No doubt you have seen photos of golden or fluorescent green, picturesque Sekinchan paddy fields (or sawah padi in the local language Bahasa Melayu)!
Sekinchan 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“.
However, timing your visit is crucial and there are other things to do in Sekinchan besides admiring the rice fields! Read on to find out how where to find Sekinchan food and see our suggestion for a one day trip itinerary to Sekinchan.
Table Of Contents:
- Sekinchan Paddy Field Season
- Where Is Sekinchan
- Sekinchan Paddy Fields Attractions
- Top Sekinchan Food To Try
- Sekinchan Day Trip Itinerary
- Sekinchan Homestay
Before you do anything else:
Sekinchan Paddy Field Season – When Is The Best Time To Visit Sekinchan?
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.
So when is the best time go Sekinchan?
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.
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!
Sekinchan Paddy Field Season & Schedule
| Month | Paddy Field Activity / Status | Paddy Field Color |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
Assuming you have a car or someone to carpool with:
Where Is Sekinchan
Sekinchan Map
As you can see, Sekinchan is near the west coast and somewhere between Kuala Lumpur and Ipoh.
Kuala Lumpur To Sekinchan
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 and Tanjung Karang
1. 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.
2. Tanjung Karang
There are some seafood restaurants here but the main attraction is the Bagan fishing village or Bagan Pasir (in Bahasa Malaysia).
More on this village is detailed further down this post under “Sekinchan Attractions”.
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
The “leaning tower” of Teluk Intan:
In the photo, it is bedecked with dozens of Jalur Gemilang’s (the Malaysian flag) during Merdeka (Malaysia’s independence day).
It was originally both a water storage tank and clock tower for the town.
Now, it is open for tourists to visit:
The architecture follows a Chinese pagoda style.
There are only 3 levels despite the initial impression that the exterior gives.
The tower is at a very slight angle to the ground which is more obvious in real life. Many liken it to the famous leaning tower of Pisa.
Activities At The Paddy Fields Of Sekinchan:
Sekinchan Paddy Fields Attractions
Here’s a map. Click on it to manipulate the route as you like.
You might want to choose a hotel in Sekinchan that’s close to the attractions you want to visit too.
1. Sekinchan 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, one of the must-try things to do at the paddy fields of Sekinchan is to pay a visit to the rice factory, PLS Marketing (M) Sdn. Bhd. and Paddy Gallery.
The other name for this rice processing factory is Kilang Beras Rakyat Sekinchan Sdn Bhd. This particular rice factory’s signature product is Pearl Rice (珍珠米）.
And you can buy some freshly packed rice from here too!
- Address: Lot No. 9990, Jalan Tali Air 5, Ban 2, 45400 Sekinchan, Selangor
- Opening hours: 9:00am to 5:30pm
- Entrance fee: RM5
- Contact: +6016-205 6558 (or +6016-215 7028 for tour groups)
The tour guide 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!
Note: Not up close
2. Sekinchan 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.
There are also bicycles for rental close by 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 ~8 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 House
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. And one or two that are close to the 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:
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. Sekinchan Beach Redang (Pantai Redang Sekinchan)
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 (As well as Jiujiu Moon Heart Restaurant) 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. Definitely not bang for your buck!
6. Sekinchan Wishing Tree
Here is the famous wishing tree of Sekinchan:
It is walking distance from the main car park of the beach and a small temple.
The photogenic bayan tree and its many red ribbons have become a photo stop for many tourists in Sekinchan. 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.
Address: Sekinchan Wishing Tree, 25, Jalan Jpt, 45400 Sekinchan, Selangor
7. Bagan Fishing Village
Address: Bagan Pasir 渔村, 45500 Tanjung Karang, Selangor
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:
Buy fresh seafood here if you want! You might even catch (pun intended) a fisherman bringing in his fresh haul for the day.
Besides this:
Photograph and observe the colorful boats and the fishermen’s way of life.
Note: But please, don’t throw your trash into the river!
Check out the complete list of things to do in Sekinchan.
Sekinchan’s not just famous for the paddy fields:
Top Sekinchan Food To Try
But what is there to eat in Sekinchan? Are there any must eat foods to try in Sekinchan?
