HOGA Gaharu Tea Valley, Gopeng - Travelswithsun

HOGA Gaharu Tea Valley on the outskirts of Gopeng is not your average tea plantation. There’s a rare kind of tree (of the aquilaria species) here that is planted for its commercial use as perfume and medicine in Middle Eastern and Asian countries!

The 300-acre agarwood plantation is a doable drive out of Ipoh and is another reason to visit Gopeng! We’ve been here twice and it’s very relaxing to be here, especially in the morning!

Background Information

Firstly, what exactly is gaharu or agarwood? Agarwood is the precious aromatic black resin formed when an agarwood tree suffers damage from lightning, insects, cuts, etc.

Fun fact: The color of the resin is darker if the resin has been secreted for longer periods of time.

There are many names for this tree:

  • Oud (عود)
  • Chen Xiang (沉香)
  • Eaglewood
  • Aloeswood
  • Jin-koh (沈香)
  • Gaharu (Malay)
Photo Stop At HOGA Gaharu Tea Valley
Photo Stop At HOGA Gaharu Tea Valley

Agarwood is the precious aromatic black resin formed when an agarwood tree suffers damage from lightning, insects, cuts, etc.

At HOGA, they try to find ways to organically induce resin production in their trees. One such way is to introduce a type of mould into the tree bark.

Gaharu Trees At HOGA Agarwood Plantation
Gaharu Trees At HOGA Agarwood Plantation – Photo by Travelswithsun

Their very name HOGA comes from “Holistic Gaharu” as they are very passionate about keeping their plantation as chemical-free as possible!

The plantation started out close to the year 1992 with 200 seedlings as a bid to study and conserve this type of tree which was under threat from heavy logging.

Vistor Centre Viewed From The HOGA Tree Plantation
Vistor Centre Viewed From The HOGA Tree Plantation – Photo by Travelswithsun

After 15 years, the 200 seedlings grew to produce new seeds. And now, the plantation has over 200,000 of these trees. In 2011, the plantation was opened to the public as an agrotourism park. To date, around 70 of the original trees still survive!

Swiftlet House At HOGA Gaharu Tea Valley In Gopeng
Swiftlet House At HOGA Gaharu Tea Valley In Gopeng – Photo by Travelswithsun

Benefits Of Gaharu Tea

Long term consumption of gaharu tea (caffeine-free) has many beneficial properties to treat and improve sleep, flatulence, blood pressure, hangovers, gout, asthma and constipation.

Malaysia exports millions’ worth of Gaharu to other countries like Japan, China, Korea, Taiwan and the Middle East every year! Just a kilogram of even unprocessed gaharu can cost up to RM 10,000! And distilled gaharu essential oil can reach RM 100,000 per kilogram!

Entrance Fees

Entrance is free. You don’t have to pay anything to check out the visitor center or to park your car at the visitor’s car park. But if you want to take the tour around the estate, it is RM10 per adult (for Malaysians) and this includes a sachet of HOGA tea.

Gaharu Tea Valley Visitor Centre
Gaharu Tea Valley Visitor Centre – Photo by Travelswithsun
  • Malaysians: RM10 (Adult), RM5 (Child)
  • Non-Malaysians: RM35 (Adult), RM20 (Child)

Children under the age of 3 and disabled folk get to join for free.

Tickets For The Van Tours At HOGA Gaharu Tea Valley
Tickets For The Van Tours

We got our tickets from the ticket counter behind the gift shop at the visitor centre. There is a lounge of sorts where you can wait for the van to come.

HOGA Gaharu Tea Valley Tour Van
HOGA Gaharu Tea Valley Tour Van – Photo by Travelswithsun

What The Tours Are Like

The tour will take you through 3 sections of the plantation and lasts for 20 to 45 minutes. They have multiple vans going round the plantation on the same route simultaneously. So, you can always take the next one if that suits your pace better!

Sequence of the tour:

  1. Hilltop View & Cafe – Viewing Stage
  2. Tree Hugging Park
  3. Lover’s Park & Waterfall

Our guide on our most recent visit spoke Malay, Chinese and a bit of English. He was very nice. The guides don’t follow you into the plantation by the way. The only briefing they provide is more of an introduction to the plantation and gaharu and this takes place while you’re in the van.

It might have been more interesting to see how they harvest and process gaharu at the plantation, but we didn’t see any of this during the tour. The processing plant is right beside the ticket counter though – we could only peep in from the window outside.

For additional information that compliment these tours, we recommend checking out the indoor gallery beside the gift shop. And there is also a wall explaining the full timeline of the plantation at the hilltop café which is the first stop during the van tours.

What To Do In Gaharu Tea Valley

Nature lovers will thoroughly enjoy themselves here! Breath-taking views and fresh air await!

