bayan Lepas, Penang
- Price: RM400+ per night
- Website: http://www.figtreehill-resort.com/
3) Fifty4Ferns Resort
At an altitude of 700 meters above sea level Fifty4Ferns is located within a valley bordering The Ulu Tampit streams surrounded by forest reserves with lush tropical rainforest trees, shrubs, undergrowth and greeneries around the foothills of the Titiwangsa range.
Guests will be able to enjoy the cool and fresh mountain air, a wide range of flora and fauna, ice cold stream water and a variety of friendly birds, animals and fish. There are also a variety of villas to choose from that fit different groups of visitors, from couples to families with kids.
Fifty4ferns also offers a wide selection of activities to keep guests busy such as, fishing ponds, ATV track, karaoke, board games, petting farm, ferns aviary, playground, canopy walk and many more.
- Address: Janda Baik Pahang Tua, Pahang, Malaysia
- Price: RM400+ per night
- Website: https://www.facebook.com/fifty4ferns/
4) The Dusun
Located in Seremban on top of a little hill, The Dusun is a relaxing off-the-grid experience with plenty of privacy and gorgeous views. It’s perfect for families and couples looking to spend quality time away from the city. They don’t have TV, so do bring a book, music and board games if you must.
The Dusun is a self-catering nature retreat with their houses incorporating an open-concept design to invite views and winds. Each house has a fully equipped kitchen and barbecue and there’s no WiFi except on the dining patio.
There are six different types of houses to choose from and each of them provide a different views and experience. They have plenty of nature activities for guests to unwind from the city life such as jungle trekking to a waterfall, visit to a deer park, or even a photography workshop class.
- Address: 3437, Jalan Kampung Baharu Pantai Pantai, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia
- Price: RM300+ per night
- Website: http://thedusun.com.my/
