Mount Kinabalu

The summit of Mount Kinabalu 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.

Yes it's a very beginner-friendly climb! It's basically just a lot of steps - approximately 600 flights of steps in total up and down. To reach the summit, it's a 8.5km trek, and the same distance back down. It takes approximately 6 hours of hiking on the first day, and 10-12 hours of hiking 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 hiking 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. 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.

If you're climbing during peak season, do book your climb at least 2-3 months in advance as there are strict limits on how many climbers are permitted to climb each day. We would also recommend confirming your climb before you book your flights/hotels.