Mobile Phones on Mount Kinabalu

Mobile Phone Signals

In both my climbs, September 2010 and September 2011, the only mobile service available at Laban Rata Resthouse was Maxis. There was no signal from other service providers at Laban Rata.

For summit, there was no signal above Sayat Sayat which is the last check point before reaching summit's plateau. Therefore, at summit, i.e. the plateau near Donkey Ears, South peak, Low's peak, etc. there was no mobile phone reception.

Phone Chargers

You can bring along your phone charger to Laban Rata. There is electricity.

In Laban Rata Rest House, the main building, electricity is not stable and all electricity shut off after, if I remember correctly, 7.00 pm.

However, for other lodging huts around Laban Rata Rest House, i.e. Panar Laban, Waras Hut, Burlington Hut, Gunting Lagadan Hut, etc. you are in control of the electric switches. The electricity here is more stable.

Climbing Mt Kinabalu website On Mobile Phone

You can now browse this website using your iphone or adroid phone as long as there is mobile web browser.
From my testing, both Apple's Safari browser or Opera Mini work perfectly well.

Here are some screen shots using Safari browser from my iPhone. Try it using your smart phone.



Here are some screen shots using Opera Mini.


The actual screen on my iPhone is much clearer than the photos above.

Getting There: Kinabalu Park Reception Office

Kinabalu Park Office and its Head Quarter located approximately 90 km away from Kota Kinabalu International Airport. From Kota Kinabalu city, you can rent a car or get a taxi to go Kinabalu Park. The journey takes less than 2 hours.

For a group of 6 -8 persons you can hire a van with driver to take your group from Kota Kinabalu International Airport to Kinabalu Park Office, where you register your attendance for the climb (** Important: you need to book your place to climb earlier before you come). The cost to hire a van ranged between RM450 to RM500, it includes trip from Kota Kinabalu International Airport to Kinabalu Park Office AND the return trip from Kinabalu Park Office to Kota Kinabalu International Airport.


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In our previous trips, we hired vans from the two car rental companies listed below. Frankly, I don't know them well. It is just that we had used their transport service of return trip transport to Kinabalu Park from KKIA.

First,

Bimaz Tours & Travel And Rent-A-Car Sdn Bhd (Co.625562-P) KPL/LN:3958 MATTA No.2904
Kota Kinabalu Sabah
Contact person: Hani NJ
Tel : (+6) 088 767214 | Fax : (+6) 088 766214
Mobile : (+6) 014 6587181
Email : hani_nj@bimaztours.com ; hani_nj@yahoo.com.sg

Second,

Syarikat Gunung Kinabalu
Contact person: Charles Kong
Tel : (+6) 088 492 535
Mobile : (+6) 012 869 7677 | (+6) 016 552 7177
Email : kcydavid@yahoo.com

Upon arriving at Kinabalu Park Head Quarter, you need to register your attendance at Reception Office. The receptionists will brief you about accommodation and meals arrangements and pass you your hostel room keys. You will be informed of a 6pm climbing briefing.

You will need to walk next door to Transport Office to arrange for tomorrow transport (it is a van) from Kinabalu Park Reception Office to Timpohon Gate or Mesilau Gate (depends on your choice of trail). This transport cost is NOT included in the price that you paid to Sutera Sanctuary Lodges for the climbing package. You can buy a good hiking pole here.

Again, you need to walk next door to Operations Office to confirm the names of your climbing team members and mountain guide arrangement. You also confirm if you and your team members want certificates.

All transport within Kinabalu Park Head Quarter, i.e. from your hostel to office, from your hostel to Balsam Buffet Restaurant, etc. are free. You just need to call Reception Office, which open 24 hours 7 days a week, for transport.

To the right is the door to Reception Office. To the left is the door to Transport Office.

After her short briefing on accommodation to a group of us, she asked, "Do you have any question?"
I could not resist and said, "Yes."
"Yes?" she nodded.
I asked, "Can I take a photo of you?"
Everyone laughed. She graciously said yes. So this is the photo.

You can find a bit more information at the mountain operator's, i.e. Sutera Sanctuary Lodges/ Sutera Habour, website here.

This is the Reception Office location at Google Maps.

Sea of Cloud on the Summit Plateau of Mount Kinabalu

It is not easy to climb to the summit of Mount Kinabalu. However, when you stand at the summit looking at the spectacular view, you will realise that all the hard work and difficulties are worthwhile.

The amazing clouds formation at dawn on the plateau.

Another photo on clouds.

The clouds look like sea waves. I used a zoom lens to take this photo during descent.

Beautiful view of South Peak and the cloud. Climbers must follow the rope to avoid straying to wrong path that can be dangerous.

Dawn on the Plateau of Mount Kinabalu's Summit

Twice, I was unable to reach Low's Peak before dawn. Both times, I was at the plateau near Donkey Ears Peak at the dawn break. Both times, the experience was wonderful.

Beautiful dawn at the summit of Mount Kinabalu.

Download This Photo as Wallpaper, Click Here.