Note: If you do not find trees particularly interesting to begin with, you might want to go elsewhere!

But we highly suggest coming here as soon as it opens (9am) to take advantage of the cooler temperatures before it starts go get hot.

The vans they use for the tours are air-conditioned and so is the gift shop and indoor gallery, but it is very easy to work up a sweat even if you’re just walking at a leisurely pace around the plantation despite all the trees they have there!

You might also want to plan your visit for the weekends since the hilltop café doesn’t open on weekdays! We didn’t get to enjoy this café on both our visits to the plantation since we chose to go on weekdays.

1. Enjoy Valley Views From The Hilltop Viewing Stage

Tours of the estate stop first at the 3-storey viewing platform first. There is a beautiful cafe here that is only open during the weekends.

The Viewing Station At HOGA Agarwood Plantation In Gopeng
The Viewing Station At HOGA Agarwood Plantation In Gopeng – Photo by Travelswithsun

This is the highest point of the plantation with incredible views of the magnificent trees on the slopes of the valley! It’s especially gorgeous on a clear sunny day!

Hilltop View & Cafe At HOGA Gaharu Tea Valley
Hilltop View & Cafe At HOGA Gaharu Tea Valley
Valley Views At HOGA Gaharu Estate
Valley Views At HOGA Gaharu Estate – Photo by Travelswithsun

2. Walk Through Avenues Of Trees At The Hugging Park

You will get many opportunities to hug trees at the Tree Hugging Park.

Walkway To The Tree Hugging Park
Walkway To The Tree Hugging Park
Tree Hugging Park At HOGA Gaharu Tea Valley
Tree Hugging Park At HOGA Gaharu Tea Valley – Photo by Travelswithsun

Paintings of animals and cheeky quotes cover the barks of some of the trees here. It is a little touristy, but they do make an interesting photo backdrop!

Some Painted Gaharu Trees At HOGA Gaharu Tea Valley
Some Painted Gaharu Trees At HOGA Gaharu Tea Valley
Painted Trees At The HOGA Tree Hugging Park In Gopeng
Painted Trees At The HOGA Tree Hugging Park In Gopeng – Photo by Travelswithsun

Some fun facts about trees (gaharu and otherwise) are posted on signs too.

There is a small tortoise enclosure at this park as well – the turtles and tortoises seem to be doing well.

Tortoise Enclosure At HOGA Gaharu Tea Valley
Tortoise Enclosure

Across the tortoise enclosure is a large fishpond stocked with fish of the edible variety as well as arowana. The large moving water wheel and wooden gazebo make for a lovely picture here.

Water Wheel At The Big Fish Pond In HOGA Gaharu Tea Valley
Water Wheel At The Big Fish Pond

3. See Giant Trees At The Lovers’ Park

This is the last stop if you take the van tours. It begins with a steep but short staircase that leads down to the Lovers’ Park which features a pair of old trees intertwined in a way that reminds you of lovers embracing. The guide told us that the trees are about 200 years old.

Lover's Park At HOGA Gaharu Tea Valley
Lover’s Park At HOGA Gaharu Tea Valley – Photo by Travelswithsun

There is a large fishpond close to the huge trees. It’s overgrown with algae, and you can’t see the fish here. All around the pond are small statues of zodiac animals.

Horse Zodiac Statue At HOGA Gaharu Tea Valley
Horse Zodiac Statue

And if you don’t mind walking on a metal boardwalk across rushing water for about 10 minutes, you will be able to see a pretty waterfall too! As well as some elephant statues and wall murals that pay homage to Gopeng’s past.

Waterfall At HOGA Gaharu Tea Valley
Waterfall At HOGA Gaharu Tea Valley
Tin Mining Mural At HOGA Gaharu Tea Valley
Tin Mining Mural

4. Get A Treat At The HOGA Outlet & Deli

Refreshments including coffee are available at the on-site deli at the visitor centre right in front of the shop. All of the seating is outdoors but it is fully covered here, and fans keep the place decently cool.

HOGA Deli Is Where You Can Order HOGA Ice Cream Or Coffee At The Visitor Centre
HOGA Deli Is Where You Can Order HOGA Ice Cream Or Coffee At The Visitor Centre – Photo by Travelswithsun

We highly recommend trying the yummy HOGA ice-cream at the café. It’s made from 100% natural ingredients including HOGA tea eggs!

HOGA Gaharu Tea Ice Cream
HOGA Gaharu Tea Ice Cream – Photo by Travelswithsun

5. Try HOGA Tea

You will have a chance to try two types of gaharu tea while you are at the gift shop. One made from the seeds and another, made from the leaves of the tree.

