Ultimate Guide to Climbing Mount Kinabalu in Sabah: Gear & Tips 🇲🇾

📅 Reservation & Fees
Secure your spot ahead of time! Make your reservation through the official website or via an agency (fees: RM1750 plus a 3% credit card processing fee).

🎒 Packing List
⚪️ Clothing: Equip yourself with quick-dry base layers, wool base layers, fleece, softshell, and hardshell jackets. Don’t forget your trail running shoes, wool socks, a GTX sun hat, beanie, gloves, buff, and sunglasses.
⚪️ Gear: Bring along a sturdy backpack, trekking poles, hydration bladder, knee pads, headlamp, quick-dry towel, sleeping bag liner, wet wipes, waterproof bags, and a power bank to keep your devices charged.

⚪️ Supplies: Stay hydrated with plenty of water, and fuel up with energy gels. Pack sunscreen, insect repellent, stomach medicine, and altitude sickness medication to ensure a smooth journey.

🏔️ Climbing Route:
Day 1: Begin your adventure from KK city at 6:30 AM, arriving at the Kinabalu Park registration office by 8:00 AM. Hire a knowledgeable mountain guide, collect your packed lunch, store any extra luggage, and consider hiring porters for assistance. Capture some group photos before setting off.

At 8:30 AM, board a vehicle to Timpohon Gate and start your climb before 9:00 AM. The first day’s trek covers 6km, with markers every 0.5km; the ascent is about 1500m, and 90% of the path consists of steps (a mix of wooden planks and stones), which can be quite challenging. Arrive at Laban Rata mountain hut by 3:00 PM, where you’ll enjoy dinner and rest for the night.

Day 2: Rise early for a late-night snack at 2:00 AM, and begin your summit push at 2:30 AM. The 6-7km stretch is mostly steps, with ropes on one side, so trekking poles are not necessary for ascending or descending. From the Sayat Sayat checkpoint to the summit, the path is a sloping rocky trail with white ropes, not too difficult, but the high altitude and fatigue might cause some headaches.

Reach Low’s Peak by 7:00 AM, savor the breathtaking views, and then make your way back to the mountain hut. The one-way distance is 2.5km, with a total ascent of about 800m. Start your descent from the mountain hut at 10:30 AM, arriving at Timpohon Gate around 3:30 PM. Return to the park entrance to collect your well-earned certificate and enjoy a celebratory dinner.

💡 Additional Tips
1️⃣ **Altitude Sickness Medication**: It’s a good idea to buy 12 tablets of Acetazolamide in Kota Kinabalu city and start taking them three days before your summit attempt. From personal experience, if you are also on Levothyroxine, be prepared for some side effects. I experienced numbness in my hands and feet for the first two days, and by the third day, even my face, starting from the lips, felt numb 🆘.

If you’re on thyroid-related medications, proceed with caution and consult your doctor.

2️⃣ **Distance Clarification**: The 1km marker on the first day is based on an outdated measurement; the actual distance is closer to 10km. This can be quite demoralizing if you’re used to tracking your progress with a watch. (Thankfully, the distance for the second day’s summit push is generally accurate, so you won’t have that issue.)

3️⃣ **Supplies and Provisions**: Be aware that there are no supplies available along the way, except at the mountain hut‼️The agency provides lunch for the first day, which you need to carry to the 4km rest station. The mountain hut offers free hot tea and coffee during meal times, but if you want to take hot water with you, there is a charge.

4️⃣ **Accommodation Details**: The dormitories can accommodate about 15 people. If you’re a light sleeper, it’s wise to bring earplugs and an eye mask. There’s no hot water for washing, and it can get chilly at night, so consider bringing a sleeping bag liner. Charging stations are limited, so a power bank is highly recommended to keep your devices powered up.

5️⃣ **Gear and Porters**: You can hire a porter to carry up to 10kg of your gear. Initially, I planned to share the weight with a fellow hiker, but the mountain guide informed me that I could only share with someone in my own group. As a result, I ended up carrying everything myself 🤡. It was exhausting, so plan accordingly!