Camping is an outdoor activity that entails spending the night in a protective shelter in nature. Camping is a broad term, but in essence, camping is a way to get away from the hustle and bustle of city life and into a more natural environment for a limited time. Researchers discovered a link between outdoor activity and a reduction in depressive thoughts. Sleeping under the stars allows you to reconnect with your natural circadian rhythms, the foundation for good sleep and health.
When people engage in recreational activities such as camping, their bodies immediately release an extraordinary molecule known as serotonin. Serotonin, also known as the “happy hormone,” aids in the relief of stress symptoms in the body. Camping also helps you build and strengthen relationships, one of its most essential aspects. When camping with friends or family, you can talk and visit without interruption, even late at night. So, check out our top 10 best camping activities in Malaysia in 2025.
What Is The Most Popular Kind Of Camping?
Tent camping is the most basic type of camping everyone is familiar with; it entails pitching a tent in a local park, recreational area, or just about anywhere in the great outdoors.
What Is The Most Common Camping Issue?
The unpredictable bad weather. Rain, snow, hail, and lightning storms are all possible. These can be lovely aspects of being in nature, but if you are unprepared, they can ruin your camping trip.
10 Best Camping Activities in Malaysia 2025
Water Activities
Land Activities
Rainy Day Activities
Night Activities
Water Activities
If you are camping near a body of water, take advantage of it by planning water activities.
1. Fishing
Fishing is a fun activity and one of many people’s last connections to their food sources and the great outdoors. Fishing while camping enhances these pleasures, adding an air of adventure and a tinge of danger to the experience. You’ll also want to know whether cooking your fish poses a fire risk and whether you have all the necessary permits to camp, fish, and cook there. Learning about the terrain will also help you decide how much and what equipment you’ll need to pack in and out of the campsite.
Filleting requires more work because it involves gutting, deboning, and cutting up the fish, resulting in smaller fillets that last longer than whole bodies. Whatever method you choose, you should pack the fish in an ice cooler that seals well enough to keep any lingering fish odours in. If you don’t have ice, transporting the fish in cold water in sealed bags will give you more time to get them on the road and eventually into a fridge, freezer, or cooking pot.
Pros:
- Reduce your cortisol level
- Cardiovascular exercise
- Teaches you to focus and be patience
2. Kayaking
Kayaking is a fun activity that involves paddling through water in a small boat with a double-bladed paddle. The boat driver can navigate waterways by sitting forward and propelling forward with alternating side-to-side paddle strokes. One of the primary advantages of a kayak camping trip is the ability to explore remote areas inaccessible on foot or by a larger boat. If you’re feeling particularly adventurous, you could even hop in your kayak without a plan and see where the wind or river takes you.
It’s as if all of your worries and stress have vanished. Perhaps it’s the cool breeze or the waves crashing against the boat. Kayaking isn’t just for scenic views; it’s also a great way to unwind and de-stress from the hectic pace of modern life. Whatever it is, there is no denying that spending time on a boat can benefit your soul. Unlike cycling or hiking, paddling allows you to get on the water and see nature in ways you wouldn’t otherwise. The perspective from the water is frequently very different from the perspective from the land.
Pros:
- Improve aerobic fitness
- Build strength
- Increase flexibility
3. Rafting
Rafting and whitewater rafting are outdoor recreational activities that involve navigating a river or other body of water on an inflatable raft. This is frequently done on whitewater or in varying degrees of roughness. Risk is frequently a part of the experience. Whitewater rafting is simply paddling a raft through whitewater. Whitewater is a type of river water distinguished by short, shallow stretches of water. These shallow stretches are called ‘rapids,’ They come in various ‘grades,’ or levels of choppiness/difficulty of passage.
Malaysia has many whitewater rafting rivers due to the country’s topography. Because of its tropical climate, whitewater rafting is available all year. In Malaysia, you can enjoy everything from high-adrenaline Grade 5 rapids to more tranquil family rides. Some rivers are incredibly remote and long, cutting through kampongs and Orang Asli settlements. There are opportunities to travel through virgin rainforests teeming with birds and animal life, while others pass through limestone caves and prehistoric archaeological sites.
Pros:
- Strengthening muscles
- Great for teamwork building and bonding
- Self-esteem booster
Land Activities
When you’ve had enough of being on the water, go for a walk around the campground. At campgrounds, there are always new people to meet and exciting things to discover while exploring the outdoors.
4. Riding A Bicycle
Some individuals consider camping by riding bicycles. Many people, however, prefer to leave their bikes at home when camping. This is unfortunate because there are many unique experiences from the bicycle seat, implying that an uncomplicated bicycle can enhance and improve a camping trip. Riding bicycles is enjoyable. It’s exhilarating to pedal as fast as you can or ride downhill, and a leisurely ride around the campground is the ideal way to end a lovely day of camping. This alone should convince you to pack your bicycle and take it on your next camping trip.
Whether you stick to dirt trails or rural roads, a bicycle allows you to enjoy the great outdoors while slowing down and getting up close and personal with the scenery. Not only that, but a bicycle allows you to reach many out-of-the-way campsites that a car could not reach. Indeed, many campgrounds have bicycles-only campsites that are often more private than standard car campsites. Bicycle camping is, of course, a great workout. Cycling outside is a great way to breathe fresh air and exercise simultaneously. This combination is highly effective for improving both physical and mental health.
