My fiancé and I wanted to spend some quality time together, away from technology and the hustle bustle of the city in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. A relaxing and comfortable forest retreat is the perfect answer to that, thus we booked a 2D/1N stay in Glass Box 2, Sekeping Serendah Retreat. 😀
The thought of glamping and sleeping in a glass box surrounded by untamed wilderness of the tropical rainforest makes me intrigued and excited. What better way to freshen up the soul and connect with my other half than spending time bonding together over the marvels of nature.
Sekeping Serendah Retreat – A Unique Glamping Experience
Good bye traditional camping and hello modern glamping! In case you do not know, glamping is camping, but with better and more comfortable form of accommodation and facilities. Glamping is likely to satisfy any city slicker seeking a little refuge in nature without foregoing any of life’s luxuries such as a comfy bed, ceiling fan, swimming pool and more.
Sekeping Serendah Retreat is a private retreat smacked in the middle of the tropical rainforest, located in the sleepy town of Serendah, about an hour drive from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The retreat provides basic back-to-nature experience that aims to connect visitors to nature.
The Sekeping Serendah Retreat has 10 transparent and open-air chalets set within 5 acres of tropical rainforest – each with its own unique concept, function and facilities. The Glass Boxes and Mud Sheds are suitable for couples, whereas the Glass Sheds and Timber Sheds cater to a group of 3-6 people. Both the Warehouse 1 and 2 are suitable for group stays or for holding small, private functions.
| Types of Chalet | Number of Guests | Rates* |
| Glass Box 1 | 2 | From RM300/night |
| Glass Box 2 | 2 | From RM300 /night |
| Mud Shed 1 | 2 | From RM320/night |
| Mud Shed 2 | 2 | From RM320/night |
| Glass Shed 1 | 4 | From RM500/night |
| Glass Shed 2 | 4 | From RM500/night |
| Timber Shed 1 | 6 | From RM630/night |
| Timber Shed 2 | 6 | From RM630/night |
| Warehouse 1 | 10 | From RM1160/night |
| Warehouse 2 | 10 | From RM1360/night |
* Subject to change, terms and conditions apply
A Steep & Winding Walk in the Tropical Rainforest
We booked a night stay in the Glass Box 2, Sekeping Serendah Retreat via its official website here. The booking process was pretty simple and straightforward. A night’s stay in the Glass Box 2 was RM300 (weekday rate). We paid RM150 down payment to confirm our reservation and the balance of RM150 was paid in cash to the caretaker upon our arrival at the retreat.
The check-in time is after 2pm and the check-out time is before 12pm. My fiancé and I arrived earlier and was allowed to check-in early. One of the Nepalese caretakers helped to carry my luggage and took us to our Glass Box 2 chalet.
The marked path leading to the chalets is winding, narrow and without any handrails, therefore visitors are advised to exercise caution when walking on the path. Certain areas of the path are steep, so we watched our step and kept our balance in check at all times. It took about 5 minutes to reach our chalet.
A Night in the Glass Box 2 – Going Commando Has Never Felt Better
What can I say, I love, love, LOVE the Glass Box 2 chalet at Sekeping Serendah Retreat! Overall, the chalet lived up to my realistic expectations. The see-through glass chalet is spacious, acceptably clean and has a breathtaking and better view than the Glass Box 1 chalet. Curtains are provided to provide shade from the sun and privacy from nosey neighbours and prying eyes.
The minimalistic-style chalet comes with a queen-sized bed with mosquito net, ceiling fan, mini fridge, oven toaster, electric kettle, cooking stove, outdoor coffee table, BBQ pit, charcoal, skewers and cutleries. Packets of 3-in-1 instant coffee and Milo (chocolate drink) were provided too.
The cold/hot water shower, toilet bowl and sink are located outdoors. I have to say, taking a shower or dump out in the wild (with no shower curtains) was certainly an exhilarating and unforgettable experience – going commando has never felt better! Haha! 😛
Rest assured to know that the chalets are cleverly spaced out and hidden by foliage, ensuring some form of privacy to its occupants. Here is a tip for you: Take a shower or dump at night with the lights turned off. That way, nobody will be able to see what you are doing.
Mosquito coils, tissue paper, toilet paper, soap and dishwashing liquid are also provided. However, towels and toiletries are not provided. There is no TV, no Wi-Fi and poor mobile telecommunication reception at the retreat. To my surprise, umbrellas were provided too.
Just the Two of Us & Mother Nature
The Glass Box 2 chalet seems to float gently over the tropical rainforest grounds and the glass walls enable us to enjoy the beautiful scenery from the comfort of our bed. My fiancé and I lay on the comfy bed and listened to the soothing sounds of nature for an hour or two before venturing outside later that day.
