Facts
- Elevation: 825 m (2,706 ft)
- Prominence: 153 m
- Ribu category: Spesial
- Province: Peninsular Malaysia
- Malaysian state: Negeri Sembilan
- Google Earth: kml
- Rating:
- Other names: none.
Photos
Bagging It!
Mount Angsi is one of the most popular hill treks in Malaysia. It makes a good introduction to hiking for beginners and can be accomplished in half a day. Most hikers can be at the top in under 3 and hours and back down in less than 2 hours.
There are two trailheads around 3 kilometres from each other. By far the most popular route starts at Bukit Putus to the north of the peak where you can buy a ticket and park your car. There is even a toilet block and a map of the route. The other trail starts a little further east at Ulu Bendul and meets the main route at the summit. A circuit is the best way of enjoying the mountain to its maximum but be aware that the Ulu Bendul route is slightly longer, slightly more challenging, may be a little more overgrown and that unless you park a second vehicle there you will have a rather boring walk along the road between the two starting points either at the beginning or the end. The Ulu Bendul trail requires a little more time. The Bukit Putus trailhead is slightly higher at over 250 metres above sea level compared to around 160 metres at Ulu Bendul so consider this before deciding where to start and finish.
From the grand trailhead, the Bukit Putus path leads up some steep cements steps and then metal steps, past a further large ‘Gunung Angsi’ sign and finally into pleasant forest with a clear, wide and obvious trail. This mountain gets incredibly popular at weekends, so if you enjoy solitude do try to hike on a weekday! A guide is not strictly required unless you are inexperienced.
There are one or two rest areas en-route including near a water source, and also some moderately good views to the right of the trail at its flattest point. One is called ‘reservoir view’ an offers a view to Sungai Terip reservoir though unless you start very early the view is likely to be a little hazy. There is also an amusing ’18 minutes to the summit’ sign which is not far-off in its estimation!
The summit features a pleasant roofed shelter, various signs and an attractive – though partially collapsed – mental beirut which is where the highest point of the mountain appears to be. There is also a small stone marker hiding under the beirut. There are partial views in several directions.
Peak-baggers should note that the highest part of this range is actually the obscure Bukit Simpang Empat (Crossroads Hill, or literally Four-way Junction Hill) at 936 metres but there are no reports of anyone having hiked here so there is not likely to be a trail. It lies around 5 kilometres east of Gunung Angsi and can be seen from the summit. The Ulu Bendul trail is unmarked but can be discovered fairly easily just a few metres to the left of the beirut. This narrow trail leads steeply down into the valley before winding its way back via Kem Tangga Batu (stone stairs) to the main road around 3 kilometres further east of Bukit Putus.
Bagging information by Dan Quinn (June 2022)
Practicalities
- Getting there: Just over an hour’s drive from KL. The closest train stations are Seremban and Senawang but public transport onward from there may not be simple to arrange.
- Guides and GPS Tracks: Want a PDF version for your phone? Looking for a guide? Need GPS tracks and waypoints? Gunung Angsi information pack can be downloaded here.
- Permits: RM5 per person purchased at the Bukit Putus trailhead. The office opens at 8am Monday-Friday and 6am on weekends but note you are not allowed to start hiking after 11am.
- Water sources: Available around halfway up on the Bukit Putus route but it makes more sense to ter on what is a short hike.
Local Average Monthly Rainfall
Finally got round to doing Gunung Angsi last month. A very pleasant trail and only one other group as it was midweek. We thought about doing the Ulu Bendul descent but it looked a little overgrown and I had had no sleep the previous night so we decided to head back down the same way.
As usual, thumbs up to Negeri Sembilan authorities for making ticket purchase so easy and affordable. Why can’t the other states do the same and save so much administrative hassle for everyone?
A very worthwhile trek in its own right or in preparation for something bigger.