If your life feels like endless scrolling, here’s a place that forces you to look up again.
Welcome to 82 Rening – the Ulu Rening river valley retreat where families reconnect, couples reset, and burnt-out city souls remember how to breathe.
From a “Weekend Orchard” to Malaysia’s Most Talked-About Digital Detox Retreat
It all began with Fariq Mohd Salleh, an ex-advertising warrior who left KL’s agency grind before it swallowed him whole.
In 2017, his late father dragged him to a forgotten corner of Batang Kali. One glance at the mountains, the twin rivers, and the untouched landscape… and the city boy knew:
“This view deserves to be shared.”
By 2019, a small café opened. Then the world shut down.
Instead of collapsing, 82 Rening went viral.
Locked-down Malaysians discovered the place by accident – the café, the river, the villas and suddenly Mondays were fully booked. Families who hadn’t sat together in years were grilling BBQ, kids were ditching screens, and remote workers were taking Zoom calls beside private pools.
Why 82 Rening Feels Like Magic (And Why No One Else Dares Copy It)
No TV. No Wi-Fi. No karaoke. Yes, seriously.
82 Rening is engineered for human connection:
- Giant 3 – 6-bedroom villas built for real conversations
- Morning nasi lemak & kuih delivered straight from kampung makciks
- Private pools with zero crowding
- Huge BBQ pits, archery, bicycles, board games, playgrounds
- 13-inch luxury mattresses + rain showers (detox ≠ suffering)
- Flexible headcount – bring one or two extra cousins, tak apa
Fariq calls it “comfortable camping for the soul.”
We call it genius.
The Eco-Tourism Spark That Revived a Kampung
Before 82 Rening, Ulu Rening was all rubber plantations and durian orchards. A relatively quiet, laid-back kampung. Today?
- Local youths are able to earn an income close to home via tourism-based outlets, rather than the traditional plantation and industrial segments outside the kampung
- Paintball, ATV rides, riverside campsites & homestays mushrooming within the vicinity
- Hot springs, waterfalls & tubing 10–15 minutes away
- Batang Kali town bustling with activity as established brands such as Watsons, Guardian, Eco Shop, Bask Bear, Richiamo, and various other outlets make their way in.
And the best part?
Fariq hires mainly from the kampung, training them to deliver five-star hospitality.
His mantra:
“Coming from humble backgrounds doesn’t mean we can’t have an international mentality and provide five-star service.”
The Meaning Behind the Name
“82” is his family house number.
“Rening” is the locality.
Zero expectations. Maximum surprise.
And that’s exactly how the brand grew organically, loudly, and loved by everyone who visits.
The vision: To put Ulu Rening on the Tourism map. Achieved.
What’s Coming Next (And Why You Should Book Fast)
January 2026 will see:
- 7 new chalets with mountain view
- 1 6-room villa with private pool with jungle view
- Capacity for 100+ pax across the entire property
After that, Fariq plans to copy-paste the 82 formula across Malaysia:
Nature. Big villas. Private pools. No screens. Real connection.
Basically, Malaysia’s next big staycation movement is loading.
Ready for Your 48-Hour Soul Reset?
If your family talks more in the group chat than at the dinner table…
If you dream of throwing everyone’s phone into a river…
If you want a staycation that feels like therapy (minus the crying bill)…
82 Rening is calling.
Just 60–75 minutes from KL.
Tar road all the way.
Mountains, rivers, fresh air… and a villa big enough for your entire clan (plus that one uncle with the portable kettle).
82 Rening. Where Everyone Comes to Remember How to Be Human Again.
