Have you seen photos of the picturesque golden or fluorescent green paddy fields of Sekinchan?
This is a small town in the Malaysian state of Selangor that is one of the main producers of rice in Malaysia. Thus, its nickname of “The rice bowl of Selangor”.
Timing your visit is crucial if you want to see the paddy looking its best! Read on to find out more!
When Is The Best Time To Visit The Rice Fields?
Obviously, you don’t want to be there when the harvesting season is just over. Then, the fields are just freshly cut and will look barren.
However, if you visit during harvesting season, you might get to see the harvester machines in action. And interestingly, all the birds that take advantage of the grains that the machines kick up too!
For green fields, go in March/April (until mid-May) and September/October (until mid-November).
And if you want to see golden paddy fields (when the rice paddy fields are ripe for harvest), then you should plan your trip around the end of May and November.
Paddy Schedule By Month
| Month | Activity / Status | Paddy Field Appearance |
|---|---|---|
| January to February | Right after harvest (no further activity) | Brown And Barren Fields |
| Start of March | Transplanting Of Seedlings To The Field | Some Green In The Fields |
| Mid-March to Mid-May | Growing Stage | Whole Fields Are Green |
| Mid-May | Ripening | Golden Fields |
| June | Harvesting Begins | Yellow Fields |
| July to August | Right after harvest (no further activity) | Brown And Barren Fields |
| Start of September | Transplanting Of Seedlings To The Field | Some Green In The Fields |
| Mid-September to Mid- November | Growing Stage | Whole Fields Are Green |
| Mid-November | Ripening | Golden Fields |
| December | Harvesting Begins | Yellow Fields |
Getting Here
As you can see, Sekinchan is near the west coast and somewhere between Kuala Lumpur and Ipoh. So, it is possible to start your journey from either city although Sekinchan is much closer to Kuala Lumpur than Ipoh.
Kuala Lumpur To Sekinchan
Assuming you have a car or someone to carpool with, it is a 1.5-hour drive north from Kuala Lumpur.
And if you have time, there are 2 places you can stop at:
- Bukit Melawati – A small hill with a historic past! It used to be a fort and you can still see some remnants of its former purpose today. Like canons! However, the most interesting thing (for most people) to see here is the colony of silver-leaf monkeys. Here is our dedicated post on Bukit Melawati if you’d like to know more.
- Tanjung Karang – There are some seafood restaurants here but the main attraction is the Bagan fishing village or Bagan Pasir (in Bahasa Malaysia).
Ipoh To Sekinchan
From Ipoh, it is approximately a 3–4-hour journey south to Sekinchan. You can even make a detour to Teluk Intan first.
Teluk Intan – We came here to look at the “leaning tower” of Teluk Intan which resembles a Chinese pagoda. It was originally both a water storage tank and clock tower for the town. Now, it is open for tourists to visit. During our visit, it was bedecked with dozens of Jalur Gemilang’s (the Malaysian flag) during Merdeka (Malaysia’s Independence Day).
What To Do Once You’re At The Paddy Fields
1. Rice Factory
Tip: Do mind which season you go. Refer to the upper section of this post on when to go.
While your main reason to visit Sekinchan may be the bright green paddy fields, this is also an educational opportunity to see how this Asian staple is grown.
In fact, you should pay a visit to the rice factory (PLS Marketing (M) Sdn. Bhd.) and the Paddy Museum. The other name for this rice processing factory is Kilang Beras Rakyat Sekinchan Sdn Bhd. And you can buy some freshly packed rice from here too! Their signature product is Pearl Rice (珍珠米).
The staff at the museum will put on a brief but informative video (about 15 minutes long) about the planting, growing, harvesting, and mechanized processing of the rice.
And you can see the actual machinery (though not up close) they use to sort the rice in the warehouse too!
2. Paddy Fields
Of course, before or after the rice factory tour, you can check out the paddy fields beside the factory. This is where you get to test your photography skills!
Naturally, there is no covered shelter here so either prepare for the heat or try to time your visit to avoid heat of the mid-day sun.