South Peak at dawn. The cloud is beautiful.

Download This Photo as Wallpaper, Click Here.

Panar Laban Huts: Accommodation at Laban Rata

Panar Laban Huts (3,314.3 meters above sea level) located at approximately 200 meters away from Laban Rata Rest House. It is a short distance uphill walk. If you are allocated to stay in Panar Laban, after reaching Laban Rata Rest House, you will go to the Reception counter to get your keys and towels.

Panar Laban Huts are made of two huts. There are 4 beds in each hut. Both huts come with attached pantry with basic cooking facilities. You can boil water for tea or to cook instant noodle. Hot water is useful here as the bathroom has no hot water and you have to walk 20 meter away to the bathroom. The water is very cold here. I poured hot water to my towel. Then I wiped my body with the hot wet towel, instead of bathing.

Panar Laban Huts

The toilets and bathrooms at Panar Laban. It is reasonably clean, but don't hope for 3 stars.

The cozy beds in Panar Laban Hut

These are the pro and con staying at Panar Laban instead of Laban Rata Rest House.

Pro
1. You have full control of electricity (Those who stay in Laban Rata Rest House has no control over the switches of electricity.)
2. Fantastic views
3. Attached pantry. You can boil hot water and have instant noodle.

Con
1. Need to walk downhill to Laban Rata Rest House for buffet meals.
2. Need to walk outside to go toilet.

Though it is not heated, from my experience, the temperature in the hut is not cold. There is sufficient warm blankets in the hut. You can find more information about accommodation at Laban Rata, Panar Laban, Gunting Lagadan, Waras Hut, etc. at this website.

The view at Panar Laban is beautiful.

Mountain at the back of Panar Laban Huts.

Mountain at the back of Panar Laban Huts.

When you make your booking, remember to confirm with the receptionist your preferred accommodation, i.e. Laban Rata Rest House, Panar Laban, Gunting Lagadan, Waras Hut, etc.

Laban Rata Rest House 3,270 meter above sea level at Mt Kinabalu

Laban Rata Rest House is the place for climbers to rest, eat and sleep before the summit climb at night. It is a big building located at 3,273 meter above sea level with large and small dormitories, a restaurant serving buffet dinner, supper and breakfast and a store with post office that sell and rent clothes and some climbing accessories.

You can read more about Laban Rata at wikitravel on Laban Rata. This is another website about the facilities at Laban Rata Rest House.

The store at Laban Rata Rest House that sell and rent clothes, etc.
Go to the Reception to collect your towels and key. 

Getting There
Starting from Timpohon Gate, you will climb 6 km upward to reach Laban Rata Rest House. With average fitness, you will probably take about 6 hours to reach the rest house. Generally, climbers start the climb before 9.00am and reach Laban Rata before 3.00pm. Once you reach Laban Rata Rest House, remember to get your towels and keys (if you stay at Panar Laban, Waras Hut, Gunting Lagadan, etc.)

There is a nice map on the road to Laban Rata from the operator of Mount Kinabalu. Click here for Laban Rata's map.

We were at Laban Rata Rest House's restaurent waiting for dinner buffet to start.

Hygiene and Bath
Whether and temperature is COLD and water is freezing at Laban Rata. You will probably want to clean yourself after the 6 km climb but there is no hot water here, except for a small dormitory (that is still elusive to me). The rest house provides dry towel though.

Read more about the hygiene and bathing issue at Laban Rata here.

Food & Drinks
Buffet dinner available at approximately 5pm - 6pm. Lights at Laban Rata off at approximately 7pm and climbers sleep until 1.30am. Buffet supper is served at 2.00am. Most climbers eat and start their summit climb at 2.30am. It serves free flow of hot coffee and tea during dining hours. Cold water is always available at the dining area for climbers to refill water bottle.

Food is...simple and ok. It is buffet with sausage, eggs, rice, mee, chicken, vegetables, etc.

The buffet breakfast close at 10.00am. After that you can only order a la carte, which you need to pay extra. Most people manage to come back to Laban Rata Rest House after the summit climb by 10.00am.

Climbers have their supper/ breakfast buffet at 2.00am early in the morning before starting their climb to summit.

Beds and Sleep
Laban Rata Rest House and its dormitories are heated. Therefore it will not be cold inside the building. The bed is comfortable, though it is not so easy to sleep at 7pm and wake up at 1.30am to the summit. The dormitory we slept has 10 beds (in one big room). Men and women share the same dormitories, there is no segregation.

At Laban Rata, there are a few more hostels other than the Laban Rata Rest House itself, i.e. Panar Laban, Waras Hut, Burlington Hut, Gunting Lagadan Hut, etc. They are located withint 200 meters away from Laban Rata Rest House. However, since the only restaurant in this area which is in the rest house, those who stay in these hostels will have to walk to Laban Rata Rest House to have their meal.

These are a few photo of Laban Rata from other website.

You can read about some discussion of Laban Rata at lonely planet forum here.

Laban Rata Rest House's view from top. I was standing at Panar Laban taking this photo.