Kinabalu

Mount Kinabalu is a prominent granite massif in Sabah, Malaysia, on the island of Borneo. It rises to 4,095 metres above sea level, making it the highest mountain in Malaysia and the highest on Borneo. The peak is the centerpiece of Kinabalu National Park.

Kinabalu National Park was established in 1964 to protect the area’s biodiversity and landscape. It was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000. The park encompasses a wide climatic range and supports an exceptional diversity of plant species, including numerous orchids, ferns, and pitcher plants, with many endemic or endemic-to-Borneo species.

The park is notable for its biodiversity, housing thousands of plant species, as well as a diverse array of birds, mammals, and insects. Altitudinal gradients support montane, subalpine, and cloud forest habitats.

The standard climbing approach is via the Timpohon Gate, part of the Kinabalu Park trail network, with most climbers taking two days to complete the ascent, staying overnight at high-elevation lodge such as Laban Rata before reaching the summit at dawn. A permit from park authorities is required.

The name Kinabalu derives from local Dusun language, and the mountain holds cultural significance for Indigenous communities in Sabah.