Gunung Raya — Local services in Langkawi Island

Gunung Raya is the highest mountain in Langkawi with an altitude of 881 meters. It is located in central Langkawi and has the sprawling Gunung Raya Golf Course at the base. The mountain is covered with dense rainforest which is full of amazing flora & fauna. The forest reserve spreads over an area of over 5000 hectares.

There are two ways you can approach the peak of Gunung Raya. You can either drive or trek.

Easiest is to take a rental car or a taxi. You will need to take the narrow winding road Jalan Gunung Raya that starts from a junction with Jalan Ulu Melaka. The road to the peak goes through a dense forest, however the drive is easy as the gradient is not too steep. But watch out for the cars coming from the other side, particularly during the turns. It takes about 25 to 30 minutes to reach the peak by car from the foot hill. Taxis usually take RM60 one way from Pantai Cenang or Kuah.

However if you like to trek, there are well known operators who organize nature tours and offer great Trek to explore Gunung Raya rainforest. This is a soft trek. Treks are timed in such a way that you get to see the wildlife during daytime or after dark. In the evening, you can see some unique & amazing nocturnal animals in the rainforest like the flying fox and flying squirrels.

During the day time also you can see many animals and bird life like the leaf monkeys, macaque monkeys, eagles like mountain hawk eagles & white bellied sea eagles, great hornbills etc. The great hornbills are the largest birds in Langkawi and can measure up to 1.3 meters from the beak to the tail end.

As you drive, you won't get much views for most part because of the lush foliage and forests on both sides of the road. However there are look out points on the way, but they are not very well maintained. The drive is however quite scenic and enjoyable. Look for the wildlife as you drive up to the summit. Early in the morning, you are almost guaranteed to see many wildlife and birds.

The peak is essentially a granite formation. There is a resort on top known as the D'Coconut Hill Resort. On a clear day, you get awesome panoramic view of the island and the Andaman sea from the peak. There is a watch tower that belongs to the resort but also open to the public. The admission fee to the tower for public is...

Langkawi has no shortage of picture-perfect tourist attractions and places to visit and yet, in the heart of the verdant island lies Gunung Raya, a beautiful mountain forgotten by time.

At 881 meters, Gunung Raya is the highest mountain in Langkawi. Both eerily alluring and striking, it is home to an abandoned (and haunted) hotel perched atop the mountain.

The D’Coconut Hill Resort, famed for its panoramic tower, closed down in 2019 and fell into disrepair as the resort was unsustainable partly due to its ‘remote’ location.

Now, there are only a handful of workers operating a communications station located adjacent to the resort.

The mountain top is approximately 41 minutes drive from Cenang and and 29 minutes from Kuah.

For travellers seeking peace and serenity, Gunung Raya is undoubtedly the place to be.

On a clear day, one can get a bird’s-eye view of Langkawi’s stunning landscapes while enjoying fresh, cool air.

The best time is to reach there from 6 pm onwards as the sun sets beyond the horizon.

If you are lucky and the weather is good, the sunset paints the sky with a palette of yellows, blues and red hues that burst forth.

With views of undulating mountains, meandering rivers and ocean blue, all are sights with incredible beauty.

Truly, Gunung Raya is an Instagram-worthy place with plenty of photo opportunities.

In its heydays, Gunung Raya even played host to an important meeting of Commonwealth leaders (CHOGM) in 1989.

A staircase known as the ‘Thousand Memories Eagle Stairs’ (Helang Seribu Kenangan Gunung Raya) leads to the...

We drove up to the top of Gunung Raya and it was absolutely worth it. The winding road to the summit takes about 20 minutes by car and is full of wildlife – we spotted monkeys along the roadside and were lucky enough to see six majestic hornbills gliding across the sky with their incredible wingspans.

As we climbed higher, we noticed a refreshing drop in temperature, making it feel like a cool escape from the tropical heat below. The drive itself is beautiful, surrounded by dense rainforest, chirping birds and the peaceful hum of nature.

At the top, the views are spectacular, offering panoramic sights over Langkawi’s forests and coastline on a clear day. It’s quiet, serene and not overly crowded – perfect for nature lovers, birdwatchers or anyone looking to unwind above the island.

There’s a small area to park at the summit, and though there aren’t many facilities, the experience is all about the journey and the views. Definitely a hidden gem and one of the best scenic drives...