MY · Perak · 5.42°N 101.13°E

gerik

Gateway to Royal Belum's rainforest, across the long lake bridge to Pulau Banding.

Best time
Any time of year. Mornings are usually clearer, with rain often coming in the afternoon.
How long
2 days, 1 night
Getting there
About 4 hours' drive from KL: take the North–South Expressway to Kuala Kangsar, then head north through Lenggong. From Penang it's around 3 hours. Pulau Banding is about 40 minutes further east on the East–West Highway.
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MY · Perakgerik5.42°N 101.13°Egowherelah.com
Dear group chat,Gateway to Royal Belum's rainforest, across the long lake bridge to Pulau Banding.— gowherelahTo: whoever’s drivingGerikMY, Perak
KLgerik
≈ 261 km from KL, as the crow flies
Gerik OSC

Photo: Contributed by: parakatt-jayan-a-l-v-k-damodaran-nair Recorded at: 14 May 2020 08:56 Coordinate: 5.427077, 101.127477 Platform: Android · CC BY-SA 4.0

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Photos: Wikimedia Commons, credited on each.

The main town of Hulu Perak, where the East–West Highway heads over the mountains to Kelantan. Most people stop here on the way to Pulau Banding and Temengor Lake, the jumping-off point for boat trips into the Royal Belum rainforest.

Makan

  1. Lake fishFreshwater fish from the lakes, grilled or in a spicy gulai, at the town's Malay eateries.Map ↗

Things to do

  1. Royal Belum boat tripBoats from Pulau Banding head deep into the Belum–Temengor rainforest, with waterfalls, salt licks and a fair chance of hornbills.Map ↗
  2. Temengor LakeA huge reservoir dotted with forested islands. Take the bridge across to Pulau Banding slowly and enjoy the view.Map ↗
  3. RafflesiaGuides can sometimes take you to a rafflesia in bloom, if one happens to be open.Map ↗
  4. Orang Asli villagesSome trips stop at Jahai and Temiar villages around the lake.Map ↗
  5. Houseboat stayHouseboats on Temengor let you sleep on the lake and fish from the deck.Map ↗

Good to know

  • Entering Royal Belum State Park needs a permit. Tour operators usually arrange it, so book ahead.
  • Wild elephants cross the East–West Highway. Drive slowly, especially at night, and never stop to feed them.
  • Ask before taking photos in Orang Asli villages.

Last checked October 2026. Things change, so check opening times, fees and transport before you go.