Langkawi’s ‘Lonely Mountain’ Is Secretly The Island’s Most Instagrammable Spot
Gunung Raya remains a picturesque natural treasure that has not been fully utilised.
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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.
(Credit: Fernando Fong)
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.
(Credit: Fernando Fong)
(Credit: Fernando Fong)
(Credit: Fernando Fong)
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.
(Credit: Fernando Fong)
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 mountain top.
(Credit: Fernando Fong)
The staircase consists of 4,287 steps and covers a distance of 3.1 km. It takes about 2 hours and 15 minutes to reach Gunung Raya’s top.
Suffering the same fate as the resort, it is no longer accessible. Surrounded by long grass, the staircase has been reclaimed by nature.
(Credit: Fernando Fong)
So if you’re looking for a secret spot for envy-inducing shots, Gunung Raya is definitely worth exploring. Who knows what treasure you might find!
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