Malaysia has it all: from small limestone hills and crags to mountains with sandstone or granite walls, and with all levels of difficulty. While an increasing number of sites are being discovered and enjoyed, potentially hundreds more are waiting to be found. Much of Malaysia is still covered in dense rainforests, hiding many good rock climbing sites.

The most popular climbing sites are still near or around Kuala Lumpur and Selangor state, namely the famous Batu Caves and Bukit Takun to the city’s north. Huge potential lies further north and east, in the states of Perak (around the scenic limestones of Ipoh and beyond), Perlis, Kelantan and Pahang where hundreds of limestone crags await exploration. With a few well known exceptions such as Gunung Kinabalu in Sabah and Gunung Mulu in Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo offers enormous untapped opportunities for rock climbing.

Most of the known climbing routes in Malaysia are bolted sport climbs on limestone crags, with some exceptions on granite walls. The French grading system is commonly used here.

Indoor climbing gyms are increasingly popular, either at government youth and sports complex facilities or private operators.