Bukit Merah Laketown Resort – Affordable Family Fun Theme Park (2020)

Just 30 minutes’ drive away from Taiping in Semanggol, Perak is the family-friendly Bukit Merah Laketown Resort.

It may come across as a shock to know that this brightly-colored theme park in Perak is still going strong despite being more than 20 years old!

Originally part of a huge Lake Town project that was never completed:

Bukit Merah Laketown resort is in front of a huge lake (Lake Bukit Merah) where you can take a boat across to the Bukit Merah Orang Utan Island Foundation.

Table of contents:

• How To Go
• Map
• Ticket Price
• Opening Hours
• Things To Do
• Accommodation
• What To Eat
• Review
• Tips For Visiting

How To Go To Bukit Merah Laketown Resort

Driving?

Look out for the Bukit Merah toll exit (Exit 150) on the North South Highway (Leburaya Utara-Selatan).

Enroute to Ipoh – photo credits to faez_guest (Instagram)

From Penang: 40 – 45 minutes

From Kuala Lumpur: 3 hours

From Ipoh: 45 minutes from the city, 1 hour from the airport

By the way:

Direct Transport From Ipoh To Bukit Merah Laketown Resort

Consider booking a private tour service with RayTheTour!

The benefits are:

1. Transport as well as a private local-born tour guide who speaks English
2. Free pick up from your hotel within Ipoh or from Ipoh Airport
3. Easy to book – just send us a message on Facebook or WhatsApp
4. Comfortable and spacious car
5. Explore Taiping, Ipoh or even Cameron Highlands through the same tour service before or after our trip to Bukit Merah Laketown Resort

Bukit Merah Laketown Resort Map

Here’s a map of the park:

Tickets for the attractions can be purchased at Marina Village.

Which is at the main entrance of the resort.

Bukit Merah Laketown Resort Ticket Price

It might be worth considering the Combo ticket if you plan to go!

However, it’s also possible to buy individual entry tickets.

Opening Hours

Waterpark

• Weekdays: 12pm-6pm
• Weekends/Public Holidays/School Holidays: 10am-6pm
• Closed every Tuesday except on Public Holidays and School Holidays

Eco Park

• Daily from 10am-6pm

Paddleboat, Kayak and Canoe

• Daily from 8am-7pm

Orang Utan Island

• 9am-5pm

Laketown Adventure Park

• Weekdays: Upon request
• Weekends/Public Holidays/School Holidays: 10am-6pm

Read also: Taiping Lake Gardens – Taiping’s must-see attraction

Things To Do At Bukit Merah Laketown Resort

In recent years, the resort has made substantial effort to offer more attractions to their guests.

Bukit Merah Laketown Resort – photo credits to kinastudio (Instagram)

Which makes it very popular among the locals for weekend getaways!

1. Waterpark

Over 11 acres, this is one of the main attractions at Bukit Merah Laketown Resort and a favourite with families!

With the following features:

• Waterslides
• Flume (tube) rides
• Wave pool with artificial beach
• Boomerang fun slide
• Giant Wet Bubble
• New rides: Crazee Cone, Racer Slides and Family Splash Adventure

Racer slide – photo belongs to the resort

You can rent or buy things like boogie boards, floating tubes and other water play equipment from the Surf Shack Shop.

2. Eco Park

Bukit Merah Laketown Resort has its own mini-zoo at the 3-acre Eco Park.

At Eco Park, you can hop onto a Skycycle (involves manual pedalling on your part) to explore the park.

Including a jungle canopy section where you can do some bird-watching!

Peacock at the Eco Park in Bukit Merah Lakehouse Resort – photo credits to azitashari (Instagram)

There are 4 main sections to Eco Park:

1. Nature Trail – Japanese carp, arapaima, peacocks and other birds
2. Tropical Trek – Herbal garden
3. Reptile Park – Many different snakes here
4. Pets Park – Small domesticated mammals

Many different species of primates, reptiles, birds and fish are reared in the park including crocodiles, emu, and sun bears!

Large Arapaima fish – photo belongs to the resort

Their enclosures are made to reflect their natural habitats as closely as possible.

Visitors have the opportunity to watch a crocodile feeding session, or feed raccoons as well as fish.

Or pet a rabbit at the Pets Park!

How to get to the Eco Park at Bukit Merah Laketown Resort:

1. There is a chairlift that takes visitors straight from the Waterpark entrance to the Eco park.
2. Or, you can walk there (5-10 minutes) from the main ticket counter at Marina Village
3. Or take the free shuttle from the Laketown Hotel or Kampung Air Water Villa

3. Orang Utan Island

Orangutan Island is undeniably the main highlight of Bukit Merah Laketown Resort:

As this is the only place where you can see many orangutans in West Malaysia.

Bukit Merah Orang Utan Island Foundation – photo credits to drewtatkins (Instagram)

The rehabilitation center/ research institution sits on a 35-acre island on Bukit Merah Lake.

Most of which (except for 5 acres taken up by the visitor and research center) is exclusively for the orangutans to live in.

They take good care of their orangutans and have a specially designed rehabilitation programme to ensure they are ready for release back to the wild in Borneo.