1. N16 Cafe, Sekinchan
There aren’t many seats (< 15 pax) in here since the quaint cafe is actually inside a raised and vintage bus. And it’s quite pricey.
They have cakes (try the blueberry flavor) and western food (limited menu). And coffee.
But those keen on finding photo opportunities will appreciate the ambiance. The cafe is closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays but open every other day from 11am until 9pm.
- Address: Jalan Tali Air 4, Kampung Parit Empat, 45400 Sekinchan, Selangor
- Phone: +6010-254 6268
- Remark: Not far from the Padibox
2. Ah Ma House 阿嬤的家 At Sekinchan
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 (In fact, Ah Ma means grandmother in one of the Chinese dialects) to decorate the shop.
There are a couple of bales outside the shop that people like posing with too.
- Address: Pekan Sekinchan, 45400 Sekinchan, Selangor
- Phone: +6014-230 5753
- Remark: Closes around 6.30 pm
Do you like mangoes?
3. Mangoes (Large And Sweet Ones) From Mango King
Buy juicy mangoes (they are not local though) from this store/ shack at the Sekinchan paddy fields.
The price to buy the mangoes is around RM 10/kg. 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 though. And as a fair warning, the shake is quite thick and pulpy.
If mangoes are not your thing, they have fresh coconuts too!
Moreover, they sell rojak (raw fruit salad with seasoning) here.
Parking is a bit of a struggle – one option is to park further up on the road next to the paddy fields.
- Address: 248 Lorong Empat, Sekinchan 45400, Malaysia
- Phone: +6019-303 9406
Remark:
- Buy juicy mangoes (they are not local though) from this store/ shack. Price is around RM 8/kg.
- Or drink them in a freshly-made pureed form blended with ice and no added sugar (RM 5 each cup).
- Be warned, the cups are plastic and are served with straws. Avoid all the unnecessary plastic trash by bringing your own reusable cup (a metal/bamboo straw is optional).
- Mind the dogs that are free to roam the property.
4. 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.
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.
- Address: Jalan Orkid 1, Taman Sekinchan Jaya, 45400 Sekinchan, Selangor
- Opening Hours: Opens Every Wednesday, Closes at 9pm
5. Sekinchan Seafood Restaurants
Seafood is cheap and fresh in Sekinchan and you’d be missing out if you don’t take advantage of the numerous Sekinchan seafood restaurants!
Seafood is definitely counted as famous food in Sekinchan!
6. Restoran Sin Ming Kee
For breakfast in Sekinchan, many choose Restoran Sin Ming Kee for its variety of local noodles. These include curry mee, chee cheong fun, and wanton mee, but also old-school kopitiam fare like half-boiled eggs and toast.
This Chinese hawker restaurant opens at 8am is right next to the wet market. The prices and portions are very agreeable if you come from KL.
Note: Not halal; Closes at 1pm
One Day In Sekinchan (Sekinchan Day Trip Itinerary)
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 in Sekinchan:
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 Sekinchan’s many seafood restaurants
- Visit Ah Ma House for some souvenir shopping
- Chill at N16 Cafe
- See Sekinchan fishing village (Bagan Fishing Village)
- Make a wish at the Sekinchan 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 fireflies of Kuala Selangor too!
- 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 Sekinchan 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.
Sekinchan Paddy Field Day Tour From KL
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.comSekinchan Homestay
Note: Photos are from respective homestay websites.
Why stay in an ordinary hostel or hotel when you can stay in one of these cool Sekinchan accommodation options instead:
1. Padi Box Sekinchan
This unique homestay is made of a bunch of colorful shipping containers stacked on each other around a central courtyard:
The rooms vary in size from double to family (up to 6 occupants). Rooms at ground level are slightly cheaper than the upper floors.
But all rooms have windows overlooking the paddy fields. As well as air conditioning and WiFi.
There is even a pool table and a Nintendo set in the common room or lounge area. Oh, and bicycles. Breakfast is also included per person.
Book this hotel way in advance (even months ahead) if you want a room on a weekend as it’s usually always fully booked.
