Take The Path Less Ordinary

If something smell funny, don’t worry - it’s just fresh air. (Read: You have been inhaling city air too long).

Be the one with amazing holiday story to tell. Hike across a 130 million years old rainforest that escaped the last Ice Age. Soak in an uncharted waterfall. Eat food you can hardly pronounce. And the best part is - do everything with the comfort of knowing there’s a friendly local expert watching over you.

This unique 1 day safari 4WD and trekking trail will take one to see nature’s best unsung secrets - notably, caves, cascading waterfall and intriguing flora that never fails to whet the appetite of a nature loving traveller. Coast past quaint Orang Asli tribal villages and the best part - give your tastebuds an adventure with specially prepared “jungle food”!

Bukit Kinta, a stone throw away from Ipoh, Malaysia, is known for its Orang Asli tribal grounds and untouched tropical must-sees. Being situated at the foothill of Titiwangsa Range also blessed the hidden vista with multiple waterfalls and pristine rivers that gush downhill to joint the mighty Perak River. Undoubtedly, few travellers have heard about this place, but with all the unspoiled scenery spreading out before you, you’d wickedly want the place to remain a secret for a long long time.

Quick Itinerary Glance

9.00am – Pick up at hotel. Introduction, trip and safety procedures briefings.
10.00am – Gua Tempurung cave exploration and geological feature learning.
12.00 noon – 4×4 easy going drive through countryside Malay villages, spice gardens, rubber tree plantation and stop by interesting sites while making our way into Bukit Kinta rainforest aborigine reserve.
1.00pm – Jungle lunch and eat local seasonal fruits.
2.00pm – Trek along Geruntum jungle fringe to see Orang Asli village and way of life.
4.00pm – Take a dip and enjoy a splashing time in an uncharted waterfall.
5.00pm – 4WD ride back to Ipoh.

Key Detail & Cost

Duration: 1 day, 9am - 5pm, 8 hrs.
Group Size: 2 - 7 people (min. 2 persons)
Season: January - December
Price: RM280 per person valid for Jan-Dec 2010 bookings

This excursion departs from Ipoh, a town some 200km north or 2hrs bus ride from capital Kuala Lumpur. We can pick and drop off at any taxi/bus station or hotel around Ipoh.

Price Includes …

- One lunch (cooked by countryside Malay womenfolk) at midday
- English-speaking naturalist guide
- 4×4 transfer to all destinations & activities
- Permits to aboriginal and rainforest reserve land

Trail tales

Primitive bamboo hut - Orang Asli natives always build houses on stilts, never on bare ground. After dark, the forest floor is teeming with nocturnal wildlife and some like snakes, scorpions and carnivours are dangerous. As a general rule, sleeping on ground level is not a good idea.

Each tribe has a style of home construction according to tradition and availability of building materials found in nearby jungle. Wood is used to form the frame and bamboo strips are weaved together as walls and windows. A typical hut is divided into two sections, one for sleeping and another for cooking. These handmade huts can last for 7-8 years but roofings made from bertam palm need changing every 3 years.

Orang Asli natives - In 2005 May, Glasgow and Leeds University’s researchers found that the Orang Asli has mitocondria DNA that matched a 65,000 year old African sample. This finding was reported by American Journal of Human Biology 18:654-667 (2006) and suggested that they are the closest descendants of prehistoric group that first walked out of Africa.

Up to December 2006 with the headcount of 141,230, the Orang Asli make up less that 1% of the total population in Malaysia. The Orang Asli have deep respect for the rainforest as have their fathers and the fathers before them. They ask for little and are contented with living at the fringes of the rainforest. They are governed by traditions, taboos and animism practices passed down from their forefathers.

Living off the land - Orang Asli have deep respect for wildlife and only hunt for sustenance.

Orang Asli are one of the few aborigines in the world who do not practice of animal killing for “coming of age” rituals. They do not wear animal skins or furs and one will never find parts of animals hung in homes as hunting trophy. While many still prefer age-old ways of gathering food and household materials from the jungle, younger ones are slowly venturing to urban areas for new age lifestyle.

Tempurung cave network - Long before the existence of dinosaurs, Ipoh was nothing but a vast seabed teeming with sealife. Today, telltales of shells and bones of prehistoric sealife can be viewed and touched in limestone cave network that litters the countryside of Kinta valley.

Walking into the the cave is like a trip back in time. Strange karst formations that takes millions of years to form reminds us that mankind is but a speck on earth’s timeline. During WW2, British soldiers were said to hide from the Japanese in the cave and banded with local militias to rough out those trying years; today, chalk sketches of old Bentley car and Victoria clocks can be seen on the walls.

Rediscovered in the 80s’ by villagers who made trips into the cave to collect “holy water” reputed to cure any ailments, it was the late 90s’ that saw local authority construct steel railings and steps to ensure visitors can comb and cave in safety. Wind tunnel, golden flowstones and mesmerizing crystals are just a few of the wonders waiting to coo visitors.

Fiery torch ginger - Colourful herbs and plants paint the raw frontier which such vigor, a short hike is all one need for a visual feast.

Torch ginger or its botanic name Zingiber (pronouced as “zing-ee-ber”) stemmed from a Sanskrit word meaning shaped like a horn. The Zingiberales family has approximately 50 genera and over 1,000 species. Gingers are found throughout the tropics, but are especially abundant in Malaysia. Locally used to spice up curries, salad and laksa fish soup, some species are also collected, boiled and consumed to curb fever. It is said to contain “cooling” properties.

Jungle waterfall - A cool place to dip tired body, mind and soul. With water high in mineral and chemicals derived from plants, frequent bathing in jungle waterfall is believed to cure skin ailments. It leaves the skin soft and supple.

Bukit Kinta is actually a valley where rainfall flush down from the Titiwangsa mountainous range. This bestowed the jungle pocket with countless steams, rivers and waterfalls. On afternoon, watch how local natives hunt for fishes with traditional gadgets and join in the fun bathing with local kids in the waterways.

Endemic stick insect - The rainforest can come alive if you look close enough.

Malaysia is home to an order of insects called Phasmatodea, a name derived from Greek “phasma” meaning an apparition or phantom, and refers to the resemblance of many species to sticks or leaves. Notable ones which are only found around our region are Lopaphus perakensis, the world’s longest and largest insect and Heteropteryx dilata which lays the largest eggs. These insects are hyper-endemic and can only be found in the jungles around Bukit Kinta.

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Trip type - Travellers can expect a day of easy-going hike and ride in our 4WD vehicle. The field trip is suitable for the young and old as needs for safety and steadfast guidance are kept firmly in mind. Couples, families and friends travelling together will have a good balance between activity and relaxation.

What to bring & wear - Relax and dress down in T-shirts, shorts and sandals. Bring a small bag to store personal essentials, water and don’t forget to bring spare clothes and towels if you want to take a dip in the waterfall.

Food is surely part of the adventure - Lunch will be enjoyed in a small village lodge that’s hygienic and only uses locally sourced countryside ingredients. However, if you prefer something more familiar or can’t eat certain items due to personal, medical or religious reasons, let us know. We can arrange urban staples like breads, cakes, fruits, coffee or even vegetarian dishes.

Other good reads

1. Travelling to Ipoh by public transport
2. Get to know Ipoh as a place for holiday stopover between KL and Penang
3. Understanding rainforest ecology
4. Our list of outdoor trip packages