Fireflies, Blue Tears & Eagle Feeding Evening Tour with Seafood Dinner from Kuala Lumpur

Kuala Selangor and Bukit Melawati

Kuala Selangor is a small coastal town about 70 kilometres north-west of Kuala Lumpur, at the mouth of the Selangor River. Its centre is Bukit Melawati, a hill topped by the ruins of an old fort, a lighthouse and viewing points over the Strait of Malacca. It is a popular half-day trip for city visitors who want something quieter than the city.

Silver-leaf monkeys and macaques live on the hill, so keep food and loose items secured. The town is one of the best places near Kuala Lumpur for nature at sunset, and the tour is planned around the light, the tides and the darkness so that each of the three main sights is visible at its best time.

Eagle Feeding

In the late afternoon, brahminy kites and other eagles that hunt along the coast come to feed when they are offered fish, wheeling in the sky before swooping low over the water. Locals call them eagles, and the scene is a highlight for photographers and children alike.

If you are searching for eagle feeding in Kuala Selangor, this stop is included in the tour and takes place at a viewing area by the coast. Bring a camera with a zoom lens if you have one. The show depends on the birds, so timings can vary, and your guide will explain what you are seeing.

Kuala Selangor Fireflies

After dark, a small boat takes you along the river through mangrove-type trees where thousands of fireflies gather. The insects flash in unison, so whole trees seem to glow like strings of lights. It is one of the most magical evening things to do near Kuala Lumpur, and it is quiet and gentle rather than noisy.

Do not use flash photography, torches or mobile phone lights, because they disturb the insects. The best nights are dark and dry, and fewer fireflies appear when it rains or when there is a full moon. Move quietly, listen to the boatman and enjoy the view. Sightings depend on weather and season, and cannot be guaranteed.

Blue Tears on the Shoreline

The blue tears is a natural glow caused by tiny marine organisms, called bioluminescent plankton, that give off blue light when the water is disturbed. On the right night, footsteps or waves on the shore create pale blue sparks in the sand and surf, a rare sight in Malaysia.

The blue tears is unpredictable and depends on the tide, the weather and how dark the night is, so it cannot be guaranteed. Wear shoes you do not mind getting wet, and keep lights off so that the glow shows. Your guide will take you to the best place to look, and if the glow is faint, the other sights on the tour still make the evening worthwhile.

Seafood Dinner, Pickup and Timing

On the default option, dinner is served at a local seafood restaurant during the evening. Other options either meet at the Harriston Boutique meeting point, where you join your driver, or leave out dinner and give you a one-hour free-and-easy break instead.

Hotel pickup on the default option is for hotels within about three kilometres of the Petronas Twin Towers, from about 3:00 PM, and your driver sends the exact time by message the day before. The tour ends back at the towers or your hotel late in the evening, so plan your night accordingly.