Gunung Panti, Kota Tinggi Waterfall & More (Malaysia)

Posted on July 24, 2012 by atticus

Introduction

After our recent Kluang, Gunung Belumut & Gunung Lambak trip, we are headed to the Kota Tinggi area in Johor this time.

Our plan for the day trip included the following:

Gunung Panti
Kota Tinggi Waterfall
Taman Buaya or Crocodile Farm
Seafood Dinner
Firefly Boat Ride

It might seem like a lot of activities for one day but as all the sights were nearby and we had a vehicle at our disposal, we were able to move at a rather leisurely pace.

Gunung Panti, of course, was the key attraction for us.

We brought along a GPS receiver and managed to track the route and waypoints shown below. If you would like a copy of the file in Garmin GDB format, just post a comment and I will send the download link to your email.

Gunung Panti

A chartered coach picked us up at 630am in Singapore and we arrived at Kota Tinggi Waterfall resort around 900am where we met our guide. Officially, we are required to obtain climbing permits and we did so through the guide. However, we didn’t get to see the permits and there was nobody at the mountain performing any checks.

As can be seen from the map, the start of the hike was actually a few kilometers before Kota Tinggi resort. The entrance is a small side road with no obvious signs as shown in the following photos.

Off we go.

It was raining the days before and the path was muddy with puddles of water.

This is as far as a vehicle can go in through the side road.

We carefully balanced ourselves on the logs as we did not want to get our shoes wet.

The slopes are gentle and it seemed like an easy hike.

Until we realised how much infested with leeches was the mountain. The leeches at Gunung Panti were rather incredible creatures that crawled their way up our shoes and through our socks. After taking a bite of you, they clung on to you and even if you managed to remove them, you left a gushing wound. Hirudin and other chemicals secreted from the leech reduces surface tension and prevents quick clotting of the blood. Read all about the amazing leech at Wikipedia.

Not wanting to linger at any spot for too long, we quicken our pace.

The final stretch before the summit was an almost vertical wall where we had to climb up with the help of ropes.

Finally, we reached the summit of Gunung Panti at 519m. It took us about 2 hours.

We checked our wounds. The winner went to BN who came in bermudas and sandals. The leeches inflicted more than 10 wounds on him.

As we descended, it started raining. The trek became a stream of muddy waters.

We were aching from the hike, wet from the rain and wounded from the leeches. But all was great fun and we were in high spirit! Okay, for me at least. 🙂

Kota Tinggi Waterfall

Since we were at Kota Tinggi Waterfall resort, we paid it a visit.

We dipped in the waters for a while and washed up. Some of us discovered more leech bites on our bodies. My count was seven.

Taman Buaya

Next, we visited a Crocodile Farm at Telok Sengat.

One can purchase chicken to feed the crocodiles.

155 year old crocodile. Notice that it has no teeth. I think it’s blind as well.

Obese or pregnant?

We happened to be there during feeding time.

Seafood Dinner

We had a sumptuous dinner at Sengat Seafood Restaurant located by the Johor river.

The resident cat looked at us with appealing (or threatening) eyes during dinner. Its efforts were not wasted.

Some photographs taken near the Johor river.

Firefly Tour

The finale for the day was a boat ride along Johor river near Kota Tinggi town to see the fireflies.

Thanks to Bob for the trip planning and G for the contact of the guide!

76 thoughts on “Gunung Panti, Kota Tinggi Waterfall & More (Malaysia)”

Zara AB on July 28, 2012 at 8:18 am said:

My in laws were in Kota Tinggi but i havent got the chance to do as what you did. My frequent trip was normally to Tanjung Balau and Pasir Gudang. Will definitely slot this in my next ‘balik kampung’ trip.
atticus on July 28, 2012 at 9:23 am said:

Hi Zara,

Nice blog you have with great pictures!

I haven’t came across Tanjung Balau before, would read up on it.
Serene on September 12, 2012 at 2:29 pm said:

Hi,

looks a nice trip. Just wondering whether you took a guide with you when you trekked to the summit. I’m thinking of going with a few friends but none of us have been there before. Do you think its ok if we were to go without a guide?

