Tony Johor Kaki Travels for Food · Heritage · Culture · History

Food Explorer Storyteller with 63 million+ reads 📧 johorkaki@gmail.com

Tanah Aina Farrah Soraya Raub Pahang River Trekking JK1475

Tanah-Aina-Farrah-Soraya-Raub-Pahang-River-Trekking

I always enjoyed trekking trips as a form of exercise and a way to reconnect with nature. The river trek at Tanah Aina was an enjoyable experience. It's a short 3-4 hour, leisurely trek and easily managed by most young and old.

Tanah-Aina-Farrah-Soraya-Raub-Pahang-River-Trekking

We arrived at Tanah Aina in less than 2 hours by road from Kuala Lumpur city centre (Tanah Aina is 90km northeast of KL near Bentong, off the Karak highway).

Tanah-Aina-Farrah-Soraya-Raub-Pahang-River-Trekking

As the small track road leading up to Tanah Aina is not passable to coaches, we were transferred to a small lorry for the 2km uphill journey to the resort. The ride is bumpy but only a bit.

Tanah-Aina-Farrah-Soraya-Raub-Pahang-River-Trekking

Tanah Aina resort also has 4WDs, pick up trucks and vans to pick up smaller groups.

Tanah-Aina-Farrah-Soraya-Raub-Pahang-River-Trekking

Our dorm was beside a stream and nestled in lush rainforest. It's green everywhere you look. We can hear the rushing water and the singing birds.

Tanah-Aina-Farrah-Soraya-Raub-Pahang-River-Trekking

We checked into this dorm. It was comfortable. Just find a way to secure your documents and valuables as there is no locker provided in the dorm. Alternatively, you may keep your valuables at the lockers in the lobby.

Tanah-Aina-Farrah-Soraya-Raub-Pahang-River-Trekking

The bath and toilets are clean and serviceable.

Tanah Aina resort provides organic shampoo and body wash. Please use these. The waste water flushes deep into the ground via a system of pipes, keeping the river clean.

Other accommodation options in Tanah Aina include tents and air conditioned chalets.

Tanah-Aina-Farrah-Soraya-Raub-Pahang-River-Trekking

We had a sumptuous lunch of traditional local fare at the dining hall overlooking the river.

Tanah-Aina-Farrah-Soraya-Raub-Pahang-River-Trekking

It was all home cooked style using fresh ingredients.

Tanah-Aina-Farrah-Soraya-Raub-Pahang-River-Trekking

We were given an introduction to Tanah Aina and a safety brief before setting off on our trek.

Tanah-Aina-Farrah-Soraya-Raub-Pahang-River-Trekking

Off we went, up well beaten tracks :-D

Tanah-Aina-Farrah-Soraya-Raub-Pahang-River-Trekking

Soon, we were crossing one of the several streams during our trek. Throughout our trek we were wearing life jackets for safety.

Tanah-Aina-Farrah-Soraya-Raub-Pahang-River-Trekking

These humble rubber slip on shoes are life savers. They are versatile, comfortable, water proof and have thick soles with good gripping power. I brought my usual leather trekking boots with me but ended up using these rubber shoes for all my treks during this trip.

I got them for RM12 at the equipment shop in Tanah Aina resort. I am told that we can get these same shoes for half the price in town.

Tanah-Aina-Farrah-Soraya-Raub-Pahang-River-Trekking

:-D This river trek is so fun!!

Tanah-Aina-Farrah-Soraya-Raub-Pahang-River-Trekking

The stream water is truly refreshing. One of the waterfalls is called "Fountain of Youth" - not sure if it was this one as there were a few.

Tanah-Aina-Farrah-Soraya-Raub-Pahang-River-Trekking

I got this shot by poking my newly bought waterproof camera into the water :-D It did a decent job for an under SG$300 point-and-shoot, I think. Actually, I ditched my DSLR for all trekking activities since getting this pocketable waterproof camera :-D

Tanah-Aina-Farrah-Soraya-Raub-Pahang-River-Trekking

This "Leap of Faith" is the highlight of Tanah Aina's river trek. But, seriously, I really don't want to jump off into a 5 metre drop, crashing into the 15 metre deep dark water below.

Nevertheless, I forced myself to do it so that I can give an accurate description of the experience. I waited for everyone who wanted to jump to take their turns before climbing up that platform. (The jump is completely voluntary.)

After a couple of false starts and a nudge from the park ranger, I dropped into water below. After making a splash, I was underwater for about 3 seconds before resurfacing. The whole thing, from leaping off and re-surfacing was over in less than 5 seconds.

After breaking the psychological barrier, I wanted to go again - it was exhilarating and quite addictive, really :-D

Tanah-Aina-Farrah-Soraya-Raub-Pahang-River-Trekking

"Leap of Faith" spectators.

Tanah-Aina-Farrah-Soraya-Raub-Pahang-River-Trekking

On the way back to base camp.

Tanah-Aina-Farrah-Soraya-Raub-Pahang-River-Trekking

We had no problems at all with leeches, sand flies, fire ants, stinging bees or wasps. There were also very few mosquitoes. But, this is still the rainforest, so please come prepared with insect repellent.

Tanah-Aina-Farrah-Soraya-Raub-Pahang-River-Trekking

We trekked downstream following the river which led directly to our riverside dorm. We kept our feet wet, soaking in the cool refreshing water throughout as knew we are going to miss it.

Tanah-Aina-Farrah-Soraya-Raub-Pahang-River-Trekking

After washing up, we were all ears for Puan Azizah Aziz, Director of Corporate Communication's presentation on Malaysia tourism :-D

Tanah-Aina-Farrah-Soraya-Raub-Pahang-River-Trekking

Then, it's dinner. They overfed us again as usual :-D What do you expect of Malaysian hospitality? ;-p

Tanah-Aina-Farrah-Soraya-Raub-Pahang-River-Trekking

Good night.

No wifi. Very weak or on-and-off data. No air con but I slept like a log in the cool jungle air, serenaded by cicadas.

It's been a wonderful day :-D

I felt recharged and rejuvenated, and hope to do this again regularly.

Tanah-Aina-Farrah-Soraya-Raub-Pahang-River-Trekking

->> The river trek is unique, safe and easy to enjoy even for most young, old and novice trekkers. Tanah Aina is a good quick get-away from Kuala Lumpur for KLites. Overseas visitors can consider Tanah Aina as a side trip to see the rainforest after all the shopping, eating, cafe hopping, clubbing and sightseeing in the concrete jungle that is KL.

For more on Tanah Aina <- click

Date: 26 Apr 2016

Return to Johor Kaki homepage.

3 comments:

  1. Sabrina Syed, the owner commented immediately after i post this on her Fb timeline, with thanks to you = There are 2 things I need to correct .
    1. We do have lockers at the reception area.
    2. No flushing water to the river from the toilets. All flushed toilet water will go through a pipe and into a deep ground . We built a proper sewage away from the river. River is our source of life. No way I will polute them.
    Thank you so much johor kaki for the beautiful pictures.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks. I have amended the post. My apologies.

      Delete
  2. Many thanks to you sir ! You are a real gentleman ;-)

    Pls come again ?

    ReplyDelete

All comments submitted with genuine identities are published