Facts
- Elevation: 2,081 m (6,827 ft)
- Prominence: 960 m
- Ribu category: Spesial
- Province: Sabah (Malaysia)
- Range: Banjaran Crocker
- Division: Bahagian Pantai Barat and Pedalaman
- Google Earth: kml
- Rating:
- Other names: none.
Bagging It!
Minduk Sirung is the highest peak within the Crocker Range National Park which is the largest Park in Sabah. The Park covers much of the Crocker Range outside of the much more famous Kinabalu National Park. The Park receives only a tiny fraction of visitors compared to neighbouring Kinabalu yet it is very easy to access from Kota Kinabalu. Minduk Sirung is not yet famous, and is not to be confused with Gunung Wakid on the Tambunan side of the range which is considerably lower in elevation and offers a much shorter hike albeit with some views.
One of the most adventurous treks in the Crocker Range Park is the multi-day Salt Trail, which traverses the range, following traditional routes used by villagers from the interior who took their produce to sell at the coast, returning with salt and other items. This includes a suspension bridge and a river crossing and a guide is essential. As with all treks in the Park, the best price you will get is if you book directly with Park staff rather than third parties.
Minduk Sirung is most commonly hiked via Gunung Alab (peak elevation 1,964m) on a 12km trail that leads from Gunung Alab substation to Mahua substation and waterfall. It takes around 90 minutes to reach Gunung Alab from Kota Kinabalu by car. Given that the Gunung Alab trailhead is at an elevation of around 1,800 metres above sea level, the trek can easily be accomplished as a day hike. However, there are camping spots and rest areas along the trail. The finishing point at Mahua waterfall is down at around 1,100 metres so there is actually more down than up (unless you were to hike in the opposite direction).
The Alab office opens at 8am so that is the earliest you can start the hike. This means leaving Kota Kinabalu, if you are staying there, is best done by 6:30am. Encountering leeches is possible though the quantity can depend on the season and recent weather. Much of the trek to the peak is through mossy forest (‘hutan lumut’) and the trail mostly follows the ridge. Orchids and pitcher plants are common here, and you may be lucky enough to encounter the short-lived Rafflesia flower. The name ‘Minduk Sirung’ apparently relates to a traditional hat in the local language, presumably due to the shape of the peak itself. The summit sign states 2,050m and some sources state 2,076m but a local topographic map states 2,081m which fits in reasonably well with satellite data. The peak offer little in the way of distant views and is marked with a simple wooden sign.
From the peak, the trail then drops down considerably, around 1000 metres to the ne of the trek at Mahua. Mahua waterfall is a popular picnic spot for locals from the Tambunan area. There is a toilet block and camping area. Transport can be arranged in advance with Park staff to take you back to the starting point at Gunung Alab. This journey takes around 45 minutes.
Practicalities
- Getting there: For Malaysian domestic flights and flights within Southeast Asia, for example to Kota Kinabalu or Kuching, we recommend Baolau.
- Permits: Required. In 2023, RM150 per day for a guide, RM100 climbing fee for foreigners and RM20 entrance
- Water sources: Currently unknown so take enough bottled water with you.
- Accommodation: Try the Booking.com map above or use this link to search for suitable hotels, homestays, resorts and apartments for your trip.
- We recommend Safety Wing as travel insurance for overseas travellers and tourists hiking up to elevations not exceeding 4500 metres.
Whilst the 2024 trip to Malaysia went well as a whole, things got off to a pretty poor start with a delayed flight from Manchester and a connecting flight full of coughing pilgrims seated such that they surrounded me and almost inevitably transmitted their flu to me. This left me wiped out for the first week after arriving in Malaysia.
The planned Minduk Sirung hike (first on the list for 2024) didn’t happen either so it remains on my list, probably one for 2025. I arrived in Kota Kinabalu, hired a car, and was ready to drive up to Gunung Alab. However, incredibly heavy rainfall (especially in Penampang) meant that the next morning, several roads were submerged so it took a very long time trying to find a passable road to pick up my co-hiker. I had to drive through floodwater next to an overflowing river. An interesting start to the holiday. And once that was done, we got stuck in very bad traffic. And then we got the news that the road up to Gunung Alab had been washed away in one spot, with a photo of a collapsed road sent from staff at Gunung Alab. There was no way we were going to be able to make it up there as the only alternative routes added several hours in both directions.
Pretty bad luck, but much worse for those whose property was flooded. Mahua and Inobong substations were temporarily closed that day too, probably due to fallen trees on the access roads.
Although there are no views from Minduk Sirung, it’s a very prominent and important peak that I hope to visit as soon as conditions allow.
Whilst in Kota Kinabalu I did have a look at some of the small hills dotted around the city. Unfortunately, few have sufficient parking areas (unlessy ou want to leave your car on the verge of a major road), poor maintenance, notable issues with landowners who seem less than enthused with local hikers putting up signs encouraging hikers to visit, and worst of all lots of feral dogs roaming around. UMS Peak may be the exception as it is on or near to university land. I did have an astounding view at sunrise one morning from the Teluk Likas area, the road next to the ocean in Kota Kinabalu which joggers frequent, around 6am, with the immense Gunung Kinabalu towering above, nearly 4100 metres higher than where it was seen from at sea level.
Hiring a car in Kota Kinabalu was easy. Parking in the city was a major pain, except over the weekend when apparently there are no traffic wardens. There is no clear information on how to pay for parking, and for tourists it is even worse than for locals as getting the right information is even more challenging and time-consuming. Next time I will either get a car and driver for the day or else book a hotel nowhere near the congested city centre.
A day-hike with Gunung Bagging to Minduk Sirung will be happening at the start of July 2024. This doesn’t happen often! Places very limited. Please leave a comment and I will send futher details. Dan