Are you looking for a change of scene, that is not a million miles away? Call off the search. Forest retreat Sekeping Serendah, which is less than an hour drive away from KL city centre, could be just what you need.
Sekeping Serendah offers see-through sheds that are complete with comfy beds, 360-degree views of the leafy surrounds, access to your own BBQ and two shared swimming pools. There are a range of different types of places you can stay at, depending on your needs. Our family went to Glass Shed 2 that is tucked away and a short walk from one of the peaceful pools.
How to pass the time
- Relax and listen to the sounds of nature while reading a book.
- Visit one of the two onsite pools.
- Take the 15-minute walk to a nearby waterfall.
- Fishing and ATV tours are also available 5 minutes away.
- Play a new board game – we enjoyed a few rounds of Splendor.
- Book to stay at one of the bigger places they have onsite at Sekeping Serendah and bring your friends or extended family to entertain you. We enjoyed it as a family of four, but we’re already planning to go back with a larger group.
If you can’t be bothered to cook, visit the Yew Li restaurant that is just a 10-minute drive away – we went there for lunch before the 2pm check in. If you have a dog with you, they will set a table up for you outside. It doesn’t open though until 12 noon and closes at 7pm.
What you need to bring to Sekeping Serendah
- There are no towels or toiletries provided, so bring what you need.
- Pack your own food and drink as there are no places to buy food onsite.
- A BBQ is available for guests to use at every lodge at Sekeping Serendah, so bring food as well as someone who likes preparing food on fire. When you check in, the staff will ask you when you want them to come and light the fire for you.
- The beds have mosquito nets to protect you at night and there were coils available to burn. You will still need mosquito repellent to protect you during the day.
- Drinking water is a must as are torches if you want to walk in the evening.
- As you are close to nature you need to be careful with your food. Keep it inside away from mischievous monkeys and bring a kitchen paper roll to make sure everything is clean and not attracting ants.
- Coffee and Milo sachets are provided, and we brought a cool box with ice for all our other drinks. Not to worry, the car park is nearby so you don’t have to drag it far.
- If you are a light sleeper or bit of a princess, you may want to bring ear plugs, an eye mask and a soft blanket to help you get a good night’s sleep. The river and surrounding nature at Sekeping Serendah are very pretty, but combined with the lack of blinds and curtains they may interfere with your beauty sleep.
No Wi-Fi?
Judging by a lot of hotel reviews, I believe some people can’t live without exceptional mobile coverage and the internet. I know my children find it hard to believe it’s possible to survive without Wi-Fi. So, it is only fair to warn you that mobile phone coverage at Sekeping Serendah is patchy, but not impossible. Contrary to what we told our children, we did have access to Wi-Fi in our accommodation, but the company website site says it is only available in certain areas.
Another thing worth mentioning is that you should take time to research which type of accommodation is right for you. The Glass Shed 2 was perfect for our family with older children aged 11 and 13, who enjoyed the bridges, steep ladder type stairs and fire pit. With its sharp edges and hard floors, I really wouldn’t recommend it though for those with small children or those who would struggle with stairs.
Furfriends are welcome
We all loved the fact that well-behaved dogs are welcomed at Sekeping Serendah, so we brought ours along. The kids loved making smores on the firepit. We’ll definitely go back for a night again soon. I hope that the children don’t work out there is Wi-Fi available, so we don’t have to drag them off their devices and force them to have fun with us!
Have a look at more great nearby forest retreats like The Sticks in Kuala Kubu Bharu and Templer Forest Retreat, just north of Batu Caves.
