Gunung Rajah is located between the state border of Selangor and Pahang. There are two trails you can hike to reach Gunung Rajah, either from Selangor (Kuala Kubu Bharu) or Pahang (Bentong), also known as Gunung Rajah via Chamang. In this post, we did Gunung Rajah via KKB (Kuala Kubu Bharu).
Gunung Rajah via KKB Permit & Guide
A permit and a guide is compulsory to hike Gunung Rajah. If starting from Kuala Kubu Bharu, you need to engage a Selangor mountain guide. If starting from Bentong, you need to engage a Pahang mountain guide. For our Selangor weekend hikes, we engaged our lovely Reena (+60 12-666 4026) to lead us as a guide. The permits will be settled by the guide. The total cost was RM720 for our group (max 7 pax).
Gunung Rajah via KKB Itinerary
Gunung Rajah Daypack – Estimate 16 hours hike
- 5am : Arrive at trailhead and get ready
- 5:15am: Start hike to BMW campsite (trail is mostly flat)
- 7:15am – 7:30am: Arrive at BMW campsite and rest for 15 minutes
- 7:30am – 9am: Hike to R&R campsite – (Steep hike; hike at an average steady pace)
- 9am – 10:30am: Hike to Asyur Campsite – (uphill and downhill)
- 10:30am – 11:30am: Hike to the false peak – (fully uphill)
- 11:30am – 12:30pm: Hike to the peak – a few ladder climbs – mossy and uphill trail
- 12:30pm – 1:30pm: rest at the peak
- 1:30pm – 3:30pm: Back to Kem Asyur (mostly downhill)
- 3:30pm – 5pm : Back to Kem R&R (uphill and downhill)
- 5pm – 6:45pm: Back to Kem BMW (uphill and downhill)
- 7pm – 9pm: Back to trailhead (mostly flat)
Things to bring:
- Minimum 2L of water if you want to refill at the river / Minimum 3L water if you do not want to refill at the river (water can be refilled at the last point at Kem R&R)
- Headlamp – fully charged as there will be hikes during the dark hours
- Emergency Blanket
- Whistle
- Raincoat
- Food & snacks
Kuala Kubu Bharu Parking & Gunung Rajah Trailhead
6am: After parking at Bukit Kutu & Gunung Rajah Trailhead (RM2 to be paid to the orang asli at the entrance), we started our hike.
I spotted many glow-in-the-dark mushrooms along the trail.
(+39)6.39am
More glow-in-the-dark mushrooms (lights off vs lights on).
(+24)7.03am
(+33)7.36am: Sungai Luit on the left side on the trail.
Various species of pitcher plants (nepenthes) can be found here.
(+6)7.42am: Stream crossing.
Kem BMW Campsite
(+14)7.56am: Arrived at Kem BMW. There are some campers here who were doing the Trans RHB (Rajah Hulu Bakau) loop involving Gunung Rajah and Bukit Hulu Bakau.
Friendly doggo! We had a 15-minute break at the campsite before continuing our journey.
(+20)8.16am: Junction to Lata Makau / Gunung Rajah.
(+4)8.20am
(+3)8.23am
(+4)8.27am: Passing by a river, looks like a nice place to take a dip. This is close to the junction to Bukit Hulu Bakau.
(+4)8.31am
Kem Botol Campsite
(+14)8.45am: We arrived at Kem Botol.
I thought these flowers looked like octopus tentacles.
(+9)8.54am
(+5)8.59am
Kem Renoma
(+13)9.12am: A short stop at Kem Renoma.
(+8)9.20am
(+7)9.36am
(+4)9.40am
Kem R&R
(+5)9.45am: Arrived at Kem R&R.
A 5-minute climb to the last water point below Kem R&R.
(+22)10.07am
(+48)10.55am
(+9)11.04am: A club signboard naming the area ‘Puncak Ekor Kucing’ but it’s probably not an official name. It’s also not a peak.
Kem Asyur
(+35)11.39am: We reached Kem Asyur.
(+12)11.51am
(+46)12.37pm
(+1)12.38pm: Walking past this big mossy rock.
False Peak
(+1)12.39pm: Reaching the false peak.
(+11)12.50pm: We continued on after a short stop.
(+7)12.57pm: Gunung Rajah peak in sight as we climbed down the false peak.
(+3)1pm
(+8)1.08pm
Red succulent lichen?
(+9)1.17pm
(+9)1.26pm: A ladder to climb before reaching the summit.
(+12)1.38pm
Flat-backed millipede
While moss / fungus that looked like patches of snow / webs.
(+11)1.49pm
Gunung Rajah Summit (1,687m)
(+7)1.56pm: At last, we reached the summit of Gunung Rajah.
It was cloudy.
Other than the open sky rock summit, there is also a mossy forest area for summit photoshoot.
We went back down via the same route and finally exited the trail at around 9pm-ish.
Have this guide helped you? Tag @meowtainpeople in your hiking stories & posts!
*Captain Planet passing by* Remember, please take care of our environment, and please don’t destroy the Nature. Leave no trash behind and take back only photos and memories (and also some trash if you can). Walk on the designated path and stay in the middle as much as you can, so that the exposed soil doesn’t spread/corrode further. BE ONE WITH NATURE *flies away*
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