Craving a fairy-tale kind of view from high up in the mountains?

Don’t worry, peeps, we have our own Malaysia dreamy landscape here from the top of Gunung Alai, located in Gerik, Perak. Trust me, the view from up here is wow. If you’re wondering how to truly soak in its beauty, I’d suggest hiking up for sunset, camping overnight to catch the Milky Way, and waking up early for a stunning sunrise.

View chaser … this is the spot you don’t want to miss.

• Location: Gunung Alai, Gerik, Perak (791m)
• How to go: Drive and Waze to the small town of Gerik
• Stay: Gerik D’KCC Campsite. Contact number: 013 521 9956
• Attraction: A beautiful view of the valley of Gerik with Gunung Kenderung (1223m) and Gunung Kerunai (1000m) – The K2 of Gerik
• Difficulty: Moderate level
• Distance out and back: 6.5km in total
• Time spent: Half a day trip
• Caution:
• Tips: This peak is crowded during weekends and public holidays. Plan your date as only 100 pax per day are allowed to hike here.
• Leech level: Minimal or none
• Entrance Fees: Yes
• Require Permit: Yes
• Estimated Cost: RM595 for 1 Guide/ 7 pax
• Local Guide: Mat Gerik 019-809 0057 (MGP)
• Hiking date: 08 February 2025

I realised that the earliest I can push myself to start hiking for a proper sunrise view in Malaysia is around 4:00 a.m. When we arrived at the Gunung Alai trailhead at 4:00 am, the parking area was already packed, meaning a bunch of other hikers had hit the trail even earlier than us!

Since only 7 of us were in one group, our guide had the confidence to let us start the hike a little late. Based on our hiking experience to Gunung Bubu the day before, he figured our pace was steady enough, so reaching the peak within two hours shouldn’t be a problem. The trail isn’t as easy-going as Gunung Bubu’s, but it’s not too tough either, just nice for hikers who prefer a moderate pace.

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A post shared by Matsuda Mashimaru (@sallymatsuda)

There are two lookout points at the peak of Gunung Alai. Our guide advised us to chill at Lookout Point 2 first before heading up to the main one, since the peak was already packed with people that morning, apparently, around 100 hikers were up there chasing the same sunrise dream.

As we reached Lookout Point 2, it was already like a mini sunrise festival. People are at every corner, either busy setting up tripods, sipping coffee, or just chatting softly while waiting for that first golden glow to appear. The air was cool and refreshing, and everyone seemed to share the same quiet excitement.

We decided to wait at Lookout Point 2 for a while, watching the sky slowly change colours and taking more and more pictures. Once the crowd from the main lookout started heading down, we made our move. Perfect timing … fewer people, more space, and the same magical view waiting just for us.

I always find myself overthinking what kind of photos to take when I go hiking. Should I snap more selfies and wefies, focus on the beauty of nature, or maybe even do a bit of birding along the way?

Then comes the next big question … what camera should I bring? Is my smartphone good enough to capture the story of my hike, or should I haul my Nikon Z8 with the 24–70mm lens? Or maybe a long zoom lens for those elusive birds? Ahhh… my mind always goes into overdrive, especially during that one hour in the car on the way to the trailhead, when I’m still trying to convince myself I’ve packed the right gear.

Focus Sally! Focus Sally!

Let me share a must-have checklist on what type of photo you should capture while hiking. You can thank me later, ya.

• The GROUP photo. This is a must-have photo. Take a group photo at the trailhead before starting the hike (with the fresh-looking face), at every checkpoint signboard, at the peak signboard and again at the trailhead after we safely returned (with our tired but satisfying face). We need to produce solid evidence to the nonbeliever that we truly completed the whole trail.
• In ACTION SHOT. Yeah, you know the one. A mid-step photo on the trail, looking all adventurous and fit while ascending or descending the trail. Bonus points if there’s some ray of light through the trees. Extra bonus if you’re donning the right OOTD.
• The NATURE CLOSE-UP photo. That mossy plant, that giant millipede crossing your path, the leaf, the wild mushroom, the wild flowers, etc. Get close, play with focus, and pretend you’re shooting for National Geographic
• The ‘FAKE CANDID’. Aha … this is when you can’t resist being the heroic or dramatic talent who happened to be at the most beautiful background location ever. Lean against a tree, look dramatically into the distance, and act like you didn’t notice the camera. Works every time.
• The PEAK shot. The legendary “We made it!” photo. Arms up, wind blowing, maybe a bit of sweat, this is your trophy. We endure the hassle of surviving the trail just to have this trophy moment. Take a few versions: serious, fun, group jump (if your knees can handle it la ha ha ha)
• The NIGHT shot. If you’re camping overnight, this is your moment for starlight, Milky Way, or even tent glow shots. I know you’re dead tired after that day hike, but come on, grab your camera and capture the night vibes. You don’t want to wake up tomorrow wishing you did.
• The UNEXPECTED WILDLIFE. Honestly, I would love to spend more time capturing wild animals while on the trail, but I don’t think it is possible for a day hike trip here in Malaysia. Unless we want to spend more time in the forest photographing birds, squirrels, even that suspicious rustle in the bushes 🤣 (maybe an elephant or a tiger)
• The happy but tired SELFIES and WEFIES. There you go, I said it … please do take your selfies and wefies, with your best “I did it but my legs might fall off” expression. Perfect for capturing the honest side of hiking life.

At the end of the day, your hiking photos should tell your story. The laughter, the sweat, the sunrise or sunset, and those random snack breaks in between. Don’t worry too much about having the perfect camera or perfect angle. Just shoot what makes you smile.

And if you end up with 500 photos of trees and clouds… hey, welcome to the club.

We conquered Gunung Bubu yesterday morning, and this morning we confidently took on Gunung Alai, our second mountain for this trip. By the time we reached our campsite, we were completely wiped out. I thought a quick power nap in my hammock would do the trick before driving to our next mountain (about an hour away in Baling, Kedah). But nope, my muscles had other plans. I couldn’t even crawl out of the hammock; the only thing I managed to lift was my eyelids. Everything else was locked up tight!

After two hours of deep, coma-level sleep, the soreness hit hard. So, we made the wise decision to spend another night at the campsite and head to our next mountain the following morning instead. The seven of us spent the afternoon soaking in the river, our version of a luxury spa, hoping the icy river water would magically fix our aching muscles.

By evening, we’d recovered just enough to limp around Gerik town, laughing at our own misery and pretending our legs weren’t made of jelly. We joked about tomorrow’s hike to Gunung Pulai. Can we really conquer it with legs that feel like overcooked noodles? Guess we’ll find out.

That’s the thing about hiking. It burns your legs, drains your energy, and makes you question your sanity halfway up the trail… but in the end, it fills your soul and leaves you craving for more. Sore muscles fade, but those fairy-tale views and belly laughs? They stay forever.

Ahhh… time to move on to our next adventure — Gunung Pulai, here we come!

Cheers Gais!

Sallymatsuda