Ultimate Guide to Hiking Gunung Nuang via Pangsun
Gunung Nuang is one of the most epic hikes you can do in a day from Kuala Lumpur but what does it actually entail? This is a quick review of the route you will take if you opt to hike to the peak of Gunung Nuang via Pangsun.
This post comes complete with pictures, a breakdown of the different stages and landmarks of the hike, and how long each section took me to complete.
I hope that knowing what awaits will help you better prepare for your own hike!
And if you like, you can check out this post for 20+ simple tips for conquering Gunung Nuang.
But first!
Table of Contents
Gunung Nuang Permit
You must have a permit to hike Gunung Nuang.
You can apply for the permit here:
Pejabat Hutan Daerah Selangor Tengah
Blok B Tingkat 1
Platinum Cheras Jalan Zen 1
43200 Cheras Kajang, Selangor
Tel: 03-9081-4918
Pejabat Perhutanan Daerah Selangor Tengah
BT7 Cheras 43200 Kajang
Tel: 03-90814918
And you MUST apply at least 2 weeks before your intended hike or they will refuse to issue a permit!
Alternatively, and this is the unofficial you-shouldn’t-really-do-this-but-could option, you could just show up at the entrance to Gunung Nuang with a permit.
The first time I accessed Gunung Nuang via Pangsun, I had no idea we needed a permit but the guards were friendly enough to let us pay for our car park ticket (RM 3) AND an entry ticket (RM 2) on the spot.
If you already have the permit, you won’t need to pay for the entry ticket again.
When my friend went, the guards refused to let him in without a permit. Thankfully, another group of hikers had some empty slots (due to their friends not turning up), so he was allowed to take their “spot” and enter.
Again, this is the completely unofficial way of entering Gunung Nuang via Pangsun and there is no guarantee you will succeed.
Picking the Entrance to Gunung Nuang via Pangsun or Janda Baik
There are two ways to access Gunung Nuang: via Pangsun or Janda Baik.
The Bukit Nuang Janda Baik route is to be the shorter, “easier” route. It takes most people around 4-6 hours to complete.
If you fancy a more challenging route, you can use the Pangsun route which is what this post is about. It tends to take people anywhere from 6 – 12 hours to complete.
Address: Hulu Langat, Lembah Pangsun (Selangor)
GPS: N3.21639 E101.88369
Hiking Gunung Nuang via Pangsun
In anticipation of my trek up to Everest Base Camp, I decided to do Gunung Nuang back-to-back. After all, I was going to be doing 6-10 hour treks at high altitudes for nearly 3 weeks. A mere 12-hour hike should be nothing, right?
The 1st Stage: 4.5km of bamboo groves & tame rainforest
As with most stories, we started at the beginning.
After obtaining our Gunung Nuang hiking pass, we entered pass these large gates.
The path is generally quite clear. It slopes upwards so while the terrain is easy to navigate, it is easy to lose one’s breath!
This first part of the “hike” is also full of bamboo groves. Gorgeous clumps of bamboo that pop up with surprising frequency throughout the entire Mount Nuang trek.
I really liked the bamboo because I knew I could grasp onto it for support without tearing my fingers into shreds due to the thorns that some of the other plants had.
Another thing about this first part of the trek is that there were actually a lot of little resting huts along the route. Some of them had a sign on them telling you the distance to Kem Lolo and the entrance respectively. Other resting huts had no signs at all.
I saw 5 resting huts in total.
We came across our first hut around 23 minutes from the entrance to Gunung Nuang.
This was followed by an 8-minute walk to the 2nd hut. During this walk, there was a wide-open clearing on our left and a small path leading upwards. Do not follow that path! Instead, take the path that slopes downwards to the right.
After passing by the 2nd hut, it took around 9 minutes to get to the 3rd hut and another 3 minutes to the 4th hut.
Within 4 minutes from the 4th hut, we came across a yellow sign indicating that we were in the actual entrance to Nuang. The land then started sloping downhill before it sloped upwards then back down again.
The land eventually evened out which was a great chance to catch our breath!
The distance between the 4th & 5th hut took us around 14 minutes to complete. Once you pass the 5th hut, you will hear the first sounds of rushing river to your left within 3 minutes.
Soon after, we bypassed a hut where people are actually staying. Every time I went to Nuang, I would see small children playing by a motorcycle located outside the hut. Clearly a place of residence. But back to the hike!
Take the route that slopes upwards into the jungle. The muddy tracks eventually evolve into another bamboo grove before evening out.
When the path opens up into a wide-open clearing, you will know that you have arrived at the real entrance to Nuang.
