Unite with Mother Nature


by Audrey Lim, Mar 30, 2008 | Destinations: Malaysia
Glass shed at Sekeping Serendah.

Glass shed at Sekeping Serendah.

Glass shed at Sekeping Serendah.

Sekeping Serendah Retreat is a back-to-basics getaway for those who want nothing more than just Mother Nature and serenity. You get the beautiful outdoors and an option of glass, timber, or mud shed. These are sheds that are purposely kept basic so that all it does is provide shelter while you commune with nature. All in all, there are five sheds located within 5 acres of tropical rainforest. This is the perfect spot for those living in hectic Kuala Lumpur and wanting to get away for a short weekend without having to drive far or take a flight. It is just an hour drive north of Kuala Lumpur. This private retreat is located near Serendah, which is really a quiet town with only one street! To get to Sekeping Serendah, just take another 5 minutes drive from Serendah town. Along the way, you will pass by two orang asli (aboriginal peoples) villages.

 The best part of visiting Sekeping Serendah Retreat is the activities that you can do along the way or while you are there. For instance, before hitting Sekeping Serendah, you can visit the Serendah Falls first. Although it is a mere 8.5 meters high, yet it is a beautiful spot as the cascading waterfalls send gushing clear cold waters where you can splash about and have some great fun. Amenities are not lacking at Serendah Falls either, as there is a surau (Muslim place of worship) as well as several shops that sells refreshment.

Before you reach the waterfall, you should be able to see the orang asli villages first. This is a mere 5 minutes walk from Sekeping Serendah retreat. The friendly villagers will be more than happy to chat with you if you drop by to visit their village.

Then, orchid lovers must not miss out on the Serendah International Orchid Farm. This orchid farm is home to more than 100 varieties of orchids beautifully grown on hillside terraces. You can easily spend a few hours at the orchid farm just admiring these attractive orchids, many of which are of a hybrid variety. The International Orchid Farm is about 20 minutes drive from the Sekeping Serendah Retreat.

If you are an avid fisherman, you can easily take a 5 minutes drive to the Kolam Pancing and Gerai Makan Danau Serendah (loosely translated to be fish pond and Danau Serendah Food Stall). This place attracts a lot of visitors and has been for quite some time.  What most people find interesting about it is the fact that you can eat what you catch. After a good day at the big lake there, you can simply get the chef to cook the catch of the day for you.  

It does seem like all the fun activities are within a few minutes’ walk or drive from Sekeping Serendah Retreat – and indeed it is! In fact, avid golfers can just head over to the Serendah Golf course for a round of golf. It is a lovely golf course with scenic surroundings. There is also a clubhouse that provides a wide range of facilities. You can get there in 10 minutes by car.

What is even closer than that? The jungle treks! This small trek will guide you through the jungle. Definitely a must see place for the outdoorsy people. However, it can get rather dark in the jungle; therefore, it is advisable to do the jungle trekking during the day time and with a torchlight in hand as well.

Then at Serendah, there is also the Serendah Forest Reserve. It is located at Templer’s Park towards the northern section. Many eco-tourists and rock climbers have visited this forest reserve to challenge themselves at the exciting trails. This trail ends at Bukit Takun, which is a limestone cliff with a height of 360 meters.

Getting to Sekeping Serendah Retreat

From Kuala Lumpur, take the North-South Highway (NKVE) north and exit at Rawang. After the Rawang toll gate, turn right and head north via the old trunk road. Pass Rawang town and head towards Serendah (10km). Turn right at the first set of traffic lights after the Serendah police station. From there, go to the official website for a detailed map.

Rates and Reservations

You can also go to the website to check for the rates and to make reservations. Lodging fee is dependent on the day of the week; and it ranges from RM250 to RM600 per night. You have a choice of a glass shed, timber shed, or mud shed. The sheds can accommodate between 2 to 4 adults. There is a surcharge for public holidays and additional visitors. The meal rate is RM15 per adult for dinner, RM3 per adult for breakfast, and children get free meals.

Contact Details

If you require further information, you may contact them at:

Sekeping Serendah Sdn Bhd
67, Jln Tempinis Satu,
Lucky Garden, Bangsar,
59100 Kuala Lumpur.

Tel No: +6012 324 6552 (Christina)
Fax No: +603 2282 0366
E-mail: mail@serendah.com
Website: www.serendah.com