Hidden Gem in Malaysia: Bukit Batu Putih, Tanjung Tuan, Port Dickson

Bukit Batu Putih

Tanjung Tuan or Cape Rachado (named by Portuguese, meaning Broken Cape) is at the state of Malacca, Malaysia but near to Port Dickson, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia.

The cape is popular for the Cape Rachado Lighthouse which is facing the Strait of Malacca. It was built between 1528 to 1529 for Portuguese to guide their ships. During 1641, Malacca had switched hands to Dutch and later on 1824 to the British.

Cape Rachado Lighthouse

In 1921, this area had listed as permanent forest reserve with 809,700 sqm under the name of Hutan Simpanan Cape Rachado. However, 161,900 sqm of the area is open for public use during 1969. 

Since 1971 till now, the rest of 607,000 has been designated as Important Bird Area and Malaysian Nature Society is actively in promoting conservation in the area. 

It takes 1 hour driving from PJ to reach Tanjung Tuan entrance, we depart from PJ at 7am and arrive here at 8am.

Tanjung Tuan Entrance

After got our parking, we pay for entrance RM1 and start our hike. If you had been to Taman Botani Negara Shah Alam, you will found here is just like a "Taman Botani Negara Port Dickson". We enjoy a good 15 minutes walk on tar road and reach the small entrance of Bukit Batu Puteh at our right hand side. You will pass by the Bird Park entrance at your left and before you reach the Lighthouse.

Tanjung Tuan Map

We actually missed the entrance and go directly to the lighthouse. Turning for one round, we follow the other groups of people who queuing at this point. 

Traffic jam

Traffic Jammed

Felix and Song

About 15 minutes from the point just now, we wait for a group of 80 people (2  x 40' buses) coming from opposite way. We wait for them for 5 minutes crossing by only reach the area below the hilltop.

another Traffic Jammed

Since there are so many people waiting here, we turn right to the Cape Rachado beach which is just another 7 minutes from the peak. The route is slight steep hence have to be careful while walking down.

The beach is not clean as it has a lot garbage which dump by the previous campers. We can see many dead corals lying on the sand and a lot seaweeds drift ashore. We only stay for 15 minutes walking around and taking photo and return back the peak to complete our signature photo session.

0940 - 15 minute from beach, here we are at the top! Nothing much to describe, as shown as in the picture, it is overly crowed but overall is not bad if you are planning for a short hike 30 minutes. P/S: not to come during weekend. 

Can you see the crowd behind us? 

After our signature photo done, we went back bird park which located at the right from the way back. It is 25 minutes walk from the peak to this campsite. Personally love this side so much! :D

Unknown Beach

Rest for about 15 minutes, we move on to our car and have a BBQ session at the beach side near to the carpark. Unfortunately all of our sweet potatoes become charcoal and most of our potatoes is burnt as well. HAHA. Anyway, still a good trial for our first time BBQ at beach side!

Finish eat and cleaned our place, we walked to the Blue Lagoon beside Tanjung Tuan. James, Song and Felix went for swimming, me and Jai just rest at the Blue Lagoon beach side. 

Blue Lagoon Beach

We leave this place at 4.30pm and arrive PJ at 6.00pm. Overall, I will rate Bukit Batu Puteh 3 out of 5. The view I must say originally was good but during our hike is too much people which had totally blocked the good view (imagine moving around is all excuse me like you are in peak hour of LRT). For those who plan to camp or have your lunch/dinner over there, please bring back all your belongings no matter used or unused include BBQ set as well.

Cape Rachado Beach

Watch My Video Here: https://youtu.be/vpKdXmHNq2E

Things to Prepare:

Water

Camera

Any shoes

Extra pair of shirts and pants for changing if you want to swim at the sea side

Starting Coordinates: 2.412412N, 101.855737E

Difficulty: Easy

Average Completion Time: 1 hour (30 minutes uphill and 20 minutes downhill)

If you have any questions, please feel free to drop them at the comment section below. Thank you! :) 

Others: 

1. Mossy Forest | Cameron Highland | Pahang

2. Bukit Batu Puteh | Negeri Sembilan

3. Gunung Nuang | Hulu Langat | Selangor

4. Bukit Chenuang | Hulu Langat | Selangor 

5. Bukit Kutu | Kuala Kubu Bharu | Selangor

6. Gunung Angsi | Selangor 

7. Gunung Datuk | Negeri Sembilan

8. Bukit Tabur Far East, Extreme, Extra | Taman Melawati | Kuala Lumpur

9. Broga Hill | Semenyih | Selangor

Bukit Chenuang, Hulu Langat, Selangor

We survived from Bukit Chenunag!

Bukit Chenuang (Cenuang) is located at Hulu Langat, Selangor, with a height of 850m/2788ft. Driving to Bukit Chenuang takes approximately 1.5 hour from Klang but only 45 minutes from KL Town. Although Bukit Chenuang is categories as hill by name, but do not underestimate this hill as it will be quite difficult for a beginner (like me). It took us 2.5 hours to reach the peak and 2 hours from peak to ground with a total of 15 km distance. Chenuang is sitting inside Congkak Recretional Park which previously is known as unknown hill in Sg Congkak.

