HOGA, Gaharu Tea Valley Gopeng — Attraction in Perak

I visited Gaharu Tea Valley in Gopeng, Perak, on Saturday, September 21st, around 9 am. The place was already bustling with visitors, likely due to the school holidays in Malaysia.

The excitement was palpable as families and groups eagerly lined up to explore the vast plantation. Despite the early hour, there was already a crowd, making the serene surroundings feel alive with energy and curiosity.

The plantation itself is truly expansive, covering over 300 acres and home to more than 200,000 Gaharu trees. It was fascinating to learn that these trees, also known as Agarwood, are used in the production of various high-value products like perfumes, essential oils, and teas.

The tea, in particular, is known for its distinct flavor and supposed health benefits, though I found the prices a bit steep.

One of the highlights of my visit was climbing up to the Hilltop Viewing Platform, where I took in the stunning views of the plantation stretching out below, framed by the rolling hills in the distance.

The air was crisp and fresh, filled with the earthy scent of the trees. There was also a bike path around the plantation, where I enjoyed a short but pleasant ride, surrounded by nature.

The tandem bikes, designed for two or four people, were a popular choice among families.

Unfortunately, the paddle boat activity was unavailable as it was down for maintenance. But the bike ride was enjoyable, especially with the backdrop of the lush Gaharu trees.

While cycling, I spotted a few geese honking loudly by the lake—probably anticipating their morning feed.

Gaharu Tea Valley is not just about the trees but also about the experience and learning. The tea tasting session was informative and engaging, providing a deeper understanding of the various flavors and aromas of Gaharu tea.

I left with a few small packs, even though they were on the pricier side. For anyone visiting Ipoh, this place is a must-see for its unique combination of natural beauty and cultural heritage, despite the slightly commercialized feel of...

Malaysia’s largest Gaharu plantation, with 200,000 Gaharu trees grown under a strict organic growth policy. Gaharu (also known as Agarwood / 沉香 and 'the wood of God's) apparently contains invaluable qualities as an ingredient that enhances health, strength and longevity. It played an important role in Arab, Ayurveda and Chinese cultures. There are 17 types of wild Gaharu species but the medicinal effect of some is too strong and hence harmful for the human body to consume directly, hence made into essential oils and incense.

At the main entrance, one can purchase a tour van ticket for RM10 per adult that brings one through the plantation, making 3 stops in a hop-on-and-off loop service. First stop: Hilltop, where one gets a bird's eye view of the plantation, apparently also where the highest concentration of negative ions is. There's also a cafe here where we tried their signature Gaharu Tea Soft Serve, the one and only flavour they serve and this can only be found in the cafes here on this plantation and nowhere else.

2nd stop - Tree Hugging Park. It's a small pathway flanked by Agarwood trees that you can get up-close, breathe in fresh air and take endless photos. I love how some of the trees are beautifully painted with images of various animals or with inspiring / positive messages / fun facts.

Final stop: Lover's Park where 2 trees form the center of attraction here, where they've grown around each other, intertwined into an embracing position. As the branches are connected and inseparable, locals named them 'The Lover Tree'. It's also here that the flights of steps have been painted in rainbow colors that makes for good photo ops.

From here, we followed the pathway down slope all the way back to the entrance. Along the way there's a small waterfall that makes for some nice photos too. Just like that, we spent 2 hrs here including some shopping in their Gift Shop back at the...

I feel horrible after the visit. Firstly, when I come to this place, I assume that this place is a visitor trap location. Making another assumption that they would try to sell their expensive products and tickets was going to be enormously pricey. I was wrong!

First, there are two ticket prices. One is rm5, and another is rm10. Rm10 is included with a van ride. Rm5 was just a trail walk-up. As mentioned earlier, and as cheap as we are, we didn't buy the extra van ride. It was the wrong move. The trail walks up until stop no—3 only. Then we thought of walking to another stop where there's a cafe stop but were told it would be dangerous, so not allowed to walk. So we upgraded our tickets to rm10 each. The van ride was terrific; luckily, they didn't let us walk as it would be a long walk and very steep. The Malaysian Indian driver/tourist guide explaining the gaharu tree along the way makes him very excited about his job. The rm10 is worth it. Don't be cheap; pay the price.

The price at the cafe at the top was not super pricey at all. It was a reasonable price. Rm4-5 for a drink. Rm4 for a Gaharu ice cream. Wishing that the same lady who gave the ice cream works at all the McD drive-through shops, as the ice cream given was so huge. And worth the rm4 you pay for. The tea drink was also good.

This place could be the potential to be one of the best attractions of Gopeng or even Perak, and I could see the price of this place will skyrocket once the china tourist comes by a lot.

Until then, do come. Just try to avoid judging it at first sight, and probably have an open mind about the place. Average 1-2 hours...