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The weather in Sabah is tropical and whilst downpours can happen at any time of the year or the day, your climb is timed to make the most of the driest part of the day. Summit trail closures happen on average 15 to 20 times per year with most closures taking place in January, July, August and December, outside of these months summit closures are rare but can happen.
** Sabah Parks Rangers will close the summit trail if they deem it too dangerous. In the event that the weather is not at its best and the trail is closed we will unfortunately not be able to offer any refund as the money you have paid has gone towards your climbing permits, accommodation, meals, guide, insurance and transfers, all of which are non-refundable. |
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Packing list
A sleeping bag is not required as blankets are provided at Laban Rata and sleeping bags are provided at Pendant Hut. Please read the luggage & porter section for details of what to do with your main luggage during the climb. |
Clothing tipsThe temperature at Timpohon gate where you will begin your climb is usually around 18 to 24 degrees and most climbers begin their climb in shorts & T-shirt. You will be sleeping at over 3000m asl and the temperature at the accommodation is usually around 8 to 12 degrees so you will want trousers, jumper / sweatshirt or fleece plus windbreaker. At the summit you can expect temperatures as low as -3 to 5 degrees with an additional windchill factor: hat, scarf & gloves highly recommended! |
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Laban Rata
DORMITORIES
PRIVATE ROOMS
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DORMITORIES
PRIVATE ROOMS
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All transport for our Mount Kinabalu packages is provided on a join-in basis with other River Junkie climbers unless otherwise arranged.
Kota Kinabalu to Mount Kinabalu Your River Junkie driver will pick you up from your hotel in Kota Kinabalu between 06.15 - 06.50am depending on location and the estimated arrival time at Kinabalu Park is 08.30 - 9am. Following registration at Park Headquarters, you will meet your guide and depart to Timpohon gate to begin your climb. Mount Kinabalu to Kota Kinabalu The departure time from Kinabalu Park is dependent on climbers descent time, our first van will depart by 3 - 3.30pm (often earlier) whilst the last van will depart by 7pm or after the last climbers arrive (if before 7pm). If you need to transfer back after 7pm an unscheduled transfer fee of RM300 per van applies. |
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LUGGAGE STORAGE
During your climb you can store your luggage at Kinabalu park headquarters for RM12 per bag per night (any size), alternatively if you book the same hotel in Kota Kinabalu before and after your climb they may store your luggage whilst you are at the mountain. PORTER FEES Your overnight bag should contain the essential items listed on our packing list but try to avoid over-packing, it should not weigh more than 7kg including water. If you are concerned about carrying your overnight bag during the climb then you can engage the services of a porter on arrival at Kinabalu Park, the rate is RM130 for up to 10kg and can be paid cash on the day. During your summit attempt you can leave some items at your accommodation if you prefer and collect them when you return for breakfast. GUIDE SERVICES All climbers ascending Mount Kinabalu are required to be accompanied by an accredited Mount Kinabalu guide. A guide may have a maximum of 5 adults in their group. If there are any climbers under the age of 16 in your group then please inform us at the time of booking as additional guides may be required. For groups with children under 16, the maximum ratios according to Sabah Parks regulations are: 1 guide = 1 adult & 2 children under 16 1 guide = 2 adults & 1 child under 16 If you are a family of 2 adults and 2 children under 16 then you will require 2 guides and additional guide fees are applicable. |
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If you are choosing to add a Via Ferrata activity onto your Mount Kinabalu climb then please remember that this will lengthen the time it takes you to get back to Park Headquarters at the end of your climb. For Walk the Torq please allow an additional 1.5 - 3 hours and for Low's Peak Circuit an additional 3 - 5 hours. To help you prepare for this:
Packing for the via Ferrata - please see the "Packing List" above and take note of the following:
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1. Browse our Mount Kinabalu packages to choose your preferred itinerary
2. Decide on your preferred climbing dates 3. Send us an email enquiry to check availability 4. Pay a 25% deposit to secure your spaces (or full payment if within 45 days) 5. Submit all climber details & your hotel details for pick up / drop off 6. Pay your package balance 45 days prior to climbing 7. Refer to the above "Packing List" to prepare for your climb 8. Get ready to summit Malaysia's highest mountain! |
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Welcome to Kinabalu Park, a UNESCO world heritage site! Upon arrival at Mount Kinabalu National Park, our driver will assist you to register for your climb, you will be issued a climber ID tag by Sabah Parks which you need to wear at all times whilst on the trail. Your driver or guide will also pass you your packed lunch for the day, so make sure that you save a little space in your bag for this. If you are travelling with any extra bags you don't need for the climb, luggage storage is available at park headquarters for RM12 per bag (any size). Porter services are also available at RM130 for 10kg.
