Exploring nature based hiking experiences at the Mount Datuk in Malaysia

This paper explores the characteristics of hiking experiences at one of the nature-based tourist destinations in Malaysia. A theoretical 'visitor experiences' model based on experiential surrogates in natural landscape developed earlier is empirically tested on a different tourist destination with similar biophysical attributes. This study captured in situ experiences encountered by a group of university students at the Mount Datuk in Rembau, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia. In addition to landscape views, the experiential surrogates were also evaluated against different types of terrain conditions. Outcomes of the study enable objective assessment on 'visitor experiences' of landscape against terrain conditions of the nature-based tourist destination among young hikers to be compared. The findings also provide evidence base to enhance hiking experience and the management of nature based tourist attractions including the ecological design of hiking trails