Orangutan hanging on a rope at Bukit Merah Orang Utan Island Foundation – photo credits to minamisakikaho (Instagram)

To see the orangutans, you have to take a boat from the resort to reach the island.

Staff will take visitors through a steel-mesh tunnel that allows visitors to observe the orangutans while they roam free on the island.

4. Adventure Park

You need a group booking (+605-890 8888) to have a go at Bukit Merah Laketown Resort’s Adventure Park:

Where there are all sorts of obstacle courses that present a good work out challenge!

Adventure park – photo belongs to the resort

Obstacle courses:

• Jacob’s Ladder
• Canopy Walk
• Burma Bridge
• Zipmania
• Adult Practice Course
• Kids Practice Course
• And others!

5. Recreation Park

Recreation Park is where they have all the outdoor activities and rental gear.

Facilitators are available every day of the week to guide you in said activities!

Recreation park – photo belongs to the resort

Many of which revolve around the lake!

Activities include:

• Kayaking
• Fishing
• Lake cruise
• Water confidence course
• Archery
• And more!

You do need to make a booking first. Call them at +605-890 8888.

Read also: 5 Best Hot Spring Ipoh

Accommodation Options At Bukit Merah Laketown Resort

There are 2 types of accommodation available at the resort:

Choose between the chalets on the lake and the more conventional hotel-style rooms.

Note that prices can double for weekends and public holidays!

1. Bukit Merah Laketown Resort Chalet – Kampung Air Water Chalets

You get your own private balcony over Bukit Merah Lake with these luxurious Malay-style water chalets!

Kampung Air Water Chalets at Bukit Merah Laketown Resort – photo credits to thibanthiba(Instagram)

There are 4 suites to choose from:

1. Seri Teratai Suite (1 Bed Suite with Private Balcony)
2. Rajawali Suite (2 Separate Rooms with 2 Private Balconies & 1 Living Area)
3. Seri Lembayung Suite (1 Bedroom with Private Balcony & a Living Room)
4. Cenderawasih Suite (1 Bedroom with Private Balcony & a connecting Living Room)

Studio Suite at Kampung Air Water Chalet – photo belongs to the resort

Price range: ~RM200 for 2 people a night

2. Bukit Merah Laketown Resort Hotel

Close to the entrance of the resort, this accommodation features standard rooms and suites in the hotel.

With many different room configurations:

They even have rooms with 3 single beds!

And best of all, a swimming pool!

Room in Laketown Hotel – photo belongs to the resort

There are 4 type of rooms to choose from:

1. Standard Room (1 Queen Sized Bed & a Single Bed)
2. Deluxe Room (3 Single Beds or 1 Queen Sized Bed & a Single Bed)
3. Junior Suite (1 King Sized Bed)
4. Kelisa Emas Suite (1 Bedroom & connecting Living Room)

Kelisa Emas Suite at Laketown Hotel – photo belongs to the resort

Price range: RM75-100 for 2 people a night

What To Eat At Bukit Merah Laketown Resort

At such a remote location, there are not too many dining options around the resort.

Grill at LeLac Cafe – photo belongs to the resort

However, the resort does have its own restaurants on-site:

1. Lelac Café – Breakfast buffet and BBQ dinner by the lake; Serves local fare as well as Western cuisine.
2. Ripples Hawker Centre – A food court with a variety of local food stalls.
3. Bubbles Family Restaurant – At the water park. Serves Western and Local food.

Local fare at LeLac Cafe – photo belongs to the resort

Bukit Merah Laketown Resort Review

Let’s breakdown what’s good about the resort according to different categories:

Service:

• Good service from staff

Facilities:

• Upgraded facilities
• Beautiful grounds
• Ample parking

Accommodation:

• Nice view in the morning (for the water chalets)
• Reasonably spacious (Laketown Hotel rooms)
• Rooms to accommodate different sized-groups

Activities:

• Good spot for fishing
• Plenty to do – Cycling, boating, kayaking, etc
• Many indoor activities
• Very quiet at night with nothing much to do
• Feel close to nature

Food:

• Breakfast and lunch is good
• Not many eateries outside of the resort. The affordable ones close early in the evening.
• Food court available

Transport:

• If you don’t have your own car, you have to hire a taxi. No Grab in this area.

Jetty at Bukit Merah Laketown Resort – photo credits to yes_iamniezam (Instagram)

Tips For Visiting Bukit Merah Laketown Resort

Who doesn’t like tips?

Here’s what you need to know before you go:

• On weekdays, you have the water park to yourself!
• Make sure you bring all that you need because the nearest town is 20 minutes’ drive
• Check before you book your dates as certain facilities may be under maintenance
• Wet Wednesday promotion available until 30 Nov 2019 (prices from RM28) every Wednesday (excluding public & school holidays)

Conclusion

Compared to Ipoh’s Sunway Lost World of Tambun:

Bukit Merah Laketown Resort doesn’t have as much to offer. Especially once the sun goes down!

But that’s quite alright:

Since, you can always take the 30 minutes’ drive over to Taiping for the Taiping Night Safari.

However, the one thing that sets the resort apart, is Orang Utan Island.

And Bukit Merah Laketown Resort also happens to be a more affordable family holiday destination than Lost World of Tambun.