A Quick Guide To Climbing Mount Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia Borneo

The marvelous and breathtaking Mount Kinabalu is one of the premier destinations for thousands of visitors to Sabah, Malaysian Borneo each year. Kinabalu National Park, a designated World Heritage Site, boasts an estimated 4,500 types of plants which includes 1,500 types of orchids, 77 of which are endemic to Kinabalu, Nepenthes pitcher plants, and the Rafflesia, the largest flower on the planet. The Park likewise supports 289 species of birds and 290 different types of butterflies.

A Pro Tip: Travel Magazines can be a very helpful resource to plan your future holiday trip.

Besides being the highest peak in Borneo and the whole of southeast Asia (in between Irian Jaya and the Himalayas to be specific), and the youngest non-volcanic mountain in the world, Mount Kinabalu is extremely climber-friendly and compared to other much lower mountains all over the world, Mount Kinabalu is a perfect first mountain for newbie mountain trekkers to conquer.

The standard goes up Mount Kinabalu is via the Kinabalu Summit Trail at Kinabalu National Park (~ 1,560 m above water level). The first climb is from the beginning point at Timpohon Gate, about 4km or 30 minutes drive from the Kinabalu National Park Headquarter.

If you prefer to start the climb on Day 1, it is advisable to reach the Park late morning the latest otherwise, depending on the weather condition, the Park might not enable you to do the first ascent due to dangerous condition (i.e., the fog might be too thick by late-night causing visibility issues and/or the trail may be very slippery).

Many climbers choose to remain overnight at Kinabalu National Park upon arrival to not only acclimatize to the elevation however also to enjoy the stunning plants and animals at the Park prior to the "attack" on the next day/morning, read more interesting travel articles.

The very first climb is from Timpohon Gate simply after the Power Station as much as the mid-summit Laban Rata Resthouse (or more popularly known as the 11,000 feet or ~ 3,873 m). You will initially follow the crest of a narrow ridge that dips down onto the primary slopes of Mount Kinabalu itself. A little further on, you will reach a picturesque waterfall referred to as Carson's Falls, named after the very first Warden of the Park. Don't forget to take a sip and fill your water bottles with fresh natural mountain water.

Conservatively, it ought to take a normal in shape individual a typical 5-6 hours to reach Laban Rata. Participants at the annual Mount Kinabalu Climbathon competitors went all the method up to 13,400 ft (4092.5 m above water level) and back in 2 hours. It is not actually about how fast you can reach the top. It is about the experience of traveling pass various vegetation zones from Oak and Chestnut to mossy and ultimately to alpine type of greeneries, and observing the uncommon and unique plants and fauna on the way up.

The heated Laban Rata Resthouse, the other choice for climbers is to stay at the unheated mountain huts. There is actually another accommodation option at the so-called VIP Lodge, which is more expensive compared to the others and also, more difficult to secure (i.e., only 2 such systems readily available).

After a brief night rest to recharge your battery, the 2nd and more intense stage will start the morning on Day 2, at about 2 am to 3 am. The 2nd ascent will be from the mid-summit all the way to the top, which is called Low's Peak, named after the British colonial officer Sir Hugh Low, allegedly, the very first person to dominate Mt. Kinabalu.

The ascent should typically take a couple of hours but it is much more challenging than the initial climb due to the thinner air near the summit. However, near the peak on the granite part of the ascent, there will be a thick nylon rope set to mark the path so that climbers will not get lost in the fog. You can use this rope to pull your exhausted body up.

Although reaching the top is currently an accomplishment, it is best to target, if possible, to reach the top prior to daybreak to catch the amazing sight. If you reached too early, it will be too freezing cold to wait too long for the daybreak. On great clear weather, the sky seemingly turns from black to red then orange and lastly gold as the sun appears. When daylight breaks, you will really feel that you are standing on top of the world. If the weather allows, you can see as far as Kudat and even Sandakan.

One important idea is to book early. Given the popularity of the Mount Kinabalu climb nowadays, it is advisable to book a minimum of 3-4 months beforehand (or perhaps much earlier during the peak season normally around mid-year) to prevent any disappointment.

This is generally due to the restricted accommodation at the mid-summit (i.e., Laban Rata Resthouse, Mountain Huts, or the VIP Lodge). In the event that there is no lodging at the mid-summit, the climb will not be possible as strictly stated in the National Park's regulations and rules. In addition, a mountain guide is obligatory.

In essence, Mount Kinabalu is fairly a simple mountain to climb. There is very little threat of severe mountain illness at the first stage of climbing. Provided climber-friendliness of the mountain, conquering the mountain should be high in your list of "activities to do" if you were to go to Sabah. For the typical in shape person, a check out to Borneo will not be total without dominating Mount Kinabalu.

The amazing and magnificent Mount Kinabalu is one of the premier destinations for thousands of visitors to Sabah, Malaysian Borneo each year. Kinabalu National Park, a designated World Heritage Site, boasts an estimated 4,500 species of plants which includes 1,500 types of orchids, 77 of which are endemic to Kinabalu, Nepenthes pitcher plants, and the Rafflesia, the largest flower in the world. You will initially follow the crest of a narrow ridge that dips down onto the primary slopes of Mount Kinabalu itself. In essence, Mount Kinabalu is fairly an easy mountain to climb up. For the typical fit individual, a check out to Borneo will not be total without conquering Mount Kinabalu.

Bushra Syed is an aspiring blogger, owner, and editor of Bushra’s Lifestyle Blog, and has contributed to a variety of online publications since graduating with a degree in Journalism.