Mount Singai
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There is a different kind of quiet at Mount Singai. Not the empty kind, but the kind where your shoes hit wooden steps, the forest gets cooler, and everyone suddenly talks softer.
Source: DayakDaily / Nancy Nais file photo
Source: DayakDaily / CMPC
Source: Trip.com traveller photo
Source: Trip.com traveller photo
Source: Wikiloc trail photoI like Mount Singai because it is not just another “go up, take photo, come down” hill. The first part feels like a pilgrimage walk: wooden stairs, shaded forest, and the 14 Stations of the Cross leading up toward the Catholic Memorial and Pilgrimage Centre. DayakDaily describes the CMPC as sitting halfway up the green slope, and notes that this first section usually takes around 30 to 40 minutes.
After that, the mood changes. The summit trail is more raw, with roots, ropes, and steeper sections. Wanderlog’s review summary puts it quite honestly: safe and straightforward, but still sweaty enough to feel earned. One recent reviewer said the church section is mostly wooden staircase, then the jungle trail begins around Station 13, with ropes helping on the steeper parts.
Trip.com reviews also point out the same thing: Mount Singai is beautiful, but it is a proper stamina check. One visitor called it a church prayer mountain, then said the last stretch through the forest can take at least 70 minutes from the midway area. So yes, this one looks peaceful in photos, but your legs will know.
What makes the climb special is the mix of nature and local story. DayakDaily’s biodiversity feature says Mount Singai has more than 1,178 recorded plant species and over 50 macrofungi species. That explains why the forest feels so alive even before you reach any viewpoint. Tatknows adds the practical local detail: it is less than an hour from Kuching, the church section has proper stairs, and the peak trail can take another 1 to 2 hours depending on pace.
Useful info:
- Location: Jalan Singai area, around the Bau side of Greater Kuching
- Best time: early morning, especially if you want cooler weather and clearer views
- Cost: generally treated as free entry by visitor guides, but bring small cash just in case parking or local upkeep arrangements change
- Time needed: about 30-40 minutes to CMPC, then roughly 1-2 hours more if continuing to the summit
- Bring: water, proper shoes, mosquito repellent, small towel, and a dry shirt
- Note: after rain, the trail can get slippery, so do not force the summit if the weather turns bad
My honest take: go for the church and forest even if you are not planning to summit. But if you do push to the top, start early, go slow, and do not leave rubbish behind. Kuching people, siapa pernah naik sampai puncak? Was it harder than expected or okay saja?
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