Some people may think that permit is a nuisance. They said it is unnecessary but for me having a permit to enter a forest especially the protected ones is very crucial. As a human being we are obliged to maintain and preserve the environment. You may think that a piece of garbage from you may not be that bad but imagine thousands of you doing that to Mount Irau Mossy Forest. You may say that setting a camp fire may not cause devastation but you may not know what will happen if the air is dry and it hasn’t been raining for a while.
There are so many things I can list down here and the important message is that you have to be a responsible hiker. Taking many selfies at forest and mountain top with hashtag #naturelovers does not make you responsible to the environment. So, here is how to be responsible. Start small by applying permit. Besides preserving the environment, the permit is also there to save you in case you are lost in the forest because your name is recorded in the list.
Pahang State Government Forestry Department has required permit to be obtained before entering the trek or trails as listed below:
- Gunung Irau, Cameron Highlands
- Gunung Brinchang, Cameron Highlands
- Gunung Berembun, Cameron Highlands
- Gunung Yong Belar, Cameron Highlands
- Gunung Siku, Cameron Highlands
- Gunung Suku, Cameron Highlands
- Gunung Benom, Raub
- Pine Tree Trail, Bukit Fraser, Raub
- Rompin Trail, Bukit Fraser, Raub
- Abu Suradi Trail, Bukit Fraser, Raub
- Mager Trail, Bukit Fraser, Raub
- Gunung Rajah, Bentong
- Gunung Nuang, Selangor (entrance to Gunung Nuang located at Janda Baik, Bentong Pahang).
The applications can be made with official request form and send via mail to Pejabat Hutan Daerah (PHD) that is responsible for particular trails. The fees shall be made in money order or bank draft under the name Pengarah Perhutanan Negeri Pahang (Director of Pahang Forestry Department) and it shall be sent together with the form. Below is the identified PHD for particular said locations:
| Gunung | Nama/Alamat PHD |
| Gunung Irau | PHD Raub/Cameron Highlands |
| Gunung Brinchang | PHD Raub/Cameron Highlands |
| Gunung Berembun | PHD Raub/Cameron Highlands |
| Gunung Yong Belar | PHD Raub/Cameron Highlands |
| Gunung Siku | PHD Raub/Cameron Highlands |
| Gunung Suku | PHD Raub/Cameron Highlands |
| Gunung Benom | PHD Raub/Cameron Highlands |
| Pine Tree Trail | PHD Raub/Cameron Highlands |
| Rompin Trail | PHD Raub/Cameron Highlands |
| Abu Suradi Trail | PHD Raub/Cameron Highlands |
| Mageri Trail | PHD Raub/Cameron Highlands |
| Gunung Rajah | PHD Bentong |
| Gunung Nuang | PHD Bentong |
Click here for the form. And here is how the form looks like:
Here is the contacts to respective PHD: Click here
Sample of letter that we have used to apply permit to hike Irau:
The method is stated clearly in Forestry Department Website. However, I wish the application process is made easier and more user friendly. Currently, the bureaucracy resulting from this process is tedious. I believe if it is more convenient, more people would be applying the permits. In addition to the permitting process, the authority should at any point of time to guard the entrance and ask for the permits.
Updates:
Currently, the permit is limited to only 100 permits per day.
Before processing your permits, you shall check with Forestry Department if your planned date is available or not. Recent fee is RM10 per person.
If everything is okay, send a mail and include the envelope with the forms and postal order (you can get it at post office. Here is the link in Malay if you want to know the process in details) to this address:
Pejabat Hutan Daerah,
Raub dan Cameron Highlands,
Rotan Tunggal, 27600 Raub.
Tel: 09-3551060
Fax: 09-3550857
Once it is confirmed by the authorities, you will receive the permits through mail too.
Hope this helps!
Hi. I am Anh from Vietnam. We are a group of 4 going to trek to Mossy forest in September. As I saw that the form to apply permits to hike is only in Malaysian , right? So foreign tourists do not need to ask for it in 2 weeks before arrival? I also found other travelers commented about not necessary to apply anything. Is it right? Another question is, can we get to brinchang mountain by taxi ? And going backward as well?
Sorry for asking too much! Your blog does help a lot actually! Thank you!!
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Hi Anh,
I apologize for the very late reply. I have just returned from climbing Mount Rinjani at Lombok.
I hope you still have time to read this before going to Mossy forest.
Currently in order to enter mossy forest, permit is required. Since there are more people now entering the forest, it has caused a lot of damaged.
As of now from what I learn the number of permit is becoming more and more limited. Even though it was mentioned ‘only Malaysian’ in the form, the permit actually applies to all who wants to enter the forest.
I believe you need to apply for the permit as early as possible.
However, recently I heard that we can apply the permit at office near the forest (at Mount Brinchang) or Cameron Highland but I am not really sure about this. Haven’t been there for quite a while.
Sometimes, the law enforcer do not stay at the entrance all day long. There are some loopholes where you may be able to enter the forest if there is no one in charge at the forest.
However this is not recommended.
You can get to brinchang mountain by taxi. I have seen visitors using taxi to reach the mountain.
There are also agency who would be willing to guide and bring you to the forest (I do not have direct contact but I will try my best to help).
In order to go backward, I believe if you hire a taxi, you can inform and call them when you are ready to go down but this will be expensive. I have seen tourists walking down the hill too.
I hope this helps and I will update and share the information on the forest.
