Packing for Mount Kinabalu is about taking everything you need and nothing that you don’t: it keeps your backpack light and makes the climb that little bit easier. Check the list below a few days before your climb and again after you have packed, so nothing is missing at Kinabalu Park. Bring your original passport or Malaysian IC: it is required for registration, and you will be issued a climber ID tag that must be worn on the trail at all times. Via Ferrata climbers, read to the end, as there are a few extra items you will need.
Packing for Mount Kinabalu: the list
Clothing
- T-shirts
- Thermal long-sleeve top
- Fleece
- Trekking trousers, leggings or shorts
- Wind- and rain-proof jacket
- Sturdy, comfortable footwear
- Extra socks
- Hat, scarf and gloves
Personal items
- Travel-size toiletries and a travel towel
- Your own medication
- Basic first-aid kit: plasters, blister plasters, paracetamol, rehydration salts
- Tissues or toilet paper
- Cash for snacks, guide tips or guide overtime
Food and drink
- 2 litres of water
- High-energy snacks
- Space in your bag for the packed lunch you are given before setting off
Other essentials
- Hiking poles (these can also be rented at the park)
- Head torch
- Waterproof cover or a plastic bag to line your pack
- Phone or camera and a charger or power bank
Packing tips
- Aim for a small backpack of no more than 7 kg including your 2 litres of water.
- Use the luggage storage room at Kinabalu Park for anything you do not need on the mountain (RM12 per bag, any size).
- Do not bring a sleeping bag. Blankets are provided at Laban Rata and sleeping bags at Pendant Hut.
- Hire a porter if you would like to: they and their families rely on climbers for their income.
- Wrap the contents of your bag in a plastic bag in case of heavy rain, especially electronics.
- For the summit push, leave everything you do not need at your accommodation and take only warm clothes, head torch, water, snacks and your camera or phone. After sunrise you return to the resthouse for breakfast and collect the rest of your things before descending to Park HQ.
What to wear on the climb
At Timpohon Gate, where the climb begins, the temperature is usually 18 to 24 degrees, and most climbers start in shorts or leggings and a T-shirt. By Layang-Layang shelter, where you stop for lunch, it starts to cool and you may want to add a fleece or raincoat.
Your accommodation at Panalaban sits at about 3,270 m and the temperature there is typically 8 to 12 degrees. After checking in you will want trousers, a thermal layer and a fleece, plus a jacket if you spend time outside.
At 2am you dress quickly for the summit: trousers, thermal layer, fleece and jacket. The walk keeps you warm, but once you reach the exposed granite near Low’s Peak and stop to watch the sunrise you will cool down fast. Bring gloves, a hat and a scarf: the summit is typically 0 to 3 degrees with wind chill on top.
Extra notes for Via Ferrata climbers
- Gloves are mandatory on the Via Ferrata route. Basic lightweight gardening gloves are ideal for gripping the metal cables.
- You must wear lace-up shoes such as running shoes, trail runners or hiking boots. Rubber boots, sandals and rubber shoes are not permitted; ask us in advance if you are unsure.
- Bring snacks. You leave Pendant Hut after a light supper at 2am and are not back until between 9am and midday, depending on your route, having summited and completed the Via Ferrata in between.
Ready to climb?
See our Mount Kinabalu climbing packages, read Climbing Mount Kinabalu: the basics for the trail and fitness questions, or ask us about anything on this list.
