Retreats are one of the things Jien and I like to indulge in — our way of taking a break from the stress, the daily grind, and the chaos of city life. A short retreat really helps with resetting my mind. Our escape to the sandy strip of Sepang Goldcoast offered just the right balance of zen and recreational activities; from fun water sports to spa to romantic dinner by the beach.

Sepang might be known for its world-class motorsport race track — until 2017 venue for the Malaysian Formula One Grand Prix — but for us, its main attraction lies in its beaches and unspoilt nature in close proximity to KL. Sepang Goldcoast looks out to the Straits of Malacca and boasts 17 kilometres of pristine riverine habitat in the mangrove sanctuary.

Excited to explore this pocket of untouched nature, we head there first thing in the morning as part of a boat cruise through the mangroves. You get a glimpse of exotic wildlife, including rare birds, and, if you’re lucky, you might even bump into local fishermen returning to the village with their catch of the day. If anything in their buckets and nets catches your eye, they will be happy to sell their haul on the spot, to be grilled for lunch back at your resort.

At Sepang Goldcoast, it is very tempting to spend your days by the swimming pool or at the spa. But if you feel like trying your hand at fly fishing or racing each other on jet skis, the best time of the day for water sports is between 8 AM and 10 AM.

Pre-Travel Guide for Sepang, Malaysia

Currency

• Malaysian Ringgit

Best Time to Visit Sepang

• The busiest month for tourism is April, followed by March and September. This is the dry season, with agreeable weather and little rainfall.

How to Get to Sepang

• Flight: Kuala Lumpur International Airport (IATA: KUL) is in Sepang, and visitors can fly from many overseas destinations directly into the district.
• Train: You can make use of the good rail links between Kuala Lumpur and both KLIA Ekspres and KLIA Transit high-speed train services run between KL Sentral, Kuala Lumpur's transportation hub, and the airport. The KTM Komuter can also be used to reach Sepang.

How to Get Around Sepang

• Public transport within Sepang is limited to the Sepang Omnibus, but your hotel will arrange airport pick-up and drop-off for you prior to arrival. Mangrove tours can be booked through your concierge.

Helpful Local Words

• Apa khabar – How do you do?
• Baik – Fine/Good
• Selamat pagi – Good morning
• Selamat tinggal – Goodbye
• Terima kasih – Thank you