(Review) 2D1N Itinerary at Kuala Sepetang

Kuala Sepetang is a 💎hidden gem that's perfect for a low-budget👨‍👩‍👧‍👦family outing. Though it may not be as 💏romantic as the city of Venice, Italy, it's still a unique destination where houses are separated by a river that flows underneath them. Recently, we took a trip to Kuala Sepetang and followed this itinerary. Check it out!

Check-in Homestay (12pm - 12:30pm)

We rented our accommodation with CK Homestay. 🏡This house has 3 floors, and the family of the homestay owner is staying on the 1st floor. If you are worried about interrupting the family, you don't have to. Because there is a specially built 🚪door that leads to the staircase at the side of the house! It is reserved for guests like us to use! The host is a 😄friendly guy, and he made our stay a comfortable one.

*Air limau ais ikat tepi, courtesy of the host!*

There were 4 of us, so we rented 2 rooms for our stay in Kuala Sepetang and we got rooms on the third floor with a great view of the village! (Insert excited screaming here😆). Keep in mind, there's no lift, so don't overpack! Checking in is a breeze, just contact the host to open the door and you're in. The third floor features a spacious living room with some comfy sofas, a 📺TV and a fridge. And the best part? Each room has its own bathroom, so you don't have to worry about manufacturing 💩 in it.

We rented a room with two single beds that were actually 🛌quite comfy. The owner told us that for a little extra sleeping space, we can add a mattress for just RM10 (damn worth it!). Each room comes equipped with towels and clothes hangers, and the bathroom even has a 2-in-1 shampoo that can be used for both hair and body (wow, talk about versatility!).

This homestay in Kuala Sepetang has all the amenities you need to make your stay comfortable and convenient. On the balcony, you'll find a clothes drying rack, a hot and cold water dispenser, and even a washing machine. There are also chairs and tables where you can sit, eat and hang out.

*Cups are available on the water dispenser*

Matang Mangrove Forest Eco-Education Center (12:30 pm - 1:30 pm)

After checking in, we strolled over to the Matang Mangrove Forest Eco-Education Center (just a 3-minute walk away). Did you know that this forest has been hailed as the best-managed mangrove forest on the planet? And not just because it's pretty to look at, but because it plays a vital role in the mangrove swamp ecosystem, especially for our feathered friends during migration season🐦.

After a few minutes of walking, you'll stumble upon a quaint little gallery that showcases exhibits on mangrove trees and the various types of charcoal produced from them. The exhibits are presented in a fun and easy-to-understand way, with cartoon illustrations and graphics that make it perfect for kids to learn something new. Who knows, maybe this can help them get an "A" in science & geography🤷‍♀️?.

You can use the walkway to explore the beautiful mangrove forest at Kuala Sepetang. Just a heads up, the endpoint of the walkway isn't connected to the starting point, so if you're feeling a bit lazy, you might not want to make the trek all the way to the end. We were kinda lazy to walk back😩 so we didn't walk till the end.

Mee Udang Mak Jah (1:30pm-3pm)

TADAA!! This is the super famous Kuala Sepetang mee udang (🦐shrimp noodle)! This writer has been 🤤dying to try this viral dish for ages and finally had the chance to eat it! According to one of the employees, the weekend queue for this popular mee udang is usually pretty long (we were lucky leh~). So why is Mee Udang Mak Jah so beloved by locals and tourists alike? Here's the answer… 👇

*5-6 fat and fresh shrimps found on each bowl*

The price for a bowl of Mee Udang at Kuala Sepetang RM15. With the amount of 🦐shrimps, this is considered pretty reasonable especially for those who hail from KL. And if you're allergic to seafood, don't worry, there are plenty of other options available, like fried rice, mihun, and kway teow.

Charcoal Factory (3pm - 3.30pm)

After satisfying our tummies😋, we headed over to a charcoal factory in Kuala Sepetang. Upon arriving, we were greeted by the manager, who kindly took us on a tour of the factory. He showed us around and patiently explained the various stages of charcoal production, which we learned can be quite complicated. According to the manager, the production process involves closely monitoring and adjusting the 🔥fire to ensure that the wood is not burned too severely. It was a fascinating experience that gave us a new appreciation for the process of making charcoal.

*The manager is explaining the use of the kilns*

Ever wonder how charcoal is made? At this factory in Kuala Sepetang, the process involves stacking wood in a pyramid shape before burning it in a kiln. The charcoal that we often use for barbecues comes from the wood at the top of the pile. Any excess waste that doesn't become charcoal is converted into fertilizer. Pretty cool, huh?

