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Jerai Hill Resort: Cool Breezes, Forest Café, and Scenic Trails

Let me ask you: what does the picture of a perfect hill resort look like in your mind? Is it a place where you can enjoy cool, refreshing weather and serenity far from the city's noise and stress? Perhaps it includes a cozy restaurant, a comfortable room, a swimming pool, a playground for the kids, and a few adventurous spots for the adults to explore? If that’s the kind of place you’re imagining, then Jerai Hill Resort will be precisely what you’re looking for.

So, we booked a one-night stay there, right in the middle of our eight-day trip to Kedah.

Jerai Hill resort

Jerai Hill: The Hidden Retreat Above the Clouds

Jerai Hill Resort is located about an hour’s drive from Alor Setar, with an elevation of over 800 meters. The temperature at the top is refreshingly cool. It is the only private resort located right at the summit of the hill.

Jerai Hill Resort

We were looking for something that would break the rhythm of the past few days, a complete change of pace. Since it’s a secluded, private place, we imagined it would almost force us to slow down, unwind, and simply rest.

A Misty Welcome at Jerai Hill

Jerai Hill viewpoint

Once we arrived at the lower entrance of the hill, we were required to show proof that we had already booked a room at the Jerai Hill Resort. This is because casual visitors are subject to an entrance fee of RM5. We began our uphill journey along a long, winding road that meanders through the forest. The road is quite narrow, though fortunately, it’s entirely paved. However, there are many sharp hairpin turns along the way, so I had to stay focused at all times and remain alert for any oncoming vehicles. Reflective mirrors were installed at the curves to improve visibility, but even so, I constantly honked before entering each hairpin turn just to be safe.

We arrived at Jerai Hill Resort around 2:00 pm, surrounded by heavy mist and light drizzle. Despite the weather, our enthusiasm wasn’t dampened. The parking area is spacious. It’s about a two-minute walk from the reception office. We spoke to the officer, and she suggested that we leave our luggage in the car, as our room would be much closer to our car.

Jerai Hill Resort misty parking area

Jerai Hill Resort reception

As the mist began to clear, the view turned vibrant! The green grass, neatly trimmed gardens, and bursts of color from the many flowers all came into sight. Behind the reception office, there’s a Simple Day Cafe that serves brewed coffee along with a selection of sandwiches and baked goods.

(Simple Day Cafe)

A little further from the café, there’s a raised platform called Jerai Skyview with many tables and chairs where they serve additional food, mostly light bites and finger foods. It has an open, unobstructed scenic view overlooking the Straits of Malacca and the surrounding paddy fields.

(Jerai Skyview)

Next to the reception office is the resort’s only restaurant. There are other options, of course, but that means we had to drive back down the hill to restaurants near the foothill or a few eateries just outside the resort entrance.. However, we wanted to enjoy our time here fully, so we decided to have dinner at the resort’s restaurant.

Once we got our room key, we walked to the parking lot and unloaded our luggage from the car. From there, it was only a short walk before we reached the area where most of the rooms are located. Our room was one of four in a single-story bungalow. Although it’s a large bungalow, each room has an entirely separate entrance, along with an ensuite bathroom. The room was clean and well-kept. Given the hilltop location surrounded by nature, we weren’t surprised to spot a few insects now and then, but they didn’t bother us at all.

the room at jerai hill resort

A Tranquil Escape for Families, Friends, and Nature Lovers Alike

Jerai Hill Resort is an ideal spot for a family gathering, as it offers something for everyone, whether it’s kids, seniors, those looking to relax, or the more adventurous at heart. There’s a children’s playground, a swimming pool, and plenty of benches scattered around, so older guests can always sit and relax, maybe read a book or just enjoy the surroundings. There are also spacious open areas that are perfect for friends and family to sit and have a good chat. Besides, jungle trails are available for those who are more adventurous and enjoy a bit of exploration.

Jerai Hill Resort playground

From Strawberry Park to Waterfalls: An Afternoon on Jerai Hill

After settling into our room, we immediately crossed over to the opposite side to check out the strawberry farm. There weren’t many strawberries right now, probably because it wasn't in season, but I did notice a variety of other flowers and cacti.

Strawberry Park

With some time to spare before sunset, we explore a few nearby spots around the resort. These places are all accessible via walking trails that begin at a junction near the Jungle Coffee Shop, which is located at the far end of the parking lot. It offers drinks, simple snacks, and some pies and buns. But what makes it special is the ambiance. The tables and chairs are placed right next to the edge of the vast forest. We chose a spot with a bench facing the woods, and it felt incredibly calming, like we were escaping the world for a while. Not completely cut off from civilization, but just close enough to nature to feel refreshed, without having to trek deep into it.

Jungle Coffee Shop at Jerai Hill Resort
(Jungle Coffee Shop)

The first trail I took was a short one leading to Telaga Tok Sheikh. The trail is well-marked and took only about 20 minutes to reach. It is a well that was built to commemorate a well-known Muslim preacher of the same name. When we arrived, we saw some devout Muslims collecting water from the well to bathe, and a gentleman was standing there reciting verses from the Quran. I believe that the water from the well may hold a certain spiritual significance.

Telaga Tok Sheikh

Next, I headed to Batu Kapal, a large slab of rock about the size of a basketball court, located right next to a cliff with a stream flowing below. Batu Kapal means "rock boat," and when I stood on it, I could vaguely see why, as it does resemble the shape of a boat. However, the signboard leading to this place wasn’t very clear, and I had to ask at least two people along the way before I finally managed to find it.

Batu Kapal at Jerai Hill resort

Then my wife and I decided to take the longer trail, which took about 30 minutes, to reach Alur Naga Waterfall.

monkeys at jerai hill

Although the trail was quite clear at first, things got a bit confusing as we got closer, as we came across a three-way fork and weren’t sure which path to take. I chose the one on the right, which led me through some rough terrain, requiring me to climb over boulders and follow an unclear path before finally descending to the base of the waterfall.

way to the base of the waterfall

It wasn’t a large waterfall, but I enjoyed the trek and the sense of adventure in figuring out how to get there.

Alur Naga Waterfall at Bukit Jerai

On the way back, we discovered an alternative route: a paved stairway called Tangga Kenari that led almost down to the base. We would have taken the paved path if we had known about it earlier, as it turned out to be a much easier way to reach the waterfall.

Tangga Kenari

A Cloudy Sunset and a Relaxing Dinner

As it was already close to 7:00 pm, we tried our luck by heading back to the sunset viewpoint. Unfortunately, thick clouds had rolled in, and instead of a sunset, we could only see a sea of clouds.

sea of clouds at Jerai Hill resort

As it began to rain, we returned to the Puncak Kedah Restaurant for dinner. We ordered a plate of fried rice and beef in soy sauce. The prices were reasonable, and the food was quite good. I truly enjoyed the meal, not just for the food, but because we had all the time to ourselves. It was a peaceful, unhurried evening, just the way a relaxing trip should be.

jerai hill resort in the evening

We returned to our room and had a good night’s rest. The next morning, we packed up and headed back to Alor Setar to continue with the next part of our itinerary. You can read about the places we visited and the restaurants we tried in Kedah by following these links:

Please watch our video, shot at Jerai Hill Resort by clicking 👇👇 on the image below.