Visitors planning a forest escape from Kuala Lumpur should arrange their FRIM Forest Park Selangor visit in advance. The Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM) has tightened visitor management in the park’s core heritage area following its UNESCO World Heritage inscription in July 2025.
FRIM director-general Datuk Dr Ismail Parlan said access to the core heritage area is limited to 400 visitors a day through a pre-booking and guided-tour system, according to a Bernama report published on August 1. The measure is intended to manage rising demand while protecting the forest environment.
The park lies about 16 kilometres northwest of Kuala Lumpur, in Kepong, Selangor. UNESCO describes it as a mature lowland tropical forest created through reforestation on former tin-mining land beginning in the 1920s. It became Malaysia’s sixth UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2025.
Plan ahead for forest trails and guided access
FRIM’s official visitor guidance says people must not enter the forest without FRIM nature guides. It also states that entry is by booking or payment of an admission fee, while groups of more than 10 people need to request and secure approval at least three working days before their activity.
Travelers should contact the FRIM Visitor Information Centre before setting out, particularly if they want to enter forest areas, join a guide-led activity or visit on a weekend. The public visitor pages do not currently provide a single online booking calendar for the reported core-area allocation, so availability, guide arrangements and any activity-specific charges should be confirmed directly with FRIM.
FRIM’s published general campus admission fee for non-Malaysian adults is RM5 per entry, with RM1 for non-Malaysian children aged seven to 12. Vehicle fees apply separately. This general entry charge should not be assumed to include guided activities or booked attractions.
Forest Skywalk has separate booking
The Forest Skywalk is among FRIM’s better-known attractions and uses its own online ticket-booking site. FRIM lists Skywalk operating hours as Saturday to Thursday, 8.30am to 3.30pm, with Friday closure. Hours and access can change with weather conditions, and the institute advises visitors not to undertake outdoor recreation during rain.
Visitors are also asked to stay out of restricted areas, avoid creating new trails, take all rubbish seriously and not bring pets into the site. These are practical rules in a working research institution and protected forest rather than a conventional city park.
Demand has increased since the UNESCO listing, with FRIM reporting 270,849 visitors in 2025, compared with an earlier annual range of roughly 100,000 to 159,000. Booking ahead is therefore particularly sensible for travelers building the park into a short Kuala Lumpur stay or a wider Selangor itinerary.
Primary sources
Frequently Asked Questions
FRIM says entry is by booking or payment of an admission fee. For forest access and guided activities, contact the FRIM Visitor Information Centre in advance. Groups of more than 10 require a prior request, booking and approval at least three working days ahead.
Yes. FRIM’s visitor rules prohibit entering the forest without FRIM nature guides. The reported core heritage-area system also uses guided tours.
FRIM director-general Datuk Dr Ismail Parlan told Bernama that access is capped at 400 visitors a day through pre-booked guided tours. Confirm current availability and procedures with FRIM before travel, as its public visitor pages do not list a core-area booking calendar.
UNESCO places the site about 16 kilometres northwest of Kuala Lumpur, in Kepong, Selangor.
