This is the year you finally tick climbing Mount Kinabalu off your bucket list. Before you embark on your Gunung Kinabalu hiking package, here’s a hiker’s guide to conquering Southeast Asia’s tallest mountain. Your first step of the long walk up Mount Kinabalu begins at Timpohon Gate, located in Kinabalu Park, a two-hour drive from the capital, Kota Kinabalu.
Get there early
A top tip is to check into a Kinabalu Park lodge the day before. This is one of the top luxury resorts in Sabah, located within the UNESCO Heritage Site and offering a network of Kinabalu Park hiking trails right at your doorstep. Many climbers use these trails to acclimatise before their summit climb. Have an early night—you’ll need the rest.
Something for everyone at Kinabalu Park
While you’re on your two-day adventure to Low’s Peak, the rest of the family can relax on these leisurely nature walks in the cool mountain air, enjoy a Kinabalu Park tour, and dine at the amazing Liwagu Restaurant. It’s a win-win family holiday in Sabah for everyone.
3, 2, 1, Go!
On day one of your Mount Kinabalu climb package, your day starts early at the Timpohon Gate. It’s a rush of adrenaline as all the day’s hikers converge at this starting point.
From here, it is an endless stair climb. Pack light, because you will very quickly realise that every gram counts. Bring a jacket and dress in layers. The air this high up is cool and the weather can turn in an instant. Make sure you are wearing comfortable shoes with a strong grip. One step after another. Remember that it isn’t a race but a test of endurance. Your package comes with a packed meal. Take the time to savour this lunch with a view that money can’t buy.
Halfway there
Slowly but surely, you come round the bend and see Laban Rata Resthouse. This marks the end of day one. It is the final rest stop for climbers before the summit. Here above the clouds, Laban Rata is a haven of simple comforts. Sutera Sanctuary Lodges operates the rest house here too, providing three hot meals a day, comfortable and cosy rooms, and best of all, hot showers.
Book early
Buttercup Rooms offer options for two-person or six-person groups with en-suite bathrooms. There are also dorm-style rooms: 64 beds, common bathrooms and a lounge area.
Rooms here book out months in advance, so get your reservations in early. The vibe here is like a friendly hostel: everyone is either resting or getting ready for the next day. Grab a steaming mug of Milo or coffee and head to the long balcony. You are now sitting above the clouds with an unobstructed view of the mountain ridges. You’ve earned it.
Final push
Laban Rata goes to sleep early. It is silent after an early dinner as climbers crawl into their beds or bunks for some hard-earned rest. After all, “breakfast’, or rather supper, is at 2am. The smell of hot coffee and a quick bite helps to wake up weary hikers in the dead of night. There is a flurry of checking packs and headlamps and before long, you start your final trek to Low’s Peak, the roof of Borneo. Breathe in the thin, bitingly cold air, and look up to the pitch dark sky littered with stars. By the end of the day, you will have conquered this mountain.
Mission accomplished
After hopefully catching the sunrise at the mind-blowingly picturesque peak, make your way back down to the comforts of Kinabalu Park. Some choose to stop for a food break at Laban Rata, others just power through.
When you get there, a hot meal and your in-room private jacuzzi awaits to soothe the tired muscles. Relax and celebrate. You did it!
Skip any Kota Kinabalu tour agencies and book your Mount Kinabalu climb package straight from the source at Sutera Sanctuary Lodges.
