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How to Climb Mount Kinabalu and How Much it Cost?

By Murphy
Ng

Standing majestically at 4,095 Meters (13,435 feet), Mount

Kinabalu is the highest mountain of Malaysia. Mt. Kinabalu
derives its name from the Kadazan word, Aki Nabalu, meaning
‘the revered place of the dead’. It is one of the most conquerable
peaks in the world. This article will help you to reach its summit,
with some info that travel agents don’t want you to know .

Mt. Kinabalu is the highest mountain of Borneo and Malaysia.

News (30 Nov 2015): The trail to the summit was damaged by 5.9-magnitude earthquake on 5 Jun 2015. The new
and safer trail (named Ranau Trail) from Laban Rata to the summit will open on 1 Dec 2015 (only the standard
Timpohon Trail is open. Mesilau Trail remains closed). Other changes include:

1. The maximum number of climbers (daily quota) will reduce from 192 per day to 135.
2. Climb Permit fee will be doubled (now RM200 for foreigner; RM50 for Malaysian).
3. Child under 16 must be accompanied by a dedicated Mountain Guide. Each Mountain Guide can only take up
to 2 children (or up to 5 adult climbers).
4. Mountain Guide who takes care of children will not guide adult climber. For example, if your group has 3 adult
and a child (below 16) climbers, you must hire two mountain guides (one to take care of adult, another one for
child only).
5. The rate of mountain guide service has increased (from RM150 to RM230).
 6. The rate of porter service has increased (from RM48 to RM65).

You may follow the Facebook of Sabah Parks for latest news and notice.

Mount Kinabalu’s specialty lies in its location at a renowned World Heritage Site – Kinabalu Park. Nature lovers will
be delighted to be able to witness the many variations of flora and fauna that are to be found on the mountain at
different altitudes.

1. How much does it cost?

I know you want a quick answer. The lowest climbing fee of Mt. Kinabalu is about RM1,351 (≈USD386) for
International Tourist, RM972 for Malaysian (non-Sabahan) and RM444 for Sabahan (last updated: Nov 2015).
The cost includes transportation, accommodation, meals, mountain guide, permit, insurance, 6% GST tax (a.k.a.
VAT) and other expenses. Please download the Excel file to see the itemized budget. My calculation is based on the
standard package (overnight in Laban Rata and start climbing at Timpohon Gate for single adult). If you want the full
detail, you may download the 3D2N and 2D1N package info or view the document as a webpage.

1. The Best Time to climb Mt. Kinabalu is between March and August , which are the dry seasons of Sabah.
The peak season is Apr to Jun.
2. You can climb in other months, but try to avoid Dec and Jan, which are the wettest months, due to the North-
East Monsoon
3. Laban Rata Rest House is the accommodation 2.72 KM before the summit of Mt. Kinabalu. Most climbers
overnight here before conquering Mt. Kinabalu in next morning.
4. If you are not allowed to climb Mt. Kinabalu in bad weather, there is No Refund.

How to Book a Climb Package

Booking the Accommodation at Laban Rata is the FIRST step. You can’t climb Mt. Kinabalu if you haven’t
reserved any room on the mountain (Laban Rata), unless you register for day climb.

A few important things to note:

1. You must book at least 6 months in advance. The park allows only 135 climbers to climb per day, due to
conservation and limited rooms, so the accommodation is always fully booked.
2. Conquering Mt. Kinabalu requires only 2 days 1 night. (some can do it in one day but you have to be very fit)
3. However, to maximize profit, Sutera Sanctuary Lodges (management of accommodation) usually sells you 3-
day-2-night accommodation (with 1 extra night at Kinabalu Park, foothill of Mt. Kinabalu).
4. 2-day-1-night accommodation package is available, but only open 30 days before the climbing date.
5. Gunting Lagadan Hut, Panar Laban Hut, Waras Hut, and Lemaing Hostel are next to Laban Rata, and these
accommodations are Cheaper.
6. All accommodation package is inclusive of full meals (buffet style).

