Gunung Machinchang Hike

Start: Car park at the base of Langkawi Skycab
Distance: 5.8km
Grade: Hard

Check out this 5.8-kilometre trail in Langkawi; it’s a bit of a challenge but totally worth it! It usually takes around 3 hours and 17 minutes to complete the Gunung Machinchang hike. Birdwatchers, campers, and hikers love this spot for its peaceful vibes, especially when it’s not too crowded. You can hit the trail any time of the year and still enjoy its beauty.

Best Attempted in the Dry Season

For all you thrill-seekers, Gunung Machinchang, Langkawi’s second-highest peak, offers an exciting hiking experience. In the dry season, you’ll have fewer encounters with leeches and bugs, but watch out during the rainy season. The hike kicks off with a short walk from the parking area near the Langkawi Skycab car base.

Gunung Machinchang Mountain, Langkawi, Malaysia

The trail has a bit of everything – stairs, flat paths, roots, and rocks – leading you to the famous Seven Wells waterfall through a series of concrete steps. Keep an eye out for the river and other waterfalls along the way.

The rainforest scenery is stunning, with tall trees and strangler figs all around.

Take in the Beauty of Telaga Tujuh Waterfall (Seven Wells)

Hike along the Seven Wells river, following it upstream, the Gunung Machinchang trail will take you across the river via robust bridges. During your trek, you might spot macaques, dusky leaf monkeys, and hornbills. After passing Kem Saintis, the first campground, the trail gets steeper as you head towards Tokayah Camp, where you’ll find some impressive buttress roots.

The Summit of Mat Machinchang

The toughest part of the hike is just before reaching the summit of Gunung Machinchang—a rope could come in handy. As you get closer to the peak, the vegetation thins out, with smaller trees and shrubs. The final stretch is rocky, leading to the observation deck at the summit, which offers stunning panoramic views. The final push is very steep and not for the faint hearted.