Mount Kinabalu Climb

Our journey begins with a pick up at 7:00am (or time of your choice before 12.00 noon) at the Kota Kinabalu Centre Hotel (kindly be reminded to arrange and take an early breakfast if required). Enjoy a two hour road journey through the Crocker Range to Kinabalu Park. The drive to Kinabalu Park is in itself a fascinating experience. As you leave the city behind, see how local communities have settled at the foothills of the Crocker Range and along its winding roads a feeling of tranquility overcomes you. Catching glimpses of the mighty Mt Kinabalu is an unforgettable sight and as it approaches it seems to grow and draws you nearer. En route, you will make a stop at Nabalu village to savour some local fruits or to purchase beautiful handicrafts. After two hours drive, we will arrive at Kinabalu Park and register for the mountain climb. NOTE - your accommodation will be available for check in from 14.00hrs. At Kinabalu Park, the climate is noticeably cooler, with very little humidity, the air is fresh and during the day a comfortable 24 degrees if the sun is shinning. Your guide will discuss your days wish list with you. Free at leisure to explore the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Kinabalu Park. You may choose to witness the incredible biodiversity that designated Kinabalu Park as a UNESCO World Heritage site and stroll by rivers and follow mountain trails to spot rare and endemic species of flora and fauna that can be found in the park. In fact it is said that there are more than 2,000 flowering plants in the forests of Kinabalu. The Botanical Garden is a comprehensive information centre cataloguing the species of plant contained within Kinabalu Park offering education to people which makes the trip ever more interesting when you know what you are looking at. If Kinabalu National Park HQ is fully booked your first night's accommodation is located at Poring Hot Springs, just a 45minute transfer by National Park bus. Poring Hot Springs offers the possibility to soak in the hot baths, visit the butterfly gardens, or see the rainforest from a different perspective at 45m elevation along canopy walkways. At approx. 2:00pm you can check into your accommodation and the rest of the afternoon is free time at your leisure. A buffet/set dinner is provided at the Rainforest Restaurant. Accommodation: Kinabalu National Park HQ or Poring Hot Springs – Dormitory Bunk Bed with communal bathroom. NB: Porters are available and can be organised on arrival at the Kinabalu Park HQ. The minimum weight required is 10kg. Should your bag weigh less than 10kg, the charge will still be calculated based on 10kg. On average you can expect to pay MYR 140.00 per round trip Timpohon - Panalaban - Timpohon for a 10kg bag and this is to be paid directly to the porter. Costs are subject to change without notice.

Meals:  D

It is an early breakfast and transfer to Kinabalu Park HQ (or approximately 45 minute drive from Poring Hot Springs). Note - that you will not return to Kinabalu Park HQ or Poring Hot Springs, so take all luggage with you. Collect your packed lunch from Balsam Restaurant. You will meet your Mountain Guide and transfer to Timpohon Gate (the starting point for the summit ascent). There will be a short briefing by the mountain guide and then we set off for the climb. We commence our climb to Laban Rata and along the way enjoy a packed lunch. Ensure you do not climb too fast, try to aim for 6 hours or more to reach Pana Laban, this is to reduce the risk of altitude sickness. At approx 4:00pm-4:30pm we arrive at Pana Laban (3272.7M). After checking into our overnight accommodation the remainder of the day can be spent exploring the surrounding area, or just relaxing and resting in preparation for your early morning ascend tomorrow morning. Accommodation: Laban Rata Hut – Dormitory Bunk Bed with communal bathroom (accommodation is very limited and will be in multishare rooms with dormitory bunk beds)

Meals:  B,L,D

We will aim to reach the summit by sunrise which means an early start. At 2:30am you will depart from your accommodation with your mountain guide for Low’s Peak Summit (4095m). Our goal is to reach the summit in time for sunrise (5:30am). You will commence climbing by torchlight (a head torch is most useful) and as you ascend the terrain becomes less vegetated. The final stages of the ascent crosses bare granite slabs before a steep section up to Lows Peak and the highest point of Mt Kinabalu at 4,093m. As the sun rises over Sabah the most extraordinary view unfolds (weather permitting). Contrasting with the pink tinged granite is the deep green of the forest below, stretching to the fertile croplands and beyond to the island dotted South China Sea. We descend to Laban Rata for a well earned breakfast. At 9:00am we continue the descent to Timpohon Gate – aiming to reach the gate before 4:00pm to avoid late climber guide fees. At 1:00pm we will transfer back to Kinabalu Park’s HQ and meet our driver. Here we enjoy lunch before transferring back to Kota Kinabalu, where the trip concludes. The last transfer from the park is 5:00pm. (NB: Times are approximate and will depend on your pace and progress. It can be very cold with strong winds at the summit. On many days clouds could obstruct visibility.)

Meals:  B,L