Adventure Alternative

Across the Roof of Borneo

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In a nutshell

This expedition will give a fantastic overview of Mt Kinabalu and her surrounding habitats.  It will appeal to people who want to explore Kinabalu by trekking through very remote, challenging terrain, where very few people have been before. It is demanding but achievable, needing a reasonable level of fitness; but more so, a desire and ambition to undertake a very special journey across one of the great mountains of the world.

• 13’455 feet/4101m high point – Borneo’s highest peak
• A challenging and remote expedition, way off the beaten track
• Fully supported and Professionally Guided
• A real adventure ascending many peaks and exploring areas where few have ever been!

We will be carrying all our own food and equipment, being totally self sufficient with a re-supply of food and fuel half way through the expedition. This expedition is different from our standard Borneo adventure holiday, being more demanding.

Our Route and the Area

Initially we ascend the Mesilau route to the Eastern plateau. We then traverse to the Western plateau, where we will have the opportunity to ascend many of the peaks of the mountain, and fully explore the summit plateau. We then cross back to the eastern plateau, and follow the North ridge to eventually descend to the lower rainforest and reach a village which has road access back to Kota Kinabalu.

At 4,101metres (13,455feet) Kinabalu is the highest mountain in Borneo, and in the whole region between the Himalayas and the snow mountains of New Guinea. Lacking foothills it appears to shoot straight up into the sky, it’s jagged granite peaks floating high above the clouds.

The mountain is U shaped. There is a bare rock plateau at about 3,900m, on top of the two arms called the Eastern and Western plateaus. In between is the infamous Lows Gully, which is over one kilometer deep in places.

One of the biggest attractions of Mt Kinabalu is its range of exotic plants. As we ascend the mountain the climate changes, and so do the plants. Bamboo, mosses, orchids, rotans, lichens and pitcher plants are in profusion. The insect life is one of the most diverse known to man. We will also encounter an immense variety of bird and animal species.

Kinabalu has been described as “ the most wonderful mountain in the world”. No mountain exceeds Kinabalu in its sheer strength and stark simplicity. The secret of this strength, this wonder, which stays with you from the very first sight through a lifetime, is the way the mountain is set, near the equator, rising darkly straight out of the tropical rainforest, one continuous, clean, black, bare rock mass to the summit.

Due to its breathtaking isolation Kinabalu has its own climate, a constant flux of cloud, wind, rain, cold, sunshine and warmth from the forest below.

Day	Itinerary
Day 1	Depart home, flight to Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
Day 2	Arrive Kota Kinabalu. Transfer to Faridas B and B. Dinner and overnight.
Day 3	Depart by road to Mt Kinabalu Mesilau resort. Trek to camp 1 7,750ft
Day 4	Trek to Camp 2: 10,200ft
Day 5	Trek to Camp 3: 10,800ft
Day 6	Trek to Camp 4: 11,100ft
Day 7	Climb up to the Eastern Plateau, and traverse to the Western Plateau. Overnight West Gurkha hut. 3,900m, 12,800ft
Day 8	Explore peaks and summit plateau. Overnight West Gurkha hut
Day 9	Explore peaks and summit plateau. Overnight West Gurkha hut
Day 10	Traverse to Eastern Plateau. Hike along North ridge and descend to camp at about 8,500ft
Day 11	Continue descent to river and trek through rainforest
Day 12	Arrive Melankap Kapa village. Transport to Kota Kinabalu. Overnight Faridas B and B
Day 13	Visit to off shore islands. Evening international flight
Day 14	Arrive home

Note: For a detailed day by day itinerary click here.

Included in Expedition Fee:

Scheduled hotel nights and hut fees
Welcome and farewell dinner
Transport to and from airport, to Kinabalu National Park and back to Kota Kinabalu
All food whilst on the mountain and fuel for stoves
Tents and cooking gear
Expedition permit
Porter for extra food, fuel etc
Western guide

Not Included in the Fee:

International airfare to Kota Kinabalu
Unscheduled hotels and meals
Personal equipment
Items of a personal nature eg: phone calls, laundry etc
Expedition insurance
Alcoholic beverages
Island boat fee and tax

Equipment:

A variety of clothing will be necessary for your trip. This list is designed to help you choose the right gear for the demands of the trek. The emphasis being lightweight and functional hence the items you choose to bring should be lightweight and functional. When making the final decision about what goes into your pack, remember that it’s a fine science of taking just enough clothes and accessories to do the job, while not over burdening yourself with items you probably will not use.

80 litre rucksack
Waterproof inner or 3 quality garbage bags (KK)
Medium or full length closed cell foam sleeping pad
Sleeping bag rated to +5c
Sleeping sheet
Base layer for sleeping
Medium fleece sweater
Lightweight fleece pants
Trekking clothes: either T-shirt / shorts or lightweight long pants and shirt
Variety of clothing for travel, dining in restaurants, and the heat and humidity of the coast
Swimming costume, small towel
Lightweight trekking boots with good ankle support and rugged sole
3 pairs of socks
Underwear
Rubber flip flops (KK) for camp, hut
Head torch, batteries
Toiletries, wet wipes
Personal medication and small first aid kit with plasters, ibuprofen etc
2 water bottles (KK)
Bowl, mug spoon (KK)
Sun hat or baseball hat, fleece hat.
2 pairs of lightweight inner gloves
Pair of medium weight fleece gloves
Goretex jacket and pants
Camera, batteries
Zip lock bags
Lip balm and sun cream