Sekinchan is a rice-growing town on the Selangor coast, in the Sabak Bernam district, with about 4,300 acres of paddy, a fishing village and a beach with a wishing tree. It's an easy Sekinchan day trip from KL by car, and the one thing to plan is the month, because the fields change completely through the year.
How far is it, and which way do you drive?
About 90 km from Kuala Lumpur, an hour and a half to two hours depending on traffic. Take the LATAR expressway towards Kuala Selangor, then follow Federal Route 5 north along the coast for about 30 km to Sekinchan. Leave by 8 am and you'll be among the fields before the light gets harsh.
When are the fields green, and when are they gold?
Sekinchan harvests rice twice a year, around June and around December. That gives you a rough calendar:
| You want | Go in |
|---|---|
| Golden fields, just before harvest | May, or November |
| Bright green fields, the crop growing | About two months before each harvest |
| New planting | Sowing runs around March to April and August to September |
Straight after a harvest, until the new crop comes up, there's much less to look at. Timings shift a little each season, so if the colour matters (for photos, say), ask a local business or check recent pictures before you go.
What else is there besides paddy?
- Redang Beach, on the Straits of Malacca, is a sunset spot rather than a swimming beach; the water isn't suitable for swimming. Its Wishing Tree is a large banyan hung with red ribbons, which you get by making a donation at the Chinese temple next to it.
- Bagan, the fishing village, is wooden jetties and houses on stilts. The boats unload their catch early in the morning, so go first if you want to see it.
- Some rice factories let visitors in to see how the rice is processed, and sell their rice.
You can drive slowly along the field roads, but pull right off the road to take photos. These are working farm roads, not lay-bys.
Where do you eat seafood in Sekinchan?
Around the fishing village. The catch (fish, prawns and crabs) is sorted there for the markets and restaurants nearby, and you'll find family-run stalls selling anchovies and shrimp paste to take home. Have the big seafood meal at lunch rather than dinner, so you're not driving home in the dark on a full stomach.
Can you add the Kuala Selangor fireflies on the way back?
Yes, and it's the best way to end the day. Kuala Selangor is on your way home along Route 5, and the fireflies are at their best a little after 8 pm on a dry, moonless night. Our guide to the Kuala Selangor fireflies by car covers the boat jetties and the late drive back. If nobody wants to drive home at 10 pm, book a chauffeur by the hour for the whole day; the evening hours from 7 pm cost 30% more.
How many kilometres will the car do?
From Petaling Jaya, Sekinchan and back is roughly 180 to 200 km, plus 20 or 30 km of driving between the fields, the beach and the village. Every Grandpride rental includes 120 km a day, so a one-day trip goes over.
- The +100 km a day add-on gives you 220 km, which covers a straightforward day if you don't wander far.
- Unlimited mileage is the safer pick if you'll add the fireflies and dinner in Kuala Selangor, or stay a second day.
Both cost less per kilometre than paying the car's per-km rate after the trip. Only the named renter may drive, and the car comes back with the same fuel level it left with. For a seafood day trip in the other direction, south of KL, see our guide to Tanjung Sepat by car.
Which car suits it?
Anything comfortable on a highway and nice to look at in a field of rice. The Mercedes-Benz C200 Coupe, RM 1,000 a day, is a good-looking two-door for a couple. With friends or parents in the back, the Mini Cooper Clubman, from RM 1,100 a day, or a sedan is easier. If the trip is really a photoshoot, our guide to renting a car for a photoshoot covers what to ask first.
