Climb to the peak of Kinabalu - 4D3N Borneo adventure
Pre-travel.
Travel guide, permit and date
Mount Kinabalu is a popular tourist spot, so it's important to do your research and book your climb with a reputable agency. It's also recommended to book your spot at least a year in advance, as spots fill up quickly.
The agency I went with - Borneo Calling Tour & Travel Sdn Bhd
Health and wealth
Get in good physical shape before the climb.
Be aware of the symptoms of altitude sickness - always get the altitude sickness pills!
Bring cash, as there are not many ATMs in the area.
Tip your guide. They are friendly and knowledgeable, and they will go out of their way to help you have a safe and enjoyable climb.
Domestic & international traveler tips :
Get your necessary documentation ready at all times in case of any emergencies.
Please respect the locals and their customs.
Remember to say "Hi" to them or "Selamat Sejathera!"
Most places are only accessible by car, use Grab or rent a car.
Travel plan
Day 1 - Settling down
You will land in Kota Kinabalu International Airport.
As you do not have a lot of time, a simple lunch is recommended in the city area.
Afterwards, it will be a 2-3 hours ride to Kundasang, Sabah. This is where you will go through proper registration process for the hike and staying there for a night.
Tip: Buy some packaged bottle from nearby convenient store
While on the way there, make some pit stops to enjoy the area. There are quite a few interesting stops you can make, but here are the ones that I have stopped by.
Tip: The road is rather narrow at some part, so if you are driving, please be careful!
Tip: While you are there, you can check out some of the local pharmacy to buy some medication or essentials. Please remember to get altitude sickness pill as a precaution.
On your first day, you will be guided to complete some important registration form at the park HQ.
To close off the night, get some important rest as you will definitely need it!
Day 2 - The hike begins
Start off your day by having a nice breakfast at one of the resort's dedicated restaurant. It is a nice little local buffet that will give you the necessary energy needed!
Your guide will offer you the necessary guidance on what to do next. Follow the instructions while gathering at the park HQ. Please remember to ensure that the park tags provided to you stay with you at all times! Once you are ready, you will be guided to your starting point.
Usually you will start your journey here at around 0830 - 0900 AM.
It is a very straightforward hike with very visible paths. You will pass by several huts or in local language called "Pondok", this is usually where hikers take a quick break before continuing the journey.
After a few hours of hike, you will arrive at the midpoint.
Tip: Bring your own snacks or soft drinks as it can be pricey at the lodge. And the temperature are night can be very low and very cold, so a warm clothing is highly recommended.
Day 3 - The sunrise
Around 0130 AM, you should be getting ready and have a nice warm breakfast at the lodge before beginning your hiking journey.
Between 0200 AM to 0530 AM, you have to quickly reach the last checkpoint of the hike. As that is the golden period where they allowed you to reach the summit. If you failed to arrive there before 0530 AM (Please check the time again when you are there), you will be denied entry.
From the last checkpoint, you are very close to the peak. But depending on the weather, you may face some challenges. This is the weather during my climb back in September 2022.
Note: Depending on who's in your hiking group and weather condition, the guide will have to make decision to either stop the hike and return back to Laban Rata or continue. As safety is the upmost priorities.
If you have extra time to spare and more energy in you. Take up the challenge to continue forward to the peak. Which is optional, of course!
But keep in mind that, you will only have a short time to spare at the peak. As on the same day, you will need to climb back down back to HQ. For our tour, we have to reach back before 0700 PM to catch a ride back to our hotel in Kota Kinabalu city.
In between, you take your time and have a nice lunch at Laban Rata. But, do keep in mind that depending on the season you are travelling, the weather can change easily!
We stayed our last night at a very nice hotel.
Day 4 - Take it easy and have a safe trip home
Have a good rest on your last day and you can definitely spend some time visit some of the local hotspots.
If you are interested, you can try these out!
Borenos Fried Chicken - Sabah own fast food chain
SupperKedai Makan Islamic Restaurant - Roti cobra
Kedai Kopi Fatt Kee (under Ang’s hotel) - Oyster Sauce Chicken Wings
Kedai Kopi Yuit Cheong - Hainan coffee or Nasi Lemak
October cafe - Bread, desserts and coffee
KK Waterfront - Near the sea with a good view and seafood area
Closing.
Thank you for your taking your time to read through my content. This is my first time writing and sharing what I love to do - trip planning.
I have a complete document for this and if you are interested, you can reach out to me!
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