The area's highest peak
A forested mountain above the sea.
© 2005 Matthew Anderson Lockhart — CC BY-SA 2.5 · Cerevisae — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Bernard DUPONT from FRANCE — CC BY-SA 2.0 · Bernard DUPONT from FRANCE — CC BY-SA 2.0
The highest peak around Kuching, a rainforest-clad mountain rising above the Damai Peninsula and the sea about thirty kilometres north of the city, visible from far away. Its name is said to come from an Iban word meaning coffin. Climbing to the top is a real adventure, not a stroll: a steep path through the forest, with ropes and wooden ladders for scrambling up rocks in the upper stretches, taking several hours up and down and good fitness. The summit gives a wide view over the sea and the Kuching Wetlands. For something gentler, shorter trails on the lower slopes lead to small waterfalls. The mountain lies within Santubong National Park, which charges Sarawak's national park fee of about twenty ringgit for foreign adults, with registration at the ranger post before setting out. Start early in the morning, carry plenty of water, good walking shoes and gloves for the ropes, and do not climb in the rain, when the rocks turn slippery. After the descent, Damai beach and the Cultural Village are minutes away for a rest.
A forested mountain above the sea.
Real scrambling in the upper stretches.
The sea and the Kuching Wetlands.
Santubong National Park, Damai Peninsula, about 30 km north of Kuching
The summit climb does not suit beginners or anyone afraid of heights: it is steep, with ropes and ladders. The short trails to the waterfalls on the lower slopes suit almost everyone.
