Mount Santubong rises sharply out of the coastline near Kuching, visible for miles out to sea, and Sarawak folklore has never been short of stories to explain its dramatic shape. The most common version tells of two celestial princesses, Puteri Santubong and Puteri Sejinjang, who quarrelled fiercely over a suitor and, in the chaos of their fight, were turned to stone by the gods — becoming the mountains that still stand near Kuching today.
Beyond the legend, Santubong is a serious hike for anyone reasonably fit: a steep trail through rainforest and root systems climbs roughly 810 metres to the peak, rewarding climbers with sweeping views over the South China Sea and the Salak River delta below. It's usually done as a demanding half-day trip rather than a casual stroll.
At its base, the Sarawak Cultural Village and Damai's beaches make the wider Santubong peninsula an easy day trip from Kuching even without the climb — but for anyone who does make the summit, it's easy to see why a mountain this striking earned itself a legend.