Address: Lot 11126, Jalan Tali Air 4, 45400 Sekinchan, Selangor,Malaysia
Phone number: +6019-320 5688
Price range: RM118-240 depending on the room type
Remark:
- Parking is available for customers.
- It’s in a rice field so there are a lot of bugs. Close your doors shut tightly at night.
- If it rains, there is no sheltered walkway between the reception and the rooms.
- TV quality is poor. WiFi signal is strongest near the cafe.
- During mid-day, the rooms can still feel hot despite the air con.
2. Farm Ville Cafe & Homestay Sekinchan
Like the Padi Box, this homestay also makes use of shipping containers (red instead of a myriad of colors).
But it has some extra features to boast like a mini golf area, small kids pool, a trampoline and a garden.
Address: Lot 11304, Kampung Site B Tambahan, Jalan Tepi Sawah, 45400 Sekinchan, Selangor
Phone number: +6017-206 8666 (Call or WhatsApp to book)
Price range: Still checking this out. But the rooms are supposed to be “affordable”.
Remark:
- Rooms come with hairdryers, air-con, ceiling fans and kettles.
- The bicycles are for rent at RM 10 for the singles, and RM 16 for the tandem doubles.
- Thoughtful and detailed service.
- Can be noisy at night if other guests decide to use the pool or trampoline late.
- No sheltered walkway if it rains.
- Bring an umbrella and insect repellent (for those pesky mosquitoes).
3. Sekinchan SeaView Housestay
You’ll have all you need and more at this homestay!
Want breakfast? The host (who speaks English, Malay and Chinese) also offers Asian or halal breakfast!
Facilities include:
- A garden
- Fitness center
- A bar
- Free WiFi
- 3 bedrooms and 1 bathroom
- Flat-screen TV with satellite channels
- A dining area
- A fully equipped kitchen
- Patio with sea views
- Outdoor swimming pool
- A playground
Not a bad location either:
- Sekinchan Paddy Fields – 8 to 10 minutes’ drive
- Redang Beach – 5 minutes’ drive
- Sekinchan wishing tree – 5 minutes’ drive
4. Lavender One Residence Apartment
At this air-conditioned apartment, there are a total of 3 separate bedrooms and 2 bathrooms (hair dryer and toiletries are included).
Other facilities:
- Free WiFi and a seating area
- Dining area and a kitchen
- Spa
- Fitness center
- Outdoor swimming pool.
And not far from Sekinchan attractions too!
- Sekinchan Paddy Fields – 8 to 10 minutes’ drive
- Redang Beach – 5 minutes’ drive
- Sekinchan wishing tree – 5 minutes’ drive
5. 本店好民宿
You will need to know Chinese to communicate with the host for this homestay that has views of the sea!
Besides en-suite styled air-conditioned units, these amenities are available too:
- Outdoor pool
- A fitness center
- Shared lounge
- Flat-screen TV
- Free WiFi and desk area
- Living room
- An equipped kitchen
Driving distance from Sekinchan attractions:
- Sekinchan Paddy Fields – 8 to 10 minutes’ drive
- Redang Beach – 5 minutes’ drive
- Sekinchan wishing tree – 5 minutes’ drive
Check out more homestay options in Sekinchan.
Conclusion
If you’ve never been to a rice paddy before, then the Sekinchan paddy fields 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! And besides the rice fields, there are notable things to do and places to eat in Sekinchan.
So we recommend that you make this a weekend trip rather than just a day trip though a Sekinchan day trip is possible.
If you have time, check out the Sky Mirror of Kuala Selangor, the giant fireflies, the eagles and other attractions in Kuala Selangor while you’re in the area.
Or if you haven’t been to the i-city in Shah Alam, it’s worth exploring and an hour’s drive from Kuala Selangor.
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If you’re thinking, you’ve already tried everything at Cameron Highlands – read this post on an alternate Cameron Highlands getaway.
How ’bout somewhere else with cooler temperatures but less crowds? Taiping’s Bukit Larut is a pretty fine substitute for Cameron Highlands.
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Or you could make your base Ipoh and explore from there. Here are some Ipoh road trips you could do.
