Mountain Climbing in Kota Kinabalu

The summit of Mount Kinabalu in Sabah, Malaysia stands at 4,095 meters (13,435 feet) above sea level, making it the highest mountain in Malaysia and one of the highest mountains in Southeast Asia.

Mount Kinabalu in Sabah, Borneo (Malaysia) is a UNESCO world heritage site, the highest mountain in Malaysia and one of the most beautiful climbs we’ve been on. While it is challenging, it is also beginner-friendly so you can easily train for it within one month which is a big plus. We love the mountain because it takes you up so many distinct and gorgeous landscapes over the course of one short climb. You start in the Borneo rainforest, which then opens up to an enchanted garden landscape with giant bonsai-tree looking plants, and when you reach the summit it looks like you're walking on the moon.

Yes it's a very beginner-friendly trek! Trekking up the mountain is basically just climbing a lot of steps - approximately 600 flights of steps in total up and down. From the start point to the summit, you'll have 8.5k, of trekking and the same distance back down. It takes approximately 6 hours of hiking on the first day, and 10-12 hours of trekking on the second day. It's suitable for novice hikers with a moderate level of fitness. We would recommend strength and aerobic training at least a month before your climb. Ideally prior to the climb you should be comfortable with 10km of trekking at a moderate pace, with a 8-10kg backpack. Please note that you'll need to be fitter if you're intending on doing either of the via ferrata routes (which are basically additional activities off the side of the montain after you summit). If you're doing those routes, then you'll need to add an additional 1-4 hours to your climbing time, which will make it more tiring descending the mountain.

You can book a Mount Kinabalu climb through a local tour operator on Seek Sophie. The local tour operator will procure a climbing permit for you from the park and organise your trip logistics, such as transport to the park.

The best time for mountain climbing in Kota Kinabalu is between March and September, when the weather is cooler and drier.