Federal Route 185 Day 2 Jeli Penang
This route was brought to you by:
RouteXpert René Plücken (MRA Master)
Last edit: 04-05-2021
Route Summary The link to his website can be found in the review of this route.
The weather in Malaysia can be unpredictable. From very tropical warm to very wet due to the heavy rain showers. Check the weather forecast before driving and always bring a raincoat. If you have to stop for shelter, never do this under a bridge or on the shoulder as accidents have happened to motorcyclists. Find a safe place such as a cafe, shops, etc. to stop along the routes.
Plan your ride well and avoid the local holidays as places can get very busy, hotels can be fully booked and traffic can be chaotic!
Malaysia and is known for its scenic landscape with spectacular mountains, beautiful beaches, surreal sunsets, rich culture, friendliest people, winding roads, tall waterfalls, national parks and much more!
The roads in Malaysia are generally in good condition, but beware; there are also parts where the asphalt is poor and there can be potholes in the road surface. This can be dangerous, so caution is advised. During the rainy season (September-December) the roads can be slippery. Traffic in Malaysia drives on the left side of the road.
You can rent a motorcycle in Malaysia, but these are usually lighter models and often scooters. You can spend the night in hotels, B & Bs or campsites, which can easily be booked via the website in the review or via booking.com.
I rate this route with 5 ***** stars because of the beautiful roads, beautiful nature, sights and activities that you can undertake.
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Animation
Verdict
Duration
7h 21m
Mode of travel
Car or motorcycle
Distance
292.15 km
Countries
RouteXpert Review The route starts at the Sarina Hotel & Cafe in Jeli. Today is a day with few stops for sightseeing. This day is again enjoying beautiful winding roads through the beautiful landscape of Malaysia. Along the route there are again several places to eat the local dishes. There are also nice points to stop for a photo and enjoy the view.
We leave town and turn onto Highway 4. At the junction with N203 you will see the monument of Bandar Jeli (RP2) on your right. The HW4 follows the course of the Sungai (= river) Balah, which we cross at RP4.
At RP5 you can choose to visit the Jeli Hot Springs, here you can soak in the hot water from natural springs. The water reaches temperatures of almost 50 ° C. Two swimming pools have been built to collect the warm water and make it easier for visitors coming here for a dip. The water is said to have therapeutic properties and it is believed that the sulfur in the natural hot water can cure skin diseases. There is also a public toilet, rest room and showers here.
From RP6 you drive along the Royal Belum State Park. You can visit this park and spend the night in one of the many resorts that the park has. It is definitely recommended to extend your trip by a few days to discover this beautiful park.
The Royal Belum State Park is a huge park adjacent to the Belum-Tunchor Forest Complex (BTFC) that is shared with Thailand. Together with the Taman Negara National Park, it is one of the oldest rainforests in the world, dating back over 130 million years.
In the park you can take beautiful boat trips, but also hikes, to spot wild animals such as elephants, deer, wild boars, birds, insects and many tropical trees and plants. Fourteen of the world's most endangered mammals; including the Malaysian tiger, the white-handed gibbon, the Asian elephant, the Malaysian sun bear, the Sumatran rhinoceros and the Malayan tapir still roam freely in their natural habitat. However, the chance of meeting these amazing animals is very small. It is said to be the only place in Malaysia where you can spot all types of hornbills. Besides, this is also one of the places to visit if you want to experience the rafflesia flower as there are three types of this huge flower.
In the park is the lake “Lake T Menggor” (RP10), the second largest lake in Peninsular Malaysia after Lake Kenyir. Lake T Menggor, like Lake Kenyir, is an artificial lake used for collecting water. The lake has a variety of freshwater fish, including the Kelah, Toman, Sebarau, Tenggalan and Baung, making it the perfect destination for anglers. As it used to be a forest area, the place is full of small islands (actually peaks of mountains and hills) that can be visited. The main resorts are also located on these islands.
On the website of the park (link in this review) you can find a lot of information about the park and all its possibilities for a nice stay.
At RP7 you can schedule a short break at the resting place “Kawasan Rehat Titiwangsa”. There is a small restaurant where you can eat and drink something and enjoy the breathtaking view.
At RP8 we drive over the Lojing Viaduct across the Chenderoh River from Lake T Menggor. It is the second highest bridge in Malaysia and the view is really beautiful. You can stop briefly at RP9 to take a picture of the bridge from the shore.
After this short stop we continue to Kampung Kerunai where we stop for lunch at Castella Cafe (RP11).
After lunch we drive north to the border with Thailand. Pay attention to RP14, here TomTom tries to make you drive via a different route. Turn around here and visit the Betong-Kroh tragedy memorial (RP16).
This memorial commemorates the tragic terrorist attack that killed 15 Malaysian police officers and injured 18 others. They were ambushed by communist terrorists on the Kroh-Betong Road on June 17, 1968.
You can also walk to the border of Malaysia-Thailand (300m) to take a photo of the southernmost sign of Siam. You can also drive to the border, but the route for that is not included in this review, because TomTom and Here are too different here.
From the Thai border it is approximately 125 kilometers to the final destination in George Town Penang. The last part of this route passes through densely populated area and so there is a lot of traffic. Take this into account.
You can spend the night in Penang in one of the many hotels or resorts. Penang is a world famous exotic holiday destination. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2008, this virgin paradise has no shortage of cultural attractions and natural landscapes.
Penang, also called the Pearl of the East, is known for its beautiful sandy beaches. Some of Penang's most interesting spots include the sandy beaches of Tanjung Bungah, the scenery from the top of Penang Hill, and the vipers in the Snake Temple. The quaint nooks and crannies of Georgetown and the Tropical Spice Garden (the only spice garden in Southeast Asia) as well as Penang's many flea markets, pasar malams and modern shopping centers are also worth a visit. Also beautiful is De KOMTAR Tower in George Town, this is the state's tallest skyscraper and the eleventh tallest building in Malaysia. KOMTAR is an abbreviation for Kompleks Tun Abdul Razak, named after Malaysia's second Prime Minister.
The review includes a link with more information about Penang. This island has a lot to offer and a longer stay is certainly worthwhile.
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Use of this GPS route is at your own expense and risk. The route has been carefully composed and checked by a MyRoute-app accredited RouteXpert for use on TomTom, Garmin and MyRoute-app Navigation.
Changes may nevertheless have occurred due to changed circumstances, road diversions or seasonal closures. We therefore recommend checking each route before use.
Preferably use the route track in your navigation system. More information about the use of MyRoute-app can be found on the website under 'Community' or 'Academy'.
Changes may nevertheless have occurred due to changed circumstances, road diversions or seasonal closures. We therefore recommend checking each route before use.
Preferably use the route track in your navigation system. More information about the use of MyRoute-app can be found on the website under 'Community' or 'Academy'.
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