ANN/THE STAR – Malaysia has no shortage of attractions for people who love heights, aka acrophiles, especially in forested areas where elevated walkways can be built and consequently enjoyed by visitors who would love to experience the sensation of walking above trees.
From the east to the west, here are our nation’s canopy walks or skywalks that every height-loving adventurer or nature lover should visit.
RAINFOREST SKYWALK, SABAH
It took two decades but Rainforest Discovery Centre (RDC) Sandakan finally completed its skywalk in early 2022. Its final 250-metre (m) addition earned the now 620m Rainforest Skywalk the title of Sabah’s longest canopy walkway.
From its 25m height and three towers – Bristlehead, Trogon and Hornbill – visitors get to appreciate not only the trees up close but also the wildlife, such as orang utan, flying squirrel and various birds.
Sabah is a land rich with canopy walks, as aside from the aforementioned, there are also the 373.6m-long Poring Canopy Walk (the highest in Sabah at 41m-43m high) at Poring Hot Spring, the 231m-long Bukit Gemok Titian Selara Canopy Walkway in Tawau, the 400m-long Maliau Basin Sky Bridge and the 300m-long Danum Valley Canopy Walk.
The latter two are only open to guests staying at the accommodations in Maliau Basin and Danum Valley, respectively.
MULU CANOPY WALK, SARAWAK
Located in Gunung Mulu National Park, Miri is a 420m walkway snaking through the tall, dense trees. At 25m high, Mulu Canopy Walk – also referred to as the Mulu Skywalk – offers a bird’s-eye view of the lush greenery and tranquil rivers below.Designated as a Unesco World Heritage Site since 2000, the park is a popular tourist attraction. Booking ahead is a must to avoid disappointment, as only guided tours are allowed on the canopy walk, and visitors without reservation will not be granted access. Birders are advised to book an early morning slot, the optimal time for birdwatching in the area.
LANGKAWI SKY BRIDGE AND TREE TOP WALK SUNGAI SEDIM, KEDAH
Whenever skywalks are mentioned, no doubt Langkawi Sky Bridge (cover pic) is among the first ones that Malaysians will picture in their minds.
And rightfully so, since the cable-stayed bridge does boast an impressive design. Standing majestically 100m above the lush greenery of Mount Machinchang, the 125m long structure is the longest free span and curved suspension bridge in the world.
Anyone wishing to walk one of the world’s longest rainforest canopy walks can head to Kulim. Nestled within the Sungai Sedim Recreational Park is the Tree Top Walk, which measures 925m long and 26m high.
There are also other activities here to experience, such as nature camp where jungle survival skills are taught and paintball sessions that include target practice and war games.
FRIM CANOPY WALK, PERLIS
Expect to see Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM) appear twice on this list. For this particular canopy walk, it is located inside the Mata Ayer FRIM Research Station in Padang Besar, Perlis. Locals at times refer to it as the SPF Mata Ayer Canopy Walk.
Measuring 100m in length and 17m in height, the canopy walk was established in 2011 for the purpose of research in the park. It comes with the added benefit of promoting ecotourism, as it has become one of the must- visits for anyone visiting the state.
