We arrived at Kinabalu Park at 3.30pm after driving for about 2 hours from Kota Kinabalu. Kinabalu Park is already about 2000m above sea level, so..it was quite cool up here.

3.40pm – we registered at Sutera Sanctuary Lodges Office that was  situated just beside the main gate. We need to pay RM144 for climbing permit fees, insurances & guide.

Climbing permit fee for Malaysian – RM30 x2

Insurance – RM7 x2

Guide – RM70

Total for 2 person : RM144.00

Finished with registration, the staff brought us to our room at Peak Lodge. Peak Lodge was actually for 4 people. It cost RM250 per night and this cost have already been included in reservation payment with Sutera Sanctuary Lodges.

Diyana and our rented car in front of Peak Lodge

“We will be there tomorrow…..”

We settled at Peak Lodge at 3.50pm. It is a very nice and beautiful place with the view of Mount Kinabalu in front of it.

5.00pm – we walked to Balsam Cafe to eat. The cafe is situated just in front the Sutera Sanctuary office. We had to walk for about 10 minutes from our room and got there at 5.10pm.

Fried rice

6.00pm – Sutera Sanctuary Lodges conducted a briefing session to all the climbers at the cafe. The briefing was about the schedule for tomorrow and tips & advices during climbing. We just listened to the session from the back seat while eating expensive fried rice.

The session finished at around 6.30pm. Its already dark. So, we went back to our room before calling the staff to light up the fire.

After that, Diyana prepared tuna sandwich for tomorrow climbing.

When everything was settled… we went to sleep! Tomorrow would be so exciting…

On the 3rd day, I am wake up at 7.30am (Diyana still sleeping..) and at around 8am, Azlan call and he is waiting for me in front of EON Bank. As agreed, I pay him RM360 for 4 days rental of Sky Blue 1.6l Proton Wira.

9am – We go for breakfast at Aieza Cafe & Catering that situated just outside our apartment building. We have nasi lemak and after that, we go to nearby 7 eleven and bought a Kota Kinabalu map.

9.15am – we check-out from Promenade hotel apartment.

10am, I am driving to Sunday Market or Gaya Street Market. We bought pearl necklaces, shirts and also key chains. All the stuff in this market were really cheap. We would love to buy a rabbit but I worried that Airasia won’t let us bring it into the airplane.

12pm – We take lunch at McDonald CentrePoint Sabah. Then, we go to supermarket and bought Gardenia bread, tuna and mineral water as preparation for tomorrow climbing.

Since I also would like to celebrate Diyana’s birthday at the top of Mount Kinabalu, I bought cup cake. When I request for small candle, salesgirl in that bakery were smiling and some even laughing. cis!.

1.13pm – we started our journey to Kinabalu Park. On the way to Kinabalu Park, we stop at the famous Tamparuli Suspended Bridge at 1.57pm to see around and take pictures.

Along the way, we can see a very beautiful scenery of Mount Kinabalu’s peak in the mist.

2.49pm – we stopped at Pekan Nabalu Art Craft.

3.30pm – we arrived at Kinabalu Park. At the gate, we need to pay for entrance fee, RM3 per person.

I woke up at around 8.30am. Diyana just could’t stop expressing her dissatisfaction in almost everything about the hotel and her stomach this morning.

10am – we go out and take a look at the view just behind the hotel. The sea view is quite nice however it is very HOT.

Our next target is to find a rental car. Before we come to KK, we were informed by a friend that the rental car was very expensive there but with the help of his local friend, the best price he can get is RM150 rental per day for Proton Wira. In the internet, the rental cost for Proton Wira is RM250 per day.. it is very expensive so I decided to find it by myself at KK by searching at building walls and notice boards in town. After a long search, at last I found car  rental ads at one of the buildings’ wall near KK Plaza.

The rental car guy’s name is Azlan and he offered us RM600 for 4 days. However, after long discussion, he agreed with RM360 for 4 days and he promised to sent the car at 5pm.

11.40am – we took our late breakfast at Coffee Culture.

