River Junkie – fuel the addiction
River Junkie – fuel the addiction

River Junkie Tours Sdn. Bhd. — licensed Kota Kinabalu tour operator (KPL/LN5696), MATTA member, running wildlife safaris, Mount Kinabalu climbs and cave trips across Sabah and Sarawak since 2008.

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Via Ferrata route on the cliffs of Mount Kinabalu, Sabah

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Mount Kinabalu

2D1N Mount Kinabalu with Via Ferrata Low's Peak Circuit

2 days
1 nights
Departs Kota Kinabalu
Basic
Price fromRM 3,290
Low's Peak Circuit, 2 - 3 pax per booking, per person, Pendant Hut dormitory (2026)
Duration2 days
1 night on the road
DepartsKota Kinabalu
Groupmin 1 pax
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About this trip

Low’s Peak Circuit Via Ferrata is both the highest via ferrata in the world and the only via ferrata in Asia! Your ascent to Low’s Peak (4095m asl) will be made on the same trail as all climbers but after sunrise you will take a detour via a series of rungs, cables, bridges & ladders drilled into the rock face on Mount Kinabalu and access a whole different side of the mountain. No experience of rock climbing or mountaineering is required but this route adds 3 to 4 hours onto a long day of hiking and a head for heights, good stamina and a sense of adventure are required!

Highlights

  • Summit the highest peak between the Himalayas and New Guinea!
  • World's highest via ferrata activity on the descent
  • Views over the Crocker Range, valleys & villages
  • Private mountain guide and experienced Via Ferrata trainer

    • Trip facts

    Mount Kinabalu
    Jungle walks, Multi-day hikes, Summit Climb, Via Ferrata
    2 days of travel
    Physical difficulty 5 / 5
    Departs from Kota Kinabalu
    Minimum 1 pax per departure
    Rates: Prices valid until 31st Dec 2026 and subject to change without prior notice.
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    Day by day

    Day 1

    Low's Peak Circuit - Kota Kinabalu - Timpohon Gate - Pendant Hut

    The adventure begins with pick-up around 6:30 am in Kota Kinabalu (depending on accommodation and other guests) and proceed to Kinabalu Park traversing the Crocker Range with panoramic views of the surrounding hills; the focal point of which is Mount Kinabalu. Upon arrival to Kinabalu Park Headquarters (estimated 8:30-9:00 am), collect your packed lunch and proceed to register for your Mount Kinabalu summit climb and meet your guide for the trip. After registration, you will be transferred to Timpohon Gate (1,829m), from here you will begin your climb to Pendant Hut (3,289 m), your accommodation for the evening. Along the route to your accommodation, you will pass through four different elevation zones with notable vegetation and mammals. Keep your eye out for the famous pitcher-plants or the cheeky Kinabalu Mountain shrews, endemic to Mount Kinabalu. The average time to get to Pendant Hut (Panar Laban) will take about 5 hours; this may vary depending on stops and your fitness level. Upon arrival around 3pm, you will check into your accommodation for the evening and attend a mandatory via ferrata familiarization meeting conducted by the Mountain Torq Trainer between 3-4 pm. Rest before your buffet dinner at Laban Rata where you can enjoy the sunset from above the clouds. Once you finished, head to bed for an early night’s sleep after a long day of climbing. Meals: Packed Lunch and Buffet Dinner

