Start: Kinabalu Park HQ (about 2 hrs from Kota Kinabalu)
End: Same as beginning
Time: 2 days
When to go: Year round
Nearest airport: Kota Kinabalu
Highlights
Get to top of Borneo and Malayasia on this physically demanding trek to Mount Kinabalu, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is the 20th most prominent peak on earth with prominence of 4,095m (same as elevation). At the top you can witness a spectacular sunrise and panoramic views of the surrounding mountains and landscapes, it is a site to remember. If all this wasn’t enough of a reason, it is also a place to climb the world’s highest via ferrata which is a feat in itself.
Mt. Kinabalu is the tallest peak of Banjaran Crocker Mountains in Malaysia.
Difficulty
Mount Kinabalu trek is a very physically and mentally strenuous. Not only it’s two long days of hiking but you also wont get much sleep to make it more difficult. It’s about 6-7hrs of ascent the first day and additionally 4hrs climb on the second day to the summit. You wake at 2am in the night to start the final climb to the summit on day #2 so that you can see the sun come up. The view is well worth all the hardship. The trail has railing and ropes all the way, making it vert safe to climb even in the dark. There are no significant flat sections in the trail, so the entire trail is about putting one foot in front of the other in a slow grind. The descent from the top also take 6-7hrs. The second day is the hardest with the total of 10-12hrs of hiking and even more demanding if you add the via ferrata into the mix.
For some more adventure there is the world’s highest via ferrata by Mountain Torq. There is an easy and moderate route to choose from. The hard part of these via ferratas is doing them on tired legs after reaching the summit rather than their difficulty grade.
We had booked the harder one but were so tired that we changed our mind and did the shorter and easier via ferrata route. Either route any prior experience, it’s more about how much can you push yourself on one day.
Getting There
It is a guided trek and we used Mountain Torq who can also arrange the via ferrata. Any guide will include transport to and from Kota Kinabalu which makes it a very hassle free experience and you can simply focus on the hike. The ascent and descent are on the same route, starting and ending at Timpohon Gate.
Located at around 3,270 meters, Laban Rata is a resting point for hikers. It offers basic accommodation and serves as a base for the final push to the summit. For those taking the via ferrata, Pendant Hut serves as an accommodation point. It’s perched on the side of the mountain, offering incredible views.
After this hike you will need few days to rest so that your muscles can relax!
Nearby Activities
- Danum Valley with world’s highest concentration of wild orangutans.
- Poring Hot Springs