Gunung Liang East & West - The Unforgettable Duo

Gunung Liang 

Gunung Liang, located in the state of Perak. It has two peaks – Liang East and Liang West measuring at 1933 meters. Hiking Gunung Liang requires strength and endurance especially for daypack journey.

Gps Coordinate of the from main road junction : 3.785670, 101.498880
GPS coordinate of the water treatment plant : 3.798457, 101.521377
GPS coordinate of the starting point : 3.797219, 101.525409

The red circle is the turning junction towards the starting point 

From the main road leading to the starting point is 2 -3km on tarmac road, you can drive your car up to water treatment plant and further up another 700 meters is the entrance. Finding a parking spot is a breeze as you can park anywhere along the road.

From water treatment plant to the starting point is 770 meter.

 This is the 2nd water treatment plant aka small dam..

(Photo taken after the hike)

The entrance is on the left up, the trail marker is visible when you go up a little bit

We decided to park at the water treatment plant and walked 700 meters. We reached another different type of water treatment plant at the end of tarmac road which is the starting point on the left.

Suunto ambit 2 pre-loaded with customized Liang – Tumang batak map will be our reliable navigation of the day.

Our earlier plan was to hike to Tumang Batak – which is further up after Liang West, however, we estimated that the journey from Liang West to Tumang Batak is around 3 km and with 6 hours return, we ditched the plan….

Here’s a step by step distance, estimated time taken, check points and tips along the way :

From Car Park (water treatment) to starting point

Time start : around 7.00am

Distance : 700 meters

Time taken 20 minutes

From Starting Point to Lubuk Hantu

Distance : 3.4km

Distance from start : 4.27km

Time Taken from starting point(2^nd water treatment)  : 1 hour 24 minutes

Time of the day : 8.44am

Trail Condition : a little bit of incline, small river crossing, dry, shoes wont get wet

Trail difficulty : easy moderate

Please cross the river to the other side and climb up. River crossing with rope. Follow the trail marker

This photo taken from lubuk hantu, can you see the rope across the river?

Cross the river then continue going up

This photo was taken after we crossed the river... 

From Lubuk Hantu to camp 7 – 11

Distance : 3.3km

Distance from Start : 7.56km

Time taken from Lubuk Hantu to Camp 7 – 11 :

Time of the day : 11.28am

Time Taken : 2 hours 34 minutes

Time taken from Start : around 4 hours

Trail Condition : dry

Trail Difficulty : Hard at certain section, easy at certain section

 Yess!! after a grueling 3km...

personal glory

From Camp 7 -11 to Liang East

Distance : 1.8km

Distance from Start : 9.35km

Time Taken : around 2 hours

Total hours from Start : 6 hours 17 minutes

Time of the day : 1.26pm

Trail condition : muddy certain part, mostly dry

Trail difficulty : long hard incline, tree root, 70 – 80 degree climb, technical – using 4 core muscle

We did it!!  

 Well look at the time...1.26pm

From Liang East to Liang West

Distance : 120 meters only

Distance from Start : 9.47km

Time Taken : 9 minutes

Time of the day : 1.35pm

Total hours from Start : 6 hours 25 minutes

Trail condition : mostly muddy, tree root climbing

Trail difficulty : easy to moderate

 only 10 minutes walk from Liang East. A little bit muddy here...

Very cold up here....!

Though Gunung Tumang Batak is within reach – 6 hours return, we were unable to execute the plan due to insufficient of time.

Cold Temperature at the top of mount liang - it make us shiver. We decided to have our Nasi Lemak to replenish the energy. After this, speed descending.

Descending time

We descended at 2pm.

As most of the journey is a total descending, the return journey will be fully descending, thus, we could speed a little bit.

Spectacular view of the mossy forest! I love you!

This was the spot where I fell down during our 1st visit few months back - bruises on my thigh and palm (damn you!)

Liang East to Camp 7-E

Time Taken : 1 hour

Time of the day : 3.01pm

Camp 7-E to Lubuk Hantu

Time taken : 1 hour 16 miutes

Time of the day : 4.17pm

Lubuk Hantu to Starting Point (2^nd Water treatment)

Time taken : 1 hour 14 minutes

Time of the day : 5.31pm

 Almost 18km...another 770 meters to go...

We did it!!

Summary of Hike :

Ascending – 9.47km, 6 hours 25 minutes

Descending  - 9.47km, 3 hours 30 minutes

Total hike – 18.94km in 9 hours 55 minutes

There was a huge gap between ascending and descending duration. As such, it will give clear indication to plan your hike.

Drinks ration - 2.5 liter in 5 small bottles plain water. 500 ml coke, 2 cans on red bull
Food ration - fried noodle & bread at lubuk hantu, Nasi Lemak at the peak.

I’m going to miss this place!!