Track 1 to Gunnung Brinchang (2000m), Sungai Palas Tea Plantation
***To Gunnung Brinchang 1h30, difficult (steep and involves some "roots climbing" - see picture), easy to find and follow the track. Afterwards, 1h30 to the tea plantation walking along a narrow road. To go back to Tanah Rata from the tea plantation we got a lift to the main road and then caught a taxi to Tanah Rata - RM3 each. The other option is to walk to the main road (1h) and then catch a local bus.
We had a great day, the walk to the Gunnung Brinchang was a bit demanding but it was fun to climb the trees roots on the steepest parts. The view on the mountains was awesome from the top of the Gunnung Brinchang (you have to climb the metallic tower if not you see nothing!). Then the walk to the tea plantation was very enjoyable, we saw lots of pretty landscapes. But the best was the tea plantation. Coming from the top of the Gunnung Brinchang you get a great point of view on the tea fields. Both of us did not know how a tea plant looks like so it was great to discover that the tea plants are little bushes (see pictures). Then walking within the plantation to get to the factory and tea shop we were very enthusiastic as we saw workers collecting manually or with machines the tea leaves (see pictures). The visit of the factory was quick and not that interesting (the guide could not speak much English) but the boards next to the tea shop were great to learn all the steps from planting the tea bushes to collecting the leaves and transforming them to get the tea (leaves or tea bags) we use to make up a lovely cup of tea!
***To Gunnung Brinchang 1h30, difficult (steep and involves some "roots climbing" - see picture), easy to find and follow the track. Afterwards, 1h30 to the tea plantation walking along a narrow road. To go back to Tanah Rata from the tea plantation we got a lift to the main road and then caught a taxi to Tanah Rata - RM3 each. The other option is to walk to the main road (1h) and then catch a local bus.
We had a great day, the walk to the Gunnung Brinchang was a bit demanding but it was fun to climb the trees roots on the steepest parts. The view on the mountains was awesome from the top of the Gunnung Brinchang (you have to climb the metallic tower if not you see nothing!). Then the walk to the tea plantation was very enjoyable, we saw lots of pretty landscapes. But the best was the tea plantation. Coming from the top of the Gunnung Brinchang you get a great point of view on the tea fields. Both of us did not know how a tea plant looks like so it was great to discover that the tea plants are little bushes (see pictures). Then walking within the plantation to get to the factory and tea shop we were very enthusiastic as we saw workers collecting manually or with machines the tea leaves (see pictures). The visit of the factory was quick and not that interesting (the guide could not speak much English) but the boards next to the tea shop were great to learn all the steps from planting the tea bushes to collecting the leaves and transforming them to get the tea (leaves or tea bags) we use to make up a lovely cup of tea!
