Bukit Larut or Maxwell Hill is the oldest hill resort in Peninsular Malaysia. Located close to the town of Taiping, it is nestled within the Bukit Larut Forest Reserve along the Bintang Range. It comprises hill and montane forests, with the highest peark being the 1,448 metre high Gunung Hijau. It is home to a rich diversity of birds, over 250 species of lowland and montane birds.

Among its rare resident birds include the Malaysian Hill Partridge, Wedge-tailed Pigeon, Blyth’s Hawk Eagle, Rusty-naped Pitta as well as migrant birds such as Siberian and White-throated Rock Thrush and the Yellow-rumped Flycatcher. In the middle and upper parts of the forest, you might spot the long-trailed broadbill, red-headed trogon, chestnut-capped laughing trush and the rufous-browed flycatched.

The forest-lined road that runs from the foothills until the higher elevations of Bukit Larut is recommended for bird watching. Do bring a light jacket or sweater along, as it gets quite cool at night.