The travel restrictions implemented worldwide due to Covid-19 brought international tourism pretty much to a halt. But, there is a silver lining in every cloud – as they say.
People are staying home and exploring their own countries, and Malaysians are no exception.
When some of the restrictions under the Movement Control Order (MCO) in March were eased, people began to cuti-cuti Malaysia and discovered some real gems.
Among these discoveries are the Paya Indah Discovery Wetlands.
Where are the Paya Indah Discovery Wetlands?
The Paya Indah Discovery Wetlands are located right next to the Paya Indah Wetlands in southern Klang Valley. They are managed by the Department of Wildlife and National Parks and the developer of the Gamuda Cove township, Gamuda Land.
Take the ELITE Highway and exit at Bandar Gamuda Cove. You will then find a building with the signboard of Paya Indah Discovery Wetlands, where you can purchase your tickets and start exploring.
What can you do at the Paya Indah Discovery Wetlands?
There is a surprising number of activities available. Apart from the usual birdwatching, here are a few things you can do:
- Hot air balloon ride
- Boat cruise
- Animal feeding
- Adventure cycling
- Horseback riding
- Fishing
What’s worth a try is the ‘Safari Insta Tour Ride’, a 45-minute ride on a jeep traversing the lush wetlands area.
The experience was akin to driving through Jurassic Park – sans dinosaurs, of course.
There are a few stops along the journey. The bamboo forest area was very pretty and calming, and there is a lake that is slated to be a fishing spot.
There is also a Malay kampung house, which was moved in its original form from Terengganu.
Touring the wetlands was a great experience, especially after being stuck in the house for a while.
Tips when visiting the Discovery Wetlands
The wetlands are a protected forest area, so here are some tips for your visit:
- Wear suitable clothing. Light shirts and sports attire are recommended.
- Bring mosquito repellents. It is a forest area after all, and the mosquitoes are always hungry!
- Don’t forget to bring your camera or phone. If not, you will have to keep everything in your mind.
- Bring bottled water, as touring the humid environment will make you thirsty.
- After visiting the Wetlands, drop by the Gamuda Cove Discovery Centre. There are a lot of other activities that can be done there.
- If you’re planning on visiting said Discovery Center, bring along some money.
NOTE: According to the Gamuda Land website, the Paya Indah Discovery Wetlands were closed on Oct 7 until further notice due to the rising number of Covid-19 cases. Check for updates.
Paya Indah Discovery Wetlands
Centre @ Discovery Park
Persiaran Cove Sentral
Bandar Gamuda Cove
42700, Banting, Selangor
TEL: (012) 932 1811
EMAIL: [email protected]
Khai and wife Amira are Malaysian travel bloggers who blog at Kaki Jalans. Their travels have taken them to almost all the countries in Asean and five countries in Europe. They are still actively travelling and adding to this list.