It’s hard to explain the taste but it’s not sweet and has a mild flavor like barley tea. The tea made from the leaves of the tree is not as bitter as the one made from the seeds.

Visitors Trying Tea Samples Inside The HOGA Gaharu Retail Shop
Visitors Trying Tea Samples Inside The HOGA Gaharu Retail Shop

You can find the tea sampling station is at the central counter inside the gift shop. The deli outside the gift shop sells small bottles of chilled fruit tea for RM3 per bottle too.

6. Take A Selfie At The Great Wall Of HOGA

To protect their valuable commodity from thieves and wild animals, HOGA has built a 3-metre high and 6-foot-wide crenelated wall at the entrance to the estate.

Entrance To HOGA Gaharu Tea Valley
Entrance To HOGA Gaharu Tea Valley – Photo by Travelswithsun

This barrier takes inspiration from the Great Wall of China and is not a bad place to stop and snap a photo! Just watch for vehicles first!

Great Wall Of HOGA Gaharu Tea Valley
Great Wall Of HOGA Gaharu Tea Valley – Photo by Travelswithsun

7. Check Out The Time Tunnel

In the middle of the visitor centre is an inconspicuous entrance to an indoor gallery and exhibition hall with photos and information on how gaharu tea was discovered. As well as background information on the owner and how he started HOGA.

Antiques On Display At HOGA Time Tunnel Gallery
Antiques On Display At HOGA Time Tunnel Gallery – Photo by Travelswithsun

A display case full of awards lines the hallway that leads from the small gallery back to the gift shop.

8. Go Trekking (HOGATrek)

Alternatively, there is also a shaded trek (~850m) that you can take to reach the top of the hill too. The 3km trek begin at 7am and takes 1.5 hours.

This activity is not advisable if you have low stamina! But it is safe for children to attempt.

They charge RM10 per adult and RM5 if you want to join the hikes. And you will have to register beforehand (Their WhatsApp number is 0125886186) if you’re interested.

9. Browse The Gift Shop

HOGA manufactures all sorts of products at their on-site factory.

If you’ve been paying close attention to the tours or information from the gallery, you’ll learn that 36 different products can be made from the trees at this plantation.

They sell these in the Gaharu Retail Shop at the base of the valley. The sales promoters are knowledgeable in the products!

Note: Free and fast WiFi is available at the visitor centre.

HOGA Gaharu Tea Valley On-Site Gift Shop
HOGA Gaharu Tea Valley On-Site Gift Shop – Photo by Travelswithsun

We saw various gaharu products like cookies, instant noodles, chocolate, nougat, tea egg premix, bak kut teh herbal packs, herbal jelly and kombucha. Nonedible products include wood chips, soap, lotion, lip balms, oils and fragrance.

And they do sell gaharu saplings close to the ticket counter outside the gift shop as well!

Benefits Of Gaharu Trees
Benefits Of Gaharu Trees – Photo by Travelswithsun

Getting Here From Ipoh

There is signage for the plantation along the way if you plan to drive here from Ipoh.

However just note that as you get closer to the plantation, the road starts to narrow to one car’s width and winds through a small kampung (e.g. village).

Note: There are no public buses to this place!

If you don’t have your own transport, you can include HOGA Gaharu Tea Valley as part of a personalized itinerary with private tour service, RayTheTour! The tour includes free pick-up and drop-off service anywhere in Ipoh on the same day.

Raythetour Private Tour To HOGA Gaharu Tea Valley
Raythetour Private Tour To HOGA Gaharu Tea Valley – Photo by Travelswithsun

The tour includes free pick-up and drop-off service anywhere in Ipoh on the same day.

Message us on WhatsApp for a quote!

Conclusion

Come see the lovely HOGA Gaharu Tree Valley. It’s not very often that you get to see an agarwood tree up close. Let alone thousands!

Learn the challenges of producing agarwood and why it is highly valued in many countries and religions. Maybe even take some tea back with you!

The plantation tours are inexpensive, short and a more comfortable way of getting around the plantation. But we do think that the information provided during the tours is basic and could have been more in-depth.

Gua Tempurung

Another gem in Gopeng that we highly suggest to visitors is Gua Tempurung. You will need good mobility and at least, average fitness to do the tours here though. If you have one full day to spare, even better because the Grand Tour is very exciting and fun!

Silverlakes Outlet Village

This new outlet village has yet to fill up completely. But with the presence of mature trees and a big lake nearby, it makes for a nice evening stroll with the family. Prepare for a lot of walking if you want to explore both the West and North Village.

Other Attractions In Ipoh

While HOGA Gaharu Tea Valley is nice, it is quite far from Ipoh. So, you might want to check out other attractions that are in or closer to town. And Ipoh Old Town specifically if you don’t have your own transport.

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