There is another hut here, as well as a map indicating the entire route. This is the only time you will see a proper map of the Gunung Nuang hiking route so make sure you read it or better yet, take a picture!
The 2nd Stage: 5 River Crossings
The 2nd stage of the Nuang trek consists of 5 river crossings and this stage passed by really fast. The rivers are not huge but they are also deep and slippery enough for me to say – forget about trying to stay dry.
Even if you manage to stay dry for the first 2 crossings, which is pretty easy with the ropes tied to both ends of the river, it’s very hard to stay dry for all 5 river crossings.
Some hikers like to bring an extra pair of shoes when crossing the rivers or even take off their shoes each time they cross a river.
Personally, I think it’s a huge waste of time. The rivers aren’t that big, and they come in quick succession. I’m more interested in completing the hike fast rather than worrying over squishy shoes.
And in any event, you will soon have a lot more things to contend with than wet shoes!! The shoes also dry really fast since, by this point, you should still have 10-11 hours of hiking left to do. Just to put things in perspective. 😉
As for details of this part of the trek:
You will come across the 1st river crossing almost immediately from the entrance, i.e. within 2 minutes. The river crossing happens the moment you see this giant pipe ahead.
When you see that pipe, turn right and head down towards where that tiny river is. Cross it. That’s your first river.
Duration from Entrance to 1st River: 2 minutes
Once you have made the 1st river crossing, your path will follow the giant pipe (which remains on your left).
The path will be sloping upwards until you reach relatively even ground. The sound of the river roaring will accompany you on the right, located far beneath it and partially hidden by the bamboo trees.
Duration from 1st to 2nd river crossing: 9 minutes
This is an interesting part. After climbing up some step rocks and walking alongside the large pipe, you eventually hit a point where you have to duck under the pipe to get to the other side.
There is a steep flight of staircases leading to the top of what appears to be a hut meant for… processing water?
In any event, it’s rundown and there isn’t much to see there. But once you reach the hut, you will have reached the next river crossing.
Duration from 2nd to 3rd river crossing: 5 minutes
This next part is pretty unmemorable. Not particularly hard. Just a trek through the jungle; the ground is relatively even.
But I did begin to notice the little slips of white and yellow metal nailed to the trunk. These serve as indicators of the path to take.
So if you are ever in doubt, look for these little slips of white or yellow metal and you will know you’re on the right path.
When you near the peak of Gunung Nuang, you will see actual signs telling you that you are heading towards Gunung Nuang (though to be honest, I would be concerned if we weren’t heading towards Nuang?!).
Duration from 3rd to 4th river crossing: 7 minutes
Again another quick and easy trek to reach the 4th river crossing. It almost comes too fast. And you’ll know that you have arrived because this is the most popular campsite on the Nuang trail. A place where people cook, sleep, and shower.
Some of the hikers would trek up till this point and set up camp, before proceeding up to the peak the next day.
The first time we went, the campers were so friendly that they even offered us their lunch!
Duration from 4th to 5th river crossing: 4 minutes
And there you have it. The end of the 2nd stage of Nuang and also the end of the easiest part. The next part up till the peak is truly a pain so if you need to, take a moment to rest before proceeding.
Or if you’re like me and just want to get it over and done with, then proceed.
The 3rd Stage: Kem Pacat
I hate this next part. The journey from the final river crossing to Kem Pacat took absolutely forever. It felt like it would never end.
The initial part of the journey is an uphill battle, passing by lots of roots and trees. This trail went on for forever and at some points were so steep, we needed to use the ropes to haul ourselves up.
There was also a muddy soil area where we had to inch our way across using the ropes tied to the side.
Another memorable part was when we went through a bamboo grove that had collapsed and dried out. We had to literally step over large fallen branches to continue along the trail.
When you reach a clearing with clear skies above you over even ground, you will know you have arrived at Kem Pacat.
Duration 1.5 hours
The 4th Stage: Kem Pengasih
I did not like this part either. And you can tell that I was just trying to get through Nuang by this point due to the lack of pictures!
This section of Nuang felt like forever. I tend to consider this to be a part of the hike where we encountered a lot of very rocky terrain. We had to take many high steps and some of them were so high, I had to grasp the roots and ropes around the area to haul myself up.
If you happen to be using hiking sticks, I would put them away. You need your hands free to make your way up to Kem Pengasih.
Just before you reach Kem Pengasih, you will encounter what I consider the steepest set of rocks to clamber over. There is a tiny ledge to cling towards before you gingerly edge towards the left.
From there, take a big leap down and continue along the path (and don’t fall off the cliff!) before you reach the clearing that is Kem Pengasih.
