Mount Kinabalu, Malaysia

The Southeast Asian country, Malaysia, is home to the 4,000-metre high peak of Mount Kinabalu. Mount Kinabalu has derived its name from the Kadazan word, ‘Aki Nabalu’, meaning ‘the revered place of the dead’. It is the tallest mountain in Malaysia and infact one of the highest mountains in Southeast Asia. 

Mount Kinabalu also ranks as the 20th highest mountain all around the globe, by topographic prominence and is one of the highest peaks in the world that can be easily trekked by most of the people. Mount Kinabalu, along with other upland areas of the Crocker Range is well-known worldwide for its tremendous botanical and numerous biological species biodiversity with plants of Himalayan, Australasian, and Indo-Malayan origin.

Nature lovers will be overwhelmed to be able to witness the many variations of flora and fauna that are to be found on the mountain at different altitudes. Mount Kinabalu can be placed in between the Himalayas and New Guinea in terms of descending elevation.

The majestic Mount Kinabalu exerts a magical quality that is both ineffable and unbelievable. Low's Peak is the highest point and can be climbed without much struggle. From having a stunningly dense tropical forest to the tallest peak in the country with the addition of its wildlife diversity, Mount Kinabalu has a lot to offer.

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• Travel to the luscious and welcoming Mount Kinabalu with your family and watch the sprawling fields of cold-climate fruits and vegetables.
• Hike to the mountain and discover the gorgeous variety of flora and fauna at different altitudes.
• Watch the sunrise over the Sabah after reaching the summit of the great mountain.
• Witness more than 300 bird species and 600 vibrant butterflies sucking nectar from the flowers or flying around.
• Experience a powerful sense of spiritual connection between the mountain and the people residing on it.
• Refresh and revitalize yourself on the Poring Hot Spring you might encounter on your journey to Mount Kinabalu.
• Camp around the rustic foothills under the sky and the stars if you want to make your family holiday more adventurous.
• Give your eye a retreat and rejuvenate yourself with the flavorful taste of the tea at the Sabah Tea Garden.
• Walk on the Canopy Walkway and pay a visit to the eight natural trails at Kinabalu Park.

By Road: If you are planning to drive all alone around the city and to Kinabalu Park, there are a wide range of cars to rent from MVP to vans and others. It will cost you around INR 1951 for a basic sedan. Taxis are also available if you want to travel faster. The standard price for the taxis to take you to the KK city centre is INR 532.

By Bus: There is a special airport shuttle bus service that has buses leaving the KK international airport approximately every hour. The price of the bus tickets are INR 89 for adults and INR 53 for children. The journey can take anywhere from 20 minutes to around 30 minutes or more depending on the traffic.

You can also take the public bus available which is in the form of an old minibus. The minibus number 17 will drop you off in the city area at Terminal Wawasan and it costs around INR 35, each way. From the terminal, one can take the City Bus to the city centre for just INR 18.

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The best time to visit Kinabalu Mountain is between March to September. During this time, the weather remains dry, and the temperature is favorable to indulge in climbing activities. There is little to no chance of rainfall during this time, so you can effortlessly conquer the tallest mountain in Malaysia with your squad of climbers.

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Places to Stay near Mount Kinabalu

There are several places near the summit of Mt Kinabalu where you can stay overnight after completing the first-day trek. Such as:

1. Ayana Holiday Resort

If you are looking for a room that can give you the view of the mountains in the early morning, then Ayana must be your pick. It is around half a kilometre away from Kota Kinabalu. There are two types of rooms to choose from, standard and medium-sized.

2. Lupa Masa Camp

Generally, the camps are regarded as the makeshift place to stay, but the Lupa Masa camo is in itself- “a place to visit”. Lying on the fringes of Kinabalu Park gives the closest experience to the rainforest. No wonder the term Lupa Masa means ‘forget time’ as you reach here, you get lost and the scheduling stuff takes the backseat.

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Places to Eat near Mount Kinabalu

There are a few restaurants serving delicious food located near the mountain. The popular ones are:

1. Liwagu Restaurant: The Liwagu has provisions for all kinds of meals and is also vegetarian friendly.

2. Nabalu Kundasang: Available cuisines include Asian and Malaysian alongside Chinese.

3. Sabah Tea House: This one is a cafe and it also provides breakfasts in addition to lunch and dinner. It is vegetarian friendly.

4. 89 Station Restaurant: Although this place specialises in Chinese dishes it provides Asian and Malaysian alternatives as well. It serves lunch, dinner and brunch.

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Tips to Visit Mount Kinabalu

There are various key elements that you need to keep in mind if you are travelling to Mount Kinabalu. The key tips are divided into two categories- before a climb, and during the climb.

1. Before climb

- First and foremost, keep your packings under 8 kg for a smooth trek. Avoid carrying valuables.

- Look for a professional guide, and read through the trekking rule set by the authority. Make sure you do not violate any. 

- Try to wear comfortable gear for the trek. Wear boots that can take the challenge of absorbing shocks.  

2. During climb

- Avoid running, just walk at a steady pace.

- Also, you must feel comfortable to walk in the initial hour of the journey, if not so turn back to the base. 

- It is ideal to have lunch when you are two hours into your trek.

- Rest for at least 10 mins after every 5km.

- Most importantly respect the mountains and its natural biodiversity.

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