 |
| Photo was taken by Zhengyang |
If you are reading this, it means I have marked off one of my bucket list to climb Mt Kinabalu - the highest peak in Borneo!
I went with a group of 12 amazing people on the 16th of March and we landed on this beautiful island to begin our journey conquering the mountain.
Long story short! I will share my experience throughout the whole journey with some useful tips for your future reference. Hope this helps!
Day 1's climb (Kinabalu Park - Timpohon Gate - Laban Rata)
We stayed overnight at Sutera Sanctuary Lodge at Kinabalu Park to prep us before the climb. There are a few lodges and villas available that you can book through their website. We were staying in Nepenthes Suite which is a newly renovated and perfectly fitted for 2 people. Highly recommended for couples or duo travelers.
We had dinner at Liwagu Restaurant - a walking distance of 5 mins from our suite. Due to Covid 19 pandemic, they only serve ala carte menu (no more buffet style), scan code for the menu to order. Overall, the weather was pretty chilly and perfect for a cup of hot tea or coffee!
 |
| Breakfast on their menu at Liwagu Restaurant. We ordered mee siam & dim sum set. Aside from that, it is all complimentary! |
Before heading to Timpohon Gate, you need to pack for your adventure during your stay at Kinabalu Park on that night. We hired a porter to carry our belonging up to Laban Rata, and they will carry down for you (which is RM13/kg). The remaining unnecessary belongings can be parked at Kinabalu Park HQ reception (which is RM12/luggage). DO NOT SAVE A PENNY TO HIRE A PORTER! You want yourself to be as light as possible during your climb up to Laban Rata as the climb took approximately 4-6 hours with 3,272m above sea levels.
The bus will pick you up to HQ reception to register, park your luggage at the reception desk, and sign a declaration/undertaking form. Packed lunch will be provided as your on-the-go lunch and once you pass your belonging to the porter, you are ready to go!
 |
| Day 1: Everyone's fully equipped with lightweight clothing + a good pair of hiking shoes |
These are my recommended packing list for you to take into account (for porter to carry all the way up to Laban Rata):-
1. Windbreaker Jacket with waterproof function
2. Head torch (for night climb)
3. Warmhead / beanie
4. Change of cloths (to wear inside your windbreaker jacket)
5. Thick socks (at least 2 pairs)
6. Waterproof Gloves
7. Pant (Thick trouser)
8. Flip flop (for use in room and bathroom)
9. Extra plastic bag
10. Personal toiletry (avoid packing full-size toiletries)
11. Charges & power bank (electricity only available from 5pm-8pm *shock*)
What is inside my Backpack:
1. Lip Balm
2. Water bladder bag / water bottle
3. Disposable Raincoat (for both day 1 & day 2, if raining)
4. Fleece jacket (for both day 1 & day 2)
5. Small towel (optional)
6. Camera (optional but recommended)
7. Waterproof phone pouch (you can easily get it from online store)
8. Snacks & Food (chocolate, protein bar, banana, apples, biscuit..)
9. CASH (to pay fees, tipping, and whatsoever in Mt Kinabalu)
The bus will drop you off at Timpohon Gate where you will begin your climb at about 930am. We reached Laban Rata around 315pm to check-in, rest, and explore the surroundings (all of the climbers are encouraged to reach at Laban Rata by 4pm, before the sun sets). There are several shelters with squirrels along the trail, steep staircases of gnarled tree roots, birds (which are unafraid of humans), rare flora and fauna, these are all the amazing creatures to capture with your gadgets! 📸
 |
| Stairs once you enter Timpohon Gate. |
 |
| From Timpohon Gate to Laban Rata, you will walk along these serene staircases |
.jpg)
.jpg)
Upon arrival, dinner will be served from 5pm-730pm (roughly) in a buffet style. You will have the rest of your evening to spend in the huts (having your dinner, quick showers, hot tea or coffee, taking photos, charging your gadget and a short nights rest before 2am climb to the peak).
(Bear in mind, there is no hot water/heater to shower so having a quick wet towel to wipe yourself down would do the trick).
The view is just holy-molyyyyyy
 |
| On top of the Totaling to 6km from Tompohon Gate to Laban Rata. |
 |
| The summit view from Laban Rata |
 |
| Spiral staircase at external of our huts |
Day 2's climb (Lows Peak - Descent Mt Kinabalu - Kota Kinabalu)
You will need to be prepared by 2:00am in the morning to catch the sunrise at the Low's Peak (Low's named after Hugh Low) any historical related please refer to other sources haha. We had supper around 1:30am in the huts (do not skip meals because you will need energy to hike for the last 3km to the peak). It took about 3-hours to ascend to the summit.
What should you wear and bring to Low's Peak:
1. T-shirt or Thermal (Baselayer), Fleece jacket (Middle layer), Windbreaker & Waterproof Jacket (Outer layer)
2. Windbreaker thick trouser
3. Beanie & gloves & head torch
3. Hiking shoes with thick socks
4. Climbing ID tag (it's given when you starts climbing)
5. Backpack (raincoat, water bladder bag, panadol, energy foods, chocolate)
6. waterproof pouch for phone
7. Beanie
After a short briefing in our dining area, all climbers had their full gears on, adjusting their head torch, making sure their shoe laces are tighten.
It was my first time climbing in the dark and it was a thrilling and exciting experience! Along the dark paths, everyone followed the guide rope and beams of the torch light to slowly progress up the mountain. Some parts are really steep, gloves are important to help you to hold onto the rope to get up over the smooth surface. You could see hundreds of light beams shining out there, leading us to the peak of the mountain!
At 530am, we were all waiting for the sunrise in the freezing cold..
Despite the weather, the darkness, the waking up in the AM's and steep terrain, the views were breathtaking and well worth the pain and torture once you reach the top of the summit of Mt Kinabalu (at 4,095.2m above sea level).
As soon as we got our photos done, we descented to Laban Rata for breakfast and checked out before 1030am, as their check out time is at 1030am (honestly, we just wanted to escape the freezing cold weather).
After checking out from Laban Rate, it took another 5-hours to descent to Timpohon Gate.
Last but not least, the sense of achievement and certificate makes your sore legs worth!
 |
| Source from: https://borneocalling.com/mount-kinabalu-trail-maps/ Map attached for your ease of reference. |
 |
| Thank you Brooks, saved us from all the slipping and sliding! |
 |
| Bringing our certificate back home! We made it to the summit! |
See you again 💗
