{"id":14834,"date":"2024-11-23T12:31:26","date_gmt":"2024-11-23T04:31:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mysabah.com\/wordpress\/?p=14834"},"modified":"2025-07-05T23:43:38","modified_gmt":"2025-07-05T15:43:38","slug":"mount-minodtuhan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mysabah.com\/wordpress\/mount-minodtuhan\/","title":{"rendered":"Climbing Mount Minodtuhan, the 8th Highest Mountain of Malaysia"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Ever wondered what it’s like to climb a misty, moss-covered mountain in the clouds? Mount Minodtuhan (Local Name: Gunung Minodtuhan), Malaysia\u2019s eighth-highest peak, offers just that\u2014without the noisy crowds. Starting from the lesser-explored northwest side of Kinabalu Park, you\u2019ll follow an undulating trail that transitions from lush rainforest to an enchanting mossy forest above 1,800 metres. Here, fog swirls around ancient trees, creating a scene straight out of a fairytale.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Mossy<\/a>
Mossy montane forest near the peak of Mount Minodtuhan<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Standing at 2,360 metres (7,743 feet), Mount Minodtuhan even surpasses Peninsular Malaysia’s tallest peak, Gunung Tahan (2,187 metres).<\/strong> While Mount Minodtuhan may not be as famous as Mount Kinabalu, this climb is a reminder that, as they say, \u201cIt\u2019s not the height of the mountain, but the depth of the experience.\u201d The journey from Sayap Substation in Kota Belud unveils Borneo\u2019s highlands at their most pristine, untouched, and unforgettable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Aerial<\/a>
Aerial photo of Mount Mindotuhan on the north side of Mount Kinabalu. Thank you, Leon from Sesat in Malaysia, for sharing this picture. Please check out his Instagram<\/a> and Facebook<\/a> for more amazing photos.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Due to a past landslide, it is named “Minodtuhan,” which means “landslide” in the Dusun language. However, a geology journal suggests it means “Sunken Valley,” describing a deep valley likely formed along a crack or break in the Earth’s crust.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

About The Climb<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I bet you\u2019re wondering if Mount Minodtuhan is easy to conquer. As a middle-aged guy who jogs three times a week, I\u2019d rate the climb as intermediate in difficulty (5.5 out of 10)<\/strong>. If you exercise regularly and are used to walking on hilly terrain, you can tackle it in most cases. However, I wouldn\u2019t recommend Minodtuhan to beginners or couch potatoes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Left:<\/a>
Left: The super-green Montane forest on Mount Minodtuhan. Right: summit marker on the peak of Mount Minodtuhan (Translation: Peak of Mount Minodtuhan, 2,360 Metres above sea level)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

This trail is known for its varying inclines, challenging you with a mix of steep slopes and flatter paths all the way to the summit. The climb begins at Sayap Substation, one of the substations of Kinabalu Park in the Kota Belud district. The summit trail from the substation to the peak is 6 km one way<\/strong> (you will descend via the same trail). Typically, it takes normal climbers 4 to 6 hours to reach the top.<\/strong> If you descend at 10 a.m., you can expect to be back at the substation by around 2:30 p.m.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Left:<\/a>
Left: camping at Sayap Substation (Kinabalu Park). Right: group photo in the middle of summit trail<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

However, sometimes climbers overstretch themselves and become too exhausted, returning to the substation as late as 8 p.m. or later. Please note there is an additional charge of RM15 per hour if you don’t reach the camp by 5 p.m.<\/strong>, as one or two guides must accompany you for the overtime. Again, I strongly advise you to train before attempting the climb.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Left:<\/a>
Left: You’ll use a lot of rope for climbing, so wearing gloves is advisable. Right: Anti-leech socks can help prevent bites\u2014unless you\u2019re okay with donating some blood like this guy!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

And oh yes, there are blood-sucking leeches (Local Name: pacat<\/em>). Thankfully, there weren\u2019t many during my climb, so I didn\u2019t even bother wearing my anti-leech socks. I only sprayed some anti-leech liquid on my shoes and managed to avoid a single leech bite.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Climbing Mount Minodtuhan<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Here\u2019s a walk-through of my climb so you\u2019ll know what to expect. I camped at Sayap Substation with others so I could start climbing early in the morning. After breakfast and a briefing by the mountain guides (or rangers), we began the climb at 4:24 a.m. It took me 4 hours and 40 minutes to reach the peak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n