Ride to Kenyir Lake and Temenggor Lake

Kenyir Lake

Kenyir Lake is the biggest man-made freshwater lake in Southeast Asia and it is a result of Kenyir dam constructed in between 1978 to 1985, meant to generate electricity and prevent yearly flooding in Terengganu River valley. Its water level is highest in between March to April and it has more than 340 small islands, about 14 waterfalls and numerous rapids and rivers.

Temenggor Lake

Temenggor lake is the second biggest man-made lake in Peninsular Malaysia resulted from a hydroelectric dam constructed in between 1967 and 1972. Besides its natural function to prevent flooding at upper Perak River valley and providing electricity, it is also intended to flush out communist separatist troops that dwells into the Temenggor lowlands and gorges during the fight in the early formation of Malaysia. 

Roads that passed through these lakes are Felda Aring – Kuala Berang (T156) for Lake Kenyir and FT004 Jeli to Grik.

The plan is to ride around Kenyir Lake from Gua Musang, camp one night in Tok Bali beach before ride back through Banding Island and Temenggor Lake.
Joining me in this ride is Yusuf, in Sym VTS200 and the route looks like this:

We met at BHP Karak around 8am and started heading towards Bentong. The weather is lovely and there are not many vehicles on Karak highway that morning.

Road leading to Gua Musang is smooth and by this time it is starting to get hot.

Straight roads and lovely weather as we passed Raub

As we passed Kuala Lipis, newly constructed road has this unique wildlife underpass or ‘eco-viaduct’. 

It is around 11.30am when we reached Gua Musang and we stopped for lunch before heading to Felda Chiku and Felda Aring.

Some sections in Felda Aring are under repairs from landslide and road resurfacing works

Small but lovely roads are available throughout Felda Aring

Photo Credit to Muhammad Yusuf Musa

We missed this junction and went straight to Felda Aring. So we double back and return to the correct T156

We reached this famous state border tree, in between Terenganu and Kelantan.

and performed this dangerous pose... (that is a joke.. this road has almost no traffic)

Update July 2019:
We have returned here recently

Lovely route around Lake Kenyir, 

although many road repairs are still on-going

Many areas are still under repairs from the last monsoon season

It is scouring hot when we reach Lake Kenyir and the idea to jump straight into the water sounds interesting but we have decided to camp by the beach today and it is still a long way to the sea.

We reached Permaisuri around 3.30pm and stopped for rest and had this celup tepung

It is almost 5pm when we reached Tok Bali and after some site-searching, we decided to camp here for the night

tonight's roof

Masterchef Yusuf is preparing our late night supper

Sunrise view from our campsite

Photo Credit to Muhammad Yusuf Musa

Photo Credit to Muhammad Yusuf Musa

Semarak River, Tok Bali Kelantan

We packed out of camp around 8am in the second day and after a quick stop for shower, we head out to Bukit Bunga, Kelantan

There are many road works on-going on this route and relatively many vehicles on the road heading towards both direction

Nonetheless the views are breathtaking and magnificent

Riding past Pergau Dam

Despite riding at noon, this route is a relatively cold ride, because average road elevation in this area is above 600m

Road therapy

Two most important stops along this route are Titiwangsa rest area..

and Banding Island overlooking Temenggor Lake

It is half past 1pm when we reached Grik and we had lunch in Restoran Tasik Raban.

The weather is hot and humid when we rest at Tasik Raban 

Photo Credit to Muhammad Yusuf Musa

From Tasik Raban we entered the highway through Kuala Kangsar and headed south. 

Photo Credit to Muhammad Yusuf Musa

We make out last stop at Tapah RSA before saying goodbye to each other.

Note to self when planning for camping, need to bring insect repellent and a knife. This is my first ride and camping but rest assured it might not be my last!

Ride snippets

Rider: Mr.Yusuf Musa & Myself

Distance: 1076km

Duration: 2 days

Petrol: RM120

Date: Saturday Feb 28 to Sunday Mar 1, 2015