Am i fit enough to climb Mount Kota Kinabalu? Tips and my experience on the climb

Can I climb mount kota kinabalu given my current fitness level? I am sure this is the main concern in your mind before you decide to challenge this 4095m high peak. I just conquered mount KK 3 days ago ( yes, my legs are still aching), and i feel that the answer doesn't lie 100% in fitness.

It's a mind game

I am in my mid 20s, moderately active. I run 2 times (2-4km) and swim 500m weekly. For this climb, I trained weekly, scaling 40 storeys of stairs for one month (not much, I admit). What I thought will be a leisure climb left me both mentally and physically challenged.

These pictures do not do justice to the sheer beauty of the scenery

Now before you move on to google for relaxing beach resorts, hear me out. During my climb, I saw people in their 40s to 60s, both men and women, arriving at the peak. Wikitravel claims that the youngest to climb the mountain is 3 years old, while the oldest is at 80. 

The key is to persevere and even though it is just baby steps you are taking, you will eventually get there.

The route is 8.5 km long to hit the summit. A detailed account of my experience is given further below. I went in with the assumption that it will be a leisure climb and no preparation was needed. Boy, was I grossly wrong – I will definitely recommend you to read up and know what to expect.

Some of the tips I thought will be useful

• Be well equipped
• Against the Darkness: have your headlamp as you will need the light for your early morning climb
• Against the Cold: the temperature is 2 degrees in the early morning at the peak. Do have a thick jacket with you. Personally, I prefer layers of clothes as it will keep my baggage light.
• Against the Hunger: FOOD. There are no energy bars in the supermarkets of kota kinabalu. Get your own! You can find some chocolates, red bull, isotonic drinks there.
• Against the Terrain: hiking sticks. They are crucial to have when your knees start to hurt during the descent. You can actually get them at a outdoor equipment stall at centrepoint (Kota Kinabalu shopping mall.

Happiness is having a bite out of this Deep Fried, Crispy Chicken when you are totally drained. 

• Tip to enjoy your climb: get a porter to carry your load enjoy the climb. My group wanted to challenge ourselves by carrying our own load. If you will like a more relaxing climb,  You can engage a porter to carry your luggage at 6-10 ringgit per kg (includes both up and down climb)
• If you are not intending to get a porter, travel light. Your tour group will send you what's essential.

The porters make daily trips and can carry up to 40kg per trip!

The Journey

The first km is relatively simple. There are more flat and gentle slopes and occasional steps.
At the end of your 1st km, you will hit your first checkpoint, where there is a small shelter for you to take a break. Along the way there is a shelter roughly every 500m - 1km.

--Difficulty level 3/10--

Typical terrain from 1 - 4km

1km - 4km The ascend officially begins. Here you will tread higher steps for challenging distances. I am glad that my training is put to good use here as it felt entirely like climbing hdb stairs 2 steps at a time. Except that this time, it felt like there was no end to it. The trick is to not think about anything and keep climbing.

--Difficulty level 5/10--

4km - 6km If you think the first 4km was challenging, be prepared for worse.the terrain here transcends from more man made steps to a climb rocky. The level of ascend remains quite similar but there is the added challenge of maneuvering through the rocky ground.

--Difficulty level 7/10--

6km Mark

Our Camp!

At the end of the 6km mark, great news, you have reached the camp where you will stay for the night.

Here you will eat your dinner and be briefed on the next day arrangements. The dinner is a decent selection of rice, noodles, chicken, lamb, beef, vegetables, soup and some deserts. Not the level of a royal buffet, but ample enough to satisfy your hunger.

8 Man Dormitory @ Pendant Hut

There are different classes of lodging here. We took the cheapest option, which is the non-heated dormitories. It is quite cosy as there are 8 of us packed into bunk beds in a room. At night, don't count on getting quality sleep as firstly the bed is minimal and secondly your neighbours make all kinds of noise.

We had some shuteye at 8pm and had to wake up at 130am the next morning to prepare for the ascend to the peak.


6km - 8km
We were warned by a fellow mountaineer on his way down that the path gets harder. Indeed, beyond the 6km mark, the rocks get larger and more treacherous, and here you will see ropes and railings installed to aid your climb. At this point, it is still pitch dark except for the headlamps, but you will come to appreciate the ropes when you make your way down during the morning. Some areas will get you pumped with excitement... Just do not fall!

You will love the night sky here. Take some time to look up and admire the sky adorned with sparkling stars.

Catch the Sunrise

The final 0.5km
I ran out of energy here and mentally exhausted as well. However, at this point, I still had the energy to bask in the breathtaking scenery. I was above the clouds! I could also see the peak very clearly clustered with people taking their own achievement photos. I took very small steps, yet with every step my calves take a toll as the angle of ascend can go up to 60 degrees. I met many in my same predicament and yet they are pressing on in their own ways.

I met an old guy who told me it was his dream since young to climb this mountain, but just could not find the time. At that moment, I am glad I did this when I am still young - it would be double the challenge to surmount this peak if I am twice my age. Eventually, I saw him conquered the mountain as well, and that was a happy ending.

--Difficulty level 9/10--

--Satisfaction level 10/10--

The descent

After a customary picture at the peak, it was about 7am as I make my way down. The climb down is another ball game - you have to make an effort not to slip and fall while enduring the pain in your knees, calves and ankles.

One tip I received from my tour guide is to walk down in a zigzag manner (like you are skiing), rather than straight down. This helps to remove impact on your knees.

Climbers attempting the Ferrata

It was nice view down to the camp at 6km mark, but I was close to zero and my legs were shaking. Fortunately, you can recharge yourself with breakfast and a power nap. The breakfast is nothing fanciful - bread with peanutbutter/jam/butter, hardboiled eggs, sausages and beans, but better than nothing!

You will have to check out by 1130am at the camp and make your final descent. This time round, it is much easier, faster. There is still the mental endurance game to play as you are 6km away from your destination, but otherwise the descent is manageable.

Simply Breathtaking

Be sure to leave that little ounce of energy for a good photo :)

Hope this was useful to you
EUFASS