Yet the park, which stretches over 49km2, has much to offer tourists and locals alike. And not just facilities and services either, but animal life as well.

From the highest forest canopies towering above Gaya island as high as 300m, down to the deepest crevasses on the coral coral reefs, the park teems with life, some documented, some undiscovered, but all of it wild.

Tunku Abdul Rahman – A Little Wildlife Park

Gaya, the largest island in the park, is host to a remarkable amount of wild life. The island, which is undeveloped for the most part, covers and area of about 15km2 and is still capable of providing its animal inhabitants with sufficient shelter and hiding place.

Jungle paths, ideal for a day of jungle trekking, criss-crosses the entire island and can easily occupy the intrepid explored for 3 – 6 hours. Animal sightings occur often with potential to see wild boar, long tailed macaques, monitor lizards and snakes of various sizes.

Whilst the other islands might not have the exciting variety of the ground based animal life found on Gaya, canopies across the park are alive with the chatter of numerous bird species. It is sure to satisfy even the most discerning ornithologist.

Diving The Park

Once you venture below the surface a whole new world opens up to you. Whenever Sabah and diving are mentioned in the same sentence, Sipadan is usually in there too. The TAR Park, however, is literally a treasure hidden in plain sight.

If you dive for the pleasure of experiencing everything the underwater world has to offer, then the TAR park will not disappoint. However, ensure you choose an operator passionate about diving and about the park, then the potential of the park will be apparent.

With wildlife and sea creatures to discover within cheap and easy reach of everybody in Kota Kinabalu, the TAR park truly is must-visit during your stay here.

In order to prepare your wallet for the climb in addition to your legs, below is a recent list of fees that you can expect to pay when you attempt to climb Mt Kinabalu.

As you probably know, there are two summit trails via which you can climb Mt Kinabalu, and the fees are reflected accordingly below. The fees are charged by Sabah Parks and the information is from them. Changes can take place without reflecting on this website, so please use it as a guide only.

1. Park Entrance Fees (Compulsory)

Malaysians RM3 pp
Internationals RM15 pp

2. Mountain Guide Fees (Compulsory)

Timpohon Gate – Peak – Timpohon Gate
1-3 Climbers – RM70 per trip
4-6 Climbers – RM74 per trip
7-8 Climbers – RM80 per trip

Timpohon – Peak – Mesilau Trail
* Starting and ending at different point
1-3 Climbers – RM80 per trip
4-6 Climbers – RM86 per trip
7-8 Climbers – RM92 per trip

Mesilau Trail – Peak – Mesilau Trail
1-3 Climbers – RM84 per trip
4-6 Climbers – RM90 per trip
7-8 Climbers – RM100 per trip

3. Climbing Permit (Compulsory)

Malaysians RM30 pp
Internationals RM100 pp

4. Insurance (Compulsory)

RM7 per person

5. Certificate (Optional)

RM10 per person

6. Optional Porter Fees (Optional)

The fees below are if you insist on taking up something heavy that you either don’t want or can’t carry by yourself. Your guide, or if it’s heavy stuff an additional porter, will do all the lugging for you; at a price, of course.

Mesilau Trail / Timpohon Gate
To Laban Rata – RM76 per trip (up to 10 Kg)
To Sayat-Sayat – RM88 per trip (up to 10 Kg)
To the summit – R100 per trip (up to 10 Kg)

Timpohon Gate / Timpohon
To Laban Rata – RM66 per trip (up to 10 Kg)
To Sayat-Sayat – RM80 per trip (up to 10 Kg)
To the summit – R88 per trip (up to 10 Kg)

Mesilau Trail / Mesilau
To Laban Rata – RM88 per trip (up to 10 Kg)
To Sayat-Sayat – RM100 per trip (up to 10 Kg)
To the summit – R110 per trip (up to 10 Kg)

Bus Transfer to Timpohon Gate (Optional – but it’s a bit of a walk)

Less than 5 persons – RM15 per way
5 persons & above – RM4 per person per way

Also refer to Climb Mt Kinabalu for more information about the climb itself.

But climbing Mt. Kinabalu is not an impossible achievement. Mt. Kinabalu is one of Sabah’s main attractions, together with the World Heritage Site that is Kinabalu Park. Every year, thousands of climbers will climb Mt. Kinabalu, which touches the heavens at 4,095m. Most of those who attempt to climb Mt. Kinabalu succeed. All that is needed is a little preparation and a lot of determination, and you too can climb Mt. Kinabalu.