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Wow. Thanks a lot for your kind comment. I guess those who entered the forest for free must have entered through the loopholes that you have mentioned:) or luckily gone there when there is no officer. I had a bad experience with loopholes that I am afraid to use it once more.
So there is still no way for us to apply the permits beforehand? Then we have to go straight to Brinchang Mountain first in order to apply the permits? We are going to be there on 11th of September.
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Regarding the permit at Brinchang, I am not able to confirm the matter.
I think it’s just rumors. I believe there are other trails other than mossy forest (i just learn this from previous comments from nigel. Check the link)
http://www.cameronhighlandsinfo.com/jungle_trekking/
Or you dont have to go as far as Irau peak because it may take 6 hours to complete the hiking.
You can still enter the boardwalk until it ends at the beginning of the dirt trek.
and you dont have to enter early in the morning though if your intention is to just walk at the boardwalk.
Last time, the officers did not wait at the entrance until afternoon. So, maybe if you come later you don’t need to provide a permit.
On 11th September is Eid celebration. I doubt any officers will be working on that day. Hehe.
The boardwalk is pretty safe, don’t worry.
FYI the permit is now limited to 100 per day.
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Hi. I saw that you are now staying in Kuala Lumpur. I am willing to meet you in person if you have free time, perhaps, or any chances that you are free on 9th of September. I hope we can catch up somewhere for a drink 🙂
Cheers,
Anh
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On the 9th I am going back to my hometown in Johor Bahru for Eid.
So I wont be around.
KL will be nice and quite that weekend though. You will have fun.
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hi ikhwan, I read your page about apply permit & i’ve printed out all the documents that u posted here, so if I follow your permits documents for applications then how shall I send to them? Is it to email them the documents ? Do guide me as I”m interested to apply & hike for Mossy Forest as well as Gunung Bunga Buah in Genting Highlands. I learned that all hike that start & touched Pahang state we need to apply a hike permit. Kindly advise me on this apply hike permit procedures or do you able to do such application service? I don’t mind to pay extra as tips/fee. I can be contacted at 016-514 2456
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Hello. I believe you need to call the Forestry Department and check whether the time slot is available or not because currently they are limiting to 100 permits per day only.
Try this one. We send a mail to this address and include the form with wang pos (postal order) that you can get at post office;
Pejabat Hutan Daerah,
Raub dan Cameron Highlands,
Rotan Tunggal, 27600 Raub.
Tel: 09-3551060
Fax: 09-3550857
http://forestry.pahang.gov.my/index.php/hubungi-kami/alamat-pejabat-jpnp.html
I hope this helps.
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Mr.Ikhwan,
Do we really need a guideman to hike Irau? Can we just make a permit and hike it all by ourselves ?
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Hi Mr Iqram,
no we don’t.
there will be many people hiking but if there aren’t many, the trail is quite establish.
Do not worry of getting lost. just maintain at the same trek.
we don’t have guideman but we have a friend joining who hiked before us.
but i think the trek is pretty straightforward
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hi, i am stay in rawang selangor, how to assure that the permit is get and only via pos?
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Hi Chen Kah Xin. I believe it will be mail delivered to your address.
However currently pahang mountains are close due to monsoon will reopen 1st February
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TEBING TINGGI BACKPACKER(fb)
Mount Guide Licenced Cameron Highland
Will arrange:
-forestry permit(climbing permit)
-police report
-Nature guider licenced
-emergency kit(basic)
-walkie talkie
-4×4 transport to trailhead(mossy forest)
Also do Mount Irau sunrise attack(start hike at 2am) dayhike
ANDY
017-9997790
wahtaps/sms/call
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Hi ikhwan,
From your experience, how long does it take to get a permit when applying by post?
Thank you for your time.
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Hi Henry,
Apologize for very late reply.
It was a long time ago but I believe it took us about a month to get the permit.
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Thank you!
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HELLO HI IKHWAN,
IS IT OKEY IF MY GROUP AND I WENT TO GUNUNG YONG BELAR AROUND NEXT MONTH? IS IT TRUE PERAK MOUNTAIN WILL BE CLOSED?
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I am not sure about that. But I thought I saw a letter posted on HACAM Fb Page. It’s the letter from Perhutanan Preak. Lemme find and check again
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hi I am a foreigner, keen to hike Pine Tree Trail. May I know if the above still applies the same as of now 2018? Thank you.
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Hello, as of 2018, the permit still applies. However, the forests still close until this 31st of January due to monsoon season.
Some people enter the trail without permits. So, it is up to the individual.
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hi, i am intending to hike Fraser Hill Pine Tree Trail. Does the above still applies as at 2018 for applying permit? As i am a foreigner, is there any local contact who can assist in applying permit for foreigners? Thanks!
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Hi. Do you have your trip date fixed? May I know the dates?
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Hi, would you possibly know any contacts on where to get climb permit for Gunung Rajah? Thanks. The link above is error 404.
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Sorry, typed the wrong email ad. It’s jan_ec@yahoo.com. Thank you
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MOUNT GUIDE SERVICE (Licensed Nature Guide)
MEMBERS OF MALAYSIA MOUNTAIN GUIDE ASSOCIATE
(MMGA) 3216#
TEBING TINGGI BACKPACKER (FB)
PROVIDES :
-Forestry permit arrangements
-police report
-nature guide
-emergency kit
-4×4 transport (if needed)
-Camping gear(tent, fly and ground sheets)
-Ration preparation
-Porter service(optional)
ANDY
0179997790
CALL /WHATAPS /SMS
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