The One-Hour Escapes can best be defined as trying to Crack Open the Concrete Jungle.

These easy to reach nature sites are tempting wild morsels to give you a taste of the wilderness in your own backyard. Some are hidden within the city and others are on the fringes of the urban sprawl.

One-Hour Escapes help you cut through the city landscape to find the green scene admist the masses. Most sites are just minutes away, require little planning and quickly engulfs your senses in natural surroundings.

Nothing too extreme, so choose jungle hiking or trekking; a forest canopy walk; or a restful forest waterfall. For those wanting to burn off a few more calories, try mountain biking or a high ridge hike on the Klang Gates, Malaysia's longest quartz ridge.

The time zones map starts to spread out with the Two-Hour Escapes to get "Beyond the Clutter of Civilization".

As the urban landscape disappears, these nature sites begin to showcase the wild over tamed environs. Nestled as green sanctuaries amid surrounding oil palm plantations, the Two-Hour Escapes remind us that nature's path is not too far from the city.

From coastal mangroves to cool highland getaways, these road trip destinations are ideal for just a day trip or even a night or two for a weekend break. If you fancy Malaysian birds, then hit the wetlands of Kuala Selangor Nature Park for shore birds or the jungle hills of Fraser's Hill for rainforest birds.

For an exhillarting wet and wild time in a forest waterfall, try out whitewater kayaking or rafting on Sungai Kampar.

For a special nature outing with the kids (adults too!), head over to Kampung Kuantan (nearby to KSNP) to watch fireflies flash in evening brilliance. (Escape Tip: Fireflies may not last much longer, so don't postpone this trip.)

"Take a Wild Break" exemplifies the spirit of the Three-Hour Escapes. These road trip sights are roughly around the three-hour mark from Kuala Lumpur, but that depends on the driver.

A smattering of wildlife and beach life awaits visitors who make the trek in this time zone. Map out an escape to take in a wildlife or forest reserve that protects rare plants or endangered animals. Or go see conservation in practice and learn all about river terrapins.

For a quick beach run, head straight over to Pulau Pangkor to chill out at a tropical resort or beach hut and take in the equatorial sun or snorkel (sorry ... no diving here).

For a cooler experience, the cloud forest of Fraser's Hil for a retreat. A series of easy hiking trails and a good place to start birdwatching all combine for brisk exercise and natural stress relief. Take it slow and easy, and stop to examine tropical rainforest flowers and sample wildlife in small sizes ... the beetles, butterflies and bugs. For some simple outdoor hiking, travel to any of the numerous Forest Recreational Areas in Perak and other states.

Four-Hour Escapes really stretch the time zones map so you can "Get Out and Find the Wilderness".

These nature treks let you forget about returning back to the city to recharge in the rainforest. But being further away from Kuala Lumpur means that these outdoor excursions take a bit more road trip planning and preparation. Getting ready might require camping and hiking gear or other essentials for survival in the wilderness.

Migrate north to discover Asian elephants, bird sanctuaries and mangroves on Malaysia's west coast. Head due east for the wetland habitats of Tasik Chini. Go south to reach the legendary Gunung Ledang for a quiet forest stroll or hardy backpacking trail climb.

No matter what direction you choose, all of them lead to real travel adventures.

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