Royal Belum Rainforest Resort 3D2N Tour Itinerary – Day 2: Boat Excursion to an Orang Asli Village and Jungle Trekking into the Hidden Forest in Search of the Rafflesia & Waterfalls
Royal Belum Rainforest Resort – Trek through Malaysia’s 130-million-year-old rainforest and embrace the wonders of nature.
Hello! I’m Aya, a Japanese wife living abroad.
In my last post, I introduced the Royal Belum Rainforest Resort. Today, I’ll continue with part two and highlight some of the must-visit attractions in Royal Belum!
Royal Belum Rainforest Resort – 3D2N Itinerary (Day 1) → Blog
This is a continuation of my previous article on visiting Belum.This time, I’ll introduce the highlight of the trip – trekking in Belum!
Day 2
8:30 AM → Depart from the hotel jetty → Orang Asli Village → Lunch on the boat → Waterfall deep in the hidden forest → Searching for the Rafflesia → Around 5:00 PM arrive back at the hotel jetty
Meet at the hotel jetty at 8:30 AM. Hop on the boat and set off into the hidden jungle of the 130-million-year-old tropical rainforest – let’s go!
Advance registration is required to join this trekking tour. For foreign visitors, a passport is necessary.
After departing from the hotel jetty, there will be an entry checkpoint on the way.
～Orang Asli Village～
About 30 minutes by boat from the hotel, there is an Orang Asli village filled with houses roofed with leaves of some kind! We landed at this village and were kindly allowed to look around.
The indigenous people living here are said to be descendants of immigrants who came from Africa long, long ago and have remained here ever since. In the village, we saw houses made of wood, leaves, and bamboo from the forest, something like a badminton court, as well as cats and chickens. Of course, there were no toilets, so when they needed to go, they just hid behind the trees (laugh).
Supplies are delivered regularly by volunteers, so they had cooking oil, gas, clothes, snacks, and other necessities.
The village was full of children. They happily posed when I pointed the camera at them, but being shy, they didn’t give many smiles.
A doctor visits the village once a week, so everyone looked quite healthy!At the age of seven, the children leave the village to attend school, meaning they start living away from their families from a very young age.
The roofs here are made from special leaves that are naturally waterproof, and they’re replaced once a year.
Living in the jungle means sharing the land with elephants and even tigers! Since elephants love eating bamboo, the villagers burn the bamboo around the village to keep them from wandering in.
Within this vast, hidden rainforest, there are several indigenous communities. On the Thai side, however, some are said to paint their faces and carry weapons. It can be very dangerous, so never try to go there on your own!
～Waterfall in the 130-Million-Year-Old Rainforest～
When I visited, it was just the beginning of the rainy season, so unfortunately it rained throughout the trek.
Still, I was able to see a magnificent and majestic waterfall. Sunlight streamed down from above, illuminating the falls as if a spotlight were shining on them – it was truly beautiful!
It took us about 30 minutes to reach the waterfall since the rain had made the path muddy and slippery. The final stretch near the falls was like scrambling over rocks – definitely not easy!
But trust me, the view is worth every step, so don’t give up and keep climbing!
For lunch, we had a simple but tasty meal: a chicken sandwich, a banana, a mandarin orange, and of course, a KitKat for dessert.
The chicken sandwich turned out to be pretty tasty! After burning so much energy trekking, I was starving – I honestly felt like I could have eaten a second one! 😄
～Next, we headed out to see another waterfall and to search for the rare Rafflesia flower.～
To my surprise, we had to wade through a river with water up to our shins! Since it had been raining, the boat couldn’t get close to the edge of the jungle, so we had no choice but to do a bit of river trekking – a first-time experience for me! 😅 On the way, we passed by two waterfalls, and then climbed up a cliff for about 10 minutes to get to the spot where the Rafflesia grows.
There are five different spots in this forest where you can see Rafflesia, each with a different level of trekking difficulty. This time, the flower was so close to blooming – ahh, just missed it! If it had been two or three days later, we could have seen it in full bloom.
The outer black skin was already peeling off, which means it was just about to open. It takes around two months for a Rafflesia to grow to the point where it can bloom, but the flower only lasts for about five days. You need a lot of luck to catch it at the right moment!
I also learned that if you touch the Rafflesia, it turns black and dies – so please, hands off this rare beauty.
We actually spotted three Rafflesia buds – a small one, a medium-sized one, and a big one that was almost ready to open.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=699713667065288&set=p.699713667065288&type=3
This is what it looks like in full bloom. Our guide sent me this photo afterwards.
At the waterfall, we saw Malay visitors swimming with their clothes on. After the trek, you’ll probably be muddy anyway, so why not take a dip? Just make sure to keep your phone and camera safe. The great thing is that even if you’re completely soaked, the boat will bring you back to the hotel jetty, and you can even request a buggy to your room. Very convenient! One word of advice: the wind during the boat ride back can feel quite chilly, so it’s a good idea to leave a towel or a light cover-up on the boat.
On our way back, we encountered a giant bamboo leaf—everything in the tropics seems to grow so big! Thanks to the abundant sunshine and frequent rain, the vegetation thrives. The guide shared many interesting explanations, although only in English and Malay.
Aya’s Useful Tips
Transportation & Access
You can get to the hotel by car. The trekking tour requires staying at the hotel, and in the morning you will depart by boat from the hotel’s jetty.
What to Wear & Bring
Since this is a proper trekking course, make sure to wear hiking shoes and suitable outdoor clothing. Don’t forget protection against insects and sunburn, and it’s also recommended to bring sunglasses.
On the Boat
It can sometimes feel chilly while on the boat, so it’s a good idea to bring a jacket.
Provided by the Guide
The guide will prepare raincoats and bottled water for you.
Meals & Snacks
Lunch and fruits are included in the tour package. However, you may feel quite hungry on the way back, so bringing along some snacks is recommended.
During the Trek
Any items you don’t need during the trek can be stored under the seats on the boat. Try to keep your belongings to a minimum and travel light during the trek.
Highlights of Belum Rainforest Resort
“Stay in a 130-million-year-old ancient forest” + “Experience the raw sounds of nature up close”
Surrounding Information
There isn’t much in the surrounding area, so enjoy Belum Rainforest Resort to the fullest.
Belum Rainforest Resort @ North Perak is located in Pulau Banding, 33200 Gerik, Perak Darul Ridzuan, Malaysia, surrounded by one of the oldest rainforests in the world.
Belum Rainforest Resort@North Perak
Address：Lebuhraya Timur-Barat, Pulau Banding, 33300 Gerik, Perak