Thanks!
Serene
atticus on September 16, 2012 at 10:04 pm said:

Hi Serene,

We took a guide with us and paid the permits.

As mentioned, the guide didn’t show us the permits and there were no checks. Even though the route is mostly straightforward, the guide told us that hikers did lost their way before.

I think it’s best you hire a guide. If not, at least bring along a GPS receiver and get the route from me.
Serene on September 17, 2012 at 1:51 pm said:

Hi Atticus,

Thanks for the reply. Could you give me the contact details of the guide or information on where I could get the guide?

Thank you!
Serene
Val on November 19, 2012 at 12:48 am said:

Hi,

Nice day trip you had. I would like to the same. May I ask for waypoints file?

Best Regards,
Val
atticus on November 19, 2012 at 12:15 pm said:

Hi Val,

Link sent to you.
Baby Ruth on January 7, 2013 at 3:05 pm said:

Hi, is it possible to get the route you took as well? how much did you pay for the guide? Is there a place to pitch a tent there?

Thank you!
Baby Ruth
atticus on January 7, 2013 at 3:56 pm said:

Hi Baby Ruth,

Route is sent to your email.

The fees depend on the number of pax you have. It’s better you contact the guide I have listed to have a feel of the price.

There is some flat ground on the summit and I saw some hikers carrying camping equipment. So I believe you would be able to pitch a tent. But do check with the guide for confirmation.

🙂
bertille on May 6, 2013 at 12:58 pm said:

Hi,
Thanks for sharing your trip to Gunung Panti. Could you please send me a copy of your Garmin file?
Cheers,
bertille
atticus on May 6, 2013 at 5:03 pm said:

Hi Bertille,

Link sent to your email. Have a great trip! 🙂
raymond on June 18, 2013 at 12:51 pm said:

Hi Atticus,

I am interested in planning a trip for my colleagues and I as well but I am unsure of the packing list or guides. Did you stay over during your trip last year?
sally lee on July 6, 2013 at 9:40 pm said:

Three weeks ago we wanted to go gunung panti…. from singapore.
we found that waterfall…. but can’t find the enterance. … end up. .. we go to other mountain nearby….please advice me…. thank…
atticus on July 6, 2013 at 9:55 pm said:

Hi Sally,

Heading towards the waterfall resort, the side road to the mountain is a few kilometers before that on the right. There are no obvious signs as you can see from my photos. The trek at the start is also not that straightforward so I think it’s better you get a guide. Or at the very least, please get the GPS tracks from me.
Lee Palmer on July 19, 2013 at 4:10 pm said:

please send me your GPS files and the tariff for the guide, many thanks
Lee
atticus on July 19, 2013 at 11:24 pm said:

Hi Lee,

Link sent to your email.
Eddie on August 11, 2013 at 3:53 am said:

Pls send me a copy of your track file. Thanks
atticus on August 11, 2013 at 10:53 pm said:

Hi Eddie,

Link sent to your email.
Jia Ping on August 16, 2013 at 12:44 pm said:

please send me your GPS files and the tariff for the guide, thank you very much
Jia Ping on August 16, 2013 at 12:52 pm said:

hi, nice to meet you. Nice blog you have with great pictures! thank you for ur sharing. tomorrow, i m going this trip with my friend, any advise for us? Hopefully everything get smooth in this “month”. thks
atticus on August 16, 2013 at 2:21 pm said:

Hi Jia Ping,

Download link is sent to your email. For guide fees, please contact the guide directly.

Do wear proper gears to protect yourselves against the leeches.

