Kuala Sepetang River Cruise

Embark on a magical experience …

Kuala Sepetang is a sleepy coastal town close to Taiping in Perak, Malaysia. It is a town richly endowed by nature, famous for its charcoal kilns, mangrove swamp, and seafood. This is a fishing town that is rich in culture and history.

Just about 60 minutes or 18km to the west of Taiping city to Kuala Sepetang. It is a thriving fishing village, and the main jumping-off point to the river mouth community of Kuala Sangga, which is a Chinese fishing community at the river mouth which specializes in fish breeding in cages.

The Port Weld railway station was located in the center of town. In fact, this is the 1st train station in Malaysia which commenced operation in 1885, with a short railway track connected to Taiping. Notice that during those good old days, the sign has 4 languages on it. Today, the train station has already ceased operation and the railway track had been demolished, leaving this sign as a memorial. The whole railway line from here to Taiping, which was the first railway line in the Peninsular. However, now it is dismantled, and only the ticketing booth and the Port Weld railway signboard remain.

Embark on a magical experience as you hop on a boat at the Kuala Sepetang Jetty on this river cruise. Journey through the fishermen village to the charcoal factory. As the boat whisks you along the mangrove river area, enjoy the sights of the Port Weld riverside houses on stilts, a boat-repair area, and wildlife. It is something to experience at least once compared to the modern river cruises with large attractions and touristy spots.

Have you ever been to a charcoal factory before? And a sustainable one at that. The Kuala Sepetang charcoal factory is a fascinating place to stop by.

This factory has been passed down from generations within the family. It is also interesting to note that the river is used for transporting chopped mangrove wood to the charcoal factory in Kuala Sepetang.

That’s exactly what the 80+-year-old Kuala Sepetang charcoal factory is. A quick search on Google will turn up a total of 5 main charcoal factories in Malaysia. There are 4 in Peninsular Malaysia and 1 in Sarawak. One of these charcoal factories and the largest of them all is in Kuala Sepetang.

As the river cruise continues, you can take in the beauty of the mangrove river scenery. See if you can catch a glimpse of the white herons, hairy-nosed otters, and mischievous monkeys. Feel the breeze in your hair as the wind blows on the boat. The sights and sounds that surround you will take the stress off your shoulders.

The Mangrove Forest Reserve is known as the best managed sustainable mangrove ecosystem in the world. This mangrove reserve contains rich and diverse wildlife that provide nature lovers to visit and explore its wetlands and resources. You can stroll along the wooden boardwalk and observe forestry and fishing activities and denizens that thrive in the muddy mangrove floor. Visit the mangrove forest and charcoal kiln sites which are found more inland. Bird watching and fishing are the primary activities in the morning while at night get a boat ride to see synchronized blinking lights of fireflies.

Like all mangrove swamps, the Matang Mangrove Forest Reserve has been proven to act as a natural barrier against tsunamis. Undoubtedly, it is an important site for coastal migratory waterbirds and a portion of migrant forest birds. As many as 43,000 to 85,000 birds may be seen using the forest during the migration.

Did you know,that you don’t have to go to Langkawi just to watch the eagle feeding?

Along the boat ride, you will be able to feed eagles. Watch them swoop down to get their daily treats. This is one of those magical experiences that you do not need to go far to experience.