Tip: Do bring a hat, sunscreen, and an umbrella to avoid sunburn. =)
Walk around a bit from field to field and you may find rice at different stages of the growth/ harvest cycle.
Depending on which stage of growth the rice is in, there could be endless rows of golden or green rice plants.
Note: There are also bicycles for rental in town for a faster pace of exploration! The bicycles double as props for photos too.
AMG Bicycle Renting Sekinchan
This bicycle rental shop is a doable cycle (3km to the rice processing plant) to the fields. It’s very convenient and inexpensive to rent bikes here. They’ve been in business for ~10 years at the time of writing.
The typical rental fee is RM10/ hour for a basic bicycle. And they should have enough bicycles for your whole family! Including tandem bikes that can sit 2 or 4 people. Or electric bicycles if you don’t want to pedal.
3. Swiftlet Houses
Sekinchan happens to be a producer of birdnest too.
You will probably spot at least one of these peculiar buildings when you’re on the way to or in Sekinchan.
There are swiftlet houses spread out in the paddy fields as well. And one or two that are close to the rice factory.
4. Nan Tian Temple (南天宫九皇大帝)
From this temple that is roughly a 10 minutes’ drive from the main road, you can have a higher view of the surrounding paddy fields!
It’s not uncommon to find this place without visitors – you might have it all to yourself during your visit.
Besides that, the brightly-colored red and yellow temple itself is quite a looker on its own. The main building is flanked by 2 multi-tiered towers in pagoda style.
Allocate around 20 minutes to visit this pretty spot.
Parking is easy here since there is a car park within the temple grounds. The only downside is you’re certainly going to be craving a cool drink or air-con right after your visit!
5. Redang Beach (Pantai Redang)
Not to be confused with Redang Island, Redang beach is very popular among the locals and tourists in Sekinchan. Especially during public holidays and long weekends, finding parking can be a headache if you’re not familiar with the area.
There are some vendors not too far away if you feel like having a cool drink or snack, but halal vendors are few.
And there is a toilet, but we’d only recommend it for times of real desperation (entry fee is RM0.50).
Note: Be wary of stray dogs roaming the area
Note: Great sunsets to be had here. But this is not a beach for swimming.
It’s not a large beach and it won’t take you long to find the pier and swings that you can chill on.
The main activity on this beach is not swimming (it’s not that clean) but flying kites or layang-layang (kites in Malay).
Tip: Do bring your own kite if you have one! The ones sold here are of poor quality.
6. Wishing Tree
The famous wishing tree of Sekinchan is walking distance from the main car park of the beach and a small temple.
This photogenic bayan tree and its many red ribbons have become a photo stop for tourists. If you don’t want to queue with other tourists, visit it on a weekday.
If you want to hang your own wishes, you can get ribbons from the temple after putting some money (any amount) into the offering box.
Throw the ribbons up into the tree and they should catch onto a branch. Coins at the ends of the ribbons will weigh them down and secure them in place.
7. Bagan Fishing Village
Tip: You can visit this place when you’re coming up from Kuala Lumpur or returning to Kuala Lumpur.
Also locally referred to as Bagan Pasir, this is where you can buy fresh seafood. You might even catch (pun intended) a fisherman bringing in his fresh haul for the day.
Besides this, you can photograph and observe the colorful boats and the local fishermen’s way of life.
Note: But please, don’t throw your trash into the river!
What To Eat Nearby
Seafood is cheap and fresh in Sekinchan and you’d be missing out if you don’t take advantage of the lower prices to indulge in seafood.
Jalan Bagan is a famous stretch in town with many seafood restaurants. Reputable restaurants to look out for here are Restoran Guan Hwat and Restaurant Kim Kee.
Along with Kedai Makanan Seafood Kampung Sekinchan.
But here are other options for food that you might want to keep in mind too:
- N16 Bus Café – There aren’t many seats (< 15 pax) in here since this cafe is inside a raised and vintage bus. And it’s quite pricey.They have coffee, cakes (try the blueberry flavor) and western food (limited menu). The café is only open from Fridays to Mondays.
- Ah Ma House 阿嬤的家-At Ah Ma House, they sell souvenirs, fresh prawn and fish crackers as well as a good selection of local snacks (including kuih kapet).The shop is an excellent place for photos too as they use plenty of local vintage objects to decorate the shop.