For registration, don't forget to bring:
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Laban Rata and Pendant hut, the two Mount Kinabalu accommodations used during our climbs, are located at 3280m asl in an area known as Panalaban. The climb from Timpohon Gate to your accommodation isn't technical and you don't need any prior experience of climbing but a decent level of fitness and doing regular exercise prior to your climb will definitely come in handy. The total trail length from Timpohon Gate to Panalaban is "only" 6km but with an elevation gain of around 1400m, you will feel all 6 of those kilometres! Numerous steps have been carved into the trail to help you ascend and whole staircases have even been built over steeper sections. Short sections of gentle uphill dirt paths will give you some relief from the steps and provide an opportunity to catch your breath as the air starts to thin at higher altitudes.
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There are a number of shelters along the trail up to Panalaban, typically your guide will aim to arrive at Layang-Layang shelter, (4km from Timpohon Gate and 2700m asl) by 1pm. You'll then have a break and enjoy your packed lunch before the trail gets even steeper on the final 2km up to Laban Rata Resthouse.
Take your time on the way up and watch as the vegetation changes from beautiful lowland rainforest into montane forest, cloud forest and finally subalpine meadows as you reach Panalaban. Keep an eye out for some of Mount Kinabalu's iconic mountain shrews, pitcher plants and rhododendrons. GOOD TO KNOW Reasonably fit climbers can expect to reach Panalaban by 3pm whereas slower climbers may not arrive until a couple of hours later. Climbers who have booked a climb with Via Ferrata must arrive at Pendant hut by 3.30pm or they will miss the via ferrata briefing and will not be permitted to join the via ferrata the following day. The water on the trail up to Laban Rata is untreated and we don't recommend drinking it. Make sure you bring enough water (min 2L) for the 6km / 4 - 5 hour hike, you can then buy water refills on arrival at the accommodation. |
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Estimated timings for day 1
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After anywhere from 4 to 6 hours hiking you will reach Panalaban and be greeted by the iconic Panalaban sign, background to many a Mount Kinabalu photo. You are then only a few more steps away from Laban Rata and one last staircase from Pendant Hut.
On arrival, your guide will take you to your accommodation and help you to find your bed for the night. The majority of climbers staying at Laban Rata and Pendant hut will be sleeping in communal dorm rooms with shared bathrooms, only very limited private rooms are available and these must be pre-booked together with your climbing package. All dorm rooms are unheated but blankets (Laban Rata) or sleeping bags (Pendant hut) are provided so you don't need to worry about bringing bedding, pack as light as possible. Showers are available at both accommodations but are solar heated, depending on the weather and how late you arrive, the water may be very cold. Pendant Hut offers free water refills and free hot drinks whilst these are both available to purchase at Laban Rata. |
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Laban Rata restaurant
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A buffet dinner is served for all climbers from 5pm to 7pm at Laban Rata Resthouse restaurant and you can watch the sun set above the clouds from the balcony at Laban Rata. After dinner, get an early night and as much rest as you can before your summit attempt the following day.
Electricity is provided by a generator which operates from 5pm - 8pm & 1am - 3am. You will need a head torch outside of these hours as well as for your summit climb. You will be returning to your accommodation after your summit attempt the following day and are welcome to leave any bags or items you don't want to take to the summit in your rooms at the accommodation. |
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After a few hours rest and a quick bite to eat, join your guide at 2am - 2.30am to begin your ascent to Low's Peak (4095m asl) via the new Ranau trail. Parts of the previous summit trail were destroyed in the 2015 earthquake and the new trail starts from a gate directly behind Pendant Hut. In case of high winds and/or heavy rain, park officials may deem the summit trail too dangerous and keep the gate locked. Your climb is timed to make the most of the good weather but in the event that the summit trail and/or via ferrata are cancelled, no refunds will be available.
Once climbers leave the accommodation, a steady stream of lights can be seen winding up the steep rock face towards Sayat-Sayat checkpoint, the last shelter on the way to the summit. It's only 2.7km from the summit trail gate to the summit but the thin air and 800m elevation gain coupled with over 100 staircases in the first section of the summit climb makes for a tough start to the day. |
One of the many staircases on the Ranau trail to Low's Peak
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After the first 700m, the steps give way to smooth stretches of granite, a guide rope is there to help you and can be extremely useful during the steeper sections where you will find yourself scrambling uphill in often slippery conditions. Around 1 to 1.5 hours after leaving your accommodation you will reach Sayat-Sayat checkpoint, here park officials will check your climber ID before allowing you to continue onwards towards Low's Peak.
