A closely guarded secret known only to guests of Pamplemosses Farm and its neighbours, Kesyar Falls is a quick and easy hike with a wonderful waterfall payoff.
When I rock up to the farm house at 10am the day after Malaysia Day, brunch is being prepared. Dogs and cats are intermingling without incident and in the distance the faint early howl of gibbons rings out.
I’m here for the Garden To Table PJ x Pamplemosses Farm picnic by the river. Sungai Kesyar, a tributary of Pahang’s Sungai Tanglir, runs through the area and our picnic is along its banks, but a handful of us are hiking upstream to enjoy Kesyar Falls.
According to Stefan of Pamplemosses Farm there’s a trail to the falls from Bukit Tinggi but our hike from the farm is a lot shorter and easier. Stefan and Gene organise doggy playdates, and as we walk and talk about dog breeds and behaviour passing under the fruiting durian trees and past rambutan, langsat and mangosteen, happy doggos bounce around us before bounding ahead.
The gravel road splits on the other side of the bridge across Sungai Kesyar. Left is Puncak Rimba, a cluster of luxury villas with traditional Malay architectural flourishes set on a 12-acre estate.
We go right, stepping over a boom barrier then climbing past a sting-less bee (kelulut) farm into the forest and past Kesyar Falls Eco Sanctuary, a full facility campsite with gazebos to pitch a tent or hammock on. We’re north of Pekan Bukit Tinggi and the properties here are surrounded by Lentang Forest Reserve.
Having left the overgrown dirt road we’re now on a footpath where the sounds of rushing water is much louder. The descent towards the river’s edge is further along down a steep verge with nylon rope strung up to guide us. It’s not until we clamber over the rock-strewn riverside that Kesyar Falls comes into view.
Plummeting 20 metres into a shallow sand-bottomed basin surrounded by sheer rock, it’s hard to appreciate this curtain fall’s size until you stand next to it or behind it. The rain from the night before had turned its waters murky. This might not have done my photos any favours but the invigorating blast of cold water and spray was the wake up call we needed before venturing back for brunch.
Distance and time Just over 1 kilometre one-way and about 20-30 minutes at Malaysia Day holiday pace or 15 minutes at speed.
Rating Easy.
Leech count Zero.
Permits None required.
Costs You need to be a guest of Pamplemosses Farm, Puncak Rimba or Kesyar Falls Eco Sanctuary to access the waterfall.
Facilities As I was a guest fo Pamplemosses Farm,I got to use the toilet and shower at the farm house to clean up.
Parking Ample parking.
GPS coordinates (parking) 3.389548, 101.880280
GPS coordinates (Pamplemosses Farm house)3.389482, 101.878953
POKOK KELAPA 