    Day 2

    Summit push & Low's Peak Circuit

    Depending on the time your guide has told you, wake-up around 2:00 am to have a quick supper at Pendant Hut before continuing the climb to the summit of Mt Kinabalu (4095m). Your headtorch will guide you through the dark as you make your way before sunrise. Reach Low’s Peak around the time the sun begins to make an appearance (weather dependent). Congratulations! You’ve successfully reached the highest point between the Himalayas and New Guinea, also the most prominent peak in S.E. Asia. With your guide, begin your descent to the meeting point at 7.5 km for the Low’s Peak Circuit activity around 6:30 am, during the activity complete various cabled activities as you enjoy the views of the Crocker Range plateaus, valleys and nearby villages. Around 11 am, after the activity, join your guide back to Pendant hut to enjoy a well-deserved breakfast before checking out at 12:00 pm and meeting with your guide to begin the descent back to Timpohon gate. Once you reach back to Timophon gate, meet our River Junkie driver where he will transfer you to Park Headquarters where you could collect your certificate saying you’ve successfully conquered Mount Kinabalu (optional, RM 10 per certificate), and an optional Via Ferrata certificate for successful completion of the via ferrata. Depending on how long it takes you to arrive back at Timpohon gate, there will either be time to have a sit-down lunch or get takeaway lunch (own arrangement) before departing back to Kota Kinabalu. Arrival time into Kota Kinabalu varies depending on your walking speed and other climbers (transfers are shared with other River Junkie climbers), normally arrival time is anywhere between 4 - 7 pm. Meals: Early Supper, Breakfast

    Where you'll stay

    Pendant Hut climbers lodge on Mount Kinabalu, Sabah

    Pendant Hut

    Panalaban, Mount Kinabalu, Sabah
    Pendant Hut sits at 3,289 m on the Panalaban rock face on Mount Kinabalu and is reserved exclusively for climbers who book the Via Ferrata. Climbers sleep in dormitory-style accommodation with warm sleeping & solar-heated showers provided. This is the closest accommodation to the start of the summit trail so you will have a few less steps to climb at 2am than everyone else.
  • Dormitory bed8 - 14 beds per room (bunk beds) with sleeping bags provided
  • Private dormitoryDormitory provided on a private basis, communal bathroom facilities, surcharge applies.
    • Facilities8 to 10 bed dormitories. Shared bathrooms have solar-heated showers but hot water cannot be guaranteed. Breakfast and post-midnight supper served at the hut. Dinner is taken at the Laban Rata canteen a short walk away. Drinking water and hot drinks are available all day.
    Good to knowPendant Hut is only available to guests booked on a Mountain Torq Via Ferrata route. Nights at this altitude are cold, so bring warm layers, gloves and a headlamp. You can leave anything you don't need on your bed when you set off for the summit and pick it up when you return for breakfast. Towels are not provided so bring your own small travel towel.
    A closer look

    What's included

  • 3 Meals and one early supper as per itinerary
  • 1 night stay at Pendant Hut (dormitory bed) 3,289m
  • Scheduled return transfers from Kota Kinabalu (join-in basis)
  • Private mountain guide (max 5 climbers per guide)
  • Via Ferrata trainer
  • Climbing permit, insurance and entrance fees
  • River Junkie price guarantee.

    • Not included

  • Additional soft/alcoholic drinks
  • Optional certificate of completion RM10
  • Malaysian tourism tax for private room only (RM10/night)
  • Guide overtime RM15 per hour after 4pm on descent day
  • Unscheduled transfer surcharge of RM300 per van for climbers reaching Timpohon gate after 7pm on descent day

    • Prices

    Low’s Peak Circuit - 1 paxRM 3690per person
    Low’s Peak Circuit - 2 - 3 paxRM 3290per person
    Low’s Peak Circuit - 4 - 6 paxRM 3190per person
    Low’s Peak Circuit - 7+ paxRM 3100per person
    Pricing notesOptional certificate of completion — RM 10 Guide overtime per hour after 4pm on descent day — RM 15 Unscheduled transfer surcharge per van for climbers reaching Timpohon gate after 7pm on descent day — RM 300 Malaysian rate: Malaysian IC holder discount - Low's Peak Circuit — RM 340 (discount off the international rate)
    ChildrenOver 16 years of age; over 1.3m tall and under 100kg.
    Rate validityPrices valid until 31st Dec 2026 and subject to change without prior notice.