There are 4 ways to book the climb package:

1. Book with Travel Agent

If you can afford, just book the tour package with licensed tour agents such as Amazing Borneo. Though you will see
a markup of price than I mentioned earlier, they will take care of everything, from transportation, registration, to the
end of climb. This is the Best option.
2. Book with Sutera Sanctuary Lodges (SSL)

SSL is the management of accommodation in Kinabalu Park and Laban Rata. For booking, you can contact them at:
E-mail: info@suterasanctuarylodges.com.my
Tel: +60 88 308 914 / 308 915 / 308 916
Website: www.suterasanctuarylodges.com.my
Facebook: SuteraSanctuary
Address: Lot G15, Ground Floor, Wisma Sabah, 88000, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia. (see location map)
Business Hours: 9am-6pm (Mon-Fri), 9am-4pm (Sat), close on Sun & Public Holiday

Pic: office of Sutera Sanctuary Lodges

You may drop by the office of SSL, which is located in ground floor of Wisma Sabah building in Kota Kinabalu city
center and next to Wisma Merdeka, a popular shopping mall. Besides booking, the friendly staffs can answer all your
questions on the spot. They can arrange full transport service for you too (the fees are quite high though). If you are
lucky, you can find last minute cancellation by other tourists so you can snap up the vacancy. Anyway, don’t bet on
this.

3. Sabah Parks (for Sabahans)

To get Sabahan rate, you must book the accommodation directly with Sabah Parks (Download page for Sabahan
Climbers Registration Form). Though the room rate for Sabahan is the cheapest, only 25 beds are reserved for
Sabahans daily. You only need to book 1-night accommodation on the mountain.

New! (Oct 2014)

Sabah Parks has built a new budget accommodation named Lemaing Hostel near Laban Rata in 2014, which is
open for Malaysian climbers only. It has 28 bunk bed that costs RM100 (≈US$31) per person per night . You
may call +60 88-889095 or +60 17-8380345 for the booking. Please note that you still need to pay other mandatory
fees such as climb permit and insurance.

Lemaing Hostel is near to Laban Rata Resthouse

Still No Space?

If you are super fit, you can register for a day climb to the summit of Mt. Kinabalu. However, you must reach Laban
Rata (Distance: 6 KM) by 12:30pm or they will not allow you to proceed to the summit. Or, you can climb the
second or third highest mountains of Sabah (and Malaysia), namely, Mt. Trus Madi (2,642M) and Mt. Tambuyukon
(2,579M). Though they are about half the height of Mt. Kinabalu, the climb is much more tougher.

Itinerary of the Climb

Below is a run-down of the 3-day-2-night climbing tour in brief:

Day 1

Check-in to overnight at Kinabalu Park ( see location map), which is 88 KM away from Kota Kinabalu (KK). The extra
night helps your body to adapt to the height so you will be less vulnerable to Altitude Sickness (acute mountain
sickness) in the climb next day. Here is a list of accommodations near Kinabalu Park.

Day 2

9am: Register and pay fees (climb permit, insurance, guide, etc.) to Sabah Parks at Kinabalu Park HQ. Collect your
name tag (climb permit) and packed lunch (usually consists of sandwiches, candy bar and a fruit, with a small bottle
of drinking water), then meet your guide and porter (if hired). You also can arrange return transport there to transfer
you between gate and park for a fee. Be there before 10:30am or they won’t allow you to climb.
9:30am: Transfer to Timpohon Gate, the starting point of the climb.
10am: Start of Climb!
4pm: Reach Laban Rata Rest House. Usually it takes 6 to 8 hours, depend on your fitness.
– Overnight at Laban Rata (or other huts)

Day 3

2am: Gather and having breakfast at Laban Rata, then head to the summit.
(The park may not allow you to climb in very bad weather)
6am: Reaching the summit of Mt. Kinabalu
7am: Descending to Laban Rata
10am: Check-out and descend to Kinabalu Park
1:30pm: Back to KK

Photo Walkthrough (with latest photos and info on new Ranau Trail)

Below are the photo walkthrough of the 2-day climb in chronological order. The new Ranau summit trail (open on 1
Dec 2015) is 200 Meters longer than the old trail. They say the new trail is more challenging, but I didn’t feel much
difference.

