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    Kinabalu National Park
    Photo: Anton Zelenov / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0

    Malaysia

    Kinabalu National Park

    Point of Interest

    Kinabalu National Park in Sabah in northern Borneo protects the 4,095-meter-high Mount Kinabalu, the highest mountain in Malaysia.

    by Felix Gillen

    1. Home
    3. Destinations
    5. Malaysia
    7. Sabah
    9. Kinabalu National Park
    Kinabalu National Park in Sabah in northern Borneo protects the 4,095-meter-high Mount Kinabalu, the highest mountain in Malaysia. You come for the two-day summit climb to the sunrise or for the montane forests, which have been protected by UNESCO since 2000 as Malaysia's first World Heritage Site.On the way up, the vegetation changes from rainforest through cloud forest with pitcher plants and orchids to the bare granite dome. Even without the summit, the forest trails at the headquarters, the hot springs of Poring and the cool mountain village of Kundasang are worth it.

    Sehenswürdigkeiten

    Discover the most important sights and attractions

    Timpohon Gate

    1Timpohon Gate

    Starting point of the summit trail at around 1,870 meters, 5.5 kilometers above the headquarters. From here, it's about six kilometers to the Panalaban huts; most take three to six hours.
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    Poring Hot Spring
    Attraction

    2Poring Hot Spring

    The lower section of the park, roughly 40 kilometers from headquarters. Sulfurous water, emerging at up to 60 degrees Celsius from its source, feeds outdoor pools and private tubs, great for the legs after a summit climb. The treetop walk is approximately 158 meters long, suspended up to 41 meters above the forest floor, with last entry usually at 3 PM. A separate fee is charged for this, as well as for viewing a Rafflesia, which only blooms on select days.
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    Kundasang War Memorial
    Park

    3Kundasang War Memorial

    The 1962 memorial in Kundasang features four gardens: an Australian, an English, a Borneo garden, and a Garden of Reflection with a pond. It commemorates the Australian and British prisoners of war who died during the Second World War in Sandakan and on the death marches to Ranau, and the local people who helped them at great personal risk.
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    Mount Kinabalu Botanical Garden
    Attraction

    4Mount Kinabalu Botanical Garden

    Small mountain forest garden at Headquarters with orchids, pitcher plants, and other Kinabalu flora. A good place to get to know the flora you'll see on the ascent.
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    Kinabalu Park Headquarters
    Park

    5Kinabalu Park Headquarters

    Park entrance and center at around 1,500 meters. Here you pick up your summit permits, meet your mountain guide, and set off on the short forest trails around the headquarters, which are worthwhile even without summit plans.
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    Essen & Trinken

    1

    Ngiucap Kunkurad (D'Stella Kitchen)

    Simple eatery on the road to Kundasang, known for Ngiu Chap, Sabah's beef noodle soup. A good stop on the drive from Kota Kinabalu to the mountains.
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    2

    Liwagu Restaurant

    Restaurant right in the park near HQ. Perfect pre or post-hike, with Malay & Western dishes and mountain forest views.
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    D'Villa Rina Ria Lodge Kundasang, Sabah

    Park in KM 53.
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    3

    Peng Yu Restaurant

    Chinese eatery in Kundasang for Bak Kut Teh, the spicy herbal pork soup, and Steamboat. Just right for cool mountain evenings. Non-halal.
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    4

    Desa Cafe (Desa Dairy Farm)

    Café at the Mesilau dairy farm with cows on green pastures and Kinabalu in the background. Fresh milk, yogurt, and ice cream from their own production are available. Best visited in the morning before clouds obscure the summit.
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    The holy mountain

    For the Kadazan-Dusun, Kinabalu is a sacred mountain, seat of the guardian spirit Aki Nabalu. Many of the mountain guides and porters still come from the villages at its foot today.The highest peak is named after Hugh Low, a British colonial official who, in 1851, was the first European to reach the summit plateau with a Dusun guide. The highest point was only climbed in 1888 by the zoologist John Whitehead. On June 5, 2015, an earthquake triggered rockfalls, killing 18 people. In Kundasang, a memorial commemorates the prisoners of war who died in 1945 on the death marches from Sandakan to Ranau.

    Getting There and Park Trails

    ArrivalFrom Kota Kinabalu, minibuses and buses heading towards Ranau stop at the park entrance. Rental cars, Grab or a transfer organised by your climbing operator are more convenient. You register at park headquarters on the morning of the ascent; Timpohon Gate is 5.5 kilometres further up the park road. Poring is around 40 kilometres away, about an hour's drive, so you need a car or taxi.Mountain climateThe highlands are noticeably cooler than the coast. At the summit, temperatures range from about minus 4 to plus 12 degrees Celsius depending on the season. Pack warm clothing and rain gear.HealthThe summit lies above 4,000 metres. Before the climb, check the UK FCDO travel advice for Malaysia and consult your doctor.

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    Nearby

    Kota Kinabalu

    Kota Kinabalu

    Kota Kinabalu, or KK for short, is the capital of Sabah and for most, the starting point on Borneo. The city itself is more practical than beautiful, but conveniently located: Off the coast lie the islands of Tunku Abdul Rahman Park, and inland is Mount Kinabalu. Evenings, the waterfront night market with grilled fish is a must; on Sunday mornings, explore the Gaya Street market. For sunset, head to Tanjung Aru or climb Signal Hill.
    Sabah

    Sabah

    Sabah in northern Borneo is Malaysia's nature destination. In the west you can climb Mount Kinabalu, snorkel off Kota Kinabalu and hike the island forest of Pulau Gaya. The well-known wildlife areas of Sepilok, the Kinabatangan and Danum Valley, as well as the dive sites off Semporna, lie on the east coast, which is covered specifically by official travel advice. Kota Kinabalu is the starting point, with onward travel by bus or domestic flight.
    Pulau Gaya

    Pulau Gaya

    Pulau Gaya is, at around 15 square kilometers, the largest of the five islands in Tunku Abdul Rahman Park and lies directly opposite Kota Kinabalu. A forested ridge, up to 300 meters high, stretches across the island, with bays featuring sandy beaches, mangroves, and coral reefs along its edges.Around 20 kilometers of marked trails lead through the forest, including a boardwalk through a mangrove swamp. For swimming and snorkeling, you head to Police Beach on the north side. You can stay overnight in three resorts. At the eastern tip, outside the park, are large stilt villages.
    Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre

    Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre

    At the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre near Sandakan on the east coast of Sabah in northern Borneo, orphaned orangutans have been prepared for a life in the rainforest since 1964. During feeding times you can watch the great apes from just a few metres away, in a protected forest rather than a zoo.Sepilok lies near Sandakan on Sabah's east coast. Before any planning, check the UK FCDO travel advice, which covers eastern Sabah specifically.Right next door is the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre for rescued sun bears, and a few minutes away the Rainforest Discovery Centre with its canopy walkway.
    Sandakan

    Sandakan

    This port city on Sabah's east coast was the capital of British North Borneo until 1946. Today it is mainly a base for Sepilok, the Kinabatangan and the Turtle Islands.Sandakan lies on Sabah's east coast. Before any planning, check the UK FCDO travel advice, which covers eastern Sabah specifically.In town, the Agnes Keith House and Sandakan Memorial Park recall the colonial era and the Second World War, and the harbour is the place for fresh fish and seafood.

    Sources & method

    • Photos: Wikimedia Commons, Google Maps. Each photo carries its credit.
    • Place data such as addresses and ratings comes from Google Maps.
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