GUNUNG RAJAH via CHAMANG, BENTONG, PAHANG

Introduction

Gunung Rajah situated in the state of Pahang with the height of 1685 meter. It can be climbed via two entrances, no. 1 – via Kuala Kubu Bharu, Kampung Pertak and another, via Chamang Waterfall, bentong, Pahang.

Via Kuala Kubu Bharu is much more shorter i.e 23km while from Chamang is 26.8km. You may locate my previous post Gunung Rajah via KKB here.

I’ve been at Gunung Rajah via Chamang years ago but due to my phone got lost in the jungle, there were no photos, no record….but memories remain.

How to get there

You may search for Air Terjun Chamang or Chamang Waterfall.

GPS Coordinate : 3.509563, 101.857920

Accommodation

Cheap hotel are aplenty with affordable at town area, 8km from chamang waterfall

Transport

It is advisable to arrange for your own transport, public transport such as taxi is another great way to get here.

The Starting Point

There is ample parking space at the waterfall equipped with toilet/shower. The entrance is somewhere at the pondok.

There are few check points you need to pass through, lets go one by one starting from the car parking area :

The spot marked with "B" sign is the entrance. Credit to owner of this photo from google image.

Climb up. around less than 100 meters

You will reach here. 4 x 4 road. follow the signboard. 25km is the return journey

The dirt road

The big giant arch

Still at big signboard area. almost 4 km to here from parking

1) From Car Park to Gunung Rajah big Signboard arch

This is the large arch located at the foothill.

Distance from start to here : 3.9km

Trail difficulty : easy

Trail condition : dry, dirt, 4 x 4 trail

Duration Taken : 55 minutes (7am – 7.55am)

2) From Signboard to Sungai Terling

Distance from Start  : 5.36km

Distance from Signboard to Sungai Terling : 1.2km

Trail difficulty : easy

Trail condition : jungle trail, minor inclination

Duration taken : 12 minutes (8.12am)

few hundred meters from the giant signboard - an open space

5.3km to here

Follow the right trail

Looking for the green arrow - top right

3) From Sungai Terling to Resam

Distance from Start : 7.29km

Distance from Sungai Terling to Resam : 1.9km

Trail difficulty : easy

Trail Condition : dry

Duration taken from Sungai Terling : 25 minutes (8.37am)

Looking for another green arrow - top left

4) From Resam to Kuala Sungai Terling or “River Y”

Distance from Start : 8.34km

Distance from Resam to Kuala Sungai Terling : 1km

Trail difficulty : easy

Trail Condition : dry

Duration taken from Resam : 20 minutes (8.56am)

This is River Y or Kuala Sungai Terling

The photo taken after we climbed down. 

pay attention to the blue plastic tied on the tree - that is the trail marker

Cross this river to the other side.  There is a directional arrow

surrounding area

Look for this signboard at River Y

5) From Kuala Sungai Terling to Lata Naning

Distance from Start : 9.59km

Distance from Kuala Sungai Terling to Lata Naning : 1.25km

Trail difficulty : easy, minor inclination, countless river crossings

Trail Condition : dry

Duration taken from Kuala Sungai Terling :  30 minutes (9.29am)

almost 10km here. manageable track, few inclination but easy

The popular Lata Naning with its transparent water

6) From Lata Naning to Kem Batu Hijau

Distance from Start : 11.1km

Distance from Lata Naning to Kem Batu Hijau : 1.5km

Trail difficulty : Hard inclination, be patient

Trail Condition : dry, river crossing, watch out for tree roots where you steps

Duration taken from Lata Naning : 1 hour (10.26am)

7) From Kem Batu Hijau to Permatang Guntong

Distance from Start : 12.45km

Distance from Kem Batu Hijau to Pematang Guntong : 1.3km

Trail difficulty : hard inclination

Trail Condition : dry

Duration taken from Kem Batu Hijau : 1 hour (11.27am)

8) From Permatang Guntong to Rock Climbing

Distance from Start : 12.87km

Distance from Permatang Guntong to Rock Climbing :  420 meter

Trail difficulty : hard inclination

Trail Condition : dry

Duration taken from Permatang Guntong : 23 minutes (11.50am)

The infamous rock climbing

9) From Rock Climbing to Last Water Point

Distance from Start : 13km

Distance from Permatang Guntong to Last Water point : 130 meter

Trail difficulty : hard inclination, rock climbing in action, please be careful!

Trail Condition : dry

Duration taken from Rock Climbing : 20 minutes (12.09pm)

10) Final Push !! From Last Water Point to Peak

Distance from start : 13.38km

Distance to Last Water Point to Peak : 380 meter only

Trail Difficulty : hard inclination

Trail Condition : soft, black plus half dried mud at certain point.

Duration taken from Last Water Point : 30 minutes (12.38 pm)

Total ascending : 13.38km in 5 hours 36 minutes

13.38km in 5 hours 36 minutes. Rested about 20 minutes here.

We moved from Gunung Rajah peak at 1.00pm. Descending can be quite fast.

1) Peak to Last Water Point – 16 minutes (1.16pm)

2) Last water point to Rock Climbing – forgot to record..dem!

3) Last Water point to Permatang Guntong – 43 minutes (1.43pm)

4) Permatang Guntong to Kem Batu Hijau – 24 minutes (2.07pm)

5) Kem Batu Hijau to Lata Naning – 28 minutes (2.35pm)

6) Lata Naning to Kuala Sungai Terling (River Y) – 24 minutes (2.59pm)

7) Kuala Sugai Terling to Resam – 17 minutes (3.18pm)

8) Kuala Sungai Terling to Sungai Terling – 22 minutes (3.40pm)

9) Sungai Terling to Signboard – 17 minutes (3.57pm)

10) Signboard to Parking – 1 hour (4.56pm)

Total Descending Duration – 4 hours

Ended in 26.8km in total journey almost 10 hours

There you have it, the technical info about the distance, trail difficulty and time taken for each check points. Hoping the above information could be useful for future hikers to measure and plan ahead.

Food and Water Ration

Being an avid hikers and trail runner, I’ve been trained to consumed less drinking water while my body adapt with such strenuous activity and pressure. I took 2.5 litres of drinking water, in 500 ml bottles (With one bottle refilled on the way back).

Food – one Roti canai telur, yes, that’s it!

In conclusion :

1) 10km from start is mostly flat
2) 3 km towards the peak is the most challenging with hard climb
3) There is no leech here
4) Water points are aplenty
5) You can cut almost 1 to 1.5 hours on the way back

Have a great weekend.