Kuala Selangor Fireflies & Hot Springs Tour from Kuala Lumpur

Fireflies communicate by flashing light from their abdomen, and you watch them do it from a boat on the river.

A private tour from Kuala Lumpur to Kuala Selangor combines a soak in healing mineral waters at Setapak Hot Spring, a visit to the 1700s fortress ruins and lighthouse at Bukit Melawati, and an evening boat ride to see fireflies congregating on mangrove trees along the Selangor River. The tour includes hotel pickup, an English-speaking driver, entrance fees, and dinner. You choose between the full itinerary with hot springs or the fireflies-only option. The boat tour runs 30 to 45 minutes starting at 8 pm, and return to your hotel is around 9:30 to 10 pm.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Melawati Hill30m
2. Kuala Selangor Firefliespass by

Explore Kuala Selangor and Fireflies

• Pick up from hotel in Kuala Lumpur
• Visit Setapak Hot Spring for foot soak
• Travel to Kuala Selangor, pick up other guests
• Photo stop at Sri Shakti Temple
• Visit Bukit Melawati hill and fort
• View Altingsburg Lighthouse
• Dinner at seafood restaurant (own cost)
• Boat tour to see Kuala Selangor fireflies
• Return transfer to Kuala Lumpur hotel

The experience

The day starts with pickup from your hotel between 2 pm and 4:15 pm depending on which option you book. If you've chosen the hot springs add-on, you'll head first to Setapak Hot Spring, where locals have soaked in the mineral-rich water for four decades, believing it helps with skin conditions and general ailment relief. You soak your feet in the warm water before the driver takes you toward Kuala Selangor, picking up any fireflies-only passengers along the way.

Once in Kuala Selangor, you stop at Bukit Melawati, the hilltop fortress overlooking the Strait of Malacca. The fort dates to the late 1700s, built by Sultan Ibrahim to defend against Dutch invaders. It changed hands and was eventually destroyed during the Selangor Civil War. On weekends and public holidays, a tourist tram runs up the hill. On weekdays, you drive. Either way, you reach the 1907 lighthouse at the summit: a popular photo spot, though entry inside is not permitted. You also pass Sri Shakti Temple, a Hindu architectural landmark, though the stop is typically brief.

Before the boat tour begins at 8 pm, you have dinner at one of the seafood restaurants near the waterfront. Your driver will direct you to the best option, though the meal is at your own cost. The firefly boat tour itself departs from Pasir Penambang, just 2.5 km away, in an electrically powered fiberglass boat. The 30 to 45 minute journey takes you upriver where the fireflies (tiny beetles measuring about 5 mm, mostly the Pteroptyx tener species) congregate on berembang mangrove trees. The boat stops at a viewing station so you can watch the light show without the engine noise. Flash photography is forbidden. The fireflies communicate by emitting light, and a camera flash disrupts that. Wear insect repellent and shoes with rubber soles. Your driver returns you to your hotel by 9:30 to 10 pm.

What’s included

• Private transportation with an English-speaking driver.
• hotel pickup and drop-off.
• entrance fees to Bukit Melawati and the firefly park.
• the 30 to 45 minute electrically powered boat ride to see the fireflies.
• an air-conditioned vehicle throughout.
• and if you book the Fireflies & Hotspring option, entry to Setapak Hot Spring where you can soak your feet in the mineral waters.

Options for this experience

2 options

Fireflies Only, Hot Spring SkippedGuide in English · 16:00Fireflies Only, Hot Spring Skipped, includes pickup

Fireflies and Hot Spring TourGuide in English · 14:00Fireflies and Hot Spring Tour, pickup is included

You see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates & prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 14:00 and 16:00

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (3 to 11 years) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupUp to 15

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Asni Tours & Travel (M) Sdn Bhd

Is this one for you?Book the Fireflies & Hotspring option if you want to combine the evening boat tour with a daytime soak in the healing mineral waters. Choose Fireflies Only if you prefer to skip the hot spring and have a later afternoon pickup. Either way, the private vehicle and English-speaking driver mean you move at your own pace between stops and don't wait for other groups.

Traveler reviews

4.67★★★★★★★★★★

3 verified traveler reviews

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 11 years); Infant (under 3): free.

What exactly are the fireflies I'll see on the boat tour?

Kuala Selangor's fireflies are beetles from the Pteroptyx tener species, about 5 mm long, that congregate on berembang mangrove trees along the river at night. They communicate by flashing light from their abdomen, and the boat stops at a viewing station so you can watch the light show without disturbing them.

Do I have to choose between the hot springs and the fireflies, or can I do both?

You choose at checkout: the Fireflies & Hotspring Tour includes both the mineral water soak at Setapak and the evening boat ride, while the Fireflies Only option skips the hot spring and starts pickup later in the afternoon.

What is Bukit Melawati and what will I see there?

Bukit Melawati is a hilltop fortress near Kuala Selangor built in the late 1700s by Sultan Ibrahim to defend against Dutch invaders. You'll see the ruins of Kota Melawati fort and the 1907 lighthouse at the summit overlooking the Strait of Malacca. The lighthouse is a popular photo spot but entry inside is not allowed.

Is dinner included in the tour price?

Dinner at a seafood restaurant near the waterfront is at your own cost. Your driver will take you to one of the best restaurants in the area before the firefly boat tour starts at 8 pm.

How long is the boat ride to see the fireflies?

The firefly boat tour takes 30 to 45 minutes from the starting point at Pasir Penambang. The boat is electrically powered and stops at a viewing station where you can observe the fireflies lighting up the mangrove trees.

What should I bring or wear for this tour?

Wear comfortable walking shoes or sport shoes with rubber soles, and pack plenty of mosquito repellent. Flash photography is strictly prohibited as it interferes with the fireflies' light communication.