Mt. Kinabalu and World's Highest Via Ferrata

Reaching the summit of the highest mountain of Malaysia

📌 By Jakub Mikula | January 26, 2025

At the end of January 2025, I finally fulfilled a long-dreamed-of adventure: climbing Mount Kinabalu (4,095 m), the highest mountain in Malaysia. This long-awaited journey also included a thrilling experience on the world’s highest via ferrata, Mountain Torq—an unforgettable combination of natural beauty and adrenaline. On this hike, I would reach the highest altitude I had ever reached on foot, which made me very excited. Previously, I hiked Mt. Bromo (2,329 m), Mt. Ijen (2,799 m), and Mt. Agung (3,031 m) in Indonesia, as well as Mt. Apo (2,954 m) in the Philippines, which gave me a solid edge by building up mountain-hiking experience. However, this would be the first time I spent a night at a high-altitude base camp to acclimatize to lower oxygen levels before starting another high-altitude hike early the next morning to reach the summit.

Planning

Proper preparation is essential for this hike.

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Hiking Mount Kinabalu without a guide is not permitted, and the number of climbers allowed each day is limited, so booking well in advance is strongly recommended. I spent time browsing various websites to find a reliable travel agent who could handle all the required permits, fees, transportation, and provide a certified mountain guide. With no prior experience hiking Mount Kinabalu, I somewhat randomly chose Borneo Calling, which offers a comprehensive package including hotel pickup, park and climbing fees, accommodation at the base camp, a mountain guide, and the via ferrata experience. I was very pleased with the experience. There are many similar agencies available, but this one suited my needs well.

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I knew that Jan/Feb tend to be rainy months, but that didn’t discourage me. I hoped for decent weather, but also came prepared with a raincoat, waterproof pants, and a waterproof jacket.

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When I was preparing for the hike, I made sure to pack a few items that really made a difference during the trip. Here’s what ended up being the most important:

• Headlamp – It was necessary during the early morning ascent on day two.
• Waterproof rain gear – I brought along a raincoat, water-resistant pants, and a warm jacket. Layering with a T-shirt and pullover kept me cozy when the weather became cold and windy near the summit.
• Closed-toe shoes – I did fine with my running shoes for both hiking and the via ferrata; however, they got wet when it started raining.
• Full-fingered gloves – compulsory for the via ferrata, they protected my hands when I was handling the metal cables and navigating the rocky terrain.

Arriving in Kota Kinabalu a Day Early

I arrived in Kota Kinabalu on a direct flight from Singapore one day before the early-morning hotel pickup. This gave me the chance to unwind a little, explore the night market near the hotel, and get a proper night’s rest before embarking on the two-day hike. As the plane descended into Kota Kinabalu, an incredible view unfolded (I was lucky to have a window seat): rolling green hills, small fishing villages, and clusters of houses extending out over the water.

After landing at the airport, I booked a Grab to my hotel. I stayed at King Hotel, which is conveniently located next to the bus terminal and within walking distance of the night market.

Day 1 - Ascent to Base Camp

Early in the morning, I was picked up directly from my hotel by the tour driver, who collected a few more hikers from nearby hotels. Together, we set off through rugged hills and along winding mountain roads leading up to Kinabalu Park Headquarters. At the park, we were given a packed lunch and introduced to our mountain guides.

As I was traveling solo, I had a guide all to myself, which was great for flexibility and pacing. I saw other solo travelers around, as well as larger groups. Soon after being introduced to our guide, we took a small park van that drove us to the entrance gate (Timpohon Gate, 1,866 m), as no private cars were allowed to proceed further from the park.

At the park gate, we noted our names (to be signed off when returning) and set off. The first part of the trail was relatively easy and gently sloped upward, but it gradually became steeper and more demanding. We made several short stops to rest, hydrate, and admire the mist-covered forest around us. The weather was cloudy, but it did not rain. The higher we went, the foggier it became. By afternoon, we reached Laban Rata Base Camp (3,272 m), where we had dinner at a nearby restaurant and settled into shared dormitory accommodation.

The weather outside was chilly, drizzly, and windy, with fog limiting visibility, yet I felt deeply satisfied with my progress. There was also a mailbox to send postcards. I immediately took the opportunity to send a few to my friends.

In the evening, we attended a brief safety training to prepare for the next day’s via ferrata. This was a basic introduction to how to use the carabiners and safety ropes properly. After that, we could take showers (the water was ice-cold—I didn’t shower) and went to sleep. We slept in mixed dormitories, but the lights went off soon, and quiet took over as we fell asleep.

Day 2 - Summit and Via Ferrata Adventure

We woke up at 2:00 a.m., had a light breakfast with hot tea or coffee, and waited for the ranger’s weather update. If conditions were too windy or rainy, the summit climb could be canceled. Fortunately, the ranger—who climbed ahead of us to check the conditions—informed us that the weather had cleared, and we were allowed to proceed. Equipped with headlamps and gloves, we began the final ascent in complete darkness. There was still thick vegetation near the base camp, but the trail soon emerged above the treeline, revealing rocky terrain. With no trees to block the wind, the gusts were intense. After several steady hours of climbing, I reached the summit of Mount Kinabalu before 5:00 a.m.—exhausted but elated. Standing at the highest point in Malaysia, even in darkness, was an incredible moment.

I took a few quick photos before starting the descent, as I needed to hurry to reach the via ferrata entry point by 7:00 a.m. For those not doing the via ferrata, they had more time to reach the summit and admire the sunrise from there.

As I descended, the sky began to brighten, and the clouds below turned golden with the first light of day. It was a surreal sight—floating above the clouds.

When we reached the via ferrata point (right at the treeline), it was already bright. At the via ferrata starting point, our small group was briefed and fitted with helmets and harnesses. Gloves were essential since we were constantly handling the steel cables and carabiners.

In our group, there were three of us, with one guide leading the way. All of us were connected by one rope.

The via ferrata climb was an exhilarating experience—crossing narrow suspension bridges, scaling vertical ladders, and balancing on cables high above the cliffs. It was my first via ferrata, and I was both thrilled and slightly nervous.

I think the most exciting part was climbing the long ladder sections, where you had to look straight up and then pivot 180 degrees to face the mountain, attach yourself to a big boulder, and push yourself up to continue on the slippery slope. I was the first one after the guide to go, and the two friends were below me. Because the rope connecting us was not very long, it was important to coordinate properly on this segment of the route to keep everyone safe.

By the end, we were still enveloped in a thick, fast-moving cloud that gradually revealed small openings, through which warm sunrays unveiled breathtaking vistas below us. Our guide helped capture many fantastic photos along the way.

I felt great after finishing this, as it was an achievement I had never accomplished before. I was very satisfied with myself.

When we reached the base camp, my mountain guide was already waiting for me to guide me down. We had lunch and soon began the descent to Kinabalu Park Headquarters. Going down became harder and harder with each step, mainly because I was already exhausted and my legs were starting to feel numb. On top of that, it started raining—first as light showers, but soon as a strong downpour. I put on a raincoat, but my shoes still got wet. This slowed our descent, as we had to move carefully to avoid slipping. Overall, this was more difficult than going up. Finally, we reached the gate where I signed off, and we took the park van to the car park, where I was awarded my climbing certificate—a perfect way to end an unforgettable two-day adventure.