We immersed ourselves in nature’s serenity and enjoyed the peace and quiet of our natural surroundings. There was no one in sight, just the two of us and Mother Nature – utter bliss! For the pricey price we paid, I expect no or minimal human interaction and that was what we got. 😀
Colourful birds, small lizards and huge black ants were seen foraging for food around the compound of the Glass Box 2 from time to time. Thankfully, no monkeys were present to disrupt our peace. It was my fiancé’s first time being in a tropical rainforest. He was impressed and enjoyed the experience. 😀
Up next: Exploring Sekeping Serendah Retreat – forest walk, infinity swimming pool, checking out the waterfall, a scrumptious BBQ dinner and sleeping under the forest canopy and stars
Hi Erika,
You have written this blog post a couple of years back and I recently come across while searching for weekend getaway in KL. As this place is nestled in a jungle, do u experience mosquitoes, insects or bugs? I wonder if that’s uncomfortable when you are trying to relax!
Cheers, Zaryl
Hi Zaryl,
First of all, I apologise for the extremely late reply as I haven’t been updating my blog for a while now.
The answer to your question is yes, there’re mosquitoes, insects and bugs in the area. You can’t possibly avoid them, but you can minimise their presence around you. We went there prepared with mosquito repellent and bug spray. The management do provide a box of mosquito coil for guests to use which we did – we used up the entire box just to keep the bugs away.
We also turned off all non-essential lights and lock/close the doors and windows early to prevent them from getting into our glass box. Sleep wise, we use the mosquito net provided in the glass box. Overall, we weren’t bothered too much by the mosquitoes, insects and bugs and had a great time there. Hope that helps. All the best and safe travels to you.
Best regards,
Erika
Hi Erika,
Is it safe if i bring my children around 3 years old and 1 year old kids? What do u think honestly? Or better just go with my husband only?
Tq for ur answers!
Regards,
Tyra
Hi Tyra,
Honestly, I don’t recommend you bringing your young children to Sekeping Serendah especially if you’re planning to stay in one of the Glass Boxes for safety reasons. There’re no handrails or fences along the walkway or around the Glass Boxes, so it could be a safety hazard for young children. Best to go with your husband and spend a relaxing and romantic getaway together. 🙂
Hope that helps. Safe travels and enjoy your trip!
Best regards,
Erika
Hi! How far was the pool from Glass Box 2? I understand there are 2 pools. Which one would you recommend?
Hi Praveena,
Yes, there’re two pools at Sekeping Serendah. The closest pool to Glass Box 2 is Pool 1. For your info, Pool 1 has toilets and a sitting area while Pool 2 does not have any toilets. Pool 2, also known as the Infinity Pool is located about 20-30 minutes away from Glass Box 2. Although Pool 2 is further than Pool 1, it offers a much better view than Pool 1. Therefore, I would personally recommend visiting or hanging out at Pool 2.
Hope that helps. Safe travels and enjoy your trip! 🙂
Best regards,
Erika
Hi Erika,
I’d love to go here, but is that safe if my partner and i have some intimacy time together? (shy.) sorry for this kind of question, sorry
Hi Kam Keong,
No worries, I understand. As long as you lock the gate/entrance to the Glass Box, close all the curtains and even turn off the lights for extra privacy, your partner and yourself would and should be able to spend some romantic and intimate time together there.
Enjoy and have a good time! 🙂
Best regards,
Erika
Hi Erika,
Is this place suitable for a person on a wheelchair?
Hi Doris,
Due to the uneven terrain and relatively steep walking paths without any handrails/barriers, I have to say the place isn’t really suitable for a person on a wheelchair.
Best regards,
Erika
is it safe to do it solo? the jungle trekking and waterfall things?
Hi Ai,
I guess it’s safe, but not advisable to go jungle trekking or visit the waterfall alone as the road is quite deserted/quiet and there’s a detention center nearby. Best to travel in pairs or in groups for safety reasons.
Hope that helps. Safe travels to you.
Best regards,
Erika
Hi, can you hike around there? Did you cook for yourselves? How far is it from the village? Great photos of what to expect. Thank you
Hi Theresa,
I apologise for the late reply as I was away on a long holiday and hadn’t been updating my blog as often as I wish it to be.
With regards to your question, there’re certain activities that you can do there such as visiting the waterfall (30 minutes walk) or the Orang Asli village (5 minutes walk). There are some jungle treks nearby, but we didn’t try it.
As for food, you have two options:
1. Prepare your own (there’s a mini toaster in the room where you can heat frozen pizzas or make toasts) or opt to have a self-cook BBQ (there’s a barbecue pit out on the verandah/balcony). The management only supplys the charcoal (FOC) and helps you to start the fire.
2. Book a Nepalese meal that costs approximately RM20 a person. The meal is prepared by the accommodation caretaker and must be booked in advance and is subjected to availability.
For your info, we had a barbecue and yes, we brought the ingredients and cooked our own meals there.
Hope that answers your question. Enjoy your trip and safe travels to you.
Best regards,
Erika