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Mount Kinabalu

Borneo's highest peak, and the tallest mountain between the Himalayas and New Guinea

Difficulty
Expert
Duration
2 days, 1 night
Summit elevation
4095 m

At 4,095 metres, Mount Kinabalu is Borneo's highest peak and the centrepiece of Kinabalu Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Sabah. The climb runs over two days, from montane rainforest to a pre-dawn scramble up bare granite for sunrise at Low's Peak.

Highlights

  • Sunrise from Low's Peak, the summit of Borneo
  • Layang-Layang and Laban Rata rest stops with mountain views
  • Pitcher plants and montane flora along the lower trail
  • Optional via ferrata routes for climbers who add them on

Getting there

Kinabalu Park HQ is about 90 minutes by road from Kota Kinabalu, reachable by shared minivan, private transfer or self-drive along the Ranau road.

Safety tips

This is a genuine high-altitude climb with cold, wet, exposed sections near the summit. Altitude sickness, hypothermia and slippery granite are the main risks, and a guide is mandatory.

What to bring

  • Waterproof jacket and trousers
  • Warm layers for a near-freezing summit
  • Head torch for the pre-dawn summit push
  • Trekking poles and gloves for the granite slabs