- Mango King -Buy juicy mangoes (not local) from this store/ shack at the paddy fields. Or drink them in a freshly made pureed form blended with ice and no added sugar (RM 7 each cup). There might be some assam in for further flavor. The shake is quite thick and pulpy. Besides mangoes, they have fresh coconuts and rojak (raw fruit salad with seasoning).
- Sekinchan Night Market – Locally known as Pasar Malam Sekinchan, the local market is good for a look-see as there’s quite a variety of food and items for sale.This market is only open on Wednesdays. But you’re not missing out if you don’t have a chance to stop by here. It is just a typical night market in Malaysia.
- Restoran Sin Ming Kee –Popular for breakfast, this non halal local eatery is known for its variety of noodles. These include curry mee, chee cheong fun, and wanton mee, but also old-school kopitiam fare like half-boiled eggs and toast.It opens at 8am is right next to the wet market. The prices and portions are very agreeable especially if you come from KL.
How To See Sekinchan In A Day
If you’ve only got a day to spare, here’s one example of what you can do to make the most of a day:
Note: We’re assuming you’re from KL in this Itinerary
Morning
This portion of the itinerary covers the east side where the paddy fields are.
- Reach Sekinchan (the earlier, the better to beat the heat)
- Breakfast at Restoran Sin Ming Kee
- Rent bicycles (AMG Bicycle renting Sekinchan)
- Cycle to the paddy fields
- Check out the views at Nan Tian Temple (南天宫九皇大帝)
- Cool down at the mango shack (Mango King)
- Take a tour at the rice processing plant (Pls Marketing (M) Sdn Bhd)
- Return the bicycles
Afternoon
By mid-day, your energy level will be much lower (and the heat more intense) so take your time to explore the west side of Sekinchan.
- Lunch at one of many seafood restaurants
- Visit Ah Ma House for some souvenir shopping
- Chill at N16 Bus Cafe
- See the fishing village (Bagan Fishing Village)
- Make a wish at the Wishing Tree
- Stroll along Pantai Redang and maybe fly some kites
Evening
Finally, it’s time to head back to the city and since it’s along the way, why not visit Kuala Selangor for a bit? This is a good opportunity to see the local fireflies!
- Drive to Kuala Selangor
- Have dinner at the Pasir Penambang Jetty (more seafood)
- Take a firefly boat tour
- Drive back to Kuala Lumpur
You don’t have to stick to this itinerary though. Feel free to modify it as you see fit. If you have time, you might be able to squeeze in a visit to Bukit Melawati in Kuala Selangor.
We’ve made a lovely and 100% free PDF (a day trip itinerary to Sekinchan) for you so you can have a smooth day trip from Kuala Lumpur to Sekinchan and back.
Don’t have your own car? Or don’t plan to self-drive from KL to Sekinchan?
There are tours that do just that. And some include a visit to the Sky Mirror in Kuala Selangor too!
Book a tour from Klook:
Klook.comWhere To Stay In Sekinchan
- Sekinchan SeaView Housestay – You’ll have all you need and more at this homestay! The multilingual host also offers Asian or halal breakfast! Facilities include a fitness center, Wi-Fi, 3 bedrooms and 1 bathroom, a fully equipped kitchen, a playground and an outdoor pool, and best of all, a patio with sea views! It’s also a short drive to popular attraactions. Check Price Now: Booking.com | Agoda
- Lavender One Residence Apartment – At this air-conditioned apartment, there are a total of 3separate bedrooms and 2 bathrooms (hair dryer and toiletries are included). Other facilities include Wi-Fi, a spa, fitness center, and an outdoor swimming pool. This apartment is also a short drive from major attractions. Check Price Now: Booking.com | Agoda
Conclusion
If you’ve never been to a rice paddy before, then the paddy fields of Sekinchan are a good opportunity to see one. They are just an hour’s drive from Kuala Lumpur too.
Do be mindful of the season before you go though!
We also recommend that you make this a weekend trip rather than just a day trip though a day trip is possible.
