Return to Genting Nature Adventures – A Journey Through Nature’s Success Story
– Text by AL Lee

10-11th July 2026, Malaysia – We returned to Genting Nature Adventures (GNA)—formerly known as Awana Nature Trails—for what marked our third visit to this remarkable nature reserve. Since our last visit, GNA has undergone an impressive transformation. The new visitor centre is significantly larger, featuring interactive displays, educational exhibits, and spacious facilities capable of accommodating bigger groups of visitors and nature enthusiasts.

Behind this inspiring conservation effort are Eddie Chan and his wife, the visionary duo whose passion and dedication have made GNA one of Malaysia’s leading eco-tourism and biodiversity destinations. Their commitment to restoring and protecting nature has earned both national and international recognition.

Some of GNA’s recent achievements include:
– 128,028 CBKVs recorded as of 11 July 2026
– Global Impact Awards 2026 – Global Leadership Excellence Award for Environmental Sustainability & Bio-Tourism Development
– ASEAN Green Stewardship Tourism Award 2026
– TDM Travel Trade Excellence Award 2025 – ESG Initiative of the Year (Malaysia)

Having first visited the reserve in 2022, followed by another trip in 2024, we have had the privilege of witnessing its incredible evolution. Hundreds of native trees have been replanted, habitats have matured beautifully, biodiversity has flourished, and new trails have been developed, making the reserve more accessible and enjoyable for visitors of all ages.

As Eddie aptly shared:

“This International Day for Biodiversity serves as a reminder that meaningful environmental change begins at the local level. Through collaboration, innovation, and shared responsibility, we can help build a more sustainable future for generations to come.”

One of the most memorable moments of this visit came as a complete surprise. We were honoured to discover that GNA had installed an outdoor display board along one of the trails featuring photographs from our previous visits and acknowledging our photography group for our continued support in documenting insects and biodiversity. Seeing our group’s contributions recognised in such a meaningful way was both humbling and deeply rewarding. It is a memory that we will treasure for years to come.

This expedition was planned as a two-day adventure, allowing us to explore two different trails within the reserve. The results exceeded our expectations. We encountered numerous insect species that we had never documented before, and it was encouraging to observe a significant increase in both species diversity and population compared to our previous visits. This is a strong indication that the ecosystem is continuing to recover and mature.

Many of the insects displayed astonishing colours and patterns that we never imagined existed. Some species were completely unfamiliar to us and have never been encountered in Singapore, making the experience even more exciting for our photography team.

Wanna see more? View the full album here.


To top it all off, GNA treated us like VIP guests by arranging buggy transport back to the visitor centre after our long hikes on both days—a thoughtful gesture that was greatly appreciated after hours of exploring the forest.

Our heartfelt thanks go to Eddie Chan, his wife, and the entire team at Genting Nature Adventures for their warm hospitality and unwavering dedication to conservation. Your work is creating an extraordinary legacy for future generations while demonstrating that responsible eco-tourism and biodiversity conservation can go hand in hand.

Back in Singapore, we will continue sharing GNA’s remarkable conservation story with fellow photographers, nature lovers, and travellers. We hope that more people will visit this incredible reserve, experience its beauty firsthand, and support the meaningful work being done here.

Thank you, Genting Nature Adventures. We’ll definitely be back again!

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About Chief Editor AL Lee

Chief Editor & Founder of Ourshutterjourney.com Worldwide and Principal Trainer at Ourshutterjourney Photography Academy. AL is a commercial photographer as well as an educator who believes in the art of digital memories. An ambassador of several photography brands, AL is well versed in many camera systems. Someone once told us AL’s man cave looks more like a camera store than a bedroom.

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