1pm – we go to Sutera Sanctuary Lodges at the ground floor of Wisma Sabah and completed the payment. Previously, we just pay 50% for the booking. They will prepare the shuttle bus just outside their office early tomorrow morning, 7.15am to pickup the climbers to Kinabalu Park. The fare is RM45 per person. However, since we already decided to rent a car.. I just asked about how to get there by car and not where to wait!

1.35pm – we have lunch at KFC Segama Complex. Go to nearby park. Take some picture and go back to our room.

We arrived our room at 3pm and go to sleep until 5pm.

5pm – still no news from Azlan, so we just walk along the seaside. There are many restaurants there and the view was very beautiful. We wait until sunset at 6.15pm and took some beautiful sunset pictures too.

7pm – Azlan still didn’t send the car. So, I just asked him to send it tomorrow morning at 8am. He agreed. After that, we just take a peek at Filipino market for a while then we go to Night Market just behind it.

The Night Market selling a lot of unique stuff. Diyana bought plenty of pearls, beautiful seashells and also head cover because my friend said it is freezing up there at Kinabalu peak.

At 9pm, we took our dinner at a seafood stall near the night market. It is only open on Saturday nights and we’re quite lucky to have been there. We ordered a huge grill prawn, squid and fish with rice. The total cost is only RM28.

10.30pm – we go back to hotel. Have a bath and sleep..zzzzz…

We started our journey to Kota Kinabalu on 6 April 2007. Diyana’s friend, Dina was the one who sent us to LCCT  using our own car and took care of the car until we came back from KK.

We arrived LCCT at 7.40pm. After check-in, Diyana bought mineral water and we go straight to gate P5 for boarding.

We boarding at 8.45pm and flight take off at 8.57pm.

Flight to Kota Kinabalu from Kuala Lumpur take around 2 and half hours and we arrived at Kota Kinabalu Terminal 2 at 11.40pm.

Since it’s already midnight, we just take the airport taxi to hotel that cost us RM30. Very expensive but I did not much choice at that time.

We arrived hotel at 12.20am and go to sleep at around 1.30am.

Our room at Promenade is Room No. 2508 and the rate is RM80 per night.

1. Booking

The first things that you should do after you have decided to climb Mount Kinabalu is to book a place at Kinabalu Park & Laban Rata. This is very important because you’re not allowed to camp there and if you had no place to stay at Laban Rata, they will never release the climbing permit for you!! The temperature at Laban Rata is quite cool. The temperature range was 7 ~ 12 degree Celcius. Make sure you book early to get a nice room with heater..!! If not, you need to bring along your sleeping bag or you can also rent it from the counter at Laban Rata.

The booking is easy. Contact Sutera Sanctuary Lodge through e-mail or telephone.. then place your booking!! Just give them, your name, your phone number, your e-mail address, how many people and the tentative date of hiking. Later, they’ll give to you a quotation & your booking number. You need to pay at least 50% from total amount through credit card or bank transfer in 1 week time. After that, when you arrive in Sabah, you can pay another 50% at Kinabalu Park or Sutera Sanctuary Lodge office at Kota Kinabalu.

My Story ;

I telephoned directly Sutera Sanctuary Logde, Sales Manager, Ms Victoria for the booking. SMS to her my e-mail address with some necessary information. Later, she e-mail to me the booking number. I paid 50% through Maybank2u ( Interbank transfer ) and another 50% at their main office in Kota Kinabalu. At first, i booked for 3 person because my friend in Sabah would like to join me & my wife..total cost is RM400 for 3 person ( RM250 for 1 night at Kinabalu Park , Peak Lodge (4 person) and RM50 per bed for 1 night at Laban Rata). However, since my friend changed his plan, i have to pay RM350 for 2 person. So, i waste close to RM100 because i’ve booked a room for 4 person at Kinabalu Park…siigghhhh..

2. Flight to Kota Kinabalu

a) From KL to Kota Kinabalu

You can choose between Malaysian Airlines or AirAsia to fly to Kota Kinabalu from Kuala Lumpur. The flight would take approx. 2 hours 35 minutes. The differences between those 2 airlines ;

* Departure
MAS depart from KLIA Terminal however AirAsia depart from LCCT Terminal (about 10mins from KLIA Terminal)
* Arrival
MAS arrive at KK International Airport however AirAsia arrive at KK terminal 2 (actually same airport but different exit).
* Price
AirAsia is cheaper than MAS….sometimes you can even get FREE ticket. However, you have to buy meals on board. Its also free seating & didnt have any first class or business class seat.