And have fun! 🙂
Joachim on September 25, 2013 at 12:02 pm said:

hi atticus, do you mind sending me the gps location for gunung panti
atticus on September 25, 2013 at 5:57 pm said:

Hi Joachim,

Link sent to your email. Have a great trip! 🙂
Joachim on September 27, 2013 at 4:33 pm said:

Hi atticus, was wondering if you had to inform any authorities before trekking in gunung panti? and if there is a need to, other than where could you get a permit to trek there?
atticus on September 27, 2013 at 4:42 pm said:

Hi Joachim,

Officially you need a permit which we had as we used a trekking company.
Joachim on September 27, 2013 at 4:59 pm said:

thanks for the quick reply, do you mind giving me the contact details of the company?
atticus on September 27, 2013 at 5:14 pm said:

Please refer to one my of earlier replies, the contact is there.
Tan Wan Yi on December 5, 2013 at 8:38 pm said:

Hi, would appreciate if you could provide us with the GPS file. Thank you!:DDDD
Ujang on December 9, 2013 at 4:40 am said:

Hii Atticus,welll nice blog post here,i wish you can send me a track log of this track,interested to explorer it TQVM

TQ in advanced
Regards From Me
atticus on December 10, 2013 at 1:03 pm said:

Hi,

Link sent, have fun!
Mel on January 2, 2014 at 2:56 pm said:

Hi Atticus, thanks for sharing! I can’t seem to find the contact details for your guide in this website.. Do you mind sending it to me pls? Thank you!
nurami on October 5, 2014 at 3:31 am said:

can you please send it to me 🙂
Low Yew Huat on October 26, 2014 at 4:42 pm said:

Ni, t
Thanks for sfaring your trekking trip.
Would like to have your GPS files.
Q on December 11, 2014 at 2:54 pm said:

Pls send me a copy of your track file. Thanks
atticus on December 12, 2014 at 12:36 pm said:

Hi Q,

Have sent you the link. 🙂
kenny kwan on December 26, 2014 at 10:23 pm said:

Do you still have the coordinates? I wish to give it a hike but not sure there is the starting point. Thanks in advance!
atticus on January 6, 2015 at 6:16 pm said:

Hi Kenny,

Sent you via email.
Alex on January 18, 2015 at 6:14 pm said:

Hi Atticus, great blog post!

Would appreciate it if you could send GPS co-ordinates and guide contact info.

Alex.
atticus on January 24, 2015 at 6:46 am said:

Hi Alex,

Link sent.
s h quek on February 23, 2015 at 11:09 pm said:

hello, great travel blog 🙂 appreciate if you can send me the guide info and gps coordination. tq so much!
Jacq on March 19, 2015 at 10:54 am said:

hi!

nice blog!
would you send me the links as well?

cheers!
Viyan on April 16, 2015 at 5:00 pm said:

Hi,
Thanks for sharing!
I intended to hike this mountain. Please send me the links and information needed.

Viyan.
Garry on May 1, 2015 at 10:15 am said:

Hello, could you kindly send the file to me please? your GPS coordinates and also contact numbers for the guide… appreciate it lots! Thank you!
Mike on May 1, 2015 at 8:55 pm said:

Hi,appreciate it if you could send GPS co-ordinates and guide contact info.
Thank you very much!
wann on May 10, 2015 at 11:09 am said:

Hi atticuse,

Please share your GPS file. Thank you.

Wann
Michael on May 28, 2015 at 11:10 pm said:

Hi Atticus,

Inspiring journey! Planning a hike there over the weekend, mind sharing your GPS route with me as well?

Thank you in advance and wish you all the best!

Michael
atticus on June 23, 2015 at 5:12 pm said:

Hi all,

If you need help arranging a mountain guide, permit and transport, please contact http://iwannatravel.com.sg. Thanks.
Nurul on August 26, 2015 at 8:31 am said:

Hi, nice travel blog. Plan to go there this weekend. Really appreciate if you can send me the guide info and GPS coordinate. TQ so much!
maria on September 30, 2015 at 11:32 am said:

Hi !
Can i have the contact no of guide ? I’m doing a project under university and it’s quite safe if we just go without guide
atticus on November 18, 2015 at 8:41 am said:

Replied via emails. 🙂

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Gunung Panti, Kota Tinggi Waterfall & More (Malaysia)

76 thoughts on “Gunung Panti, Kota Tinggi Waterfall & More (Malaysia)”

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