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I Love SarawakNews · Culture · Land of the Hornbills
Mountains & HighlandsDamai Peninsula

Mount Santubong

The legendary mountain that rises straight out of the South China Sea, ringed by golden beaches.

By · Editor, I Love Sarawak

Facts checked

A rainbow over the beach beneath cloud-capped Mount Santubong
Photo: Hasimmuaddin (CC BY-SA 4.0)

The place

Mount Santubong rises sharply out of the coastline near Kuching to 810 metres, visible for miles out to sea, and Sarawak folklore explains its dramatic shape with the legend of two celestial princesses turned to stone mid-quarrel. Climbing it is a serious undertaking rather than a casual walk — a steep rainforest trail with at least 21 aluminium ladders near the top, where the route turns into something closer to scrambling than hiking.

At its base, the wider Santubong peninsula — the Sarawak Cultural Village, Damai's beaches and resorts — makes an easy day trip even for those giving the summit a miss.

Mount Santubong rising above the river, seen from Santubong Bridge
Photo: Matthew Anderson (CC BY-SA 2.5)
Mount Santubong from the Loba Kara river
Photo: Cerevisae (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Highlights

  1. Sweeping views over the South China Sea and the Salak River delta from the summit
  2. At least 21 aluminium ladder sections near the top of the climb
  3. The legend of Puteri Santubong and Puteri Sejinjang behind the mountain's shape
  4. Damai's beaches and the Sarawak Cultural Village at the mountain's base

Getting there

Ways to reach Mount Santubong, compared
HowFromTakesCosts
DriveKuchingabout 40 minutes—to the trailhead at the Santubong park office

The trailhead is at the Santubong park office, about 40 minutes' drive from Kuching. The climb itself runs roughly 4km one-way — about 2.63km to the F7 checkpoint (around 1.5 hours) and a further 1.31km to the summit (around 2.5 hours) — for a full round trip of about 8 hours including rest stops.

Good to know

  • Never attempt the summit alone — go with at least one other person
  • Bring more water than you think you'll need; there's little shade near the top

Where it is

Map of Sarawak showing the location of Mount Santubong
Mount Santubong — 1.730, 110.335OpenStreetMap ↗Google Maps ↗

Read our stories about Mount Santubong

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Traditional houses around the lake at the Sarawak Cultural Village

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