Day trip to Gunung Lambak, Kluang, Malaysia from Singapore
Just one hour away from JB, a day hike perfect for beginners
Hi, I am AY. You might have seen me around in photos here. I'll be guest writing about my recent Gunung Lambak trip with my sisters, who are beginner hikers. I've been to Lambak twice, but did not manage to summit the first time due to bad weather. This time, it rained (again), but we summited both the North and South peaks and had so much fun! I definitely recommend hiking Lambak if you are new to hiking, or if you are a seasoned hiker looking for a quick sweat.
Summary
About Gunung Lambak:
Mount Lambak is an inselberg (isolated mountain) in Kluang District, Johor, Malaysia. The summit is 510 m high, and it has a few routes leading to the trail. It's a relatively easy climb to the summit and extremely accessible by car, ride-hailing services, and public transport.
Near the foot of the mountain, there is a small children's playground, children's swimming pool, and cafe Hill & Heal.
How we got there:
Public transport to JB Sentral from Singapore > KTMB ETS train from JB Sentral to Kluang > Grab to Gunung Lambak Trailhead. Getting back was the same.
The KTMB ETS train ticket can be easily purchased here: https://online.ktmb.com.my/Trip
(It might be possible to book the tickets on the go, but there were only 12 seats left the night before for the 8:40 am train, hence, we booked it immediately. Thankfully, we had no issues with the traffic on a Wednesday morning at 7 am)
Our day trip timeline:
7:30 am: JB Sentral for breakfast
8:20 am: Boarding KTMB ETS train starts
8:40 am: Train departs
9:35 am: Arrive at Kluang, bought drinks from Kluang Rail Coffee, took a Grab to Gunung Lambak trailhead (~10 mins)
10:45 am: Begin hiking Gunung Lambak!
11:20 am: Arrive at mid-trail checkpoint, took a longer break (played with cute puppies)
12:20 pm: Summited Gunung Lambak North summit aka Summit 1 (great views)
1:25 pm: Summited Gunung Lambak South summit aka Summit 2 (no views, only trees)2:20 pm: Descended to mid-trail checkpoint (slowed down due to the rain)
3:00 pm: Back to trailhead!
3:00 pm - 6:40 pm: Eat, chill, explore Kluang
6:40 pm: KTMB ETS train back to JB Sentral
7:35 pm: Arrive at JB Sentral
The route:
We took 4 hours 20 mins in total for the hike, covering 6.59km with 623m elevation gained.
This was longer than expected because we initially wanted to take the gentler paths and do only the North summit, which is what most people do. That should take you around 2 to 3 hours.
However, my sisters were up for a challenge, so we decided to take the steeper routes up both summits. It was quite manageable for them in the end, and I'd say our pace was quite comfortable for beginners. If you have the time and energy, go for it! (Maybe pack more snacks or lunch along the way and beware of monkeys)
Link to our GPX: https://fa3fc554-16f2-49c4-af0d-c747789e18aa.usrfiles.com/ugd/fa3fc5_d63fd7d2e4dd4569a8c7a61b11c6c1a4.gpx
Details about our day
JB Sentral to Kluang by KTMB ETS Train
We started our journey in Singapore and arrived at JB Sentral at 7:30 am. It was a Wednesday morning and the crowd hadn't kicked in yet, so it was very smooth. After breakfast, we waited for our train to Kluang from JB Sentral. Boarding was easy, we just had to scan our QR code at the gantry and head to the platform to board our chosen carriage and seats. Our train departed on time at 8:40 am.
ETS Train from Johor Bahru to Kluang
After about 55 mins, we arrived at Kluang station! We had a quick stopover at the famous Kluang Rail Coffee next to the station before taking the Grab to the trailhead (google maps link here).
Lambak Trailhead
Gunung Lambak Trail Map Toilet at Gunung Lambak Entrance Stalls at gunung lambak trail head Shelter at Gunung Lambak Trailhead
Upon arrival, we were greeted by many “tigers” at the trailhead. We later found out that they were used to scare birds away, like a scarecrow. The creativity! There was a small stall at the trailhead and a shelter with three toilet cubicles. We also saw signs to a cafe near the start, but we didn't visit as it rained during our descent.
Luk mentioned that you could also pay a few RM to shower at the swimming facilities.
Lambak Mid-Trail Checkpoint (Water Fountain)
Mid-point signboard
We followed two friendly locals up from the trailhead to the mid-trail checkpoint. Uncle and Auntie are frequent hikers here and shared the different routes we could take for the day.
The mid-trail has a huge signboard, a water fountain, and a shelter with a water point (although I'm not sure about the drinkability of it).
At mid-trail, we stopped for a quick water break and enjoyed the company of two newborn puppies. There were also many monkeys, and one of them snatched my bag of trash from me, so beware of them!
Lambak Summit (North)
Our trek to the summit is a relatively steep climb. There are gentler routes but we wanted a small challenge. It took us about an hour since some of us are not familiar with such terrain. There were ropes along the way for support where necessary. Slow and steady, you'll definitely arrive in no time!
The North summit had a viewing deck with a nice view of Kluang. There were also signboards to celebrate your achievement. There is also a shelter at the summit if you need a break from the sun or for lunch.
Trek up Gunung Lambak (North Peak) Hiking up Gunung Lambak Viewing deck at Gunung Lambak (North Peak) View from Gunung Lambak (North Peak)
Lambak Summit (South)
At one of the crossroads, we made an impromptu decision to head up to the south summit as well. We knew it would be mostly trees without a view, but we wanted to once again challenge ourselves. The climb to the south summit was shorter, but way steeper. It actually took us 15-20 mins to arrive at the top.
Cross-roads between Gunung Lambak North and South
It was then when we noticed the rain coming. For the past two times I've been to Lambak, it rained. Like any other hiking trips, don't forget your rain jacket!
The Descent
We wanted to go with the gentler route when descending as suggested by the locals, but after our impromptu hike to the south summit, we just followed the signs and our offline map. The rain also slowed us down as the route got slippery. Remember to cater for some buffer time if you're hiking during the monsoon! Thankfully, the rain was sporadic and we were not rained on the entire time.
When we arrived at the mid-trail checkpoint, we took the "water route" which goes by the stream and mini waterfall, as recommended by the locals. It was a nice trek down with steps and handles.
Mini waterfall while descending gunung lambak Basin / Waterpoint? while descending More waterfalls Iconic red chair near the start of the trail
The wildlife we saw
What I enjoy about Malaysia's mountains is the vast amount of nature you get to see, especially if you stop to observe and enjoy. The locals we met almost bumped into an elephant once while hiking! We were lucky to spot some cute wild mushrooms, millipedes, and a troop of Raffles Banded Langurs.
My thoughts
Overall, it was a really simple hike and perfect for beginners who want a sweet challenge. Although it was short, my sisters felt a sense of accomplishment summiting the mountain and overcoming the rain. I'd highly recommend Gunung Lambak, especially since it's a stone's throw away from Johor Bahru, and the variety of good malaysian food you get to enjoy in Kluang after the trail.
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