The starting point to the summit trail of Mt. Kinabalu is Kinabalu Park Headquarters, located some 1,500m above sea level. Kinabalu Park is roughly 2 hours drive from Kota Kinabalu and is on an easy, if steep, winding path that will bring you to the start of your summit attempt. Many people ask if they should arrange things in advance, and the answer is “yes, you should”.

If you arrange nothing else, you should at least have accommodation at Laban Rata, a collective name for the resting area at about 3300m, where climbers usually arrive early evening and wait until early the next morning to take on the final few kilometers to the summit. If you time it right, leaving at about 2am, depending on your pace, you will be at the top, at Low’s Peak, just in time for sunrise; one of he most unique places on earth from where to see the day break.

Laban Rata, consists of dorm-type accommodation and cluster units and is managed by Sutera Sanctuary Lodges, which is part of Sutera Harbour Resort. Getting accommodation at Laban Rata can be a bit tricky as you can only book 6 months in advance, and usually even that far in advance, bed-nights tends to be quickly snapped up by tour operators who package the accommodation together with tours and other transfers.

Therefore, if you have no luck finding availability for your climb of Mt. Kinabalu through Sutera Sanctuary Lodges directly, then going to one of the many tour operators in Kota Kinabalu will likely yield results. Don’t be afraid to barter.

On the other hand, it is often quite possible to pick up last minute cancellations on the day or the day before a climb, however there is no way knowing whether or not something will be available, so this approach is not recommended.

Once you have your accommodation sorted, the rest is relatively easy. On the day of your climb, at the park entrance, you need to check-in at the Sutera Sanctuary Lodges reception desk. Here you will pay for your accommodation, after which you will take the receipt to another window in the reception area where Sabah Parks will issue your climbing permit, insurance and assign you a guide. You are then almost ready to start.

After a short bus ride up a steep slope, you are dropped off at the Timpohon Gate, officially the starting point (and end point) of your climb of Mt. Kinabalu, located at 1,563m. After this, a mere 8.7km lie between you in the summit of Mt. Kinabalu. The rest, is up to you.

At Laban Rata there are various units that can accommodate you:

• Laban Rata Resthouse – dormitory-style in configurations of 4, 6 and 8;
• Laban Rata I – a private unit that can sleep 4, part of the main block;
• Laban Rata II – a private unit that can sleep 2, also part of the main block;
• Gunting Lagadan Hut – similar to Laban Rata, but a little higher up and unheated;
• Panar Laban Hut – Dormitory-style for up to 8 people in an unheated room;
• Waras Hut – The first accommodation you will pass, can sleep 8 unheated;

In total there are roughly 140 beds at Laban Rata, of which Laban Rata Rest House is most popular, because it’s a) where the food is, and b) it has both hot showers and heated rooms, making for a comfortable rest area for your precious rest stop before your final assault on the summit of Mt. Kinabalu.

In lieu of space at Laban Rata Resthouse, do ask for alternative accommodations, as if you’re traveling from far and have to climb the mountain on a certain day, then anything will do. All the accommodations are not too far from Laban Rata Rest House and will thus serve the purpose.

If you feel like you’ll need extra insulation, or if you’re not as prepared as you should be, you can obtain the following items from the Sutera Sanctuary Lodges Reception Desk at Laban Rata Rest House (prices are 2007, will update soon with 2008):

• Sleeping bag @ RM10 each;
• Blankets @ RM10 each;
• Towels @ RM10 each;
• Torchlight @ RM15 each (or RM10 if you have your own batteries);

You’ll find a list of suggested items below – think carefully about what else you would like to take up. For seriously bulky items that you don’t even want to climb with, there is a left-luggage facility at Kinabalu Park Headquarters. In order for you to take up only the barest of essentials to the summit, you can either leave your stuff in your room at Laban Rata, or you can leave it at the Reception Desk.

Here’s the list:

• Rain jacket (insulated is handy, although cheap poncos on top of warm clothing also suffice);
• Walking shoes – it doesn’t have to be hardcore trekking gear (no serious off-roading on the Mt. Kinabalu summit trail), just something that won’t slip easily on wet rock;
• Warm clothing, something you can peal in layers;
• Torchlight; something head mounted will make life easiest when you scamper;
• Plenty of batteries for torch and camera, and don’t forget a big memory card for the cam either;
• A balaclava / beanie; and
• Gloves – cheap PVC gloves or similar works best, as unlike wool, they wont shred on the rough ropes you will be holding on to.

All reasonable care have been taken to ensure the amounts references in this post is correct, but prices can change without notice (in fact, they have already, will update soon).