:: AsiaValley Holidays - Fraser's Hill / One of Malaysia's premier locations for bird watching ::

Sitting pretty amidst the Pahang rainforests is the little hamlet of Fraser's Hill. At 1,524 metres above sea level, this highlands resort is a naturalists' paradise that boasts innumerable plant, bird and animal species. This resort is popular for those who are interested in nature based pursuits such as trekking, bird watching, horse riding, fishing and camping.

Origins

Fraser's Hill owes its name to a Scottish trader, Louis James Fraser, who established a tin ore trading station in the forested mountains between the Selangor and Pahang border at the end of the 19th century.

Fraser was known to have used a mule train to ascend the hill and trade in tin until the fateful day where he mysteriously disappeared into the dense forested hills. A search was mounted for Fraser but he was never found. The hills were eventually developed into a hill retreat and were named after the missing Scotsman in 1919.

Access to Fraser's Hill is only possible by road via the Gap at the base of the resort. Once through the Gap and into Fraser's Hill, you will feel as though you have gone back in time. Fraser's Hill is akin to a little Scottish village with granite coloured mock Tudor buildings dotting the landscape. The town is relatively small, with much of the activity centred on a market square dominated by a little clock tower. Most of the town's amenities are housed in colonial styled buildings.

To support the conservation efforts carried out in this naturalists' paradise, the Fraser's Hill Nature Education Centre (FHNEC) was set up. This outlet is the first stop for those who are looking to learn more about the resort and its abundant flora and fauna. To maintain the relatively unspoiled beauty, FHNEC and other parties are undertaking conservation efforts to preserve the eight scenic nature trails.

Considered one of Malaysia's premier locations for bird watching, this hill resort hosts the annual Fraser's Hill International Bird Race. This bird watching competition requires bird watchers to race against time by spotting as many bird species as possible within the resort's routes.

Fraser's Hill also has an abundance of relaxing activities to indulge in. You could play a game of golf at the 9-hole Royal Fraser's Hill Golf Club or the 18-hole Fraser's Hill Golf & Country Club, fishing and boating at Allans' Water, stroll along the many beautiful flower gardens and parks or splash it out in the icy cold Jeriau Waterfalls.

What to See and Do

The Town. Picturesque colonial-style buildings have found new use as the post office, police station, clinic, tourist information centre, inns, cafes and restaurants.

There is also a Nature Education Centre and an active bird watching group. Though equipped with good visitor amenities, development at this resort has been careful to co-exist with the environment, preserving the original charm of the place.

Bird Watching. Fraser's Hill has long been a top bird watching destination for local and international bird watchers.

The relatively undisturbed jungle clad mountain terrain and the cool climate attracts over 250 species of birds, some coming from as far as Siberia.

Around the middle of the year, international as well as local bird watchers gather at the resort to participate in the Fraser's Hill International Bird Race, a non-competitive event that requires bird watchers to race against time to spot as many bird species as possible within the routes in Fraser's Hill. Some of the species found here are silver tailed mesia, chestnut-capped laughing thrush, blue-winged minla, golden babblers, mountain bulbul, mountain fulvettta, bronze drongo and greater yellow-necked woodpecker.

Nature Walks. The Beauty of Fraser's Hill is best experienced when you walk through the green splendours of a jungle trail. Small animal life like monkeys and squirrels can be spotted if you're lucky, while larger animals like tigers and tapirs are quite rare. Jungle trails are graded and marked to indicate varying degrees of difficulty.

Picnicking. The Jeriau Waterfalls is about 5km from the town centre. From the road, paved footpaths lead visitors to the waterfall. Public visitor facilities include a picnic area, shower rooms and changing areas.

Sportslovers will find that Fraser's Hill offers adequate public facilities for both indoor and outdoor activities. A Sports Complex provides a sauna, two tennis courts and a heated swimming pool. There are also two tennis courts which charge RM5 an hour for morning and afternoon sessions, and RM7 an hour for night sessions. Other activities include horse riding, jogging and angling.

Golfing. A Short and tricky 9-hole golf course is available at the Royal Fraser's Hill Golf Club. Its unique feature is the three-tiered 7th fairway, which takes the shape of a man's body. It then narrows down at the landing area and widens again at the approach of the green. Green fees are RM30 on weekdays and RM40 on weekends and public holiday. Caddy fees are RM10 per round of 9 holes. Golf sets are available for hire. The 18-hole Fraser's Hill Golf and Country Club is located in the vicinity of the Jeriau Waterfalls, 3 kilometres from the town centre. Managed by the Silver Park Holiday Resort, the course features a colonial-style clubhouse with tennis courts, a restaurant and other amenities.

Flower Gardens. The cool climate promotes a profusion of blooms in startling shades of colour. Freshly cut roses, dahlia, chrysanthemum, daisies, potted fushchia or geranium can be bought at the nurseries in Fraser's Hill.

Click here to check out more at Pahang's interesting destinations

How to get there

Fraser's Hill is an hour and a half drive from Kuala Lumpur. En route, you will pass the town of Kuala Kubu Bharu and the journey thereafter will take approximately 45 minutes.

When you arrive at the foot of Fraser's Hill, you will need to stop at the 'Gap', a stretch that utilises a gate control system to regulate the flow of ascending and descending traffic.

Because the road is very narrow, uphill traffic is allowed at odd hours; from 7am to 7pm, while downhill traffic is allowed through at even hours from 8am to 6pm.

During these times, traffic is only allowed through for the first 40 minutes of each hour (no traffic is allowed through in the last 20 minutes). This 20-minute buffer act as a safety measure to ensure that all vehicles have enough time to reach their destinations. Traffic between 8pm and 6.40am is not controlled and the gate remains open on both lanes.