MY · Kedah · 5.78°N 100.43°E
gunung jerai
Winding drive up to cool air and views over the whole Kedah rice bowl.
- Best time
- The drier months early in the year give the clearest views. Go in the morning before the clouds roll in, or stay for sunset over the sea.
- How long
- Half a day
- Getting there
- About 4 hours' drive from KL on the North–South Expressway (exit at Gurun), or about an hour from Penang. The summit road starts near Gurun.
gunung jerai
Dear group chat,— gowherelahTo: whoever’s drivingGunung JeraiMY, Kedah
Photo: Peter in s · CC0 Photo: arches · CC BY-SA 3.0 Photo: Sein mohdhmar · CC BY-SA 4.0 Photo: Marufish from Alor Setar, Malaysia · CC BY-SA 2.0 Photo: Cmglee · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photos: Wikimedia Commons, credited on each.
Kedah's best-known mountain rises on its own above the coastal plain between Gurun and Yan, with a road winding all the way up. At the top it's noticeably cooler, and on a clear day you look out over the paddy fields to the Strait of Malacca.
Things to do
- The drive upA narrow, twisting road climbs through the forest to the top.Map ↗
- The summit viewpointsLook out over the Kedah plains, the coast and the sea beyond.Map ↗
- Bujang ValleyAncient temple ruins and an archaeological museum at the foot of the mountain, near Merbok.Map ↗
- Titi HayunA forest recreation area with a waterfall on the Yan side of the mountain.Map ↗
Good to know
- The road up is steep and winding. Use a low gear on the way down.
- Check that the summit road is open before you go, especially after heavy rain.
- Stay out of streams and waterfalls after heavy rain. In 2021 a flash flood off the mountain swept through Yan.
Last checked October 2026. Things change, so check opening times, fees and transport before you go.