The Roots is a brand new eco-resort near Tanjung Rambutan, Perak at the base of the Kinta Hills, on the backbone of Peninsula Malaysia.  Situated among fruit orchards on the shores of the Kinta River, the resort is easily reached by road from Ipoh, around 12km away.

Ipoh was once the centre of a booming tin mining and rubber industry.  The limestone hills which surround the Kinta Valley hold vast granite deposits which lead this region to become the world’s leader in tin ore extraction by the first half of the 20th century.  The tin mining has largely dried up; however the breathtaking limestone karsts still stand and dominate the landscape around The Roots.

Orang Asli villagers (local Malaysian tribesmen) still thrive in the nearby Kinta Hills Forest Reserve, which features Gunung Korbu; the second highest peak in Peninsula Malaysia at 2,138m as well as a great diversity of the country’s captivating native flora and fauna. The reserve is a great place for trekking and bird watching.

The region is alive with fascinating history, both recent and ancient.  A visit to the nearby Gua Tambun caves will take you back 3,000 years  and primitive cave drawings will shed some light on what life may have been like in the Kinta Valley long before explorers from the West arrived and the region fell into the hands of colonial powers. Other cave systems allow visitors to explore the underground river systems and marvel at the cathedral-like chambers created over millions of years.

A trip to the enigmatic Kellie’s Castle is a great way to discover how Malaysia changed under colonial rule.  Exploring this colonial relic which was lost to the jungle until the government restored it in 2000, the visitor can uncover the tragic story of the castle’s one time patron William Kellie-Smith.  The castle also serves as a backdrop to Malaysia’s history of colonial prospectors who arrived in the 19th century to exploit natural resources in the form of rubber plantations and tin mining.

Just over an hour’s drive from the resort lies Matang Mangrove Reserve; Malaysia’s largest area of protected mangrove forest.  Matang is unique in that 80% of its trees are used for the production of mangrove timber on a sustainable yield basis.  Covering nearly 40,000 hectares, the reserve contains five fishing villages which rely on the rivers and lakes for their livelihood.  Government schemes have been put into place to attempt to allow the locals to support themselves in the reserve whilst limiting their impact on the fragile habitat.  The area is a breeding ground for endangered water birds such as the milky stork and lesser adjutant.

An hour and a half from The Roots, on the west coast of Malaysia, lies the beautiful tropical island of Pulau Pangkor. With beautiful white sand beaches and a relaxing island atmosphere, the island makes for a great day trip.

2 Km from Batu Gajah, near The Roots is located Kinta Nature Park; a 950 Hectare area of old tin mining pools which have since flooded to form a thriving freshwater ecosystem. The area has become one of the most important nesting sites on the Malay Peninsula for many species of protected birds including Black-Crowned Night Herons, Purple Herons and the threatened Straw-Headed Bulbul. This heronry makes a great day trip for bird watchers and nature lovers alike.

EDUCATION CENTRE
The Roots is an ideal location for schools wishing to bring a fieldtrip to Malaysia. Ecofieldtrips offers a range of fieldtrips to match different requirements. For Kuala Lumpur schools a 3 day marine biology course is available, including snorkelling at Pulau Pangkor, an introduction to mangroves at Kuala Gula and fresh water stream surveys at the resort.

5 or 6 day trips are available for schools coming from further afield. These programmes will include adventure activities such as white water rafting, cave exploration and high rope challenges. Coupled with the adventure activities, students will get a detailed background in Malaysia's culture and history as well as biological insight into rainforest and mangrove ecosystems.

PERMACULTURE
The Roots is an eco-resort, meaning that we try to minimise our impact on natural resources and the surrounding environment. This is seen in the way we manage our garden and fruit orchard, recycling organic waste to use as fertilizer for our durians, mangos, rambutans star fruit... mmm... Permaculture ensures that we make the most of precious resources such as water and nutrients.