    Frequently asked questions

    What is the Low's Peak Circuit?
    The Low's Peak Circuit is a via ferrata route situated at 3,776m above sea level and is the highest via ferrata circuit in the world. It is a 3 to 4 hour route which you follow on the way down from the summit and includes rest stops at scenic locations. The route's thread-like tightrope walks and swinging planks will have you convinced that the course designers are sadistic, but that's what makes it so fun.
    Is this trip right for me?
    The Low's Peak Circuit is designed for the brave and active individual with above-average fitness levels, so you should be physically fit and mentally comfortable in this sort of outdoor environment, comfortable with heights and exposure, or ready to get over your fear of them. You must be over 16 years old for the Low's Peak Circuit, over 1.3m tall and under 100kg. No previous climbing experience is required.
    Are there any medical or documentation requirements?
    Certain medical conditions may prevent you from joining this trip, so if you have any pre-existing medical conditions please ask for advice at the time of booking to ensure you are able to do the climb. A passport or identity card is required for all climbers for registration at the Sabah Parks office.
    What equipment do I have to bring?
    Gloves are mandatory, and a simple pair of non-slip gardening gloves is best to help you hold the rungs and cables; there is no need to bring expensive gloves as they may get ripped or damaged. You also need a head torch to find your way to the summit in the dark. To take part in the via ferrata you must be wearing running shoes, trekking shoes or walking boots with laces, as no slip-on shoes or Adidas Kampung (local rubber shoes) are allowed.
    Is there a cut-off time on the first day?
    Yes. All climbers taking part in a via ferrata activity must reach Pendant Hut by 3.30pm at the latest on the first day of their climb, and climbers missing the mandatory safety briefing will not be permitted to join the activity the following day. Most reasonably fit climbers arrive at Pendant Hut between 1.30 and 3pm.
    Where will I sleep on the mountain?
    You spend one night at Pendant Hut (3,289m) in a dormitory bed, arriving around 3pm after roughly a 5 hour climb from Timpohon Gate (1,829m). You attend a mandatory via ferrata familiarisation meeting with the Mountain Torq trainer between 3 and 4pm, then rest before your buffet dinner at Laban Rata where you can enjoy the sunset from above the clouds.
    What is included and what does it cost?
    The package includes 3 meals and one early supper, one night at Pendant Hut in a dormitory bed, scheduled return transfers from Kota Kinabalu on a join-in basis, a private mountain guide (maximum 5 climbers per guide), a via ferrata trainer, and your climbing permit, insurance and entrance fees. International rates per person are RM3,690 for 1 pax, RM3,290 for 2 to 3 pax, RM3,190 for 4 to 6 pax and RM3,100 for 7+ pax, with a RM340 discount for Malaysian IC holders. Prices are valid until 31st December 2026 and subject to change without prior notice.
    What happens in the event of bad weather?
    You will be making your summit attempt first thing in the morning when the weather is normally at its best, but from time to time the Sabah parks rangers will close the summit trail & Via Ferrata if they deem it too dangerous to make the summit attempt. In the event that the weather is not at it's best and the trail is closed we will unfortunately not be able to offer any refund as the money you have paid has gone towards your climbing permits, accommodation, meals, guide, insurance and transfers, all of which are non-refundable.
    How far in advance should I book?
    The most popular months are March to August and it's recommended to book well in advance over this period, especially around Easter which always sells out very quickly. The rest of the year, you may be able to book a few weeks ahead, if your dates are flexible.
    Do I have to wait for other climbers before returning to Kota Kinabalu?
    Our transfers are done on a join-in basis with other climbers but since Low's Peak Circuit takes 3 - 4 hours longer than the standard climb, you are unlikely to have to wait for anyone other than other climbers doing Low's Peak Circuit. Our drivers stay in communication with our mountain guides to asses whether additional vehicles will be needed.

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    Ready to book, or still deciding?

    Tell us your dates and we will come back with availability, the total cost and honest advice — including when a different trip would suit you better.

    Getting between destinations: we also run private van and 4X4 transfers across Sabah and a daily Kota Kinabalu to Sandakan shuttle — ask us to add either to your trip.

    WhatsApp / phone: +60 11 1265 8581
    Email: info@river-junkie.com
    Hours: 8am–5pm, Monday to Sunday
    Office: Wisma Sabah, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah

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