Gunung Korbu and Gunung Gayong via Ulu Kinta SAS Dam

Distance: 32km for KorGA, 26km for Korbu only

Elevation Gain: 2,658m for KorGa, 2,100m+ for Korbu only

Rated: 7.5/10 for KorGa, 7.0/10 for Korbu

Gunung Korbu, 2183m, Peninsular Malaysia 2nd highest mountain or aka G2 and is only shorter to Gunung Tahan, 2187m by 4m though Korbu is easier than Gunung Tahan. But if you add in Gunung Gayung, the thing can get a bit tougher. 

The trail head is at "4.64957,101.24106" but the problem is you have to go through the dam gate which is at "4.668629, 101.198148" or Sultan Azlan Shah Dam(but this will bring you directly into the dam). So to enter KorGa (Korbu & Gayung), you need 2 permit, one from Forestry Department and one for the Dam Site. Also to note, the Dam gate only open at 9-10am, so early hike is usually quite impossible unless you are camping inside the day before.

The trail head don't have public facilities and car park space is limited, car pool is advised. Guide may not be compulsory but recommended as the river crossing inside the forest can be confusing for first timer. There a river at the side to wash-up but be-careful during dark as the river current is relatively fast.

SAS Dam Gate (If you notice the highest mountain shadow, yes, that Gunung Korbu)

Toward SAS Dam Gate

Going from SAS Dam Gate to Korbu Trailhead
https://www.strava.com/activities/2154305102
GPX File: https://www.dropbox.com/s/hzmjppe9q15pr2i/Korga_trail_head_to_ulu_kinta_dam.gpx?dl=0

Take note of this bridge, turn onto the bridge to reach the trailhead

Korbu Trailhead

https://www.strava.com/activities/2154305422
GPX File: https://www.dropbox.com/s/nvcdt94aqslhxtb/KorGa.gpx?dl=0

Gunung Korbu only has a distance of 26km but it still a difficult mountain to conquer. The steepness gradient of this mountain is a killer. It usually take hiker up to 3-4 days, but there are very fit people out there who can complete this mountain under 10-12 hours.

The start of the hike can be already be quite steep, but the main issue with the start of the hike and before you reach the first camp site, Camp Seroja, there 6 river crossing and if your rock hopping skill is good, you won't get wet. I miss the first river but that is easy to cross, here the following 5 rivers... All of them had marker on when I was there but hopefully it stay on when you are visiting...

River no.2

River no.3 (Yes, over the tree log, if it still there...)

River no.4

River no.5 (part 1)

River no.5 (part 2)

River no.6

After river number 6, no more than 5 minutes walk will bring you to a junction, turning left here will bring you to the big log waterfall.

Big Log Waterfall

From trailhead to Big Log Waterfall may take you an hour and will take you another 1 hour to reach Camp Seroja.

Camp Seroja Layout

Camp Seroja

There river here on your left. After Camp Seroja, another hour of hiking will bring you to Camp Kijang but the campsite here is being damaged by landslide.

This river crossing is somewhere after 15minutes from Seroja
(Turning left bring you to empty land, going right and climb over the log go to Korbu)

Camp Kijang

Camp Kijang Layout

Once you reach Camp Kijang, take note of where you coming from as when you coming down here in the dark, the path is not as obvious as during the daylight. There a small river for you to refill here. After Camp Kijang, this is where the climb get very steep. It will take roughly an hour or more to reach the next checkpoint, Last Water Point.

Turn down to your right to refill water

Do make sure you refill your water here as there is no more water to refill after this. The next checkpoint is Botak though there is no signage here except a clear view of Korbu when there is no fog. After that is another hour to reach Korbu Peak. Do remember the climb does not stop from Camp Kijang, so you will be climbing most of the time at a steep gradient in this mountain. Halfway through, you will reach Cubaan, here is just a very steep wall where you climb 3 ladder in a row up to get over the wall.

Cubaan Wall

Overall, 6-7 hours for average hiker to reach Korbu Peak from trail head, 4-5 hours for the very fit climber. 

Korbu Peak, G2

Korbu Peak

(This entry after this will also be used for Trans-Titiwangsa V1 and V2)

Gunung Gayong, G4, Peninsular Malaysia 4th tallest mountain is not an easy mountain to reach. The easiest way to reach here is by climbing Gunung Korbu first, then climb here. There are other route which come from Yong Belar but that is known as the Trans-Titiwangsa route but it much tougher. 

Going toward Gunung Gayong

Gunung Korbu and Gayong are 3km apart but it still no easy task to get over the other side as the trail isn't easy to transverse plus the up and down gradient make it tougher, though in between the mountain are beautiful mossy forest and view of the Titiwangsa Mountain Range on a good day which can see Korbu, Gayong, Yong Yap, Bubu, Tok Nenek & Yong Belar. It take average of 1:30-2 hours one way to reach Gayong Peak, but fast one can do it in an hour time.

Do take note that there a junction close to Gayong Peak which is known as Simpang Proton. Usually when you see this junction, it mean you are 5 minutes to the peak, DO NOT turn left at the junction when you are heading to Gayong Peak as this will bring you into the wilderness known as Trans-Titiwangsa! 

Gayong Peak

Overall, it will take around 3-4 hours for a round trip from Korbu to Gayong peak. 

For KorGa dayhike, it may take some hiker up to 14-16 hours for very good pace hiker, 24 hours for some, and as mention, around 10-12 hours for the very fit climber.

My log time for the hike:

7:00am - Start Hike

8:30am - Camp Seroja

9:00am - Camp Kijang

9:50am - Last Water Point (rest 5min and refill)

11:10am - Korbu Peak (rest 15min)

12:25pm - Gayong Peak (rest 10min)

1:40pm - Korbu Peak (rest 15min)

3:00pm - Last Water Point (rest 5 min and refill)

3:45pm - Camp Kijang

5:50pm - End of Hike

Last Edited:

28 March 2019