The Hooton Retreat, Kuala Klawang: Peaceful Glamping in the Jelebu Forest

Not far from Kuala Klawang town, along the road to Simpang Pertang, lies The Hooton Retreat, a glamping site surrounded by the green forests of Jelebu. From Kuala Lumpur, the drive takes under two hours. Although it's all about nature here, we found the comfort almost on par with a hotel.

The name has a story behind it. According to the operator, it was inspired by a pair of owls named Misty and Starry that lived on this land before it opened, combined with the sound of the word 'hutan' (forest). If you're lucky, you can still hear the owls at night.

The concept is minimalist, with a choice of domes, studios and villas. The domes are designed to let in natural light, and there's a honeymoon version with an outdoor jacuzzi. The villas suit large groups, including a two-storey unit with its own swimming pool, kitchen and BBQ equipment.

There's plenty to do. We brewed our own coffee from real coffee beans in front of our unit, then tried archery and the flying fox. There's also a bahulu-making class for those who want to learn something traditional. When night falls, the campfire and BBQ take centre stage, and the sky, far from city lights, made it easy for us to stargaze.

For food and drinks, the Forest Coffee café, run in collaboration with Ghostbird Coffee, is open from 8am to 5pm. The cafeteria here also serves nasi daun pisang (banana leaf rice), and all food is pork-free. For those who want to explore further, Jeram Toi and the Bukit Batu Sawa trail are nearby.