Kem Pengasih consists of a very small clearing. Some might not even realise they’ve arrived, but there is a small sign telling you that you have arrived. There is not a lot of places to rest as most of the ground is perpetually muddy!
Duration 1.5 hours
The 5th & Final Stage: Gunung Nuang Peak
To get to the peak requires going through these simple stages:
- The muddy terrain;
- 30 minutes downhill;
- 30 minutes uphill; and
- 4 metal ladders (or ‘tangga besi’).
Remember how I said muddy? Now you’re about to enter real mud.
The next step towards the peak isn’t immediately obvious but it’s on your left (where the sign for Kem Pengasih is on your right). Either you go immediately on your left and venture a little bit further into the clearing and turn left.
Either way, you can’t avoid the mud. The kind that soaks through your shoes and goes up to your ankles, if you’re lucky. But look for fallen branches and places that are drier. Even on the driest day, there is plenty of mud here that you won’t be able to avoid.
I would also caution against being too adventurous. One lady tried to forge her own path, went out in the middle of the clearing and sunk into the mud, all the way up to her knees!! We all felt for her.
This is also the place that you are most likely to get leeches. Just saying. I never did, but there is lots of moss and mud and we all know how leeches love such surroundings.
The happy news is that the muddy section doesn’t last forever. It is the easiest portion just before the path and at certain points, is really pretty.
The downward path is pretty steep and goes around some large rocks. Again, the easy part.
The moment you hit even ground, the path slopes upwards and you will know that you’re about to reach the peak.
Just keep climbing upwards for around 30 minutes until you encounter 4 flights of metal ladders.
Be careful when going up these ladders as they are held in place only by rope and there is often a human traffic jam at this part of the climb. But eventually, you figure out a system where people can climb up and down simultaneously.
Once you’ve gone past the staircase, just walk through some of the undergrowth and you will reach the clearing. This is the peak!
THIS is the photo to take as proof that you have arrived at the peak.
Descending Gunung Nuang
A descent tends to take a shorter time than the ascent but it has never been my forte. I’ve never figured out how people leap from surface to surface, slipping and sliding down like they were on skis.
That said, the first time I descended from the peaks of Nuang, it felt like forever. The trick for me was to bear in mind the many landmarks in each section and how long I had taken going up. That helped to keep me going because it sometimes felt like I was never going to reach the bottom – the toughest part remains the portion between Kem Pengasih and the first river crossing you encounter on the way back, ie Kem Lolo).
Here’s a tip: remember the part of the hike where the map is located? Just before the first river crossing?
The locals are really entrepreneurial and there are always a couple of motorbikes parked there, if you don’t want to walk the entire 4.5km back to your car, you can catch a motorcycle ride with them for a small fee.
I didn’t do it although I was sorely tempted to do so, so let me know in comments if you’ve ever taken that ride and how much it cost!
And there you have it. The journey from the Pangsun entrance to the Mount Nuang peak and back.
Would you go on this hike? 😉
Hiking Schedule for Nuang
As a point of reference, I have included my rough timings for hiking up Gunung Nuang via Pangsun. They are modest timings but I was more interested in going at a steady pace.
| 1st Attempt | 2nd Attempt | Remarks |
| 7.45 am | 7.23 am | Start of Nuang hike via Pangsun |
| 7.46 am | 1st hut with a sign | |
| 7.53 am | Wide clearing on your left with a small path leading upwards – DO NOT FOLLOW THIS. Instead, take the path sloping downwards into the bushes. | |
| 7.54 am | 2nd hut (no sign) | |
| 8.03 am | 3rd hut | |
| 8.06 am | 4th hut | |
| 8.10 am | Yellow sign on your left by the path, stating that this is the Nuang Forest. The terrain starts going downhill before sloping up then back down again. The terrain also evens out which is great as it lets you catch a breath and re-energise! | |
| 8.20 am | 5th hut (no sign) | |
| 8.56 am | 8.23 am | When you hear the first sounds of water flowing |
| 8.58 am | 8.25 am | You bypass a hut (on your right) where people are staying. We saw children present. The path leads upwards for 3 minutes (there is lots of undergrowth here) and the sound of water grows louder. The muddy tracks eventually turn into another bamboo grove. Thereafter, you will be walking on even ground. |
| 9.05 am | 8.30 am | The path opens up to a large clearing; you will see an overflowing rubbish bin in the distance. You have arrived! At the entrance to the real rainforest. There is a map showing the route it takes to reach the peak. |
| 9.10 am | 8.32 am | 1st river crossing – when you first see a giant pipe in front of you, turn right and cross the river! |
| 9.20 am | 8.40 am | Meander upwards until you reach relatively even ground. You will hear and somewhat see the river roaring far beneath you on your right, partially hidden by the bamboo trees. |
| 9.22 am | 8.41 am | 2nd river crossing, followed by a very steep and rocky climb. Thereafter, the route follows the path of a large pipe on your left. |
| 9.26 am | 8.46 am | Pass by a giant hut & the 3rd river crossing |
| 9.36 am | 8.53 am | 4th river crossing |
| 8.57 am | 5th river crossing. Thereafter, the going gets TOUGH.