Pros:
- Burns fat and calories
- Improve muscle tone and strength in the legs
- Strengthen cardiovascular system
5. Hiking
Hiking in Malaysia is an excellent way to escape the country’s bustling cities and get up close and personal with Southeast Asia’s oldest tropical rainforest. The best way to appreciate Malaysia’s tropical sea-meets-jungle terrain is from the top of its forested mountains. Some people enjoy hiking because they enjoy spending time in nature. Others seek the adrenaline rush and physical challenge that a high ridge provides. Hiking is such a diverse activity. It’s tough to define exclusively.
According to a 2010 study, even 5 minutes of outdoor exercise can boost confidence. So picture yourself after a day on the trail. Hiking can make you feel stronger, more capable, independent, and prepared to face whatever life throws. Hiking in nature, according to researchers, may reduce competition among different brain activities. This relaxation allows the hiking brain to open up to new flexible ways of thinking, increasing creativity.
Pros:
- Improving sense of balance
- Enhancing heart health
- Decreasing the risk of certain respiratory problems
6. Nature Photographing
It is impossible to imagine going camping without this device. It is just as important as everything else. Because it records and captures every detail of your journey. To have a recording of your camping trip, you must have the best trail camera for security with you. There is a lot of sunlight in outdoor photography. You’ll appreciate the abundance of natural light. There’s no need to be concerned about low lighting or where to get ambient light. Outdoor photography aids in creating an atmosphere or theme for your photographs.
The abundance of subjects is the first reason to choose nature photography as your preferred genre. Nature photography encompasses all aspects of the natural world. Landscapes, stars, wildlife, flowers, insects, rocks, and other natural elements can all be photographed. One of the most significant advantages of nature photography is its ability to educate others about the beauty and vulnerability of our planet.
Pros:
- Improve productivity
- Boost happiness
- Limit the effects of stress
Rainy Day Activities
Camping puts you at the mercy of Mother Nature. There may be days when the weather is less than ideal, or you want to play quietly and enjoy the calm of the outdoors.
7. Arts And Crafts
Some children can sit still for long periods. Some people do not. However, all campers learn to be more calm, still, and relaxed when focused on a fun art project, whether drawing with charcoal, moulding a clay pot, or painting a stump. Some of the many benefits of art you may need to be aware of include stress relief, brain training, and opportunities to connect and socialise with others. Many studies have shown that creating art can improve your mental health and brain plasticity.
Adult camping crafts are the best, especially when they involve being outside. Consider spending time with your friends and family doing fun things together. This is not only a great way to have fun while camping but also a great way to teach everyone valuable skills for everyday life. Even if you are camping with your family or friends, you must still make it a fun experience for everyone.
Pros:
- Improve creativity
- Increasing problem-solving skills
- Enhance hand-eye coordination
8. Board Games
Board games are an excellent way to bring the entire camping team together when it rains, during downtime, or simply because they are a lot of fun! They don’t require electricity and are a great way to pass the time. Playing board games also lowers the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease and helps to keep the mind sharp in the elderly. There are numerous advantages for children. Board games are known to benefit children’s mental development and make teenagers more intelligent.
Board games are a type of tabletop game in which pieces or counters are moved around a board according to a set of rules. Many board games, for example, require players to roll a die, primarily based on chance, whereas others are more skill-based or focused on turn-taking. Board games also teach you to take turns, be patient, work as part of a team, negotiate with others, compromise, communicate ideas, take risks, follow the rules and directions, and manage constraints. To be successful at games, players must improve their social skills.
Pros:
- Build memory, logic, and reasoning
- Reduce stress
- Enhance concentration
Night Activities
When the cool night air signals that it’s time to go to bed, gather around the campfire for fun activities that will make your camping trip memorable.
9. Sharing Scary Stories
Everyone gathered around the campfire is content and relaxed. The sun has set, and the darkness has descended on the woods. That’s when you know it’s time to tell your fellow campers about a campsite horror story. Any horror story relies heavily on the atmosphere. Fortunately, a campfire in the woods at night is ideal for telling your terrifying story. Before the impenetrable darkness of the woods entirely swallows the light, the flickering ring of light from the flames casts long shadows into the trees. People feel safe and secure within that ring of light, but it doesn’t take much to set them all on edge.
If you want to create your story, research online before your camping trip. Some numerous topics and stories can be used to create spine-chilling tales. Make an effort to incorporate your surroundings into the story. Mention how the people in the story heard something similar if you hear a twig snap in the woods. Discuss how the night you’re telling the story is eerily similar to the night the story takes place. Anything that makes your listeners feel more involved in the story is ideal.
Pros:
- Learn how to recognize a threatening situation
- Increase solve problem skills
- Boost natural survival instincts
10. Stargazing
It lets you see things differently every time you visit the stargazing lounge. According to physiologists, the best ideas emerge when we are at peace. Watching the night sky can help clear your mind and allow your creative spirit to flow through you. Stargazing can pique our interest, teach us about our place in the universe, and be a fun activity for campers of all ages. Looking at the stars helps us maintain perspective on what we believe is essential, overwhelming, and complex.
If you’re like most people, gazing at a starry sky will make you feel something rare, unique, and primal. You may have the impression that you are in the presence of something so vast that you cannot fully comprehend its size and complexity. You feel a wave of fear or anxiety washes over you. Stargazing can help you improve your vision because the more you observe the stars in the sky, the better you will see all the fine details. Looking at the sky gives the impression that there are no boundaries or limitations, no borders to gravity, space, or time.
Pros:
- Stress reliever
- Improve eyesight
- Enhance creative mind
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Disclosure: This list was compiled by the team at My Weekend Plan after extensive research and shared opinions to suggest helpful recommendations for the public. The sequence of brands is in no particular order so if you have any other great suggestions too, please email us support@myweekendplan.asia. For more information, kindly refer to our copyright, privacy & disclosure policy.
