hotspring.my

Wild spring · Lojing, Kelantan

Sungai Mering Hot Springs

Also known as: Mata Air Panas Sungai Mering, Air Panas Sungai Mering, Sungai Mering hot spring Lojing, Mata air panas HS16

We could not confirm this spring is currently open. Ask locals or the operator before a long drive.

Water temp
45–60°C
Entry fee
Fee not published
Opening hours
Open access in the forest; no facilities or fixed hours
Water type
Alkaline, Bicarbonate, Sulphur
Status
Status unconfirmed

Sungai Mering Hot Springs are three groups of springs along Sungai Mering in the Lojing area of Gua Musang, recorded by the Department of Mineral and Geoscience (JMG) as HS16, HS7 and HS8. They sit in grassy clearings 70 to 100 m from the river, surrounded by thick forest, with nothing built around them.

Almost everything published about them dates from a 2002 survey, when HS16 was reachable only on a 4WD plantation road and HS7 and HS8 only on foot through forest. Current access is unknown, so go with a local guide.

The three sites

HS16 is the unusual one. Hot water comes out at the top of two small granite hills about 50 m apart, at 240 m elevation, from 28 separate vents. The 2002 survey team said a hilltop spring like this is very rare in Peninsular Malaysia. It sat next to the quarters of a teak plantation's workers, who used it to rest, bathe and boil eggs. The only way in was a plantation road suitable for 4WD vehicles.

HS7 is on the north slope above the river, about 70 m from Sungai Mering, at 290 m. There was no road; the team walked through the forest. A strong sulphur smell and whitish-brown sulphur deposits along the runoff give it away. Its water ranged from 50 to 60°C, with a flow of up to 4.4 m³ an hour, the strongest of the three.

HS8 is across the river from HS7 on the south slope, at 280 m, with its vents lined up along one crack. It was the coolest of the three at 45 to 50°C. Majlis Daerah Gua Musang describes the Sungai Mering hot stream as falling in tiers like a small waterfall.

The water

All three are sodium-potassium-bicarbonate water, alkaline (pH 8.4 to 9.3) and low in dissolved solids. Fluoride ranged from 2.5 to 5.0 ppm, above the WHO drinking limit of 1.5 ppm, so do not drink it.

Before you go

The 2002 team found tracks and droppings of tigers, elephants and deer at the springs, which animals visit regularly. They also warned that land clearing and road building could destroy the springs, as happened to another Lojing spring (HS13). We found no recent visitor reports. If you want hot water you can reach by car, the Sungai Ber pools are about 8 km north-west, beside the highway.

Getting there

Sungai Mering is in the Lojing area of Gua Musang district, south-east of the Sungai Ber hot spring and well away from the main road. A 2022 study puts the Sungai Mering site at about 4.6482°N, 101.6031°E, roughly 8 km in a straight line from the Sungai Ber pools. In 2002, HS16 was reached by a 4WD-only plantation road and HS7 only on foot through forest, with HS8 across the river from HS7. Current tracks are unknown. Go with someone local who knows the way, and tell someone your plans.

WazeGoogle Maps4.64823, 101.60314 (approximate)

Before you go

  • Hire a local guide; there are no signs, and the last published route description is from 2002.
  • The 2002 survey found tiger, elephant and deer tracks at the springs. Go in daylight, in a group, and make noise on the trail.
  • Wear shoes with grip: reaching HS8 means crossing Sungai Mering. Do not cross when the river is high.
  • Do not drink the water; fluoride measured 2.5 to 5.0 ppm, against a WHO limit of 1.5 ppm.
  • Leave the vents and sulphur deposits untouched. These are fragile geological features.

Questions people ask

How hot are Sungai Mering Hot Springs?

Between 45 and 60°C at the vents. HS7 measured 50–60°C, HS8 45–50°C, and HS16 about 57°C in the national inventory.

Can you drive to Sungai Mering Hot Springs?

In 2002 only HS16 could be reached by vehicle, on a 4WD plantation road. HS7 and HS8 needed a walk through forest. Current access is unknown.

Are there any pools or facilities?

No. The springs are in natural clearings with no buildings, toilets or parking.

Are Sungai Mering Hot Springs the same as Lojing Hot Spring?

No. Lojing Hot Spring, the developed site, is at Sungai Ber near Pos Hendrop, beside the highway. Sungai Mering Hot Springs are a separate group of springs further from the road.

Other springs within 150 km

Sources

Facts on this page were checked against these sources. Prices and hours change; confirm with the operator before a long drive.

  1. Kamal Roslan Mohamed et al. (2002), Mata air panas Sungai Mering, Lojing, Gua Musang, Kelantan, GSM Annual Geological Conference 2002 (PDF)
  2. Geological Society of Malaysia: article page for the 2002 Sungai Mering paper
  3. Abdul Rahim et al. (2022), Pencirian air panas Lojing, Gua Musang, Kelantan dari aspek geosains, Bulletin of the Geological Society of Malaysia 74 (Sungai Mering at 4°38'53.63"N 101°36'11.29"E, 50–60°C)
  4. Majlis Daerah Gua Musang: Kolam Air Panas Ber, Lojing Highlands (Sungai Mering cascading hot stream)
  5. Mohd Hariri Arifin (2017), USM PhD thesis, Table 2.2 after Samsudin et al. (1997): Sg. Mering HS7 50°C, HS8 50°C, HS16 57°C

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