Sungai Congkak

Bukit Chenuang Hilltop signboard

Getting There (90 minutes from KL Town)

To hike Bukit Chenuang, there is number of routes to the peak, but we took the route from Sungai Congkak Recretional Forest Camp 6. To get to the starting point, drive on Jalan Hulu Langat towards Kuala Pansoon. Pass Hulu Langat town, then go straight to Pekan Batu 18, after 4km, turn left into a small road that leads to Sungai Congkak Recretional Forest.



At the end of road is the open car park. A small fee of RM1 per person for entrance and RM4 for carpark is compulsory. We park our car outside and then realize to reach the entrance of Bukit Chenuang is another 2km extra to walk from Entrance of Congkak Recreational Park. You can also drive your car inside with a fee, I will recommend to do so to cut the amount of walking.

Entrance of Congkak Recreational Forest

You find the facilities like toilet, camp site, bbq area along the side. Some facilities have to pay for a fee which you can refer the price rate at the entrance.

Toilet

Sungai Congkak

Besides, for those who are looking for recreational holiday you can rent a chalet here and they offer a BBQ are in front of each Chalet. 

Chalet

However, some of the toilet here looks so creepy which I believe no one will be using it. :P

Toilet.........

Beautiful Decor from the toilet

Keep going from here until the end of this route you will find the entrance for the hiking trail.

Hiking Up

Here's the camp 6, which also the starting point for the hiking trail. When you reach the pondok as shown in red circle, look at your left hand side, you will see a small and less steep road as shown in picture below.

Camp 6 Entrance

For the first hour of our hike, we cross by a lot jungle trekking and river trekking. After the river crossing, the trail become harder with very steep steps, fallen bamboos and thorny plant. Due to this hill is not one of the famous hill in Malaysia, most of the marker is already fall off and left only few ribbon sign to lead us to the peak.

About 1km, we encounter our first lost in the wood. There is a fallen log which block our way, overpass the log and keep to the left. After that, we come across a small river, turn right then we begin our steeply hike.

Along the way, you will go cross a very beautiful bamboo forest, then back to normal rainforest.

looks at the "senget" (bend) bamboo, so artistic

There is few area you have to knee down and crawl over the fallen bamboos, be careful for thorny plants around your and fire ants on the bamboos of course my unexpected guest on my neck - 3 leeches. Luckily I was sweating that time, the leeches still finding way for parking and my buddy had secretly help me removing and only mention after finished the hike

 Fallen Bamboos credited to James - for the first sight I see this photo I laugh damn hard for my supermodel pose but please ignore that tummy :P

credited to Song - James's ____

Besides leeches, the ants and bugs are very friendly as well, maybe they had not met human for too long. When you reach this open area with a big log, the peak is just 1 hour away, and the hill will go from moderate to hard.

First and only checkpoint - the big log

Resting for snacks

From here, need to be careful for stepping into the holes under the fallen leaves also roots and rattan which may hook you down.

The marker have to replace by a new one as soon as possible :(

The peak can fit a maximum of 25 people or else it will be very jammed to move around, we reach the hilltop and met another two hiker, seems like they are having the same struggle of crawling and finding way like us.

Small top with a metal shelter

We bring small cooker and instant mee cup to give ourselves a small lunch before going back for jungle trekking.

Preparation hek hek!

This is Song - Most of the equipment is carried inside his big backpack

Wefie for our mee cup celebration!

Hiking down the track will take you another 2 hours but please take it slow and refrain yourself from jumping down the ledges. The pressure on your knee from landing will be very damaging in the long run. Once you reach the river at the bottom, it’s time to enjoy yourself with some swimming in the cool freshwater river.

Yeah only two of them is playing, me and Ong rather sitting, but because Ong had bend her ankle, need some rest

To sum up our hike for today, it is not difficult but very challenging. For myself, I wouldn't feel like want to run into this jungle for another time. Despite it is not necessary to hire a jungle guide, but I would recommend to have one experience hiker so that you won't lost in the jungle. Without knowing much clearer info about this hill before our hike, I can say we do not successful conquer this hill but we manage to survive from this hill.

Our expression had said it all about this hill HAHA

James, Sue Li & Me - Most of the photo above is credited to James

Things to Prepare:

1. Water 2L
2. Isotonic Drinks
3. Chocolate and energy bar
4. Proper hiking shoes
5. Hiking stick (recommended but optional)
6. Raincoat (optional)
7. Extra change of socks
8. Extra pair of shirts and pants for changing after hike
9. Any Mobile Apps which can keep track your location without using data (I am using RUNTASTIC)

Starting Coordinates: 3.237967N, 101.823085E

Difficulty: Moderate to Hard, route is not defined

Average Completion Time: 4-5 hours (3 hours uphill and 2 hours downhill)

The only 6 of the day :)

If you have any questions, please feel free to drop them at the comment section below. Thank you! :)