Will I definitely get to summit Mt Kinabalu?

It'll depend on your fitness level and the weather. On the morning of the summit, you'll need to get to the summit checkpoint by 5pm in order to be cleared by the local rangers for summit. If you do not arrive in time (due to fitness level or other reasons), you will not be allowed to proceed to summit. In addition, there are a handful of days each year where the summit climb is cancelled by Mt Kinabalu Park due to dangerous weather conditions. Cancellations happen if there is torrential rain and it's deemed dangerous for climbers to make the slippery summit climb. Cancellations are rare, and no refund will be issued by Mt Kinabalu Park for any cancellations.

The closest main transport hub to Mt Kinabalu is Kota Kinabalu Airport. Kota Kinabalu Park (where the climb starts) is another 2 hours' drive from the main city center of Kota Kinabalu town. The providers will pick you up from your hotel in Kota Kinabalu town.

Do I need to go with a guide?

The Sabah State Park assigns the official guide who will accompany you up Mt Kinabalu, so the guide is not provided by the provider you choose to book through. But it's a good idea to book a local company to do all the logistical work such as obtaining permits, booking accommodation and arranging transportation as it will save you the headache of doing it on your own.

Do I need to train up?

Mount Kinabalu has a relatively easy hiking route to the summit as you may be able to tell from the photos. To summit, you only need to be healthy and reasonably fit enough for a sustained uphill walk. You do not need to have rock climbing skills. The trail is basically comprised of approx. 50% steps and 50% rocky terrain, including: - 380 flights of steps the first day (climbing a total of 6km in one day) - 180 flights of steps the second day (early morning) - 380 + 180 = 560 flights of steps down on second day to reach the base of the hike If you choose to do the via ferrata options (i.e. either Walk the Torq or Low's Peak), you will need to be a little fitter – even though the absolute distances for the via ferrata activities aren’t long, they do take some time which means that you may be more tired on the way down.

What's the best time to go?

The best months to visit are March, April, May, OctoberWe recommend the above period because you would have good weather.

Any tips for what to do in the area?

Kota Kinabalu is a great town with a lot going on at any given point in time. If you're a fan of wandering about colourful night markets, check out the seafood at the Sinsuran Night Market which is frequented by many West Malaysians because of the relatively low prices of the seafood in Kota Kinabalu, or the Filipino Market (close to Le Meridien hotel) which bursts into life each evening and has everything from cooked food to handicraft. Kota Kinabalu has also been voted to have some of the best sunsets in the world (we can attest to that!) so, come sunset, do head down to the waterfront to see the colours and shapes in the sky shift and change. When we were there, the sunset lingered and changed from pink to purple to a flaming orange. Finally, the food! Kota Kinabalu has incredibly yummy food if you know where to go. A couple of our favourites are: the sticky chicken wings at Fatt Kee Coffee Shop (Ang's Hotel, Beach Street) and the dry bak kut teh at Sin Kee Bak Kut Teh (at Jalan Pantai) - they're within a minute's walk of each other so if you're hungry, you can try both! Some other places we like: Jothy Curry House for the banana roti, Keng Wan Hing for the fresh red bean bun and Grabbing Hands if you are craving a juicy burger to reward yourself after the climb.

Is there anything else I should know?

The Mt. Kinabalu climb is a very popular destination for many locals and travellers that has been limited to 135 climbers every day. It can get booked up quickly, so we would recommend that you plan at least 3-6 months in advance. In case of bad weather, the summit to the peak or via ferrata descent can be cancelled although ascent to Palabanrata Base Camp will most likely occur regardless of rain or high wind.