Mount Kinabalu – a ‘what-to-prepare’ guide

You think hiking Mt. Kinabalu, Malaysia, is going to be hard? Try ironing out all the logistic issues to make the trip happen, that’s hard!

To get there from the city of Kota Kinabalu, you need to take either a ride from a dodgy taxi that can charge up to RM80 for a one way trip, or share a shoulder-rubbing  joyride with 5 other hippies on a mini-van for RM15 per person. Both options are available at the main Kota Kinabalu bus station. Prices may vary, depending on your bargaining skills and/or how affluent you look

Near the summit, Mt Kinabalu

The hike takes 2 days to complete (although some mad men race through this very same route within 3 to 4 hours during an annual race). As such, you would need to book a bunk bed at this creek house called Laban Rata to stay for the night, before continuing your climb to the summit in groping darkness to watch the magnificent sunrise. As there is currently a monopoly on accommodation options up there, you will have to pay close to USD100/person for a snooze-hole. The other alternative is…well, there’s no other alternative – if you don’t secure that reservation, the park rangers will not let you make the ascent. It is recommended to make that bunk bed reservations 3 -4 months in advance. Do note that the pictures on their webpage looks nicer than they are in reality. Considered yourself warned.

Other essentials include:

• Waterproof gear (it rains a lot, and you walk through clouds at times)
• Balaclava / Headgear (it gets frigid and windy at the summit. Below zero degrees Celcius with wind chill)
• Head-light (for the night climb. You’ll need free hands and hand torches are not encouraged)
• Gloves (important! there are areas you need to use ropes to climb up)
• Camera (Protect it with water)
• Water Chocolate / Bananas (to feed yourself)
• Good shoes and extra dry socks
• Lots of cash

Why lots of cash, you ask? You’ll need to pay for entrance fee to the Kinabalu World Heritage Park, a guide to bring you up the mountain (this is compulsory), insurance, climbing permit, transport from base camp to the main trail, two-way return transport from Kota Kinabalu to base camp of Mt. Kinabalu. I grow weary even by listing the things I had to pay. Again, trust money-sucking Laban Rata to come up with a nice list of things-to-pay-up here. For the record, I’d paid USD250 for all these things back in March 2009.

Despite all the unpleasant preparation work that needs to be done, and cost, I would do it again. The hike itself is too enjoyable to miss. I particularly love the landscape near the summit where you need to use ropes to pull yourself up. Hiking in the wee hours under a sky full of stars and pulling yourself above the clouds to an unforgettable sunrise is something that’s hard to forget.

Sunrise, Mt Kinabalu

If anything, you know you would want to do it now. Besides, who knows when prices are going to increase further?

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