Day 1: Climbing to Laban Rata

The standard trail starts from the Timpohon Gate (1,800m; 5,906 ft) which is about 4KM away from the Kinabalu
Park Headquarters. Before reaching Laban Rata (3,273m; 10,738 ft), climbers will encounter a series of trail shelters
(pondok)—Pondok Kandis, Pondok Ubah, Pondok Lowii, Layang-Layang, Pondok Villosa, and Pondok Paka. The
climb from Timpohon Gate to Laban Rata normally takes 6 to 8 hours (for 6 KM).
Pic: Timpohon Gate. You can buy basic supply such as snacks, drink and raincoat here.

Pic: you will see the miniature Carson Waterfall very soon.
Pic: There are signages and markers every 0.5 or 1KM along the trail, to show how far you go.
Pic: There is shelter for every 1 KM, where you can rest, refill water (untreated spring water), use the toilet and dump
your trash.

Pic: Cute pygmy squirrel would come to you wanting food.

The trail is clear and in moderate steepness most of the time. You will feel like walking on endless staircase than
climbing. Just go slow and enjoy the scenic cloud forest (montane forest).
Pic: If you see this staff quarter, you are half way done.
Pic: after 4 KM, pay attention to your left, you will see many big and bright-color Villosa pitcher plant in the shrubs.
This species is endemic to Kinabalu Park of Sabah.
Along the trails, be sure to keep your eyes open for the plenteous interesting vegetation to check out. The unique
ecology is what makes Kinabalu Park the UNESCO World Heritage Site, not just the Mt. Kinabalu. Kinabalu Park
has the highest density of orchid species in the world.

Pic: you will see the yellow path. These yellow rocks are 40-million-year-old ultrabasic or ultramafic rocks, and it is
an interesting geology feature of Kinabalu Park.
Pic: Ultramafic forest of Kinabalu Park.
Very few plant can adapt to the poor nutrients of ultrabasic soil, that’s why most vegetation in this area looks odd, as
if you enter another planet.
Pic: when you see the trail with big dark-
grey boulders with rough edges,
congratulations! You are quite near to
Laban Rata now. The boulders are
slippery after rain so watch your steps. A
walking pole will help you to balance.

Pic: Hooray! Laban Rata! You are now

3,272 metres above sea level. This is the
accommodation where most climbers
spend a night.

Pic: the restaurant of Laban Rata where

you claim your buffet meals. You better
reach Laban Rata before the restaurant
closes at 7:30pm.

The scenery at Laban Rata is fantastic!

Just enjoy the view with a cup of hot
coffee in your hand. The dense cloud is
under your feet. The sunset view at
Laban Rata is one of the best in Sabah.

Sending a postcard from the highest

post box of Malaysia

FYI, you can send postcard from the

highest post box of Malaysia, which is
located next to Pendant Hut in Laban Rata.

Pic: without heater, my room was freezing cold…

There are overnight accommodations provided for climbers on the mountain (Laban Rata Rest House, Gunting
Lagadan Hut, Waras Hut and Lemaing Hostel). The rooms are humbly decorated but are comfortably equipped thick
blankets, bunk beds, as well as clean drinking water.

Pic: the temperature on the mountain can be lower than 10°C (50°F) and windy day makes it worse. It can be near
freezing point near the summit so wear warm clothing.

Good Night! Sleep earlier because you need to wake up very early next day.

“Though perhaps not the highest mountain in the world, it is of immense height” (captain Alexander
Dalrymple, 1769)

Day 2: Conquer Mt. Kinabalu

The climb to the summit resumes at
2am the next morning. The climb
from Laban Rata to the summit
normally takes 4 to 5 hours. To cut
down weight, you leave unnecessary
stuffs in Laban Rata. There is no water
point to the summit (except Sayat-Sayat
checkpoint). Carrying 1 Litre is quite
enough as you won’t feel really thirsty
under cold temperature.

In Ranau Trail, you can see the night

view of Ranau town
Summit trail (Ranau Trail)

The climb will start with steep ascend for

about two hours on stairway. Then you
will come to a section which is the most
challenging part and requires you to hold
onto a rope to move up. Just proceed
slowly and cautiously.

