Tag: Malaysia

Hiking Baha Campsite, Dabong

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If you want to experience waking up to a breathtaking sunrise on the ridge of Southeast Asia’s highest recorded waterfall, then you should try a 3D2N camping trip at Baha Campsite, Dabong.

It’s a clean, well-kept site complete with toilets and a surau with ice-cold water running straight from a small waterfall right next to the camp, which honestly makes the whole process of enjoying nature surprisingly comfortable. You can just spend hours lying in your hammock, enjoying the morning mist wrapped among the tall trees while listening to the gentle roar of the falls. And if you’re lucky with the weather, you’ll get to witness a soft layer of awan karpet settling over the valley below.

  • Location: Baha Campsite, Dabong, Kuala Krai, Kelantan (450m)
  • How to go: Drive to Dabong, use Waze for “Stong Heritage Eco Resort”. Another option is to take a train from KL Sentral to Gemas (ETS) and Gemas to Dabong (KTM) to experience a different adventure.
  • Attraction: Camping at the ridge of Jelawang Waterfall, the tallest waterfall (recorded on paper) in southeast Asia
  • Difficulty: Moderate and steep, vertical hiking
  • Distance: 2-3 hours hike with load. 3.4km long
  • Time spent: 3 days 2 nights
  • Caution: Not advisable during raining season
  • Tips: Arrange food ration with your guide so you can focus being in the moment
  • Leech level: High
  • Entrance Fee: Yes
  • Require Permit: Yes
  • Local Guide: PakDo +6017 908 0884
  • Hiking date: 01.05.2025
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Hiking Gunung Pulai, Baling

Matsuda MashimaruLeave a comment

Okay, let’s be real … this time, we weren’t hiking, but we were rock climbing. There, I said it out loud. Gunung Pulai may look small from afar, but trust me, this mountain is about 95% rock, basically a giant chunk of stone sitting proudly next to another chunk of stone called Gunung Baling in the middle of Baling town. And yeah, climbing it? Way tougher than it looks.

If you’re like me, the kind who’s always craving a panoramic view of the town framed by the sea of Butterworth and the Penang Strait, then you have to do Gunung Pulai for the sunset view. I know, I know, it sounds a bit odd to climb in the afternoon, but curiosity got the best of me. I just had to see the sunset from the Butterworth-Penang side.

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Hiking Gunung Alai, Gerik

Matsuda MashimaruLeave a comment

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.

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Hiking Gunung Bubu, Gerik

Matsuda Mashimaru3 Comments

If you’re a beginner hiker curious to experience what a mossy forest looks like, Gunung Bubu is the perfect place to start. As you near the peak, you’ll pass through a section where the ground is blanketed in lush green moss, a “teaser version” of Cameron Highlands’ famous Gunung Irau, but without the mud marathon or heart-pumping steep climbs.

And the peak?

Gunung Bubu offers a beautiful view of the valleys around the small town of Gerik. On a misty morning, if luck is on your side, you might witness the breathtaking awan karpet, a sea of clouds blanketing the valleys below, the kind of view that makes you forget how much your legs hurt after the early morning hike.

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Hiking 2.0

Matsuda MashimaruLeave a comment

We made a pact to have at least one adventurous hiking trip every year, no excuses, just a bunch of us pretending to be outdoorsy for a weekend.

We’re not hardcore hikers by any stretch; we hike for the snacks, the laughs, and that glorious moment at the peak when we can finally say, “Yeah! Totally worth it!” (and later goofing around with our limping legs for days). This year marks my second time organising our annual hiking trip with a bunch of thrill seekers, but not ‘physically fit’ best friends.

This time around, I decided to spice things up for our 5-day, 4-night adventure. One mountain? Too easy. I told the team, “We’ve got five days gais, let’s make our legs regret it!” So, we set our sights on 2 mountains around Gerik, Perak, and another one at Baling, Kedah.

(Click each link ⬆️ for more stories)

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