As you make your way in the dark towards the summit of Mount Kinabalu, 8.5km from where you started your climb at Timpohon Gate, you will start to see the first glimmer of sunrise. Push on to Low's Peak and sit back and enjoy one of the finest views Borneo has to offer! |
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Estimated timing for day 2:
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Via Ferrata participants will need to leave Low's Peak by 6.15am to ensure they arrive at the start point of the Via Ferrata by the following times:
Please refer to the "Important notes for Via Ferrata climbers above to ensure you have packed everything you will need, including plenty of snacks, you may not be back at the accommodation for breakfast / brunch until 12pm. |
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The final leg of your Mount Kinabalu climb will see you return to Timpohon Gate via the same trail you ascended on the day before. Whilst your lungs may no longer be screaming, it won't be long until your legs start to feel the the pressure of the descent. We strongly recommend renting or bringing trekking poles to help steady yourself during the descent, poles can be rented at park HQ for RM15 per pole. Sometimes your guide will be able to source poles at Laban Rata but it's best to bring them from the bottom if you definitely need them.
Typically climbers doing the standard climb will arrive back at Timpohon Gate around 2pm, have lunch in the park and then leave for Kota Kinabalu around 3pm. Climbers doing the Via Ferrata may not arrive back at Timpohon Gate until between 3pm and 5pm and will join a later transfer. Please refer to your itinerary and transportation information above for transfer times. |
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The Flora & Fauna of Mount KinabaluMount Kinabalu is one of the most important biological sites on the planet. Because of its elevation and location on the tropical island of Borneo, it has a wide range of habitats, from rich tropical lowland and hill rainforest to tropical montane forest, subalpine forest and subalpine scrub at the higher elevations.
Climbers can observe multiple habitats in one day, making the climb as suitable for avid naturalists as it is for adventure seekers. |
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Recent biological studies have found up to 6,000 species of plants on the mountain, more than all the plant species in North America and Europe combined. There are up to 866 orchid species, 609 species of fern, 63 species of oak and chestnut and 14 pitcher plant species just to name a few.
This great variety of plant life is home to an abundance of very interesting animal life. Seeing wildlife here is not like other parts of Sabah, mostly because the larger animals are much more rare on the mountain. So it’s a matter of keeping an eye out for smaller creature such as birds, small mammals, reptiles, amphibians and insects. There are up to 1000 moth species, 625 butterfly species, 326 bird species, more than 100 mammal species, 67 species of snakes and so much more. |
Culture surrounding the mountainMount Kinabalu is considered a very sacred mountain and is hugely important place spiritually and symbolically for many indigenous people of Sabah, especially for the Dusun, Kadazan and Murut tribes. It is believed that once you pass into the afterlife your soul must journey to mount kinabalu where your soul can than live peacefully for eternity.
Many believe that this is the reason the name of the mountain is Kinabalu, which is derived from the Dusun word for “resting place of the dead.” Traditionally, there would be long ceremonies held after a death, in order to help guide the spirit to Mount Kinabalu, to make sure they managed to climb the steep slopes and cross the rivers (in some stories it is a lake) that flowed over the granite cliffs. There is evidence that they would break things such as knives and other useful objects so that the deceased could find them whole on their arrival to the slopes of the mountain. Once the deceased reached the top of the mountain, they are said to have lived there peacefully in everlasting life in a place that looked like their traditional land, with family and friends and cattle and pigs. |
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It wasn’t until 1851 that Sir Hugh Low, an English government officer working in Labuan, made the first recorded ascent to Mount Kinabalu's summit plateau. he didn't reach the highest peak on this expedition but it still later ironically became known as Low's Peak. The highest point of Mount Kinabalu was reached in 1888 by a zoologist named John Whitehead. Many early climbers had reported that to appease the spirits of the mountain and ancestral spirits who live there, that their guides would perform ceremonies upon reaching the summit. Sir Hugh Low wrote that his guide carried an assortment of charms, pieces of wood, human teeth and other things up to the summit. Others wrote that eggs and chickens were sacrificed and other reported that much of this was done with load prayers, banging of gongs and sometimes gunshots. Now days, a ceremony is conducted annually by the Parks officials, guides and porters. Also, before each climb, many of the guides will ask for permission and say a little pray before they begin. |
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