Air Itam Dam walk, with optional extension to Kek Lok Si Temple (2.8km/5.1km)

We also detail an optional extension to walk down to Kek Lok Si Temple (2.33km), the largest Buddhist temple in Malaysia, and an important pilgrimage site for devotees across Southeast Asia.

However, please bear in mind that the walk down to Kek Lok Si Temple is exceptionally steep. In wet weather, it is very slippy. Hiking poles are a very good idea.

Route instructions around Air Itam Reservoir

START: Air Itam Dam car park
Distance around reservoir: 2.8km
Total ascent: 100 meters
Total descent: 100 meters

Opening hours are 6am to 7pm
No pets allowed
No swimming allowed

1. With the reservoir in front of you, take a right from the car park past the police building. Go down the steps and take a left towards the dam.

2. Walk across the dam and follow the road to the left.

3. Continue along the road that leads you around the reservoir. You will pass over the waterfall on your left before walking through metal gates.

4. Shortly after crossing a stream, walk through some rusty, blue gates and continue along the road around to the left.

5. Eventually the dam will come back into view and it’s then just 400 metres back to the start point of this walk.

Optional Extension to Kek Lok Si Temple

START: Air Itam Dam car park
Distance to Kek Lok Si Temple: 2.3km
Total ascent: 36 metres
Total descent: 224 metres

To reiterate, the walk down to Kek Lok Si Temple is exceptionally steep. In wet weather, it is very slippy. Hiking poles are a very good idea.

6. When you reach the car park, retrace you step across the dam. Once across the dam, rather than following the road to the left around the dam, take a right to start the walk down to Kek Lok Si Temple.

7. Walk up the steps, past a playground and through the white gates.

8. Where the path forks, take the path on the left.

9. This shortly meets another road. Take a sharp right and follow this as it snakes downhill. This section is steep in places and can be very slippy in wet weather, so take care.

10. You will eventually meet the road after 1.2km. Take a right, walking past Po Lin Buddhist Temple, and then follow the road around to the left.

11. The entrance to Kek Lok Si Temple will appear at the next bend, on your left. It is free to enter the complex, although you will need to pay a small fee to enter the Pagoda area and to use the ‘inclined lift’. You will be entering at the mid-way point of the temple complex, so you can take the lift up to the 120ft tall statue of Guanyin, or down to the main entrance. Click here for more information about visiting Kek Lok Si Temple.