Mount Kinabalu

Mount Kinabalu is the highest mountain on the island of Borneo Eastern Malaysia. It is a protected zone and called as Kinabalu National Park, it has been chosen by USESCO as World Heritage Site. Kinabalu is the tallest peak in Borneo's Crocker Range of mountains it is the 4th tallest mountain in the Malay Archipelago after Indonesian Papua's Puncak Jaya, Puncak Trikora and Puncak Mandala

The mountain and its surroundings are among the most important biological and ecological heavens in the world, with over 4500 species of plant, 326 species of birds, and 100 mammalian species identified. Among this rich collection of wildlife are famous species such as the gigantic Rafflesia plants and the orangutan.

2 DAYS KINABALU PARK & PORING Tour (FROM /KOTA KINABALU)

Climbing Mount Kinabalu

The main peak of the mountain (Low's Peak) can be climbed quite easily by a person in peak physical condition. If not fit enough, though, the climb can be very hard despite there being no need for mountaineering equipment at any point on the main route. Other peaks along the massif, however, require rock climbing skills.

You can take a taxi from Kota Kinabalu. The two most important things that you have to do before you go to Kinabalu Park HQ are accommodation and fees and equipment preparation. It is advisable to follow the trail from Mesilau. For a proper appreciation of your climb, it will be good to spend 3 days and 2 nights at the mountain.

You will have to spend tw nihghts it on a different place and at a different altitude level. You have to stay in Kinabalu Park HQ on the first night and Laban Rata on the second night.

Kinabalu Park HQ is the usual place climbing starts. ou also need to register yourself and get your guide and porter (if necessary) and also the place for you to stay for the first night.

Sabah Park, the Kinabalu Park authorities will be responsible for the climbing facilities.

Make reservations for the first night at Kinabalu Park HQ with Sutera Sanctuary Lodges. Most of the climbers choose the hostel because it is also the starting point for climbing Also book a place in Laban Rata, for second night. There are also various types of accommodations in Panar Laban for you to choose.

There are several restaurants in Kinabalu Park and Laban Rata for lunch and dinners. You may also bring your own food

FEES FOR CLIMBING MOUNT KINABALU

This is the part that most of the climbers do not know. Apart from having a place to sleep and rest during the climb, you would also have to pay fees to Kinabalu Park authorities, Sabah Park. It is usually not included with the accommodation fees

ENTRANCE FEE

Adult: RM 3.00 per person for Malaysian & RM 15.00 per person for foreigners
MOUNTAIN GUIDE FEE (Timpohon Gate / Peak / Timpohon Gate)

1-3 Climbers - RM70.00 per trip
4-6 Climbers - RM74.00 per trip
7-8 Climbers - RM80.00 per trip

MOUNTAIN GUIDE FEE (Timpohon / Peak / Mesilau Trail) * Starting and ending at different point

1-3 Climbers - RM80.00 per trip
4-6 Climbers - RM86.00 per trip
7-8 Climbers - RM92.00 per trip

MOUNTAIN GUIDE FEE (Mesilau Trail / Peak / Mesilau Trail)

1-3 Climbers - RM84.00 per trip
4-6 Climbers - RM90.00 per trip
7-8 Climbers - RM100.00 per trip

CLIMBING PERMIT

Adult: RM 30.00 per person for Malaysians RM 100.00 per person for foreigners
Below 18 years RM 12.00 per person RM 40.00 per person

INSURANCE
RM7.00 per person

CLIMBING CERTIFICATE
RM 10.00 per person

PORTER FEE (IF A PORTER IS NEEDED) * Mesilau Trail / Timpohon Gate
To Laban Rata - RM76.00 / trip (10 Kg)
To Sayat-Sayat - RM88.00 per trip (10 Kg)
To Summit - RM100.00 per trip (10 Kg)

* Timpohon Gate / Timpohon Gate
To Laban Rata - RM66.00 per trip (10 Kg)
To Sayat-Sayat - RM80.00 per trip (10 Kg)
To Summit - RM88.00 per trip (10 Kg)

* Mesilau Trail / Mesilau Trail
To Laban Rata - RM88.00 / trip (10 Kg)
To Sayat-Sayat - RM100.00 per trip (10 Kg)
To Summit - RM110.00 per trip (10 Kg)

TRANSFER TO TIMPOHON GATE
5 persons & below RM 30.00 per way

6 persons & above RM 8.00 per pax return

Mount Kinabalu summit Low Peak has a height of 4.095 metres (13.435 feet). Low's Peak can be relatively easily climbed by a person with basic fitness and requires no mountaineering equipment, but other peaks along the massif require rock climbing skills. It is really worth a visit, when you stand there at the highest summit, you can see the splendour of Sabah in all directions.

Mount Kinabalu area is well-known worldwide for its tremendous botanical and biological species biodiversity, with high levels of endemism (i.e. species which are found only within Kinabalu Park and are do not grow anywhere else in the world). The Mount Kinabalu area has one of the world’s richest orchid flora with over 800 species, over 600 species of ferns (more than the whole of Africa’s 500 species) of which 50 are found nowhere else.

There are many explanations about the name Kinabalu, but the most plausible is that it comes from the local Dusinic languages and is derived from “Aki Nabalu” which means “The revered place of the dead”

Origan of the name Kinabalu

There are two stories that led to the main beliefs in the origin of the mountain's name. The first derivation of the word Kinabalu is extracted from the short form for the Kadazan Dusun word 'Aki Nabalu', meaning "the revered place of the dead".

The second source states that the name "Kinabalu" actually means "Cina Balu" (which would fully mean "A Chinese Widow"). Due to the lingual influence among the Kadazan Dusun of Sabah, the pronunciation for the word "cina" (chee-na) was changed to "Kina" (kee-na).

It was said that a Chinese prince, was cast away to Borneo when his ship sank in the middle of the South China Sea. He was subsequently rescued by the natives from a nearby village. As he recovered, he was slowly accepted as one of the people of the village. Eventually, he fell in love with a local woman, and married her. Years went by, and he started to feel homesick. So he asked permission from his newly-found family to go back to China to visit his parents (the Emperor and Empress of China). To his wife, he promised that as soon as he was done with his family duties in China, he would come back to Borneo to take her and their children back to China.

When he made his return to China, he was given a grand welcome by his family. However, to his dismay, his parents disagreed with him about taking his Bornean wife back to China. Worse, they told him that he was already betrothed to a princess of a neighbouring kingdom. Having no choice (due to high respect towards his parents), he obeyed with a heavy heart.
Meanwhile, back in Borneo, his wife grew more and more anxious. Eventually, she decided that she will wait for her husband's ship. However, since the village was situated far away from the coast, she couldn't afford to come to the shore and wait for him daily. Instead she decided to climb to the top of the highest mountain near her village, so that she could have a better view of the ships sailing in the South China Sea. Thus, she was then seen climbing up the mountain at every sunrise, returning only at night to attend to her growing children.
Eventually her efforts took their toll. She fell ill, and died at the top of the cold mountain while waiting for her husband. The spirit of the mountain, having observed her for years, was extremely touched by her loyalty towards her husband. Out of admiration for this woman, the spirit of the mountain turned her into a stone. Her face was made to face the South China Sea, so that she could wait forever for her dear husband's return.

The people in her hometown who heard about this were also gravely touched by this. Thus, they decided to name the mountain "Kinabalu" in remembrance of her. To them, the mountain is a symbol of the everlasting love and loyalty that should be taken as a good example by women.

Local legend among the people of Ranau, a district in Sabah, has it that St. John's Peak was the stone which her body was turned into.