| |
| 11.22 – 11.33 am | 10.30 am | Kem Pacat |
| 11.28 am | Arrive at a long steep incline where you have to use the ropes to balance yourself by the side (or fall into the deep ditch!) | |
| 1.07 – 1.11 pm | 12.06 pm | Kem Pengasih
|
| 2.20 – 2.33 pm | 1 pm | Arrive at Nuang Peak! |
| 3 pm | Kem Pacat | |
| 4.20 pm | 5th River | |
| 4.58 pm | Exit to where the map is located (after the 1st River) | |
| 5.14 pm | 5th hut (no signs on it) | |
| 5.28 pm | Yellow sign | |
| 5.32 pm | 4th Hut | |
| 5.36 pm | 3rd Hut | |
| 5.49 pm | 2nd Hut | |
| 5.50 pm | Clearing on your right | |
| 5.57 pm | 1st Hut | |
| 8.06 pm | 6.17 pm | EXIT of Nuang via Pangsun! |
FAQs
1. Why did I hike up Gunung Nuang?
Unless you love a challenge, I don’t think people would normally want to tackle Gunung Nuang. The reason I did is because I took Mount Nuang as part of my Everest Base Camp training.
If I can do a 12-hour hike, surely I can survive 18-days of 6-10 hour hikes at high altitude?!
2. What does “nuang” mean?
“Nuang” is a Malay word and refers to the animal pathway in the forest.
Personally, I didn’t see any animals but I did hear plenty of them. Especially as I was walking back to my car in the pitch black! 🙈
3. What is the hiking distance for Gunung Nuang in kilometres?
The Gunung Nuang hiking distance if you enter Gunung Nuang via Pangsun is around 26-27 km.
You will find that there are wildly different hiking distance estimates online. I’m giving mine based on what my phone recorded each time I went to Gunung Nuang.
4. What is the estimated hiking time for Gunung Nuang?
I estimate around 11-12 hours to hike Gunung Nuang via Pangsun, and 4-6 hours via Janda Baik.
Unless you’re very fit, in which case you can hit the peak and be back in your car at Pangsun in 6 hours. 😟
I have friends who have done this so yes, it’s possible.
How?
I would like to know too. Let me know if you find out. 😩
5. How would you compare Gunung Nuang versus Bukit Kutu?
It is no comparison at all; they are very different experiences.
Bukit Kutu is tough because it is very steep. You get thrown into a steep incline right from the get-go but the distance is a lot shorter. You will probably finish in around 6 hours.
Gunung Nuang is a test of endurance. It has your even ground, steep incline, prickly forest, mud and everything else in between. It isn’t technically difficult; you just need the mental fortitude to just do it.
It’s easy to say that now; I know I’ll be groaning and asking myself why I’m doing this to myself if I go back up Gunung Nuang again! 😂
6. How would you compare Gunung Nuang v Gunung Kinabalu?
Gunung Nuang and Gunung Kinabalu are also very different beasts.
Lots of people trained on Gunung Nuang (read: Hike at least once to the Gunung Nuang peak) before hiking Gunung Kinabalu.
Personally, I didn’t do that. I just went and hike Gunung Kinabalu as my maiden hike (won’t say it’s something I would recommend but it is definitely doable).
Gunung Kinabalu is actually very easy and more on endurance. It’s a 1.5 hours hike: I took around 4.5 hours to reach Laban Rata, where everyone stays overnight. Then in the early morning around 2-3 am, you start hiking to the peak to catch the sunrise and go straight back down the mountain. So in terms of hiking time, it isn’t really that long because it’s broken up.
Gunung Kinabalu is also a technically easy mountain to hike up. The majority of the hike has actual proper wooden steps. If not wooden, then you can take the stone steps. It’s only the final part before Laban Rata that is a little trickier, as well as the final ascent up to the peak.
7. What is the difficulty level for Gunung Nuang?
Difficulty level for Gunung Nuang: Hard
Any other questions? Let me know in the comments below!
And don’t forget to check out these 20+ simple tips for conquering Gunung Nuang (including what you should do prior to your hike and what you must bring with you!)
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