Gunung Ledang (Mt Ophir) via Asahan
Gunung Ledang summit view, November 2001
Gunung Ledang summit view, November 2001
Location Johor-Malacca, Malaysia
Height 1276 m
Terrain Mixed forest trail, rock obstacles.
Recommended duration 2 days, 1 night
Ease of access Cab to the park entrance
Special equipment None
Good Less crowded than Sagil route. Excellent view from summit.
Not so good Long monotonous forest trek before rock obstacles. Expensive.

Take a route less travelled to the summit of Gunung Ledang, start your trek from the Asahan village which is located at the north-western side of the mountain. Gunung Ledang is the highest mountain in the state of Johor. It has a 360° unobstructed view of the surrounding landscape from the summit and is a popular mountain for both Malaysians and Singaporeans. With less visitors coming by the Asahan route, the trail is less eroded and cleaner than the popular Sagil route.

The Asahan route is a more direct, uphill trek to the summit of Gunung Ledang. Due to less human traffic, you may experience more wild life and hear the gibbons calling in the early morning. The trek can be quite monotonous as you ascend through the tropical forest for nearly three hours before reaching the first rock obstacle. After getting up the rock face, there is a campsite with a stream beside. From this campsite, it is another one and a half hour trek to the summit. At a height of over 1000 m, you can see clouds below in the early morning. But if you are unlucky, the summit will be covered by the clouds hiding any view from the top.

A drawback for this trek is its cost. The trail to the summit is obvious but a guide is compulsory. There are also other charges such as insurance and an entry fee of Rm 10 per person (foreigner). A certain level of fitness is recommended as it takes more than four hours of uphill trek to reach the summit. There are also some technical sections in the form of rock face which makes the climb more interesting but risky. These are not overly technical and most people will be able to overcome them.

For those who have climbed Gunung Ledang from Sagil and wish to revisit the mountain, the Asahan route offers fresh approach. If you are able to start the trek early, it is possible to hit the summit for lunch and return to the starting point within a day.


To Nearest Town
Take a bus to Tangkak bus terminal. You may check out the available bus services, prices and dates on http://www.easybook.com/bus-company/cepat-and-cekap-bus.aspx

To Asahan village
Via Cab:
Inform the driver that you are going to Lubuk Kedondong waterworks at Asahan village1.
Estimated cabfare: Rm 30 to 40 per cab2

Self-Driving1:
  1. Drive to Tangkak
  2. Take road no. J123 to Simpang Bekoh
  3. Turn right at the second junction following the road signboard to Asahan
  4. At Asahan, look for Laman Tiga Budaya Asahan.
  5. When you see the Gunung Ledang (Asahan) Registration Post, turn right into the dirt road where there is a carpark
Duration (mins) Description Instructions Remarks
00 Signboard "Hutan Simpang Gunung Ledang"    
50 Signboard "GLC 2"   Along the way, there will be arrows, "GLC", pointing towards the direction of travel
50 Signboard "GLC 3"    
60 Rock face There is a small path on the left side of the rock face.  
10 Sign board "GLC 4" Turn right to campsite. Stream on right side of campsite facing the summit Path to summit is behind signboard
DAY 2
00 Path behind signboard    
30 Descend by path on left side of big rock   Summit can be seen
05 Ascending    
25 Cliff face Climb up cliff face using ropes  
25 Summit    
June 2002. Courtesy of The Mountain Trekker2

Useful Timings (June 2002. Courtesy of The Mountain Trekker2)
Starting point to campsite : approx. 2 hours 50 minutes
Campsite to summit : approx. 1 hour 25 minutes
Register at Rangers Office. Guide is compulsory.
Entry charge : Rm 10 for foreigners
Rm 5 for Malaysians
Insurance charge : Rm 2 per person
Guide fees : Rm 190 for two days one night for 10 persons
Refundable deposit : Rm 50
Source: Bijhar Singapore3
  1. Outdoors Sandals
  2. Light weight clothes
  3. Tent
  4. Groundsheet
  5. Gas stove and canister
  6. Lamp/torch
  7. Pots for cooking/ Mess Tin
  8. Small Shovel
  9. Nylon string
  10. Water Purification Tablets
  11. First Aid Kit
  12. Toiletries
  13. Toilet Paper
  14. Extra clothing
  15. Kitchen utensils (Fork, Spoon)
  16. Rain gear
  17. Sleeping bag
  18. Cap/Hat
  19. Windbreaker/Jacket
  20. Lighter
  21. Swiss Knife
  22. Insect repellent
  23. Water container

See map with contour lines here
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