*Soap, wood dan charcoal steam water for sale*

Did you know that this factory in Kuala Sepetang doesn't just produce charcoal?They also have a variety of charcoal products that visitors can purchase as souvenirs to take home with them. Some examples include charcoal soaps (the white ones are good for treating skin conditions like tinea, while the black ones are great for exfoliating), multi-purpose charcoal steam water, and burned mangrove wood, (which is not suitable for BBQing by the way) that looks great as a decorative piece. So be sure to check out these unique offerings while you're here!

*Charcoal woods with beautiful wood grains*

Boat Tour (3:30pm - 6pm)

The guide is fluent in Malay, English, and Mandarin, so no matter what language you speak, you'll be able to join in on the fun. As soon as we set sail, we made our way to the shell beach. And let me tell you, this isn't your typical sandy beach, it's actually made up of 🐚seashells! Trust us, you'll be surprised when you see it for yourself.

*From a distance, it looks like a lump of sand...*

... turns out not even a single speck of sand can be found — *...turns out not even a single speck of sand can be found*

So how did this mysterious phenomenon come to be? Allow us to enlighten you. Cockles breeding is one of the main economic activities here in Kuala Sepetang. It turns out, the local shellfish farmers here toss the shells into the river after extracting the cockle flesh The river currents then carry the shells to this beach, where they pile up over time. And boom! You've got yourself a Shell Beach! Isn't Mother Nature just full of surprises?

*Eagles here are fed with chicken skin and fats*

As we made our way to the fish farm, we were treated to a special sight, 🦅eagle feeding time! These majestic birds are even more impressive in person. Our tour guide also told us that if we're lucky, we might catch a glimpse of the elusive "Lucky Dolphins". These are pink dolphins that are known to swim these waters. Keep your 👀eyes peeled, and fingers crossed!

BEWARE! The pufferfish's skin is poisonous & wash your hands with soap after touching it! — *BEWARE! The pufferfish's skin is poisonous, so wash your hands with soap after touching it!*

Next up on our tour was a visit to a traditional Malay fishing village. 🦐Shrimp fishing is the main industry here, and we got to see firsthand how the shrimps are graded and prepared for sale. We also had the opportunity to watch the fishermen in action, using traditional methods to catch their daily haul. And of course, our knowledgeable tour guide was on hand to provide all the details and explanations.

*Fishermen sorting out the shrimps that they caught*

*The long poles that are used to catch shrimps*

D'port @ Kuala Sepetang (6pm-8pm)

*There is a variety of dishes and fresh seafood here*

After a full day of adventures, we were ready for a delicious meal at D'port @ Kuala Sepetang. Just be warned: the wait can be quite long, especially on weekends (the wait is usually more than 1 hour during the weekends). So make sure to come early to avoid missing out on the firefly tour later. Trust us, it's worth the effort to plan ahead and beat the crowds.

*The cook is preparing our sambal grilled fish*

We ordered a sambal grilled fish, salted egg crab, fried squid, tom yam shrimp and salted fish kailan. Starving + long waiting time = we gobbled up everything at lightning ⚡speed!

Firefly Tour (8pm)

*Waiting to depart for our firefly tour!*

Whew, we barely made it to the jetty on time! At first, we tried to snap a few pictures with our 📱smartphones, but all we ended up with were tiny white dots on the screen. It was unfortunate that we weren't able to properly capture the magic on camera but it was an unforgettable experience all the same.

What our camera saw... — *What our cameras saw...*

It turns out that sometimes, the beauty of nature can only be truly appreciated with our own 👀eyes. That's why we recommend coming to Kuala Sepetang to witness the magic for yourself. Our tour guide told us that the fireflies here only inhabit certain species of mangrove trees (Wow! That's an interesting fact!). After enjoying the fireflies tour, we headed back to our homestay for the night. The next day, we checked out at noon and made our way back to KL. It was a trip to remember.

All in all, we learned so much on this tour, from the crucial role of 🌳mangrove trees to the process of making charcoal and catching 🦐shrimp. It was also a relatively relaxing tour, as there wasn't much walking involved. Plus, all the restaurants and attractions are just a short walk away, making Kuala Sepetang an eco-tourism destination that's perfect for visiting with 👵👴elderly parents and children.

PLAN YOUR KUALA SEPETANG TRIP WITH US TODAY!