Fireflies of Kuala Selangor
The boat rides run from Kampung Kuantan on the Sungai Selangor. The local council looks after them, and you travel by sampan. The fireflies are mainly Pteroptyx tener, which blink in step, and they sit in berembang trees along the river.
This is an evening trip. Rides run daily from 19:30 to 22:30, and the boat price is for the boat, not for each person. Nobody can promise how many trees will be lit on a given night, so go for the ride and treat the lights as a bonus.
Our picks: Kuala Selangor firefly tours
The shared tour costs less and includes dinner, while the private options add the caves and eagle feeding to the firefly boat ride.
Hand-picked tours, booked through Viator and GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Kuala Lumpur sights, Batu Caves and fireflies
- Firefly boat tour
- Eagle and langur feeding
- Seafood dinner
A private day with hotel pickup and an English-speaking driver, from the city and the caves out to Kuala Selangor.
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Batu Caves, eagle feeding and fireflies
- Batu Caves visit
- Eagle feeding
- Firefly boat tour
Private transfers in both directions. The seafood dinner depends on the option you pick.
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Kuala Selangor fireflies with set dinner
- Admission fee
- Set dinner
- English-speaking guide
A shared trip by air-conditioned vehicle, with pickup from listed hotels for bookings of two or more.
Check availability →Kuala Selangor fireflies tours
Evening trips from Kuala Lumpur to the fireflies and the river, with live prices and availability.
Boat prices and hours in 2026
What to expect at Kampung Kuantan.
Price per boat
A boat takes at most 4 adults. The price is RM 60 for MyKad holders and RM 100 without a MyKad, in 2026. MyKad is the Malaysian identity card. The price is not RM 15 per person, and no child fare is defined, so what each person pays depends on how many share the boat.
Hours and length
The rides run daily from 19:30 to 22:30. The trip out and back takes roughly 15 to 20 minutes. Parking is free.
What you see
The fireflies are mostly Pteroptyx tener, a species that flashes in synchrony. They gather on berembang trees along the river. How many trees are lit changes from night to night.
Booking
Check on the day whether you can book ahead.
For most visitors, the evening ride with a ride back planned in advance is the simplest way to do it. If you are comparing a self-organised trip with a guided one, read what each tour includes and when it returns to Kuala Lumpur.
Moon, weather and photos
The sky matters more than the calendar.
No season is guaranteed for the fireflies, and no month can be called the best. What helps is a clear, moonless night, shortly after 20:00. The moon changes how well you see the lights, but even then activity is not guaranteed. In heavy rain, ask whether boats are running before you travel.
Flash photography is not allowed on the river, so switch the flash off. The weather in the Kuala Lumpur area is covered on the weather page.
Getting to Kampung Kuantan
By car from Kuala Lumpur.
Kampung Kuantan is about 56 km from Kuala Lumpur and 9 km from the town of Kuala Selangor. The drive from Kuala Lumpur takes about 45 to 80 minutes, so the time depends on where you start and on the traffic. Do not count on one figure as a door-to-door time.
The rides finish late, so plan how you will get back to Kuala Lumpur before you leave. Late public transport cannot be assumed. A pre-booked car or a guided evening trip is easier than hoping to find a ride at 22:30.
Bukit Melawati
Bukit Melawati is a hill near the town of Kuala Selangor, and silvered langurs live there. Do not feed or touch the monkeys, keep your bags closed and watch your food. The general advice about animal contact applies here too.
A tram runs up the hill. In 2026 the fare is RM 5 for adults and RM 3 for children with a MyKad, and RM 10 and RM 5 without. On Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays it runs from 09:00 to 18:00. On weekdays in school holidays it runs from 09:00 to 16:00, with breaks Monday to Thursday from 13:00 to 14:00 and on Friday from 12:00 to 14:45. Light vehicles including cars, vans and motorcycles can use the road on weekdays, with changes possible, so do not assume the same on weekends.
Fireflies together with Batu Caves
Two different times of day.
Batu Caves is a daytime visit that starts best early, with a climb up the temple stairs. The fireflies are an evening trip, so a combination needs an evening part. Visit the caves in the morning, rest in the afternoon and travel to the river late in the afternoon. See the steps guide and the getting there guide for the Batu Caves half, and compare the Batu Caves tours if you would rather have a driver.
More for the same trip
Pages that fit this evening.
Kuala Selangor fireflies: frequently asked questions
How much does the fireflies boat ride cost?
In 2026 the price is per boat, for up to 4 adults: RM 60 for MyKad holders and RM 100 without a MyKad. It is not a price per person.
What time do the boats run?
Daily from 19:30 to 22:30. The ride takes roughly 15 to 20 minutes out and back.
Which fireflies will I see?
Mostly Pteroptyx tener, which blink in step and gather in berembang trees along the river. The number of lit trees is not guaranteed.
Is there a best season for the fireflies?
No season or month can be named as the best. A clear, moonless night shortly after 20:00 gives better conditions, but sightings are never promised.
How long does it take to get there from Kuala Lumpur?
About 45 to 80 minutes. Traffic and your starting point decide it.
Can I touch or feed the monkeys at Bukit Melawati?
No. Keep your distance, do not feed or touch the langurs, and keep your bags closed.