The sub alpine vegetation of high altitude

Beautiful scenery along Ranau Trail

Pic: The Sayat-Sayat checkpoint. You

need to register here so you can earn
the certificate.

Rock-face trail to the summit

After Sayat-Sayat, the trail will be mainly

flat rocky surface with 15 to 20 degrees
of inclination.

Pic: the nice view at 7th KM, where you can see Kota Belud town.

Summit trail after Sayat-Sayat. Note the Donkey Ears Peak damaged by earthquake

Pic: As you move upward to higher alpine zone, the vegetation will become thinner, so is the air. You will feel that your
body is heavier and get tired easily.

Pic: South Peak, the most photogenic peak of Mt. Kinabalu.

At this point, due to exhaustion, you would start to curse around and say “Why am I doing here?”. Be patient, my
friend, you will be rewarded dearly later.

Pic: St John Peak, the 2nd highest peak (4090.7M). See the face in the peak?
 The last peak to conquer, Low’s Peak.
The summit is on its tip. A daunting view
to tired climbers..
“Wishing Pool” at the Low’s Peak.

Pic: the last rope section to drain your

last energy reserve. You have come this
far so you must make it!

Pic: Finally, the Summit! 50,000 climbers

leaves their footsteps here annually.
Despite the hardship, none of them
shows a face of regret on the summit.
You have only an hour to enjoy the
moment of your sweet victory, as the
guide will ask you to leave before 8am,
because the mountain will be covered in
dense fog shortly (poor visibility).

Bonus: If you reach the summit before

6am, you will be rewarded by the
beautiful sunrise view on the highest
mountain of Borneo.
More Tips and Advices

1. Pack Light. Don’t carry more than 6 Kg of weight for the climb. Those bringing huge backpacks can hire
porters (for extra fee) to carry their bags for them.
2. The climate is cool with an average temperature range of 15°C to 24°C (59°F to 75°F) at the Kinabalu Park
Headquarters and 6°C to 10°C (42°F to 50°F) on the mountain. It can even go down to freezing point in coldest
months (Nov-Dec). Climbers are recommended to wear breathable cotton clothing and comfortable pair of
hiking boots.
 3. Climbers are also reminded to be ready with torch lights, raincoats and warm clothes in case it rains and the
temperature drops.
4. Descending stresses your knee and muscle more than ascending. Try to descend slowly to avoid serious joint
and muscle pain later.
5. Trail can be slippery after rain. Wear comfortable trekking or hiking shoes with good grip (best if it’s
waterproof).
6. Stay with your group and Mountain Guide at all times. Never walk off trail.
7. Don’t climb if you have ailments such as asthma, hypertension, diabetes, heart disease and other sickness
that severely affects your fitness.
8. Always book the tour with licensed tour agent. There have been cases tourists cheated by unlicensed agents.
9. Mt. Kinabalu is the Sacred Mountain (resting place of the deceased) of Sabah. Please be respectful and refrain
from doing anything offensive to local belief such as taking nude photo.
10. You may check out more photos of Mt. Kinabalu in my online album

Things to Bring

Passport / MyKad (for registration)

Proof of Accommodation Booking
Drinking Water (in Refillable 1 Litre water bottle)
LED Headlamp (head torch)
Energy Bars / Chocolate Bars
Light Backpack (best if come with raincover)
Raincoat / Poncho (Murphy’s Law says it’ll rain if you don’t bring one)
Toiletries (tissue paper, soap, toothbrush, toothpaste)
Warm Clothing (Wind breaker, Fleece)
Extra clothing and socks
Towel
Cash
Camera and spare Battery
Medication such as painkiller, headache or altitude sickness tablet
Plastic bags: to store rubbish and soil clothing
Condom
Optional: hand gloves, walking pole, sunblock lotion, sunglass, power bank

I hope you find this guide useful. Please feel free to add your tips in Comment section to perfect this guide for
everyone.

Author: Nova Renata is a freelance writer and editor based in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. When not writing at her desk,
she will be cuddling her cat, clocking some miles or rolling on the mats. She aspires to be a best-selling author with
solid six pack abs one day. Read Nova’s blog or visit her Linked In profile.
Photos taken in Mt. Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia Borneo