So, go to their website and make your own choice !!

b) From all over the World to Kota Kinabalu.

Just take a flight to Kuala Lumpur from any airline services. Then, transit to Kota Kinabalu. If your country have direct flight to Kota Kinabalu..it’s a lot easier for you…just take that flight.

My Story ;

I take AirAsia because it’s a lot cheaper compared with MAS. I bought the ticket during AirAsia Anniversary promotion and it cost me RM359.90 for 2 person. (include tax & fuel surcharge)

3. Apply for Annual Leave.

After you have confirmed your flight tickets and Kinabalu Park booking, please make sure you apply enough annual leave. To climb Mount Kinabalu, it takes at least 3D 2N. However, i suggest that you plan your trip for 4D 3N. 3D 2N at Kinabalu Park & Laban Rata, then another 1 night at Kota Kinabalu. Furthermore, an extra one day should be better because it will take you at least 3-4 days before you can start walking like you used to after going down from Kinabalu. Alternatively, you can request MC from the doctor..haha..

My Story ;

Diyana & I had a little different plan. We planned our holiday for 6D 5N. 3D 2N for Kota Kinabalu sightseeing and another 3D 2N at Mount Kinabalu. After going down, we stayed another 1 night at Kota Kinabalu to rest our legs and enjoying cheap seafood!!!…ffuuhhh….

Best time to climb?

Based on my conversation with my mountain guide, the best time to climb is from January until April because it’s dry season and the sky is clear. so, you can take a better pictures..haha.

As for us, we’re lucky enough that during our time of climbing from Laban Rata to the Kinabalu’s Peak, the sky was so clear..so we could see chrystal clear view of sunrise & surrounding area from the peak of Kinabalu. When we look up above, the stars also seemed so close to us..and it’s a really beautiful night up there..thank God!!

Mount Kinabalu is located in East Malaysia state of Sabah, which is on the island of Borneo. Although Mount Kinabalu is the third tallest mountain in South East Asia, behind Hkakabo Razi of Myanmar (Burma) and Puncak Jaya of New Guinea – Indonesia but it’s still known as the most prominent mountain in South East Asia and ranked 20th in the World !!

In 1997, a re-survey using satellite technology established its summit (known as Low’s Peak) height at 4,095 metres (13,435 feet) above sea level, which is some 6 metres less than the previously thought and hitherto published figure of 4,101 metres (13,455 feet).

The main peak of the mountain (Low’s Peak) can be relatively easy to climb by a person in good physical condition, and requires no mountaineering equipment. Other peaks along the massif, however, require rock climbing skills.

The reason why i developed this website is to share my experiences and guide any of you that would like to climb the mountain. I only climbed Mount Kinabalu once with my wife in early April 2007. It’s such a great experience!!! We’re not active climbers..although I have climbed a few mountains such as Ledang, Jerai and Nuang in Peninsular Malaysia about 10 years ago… but my wife has never climbed any mountain yet. She’s not an athletic type of person but she decided to take Kinabalu as the challenge on her first attempt to climb a mountain. It’s almost unbelievable for me when she expressed her desire to climb Mount Kinabalu.

Before we started our journey to conquer Mount Kinabalu, we’ve received a lot of advice from our friends that have already been there. However, most of the advice seemed to be demoralizing both of us. Its always sounded difficult..so we had to buy a lot of extra stuff just to make sure we didn’t face any problem just like what they told us. However, most of it were useless and a waste of money!!! So, after going back from our trip, we decide to develop this website to give you our most sincere guide and tips on how to climb Mount Kinabalu based on our own experience.

Finally, this guide is actually an easy guide by unexperienced couple that already conquered Mount Kinabalu by hiking 8.72km from Kinabalu Park to Low’s Peak with a total time exactly 8 hours!!!