Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM Kepong)

An ecological wonderland, the Forest Research Institute of Malaysia (FRIM) offers a wide range of activities and attractions for nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts.

Details

Occupying a 545-hectare site and with a history going back to the 1920s, FRIM in Kepong is the largest and oldest man-made tropical forest in the world according to UNESCO.

Main activities and attractions include:

• forest canopy walkway (closed in 2017 and replaced in 2020 by the Forest Skywalk);
• a forest library with over 12,000 books;
• 5 nature trails that range in length and difficulty;
• 4 mountain biking tracks that traverse the entire park;
• ethnobotanical and herb gardens;
• a wetland area;
• camping grounds;
• a research gallery; and
• Malay traditional housing compounds you can explore.

Walk through seven different arboreta containing up to 2,500 different species of trees, including gigantic dipterocarps as well as tropical fruit and bamboo trees.

Designated jogging and cycling paths take visitors through some spectacular secondary jungle, all the way to the Sungai Kroh waterfalls where there are picnic sites, a cafeteria, shelters and restrooms.

FRIM, home to approximately 182 out of 742 bird species in Malaysia, was declared a Natural Heritage Site on 10 February 2009 under the National Heritage Act 2005.

Opening hours

FRIM is open daily, including public holidays, from 6.00 am – 7.00 pm (but is closed for one hour in the morning from 7.30am – 8.30 am on Monday to Friday) for jogging, cycling and mountain biking. Last entry is at 6.00pm.

Forest Skywalk
Monday to Sunday: 8.30 am to 4.30pm (Closed between 12.15pm to 2.45pm on Fridays for prayers)

Research Gallery
9.00am – 12.00pm and 2.00pm – 4.00pm (Monday – Thursday and weekends)
9.00am – 12.00pm and 3.00pm – 4.00pm (Fridays)

Library
8.30am – 1.00pm and 2.00pm – 4.45pm (Monday – Thursday)
8.30am – 12.15pm and 2.45pm – 4.45pm (Fridays)

Price/Entrance fees

Stay

Gallery

Located near the Sekolah Kebangsaan FRIM at Jalan Kapur, the wetland area of FRIM used to be a tin mining pool and vegetable farms.

Malay traditional house available for events at the Forest Research Institute Malaysia.

Relax under the shade of the giant canopy trees at FRIM.

Keruing Trail, Salleh Nature Trail, Engkabang Trail, Sebasah Trail and Razak Walk are some of the main trekking routes here.

Among the most famous attraction of FRIM is the unique crown shyness phenomenon of Dryobalanops aromatica.

A-frame huts are a form of accommodation at the Forest Research Institute of Malaysia.

The Perah Campsite pictured on location at FRIM.