Kinabalu! 🇲🇾 ‘Warm-Up’ Act for K2 Base Camp ⛰️🧗♀️(and a marriage test ❤️🩹)
Forget romantic getaways; our idea of couple’s therapy involves gasping for air above 4,000 meters on the summit of Mount Kinabalu, all to see if our marriage can survive a few days of shared suffering.
If we make it down still holding hands (and not a grudge), consider it true love 🥰
Otherwise, well, at least the views are spectacular 😉
Highlights
- Training for High-Altitude Trekking
- A Giant Among Mountains
- Up, Up, & (Hopefully) Not Away
- The Luxuries of Mountain Living
- The Greater Goal
- Flights from KL to Kota Kinabalu
- Where to Stay & Eat Nearby
- Borneo Rainforest Discovery Center
- White Water Rafting in Borneo
- All Hotel Deals in Kota Kinabalu
- Our Complete Borneo Itinerary
- Essentials for Hiking
Kinabalu Training for High-Altitude Trekking
Ever thought of climbing a rather significant mountain, not just for the views, but as a glorified fitness test for an even more ludicrous undertaking less than a year down the line?
Well, you’re in luck! The missus and I are about to embark on a two-night, three-day hike up Kota Kinabalu in late Autumn – a mere 4,000-meter-plus jaunt – primarily as a warm-up act for our 20-day K2 Base Camp trek in 2026.
Because nothing says “we’re serious about suffering” quite like a mountain apprenticeship.
Located in Pakistan, K2 is the 2nd-highest mountain on Earth, after Mount Everest.
Think of it as dipping our toes in the icy waters of high-altitude discomfort before ascending to the frozen heights of the Karakoram mountains. To prepare, we’re even training for a tropical half-marathon in December.
So, yes, we’re either incredibly dedicated or just a bit masochistic.
Probably both.
Our ‘warm-up’ act.
Mount Kinabalu: A Giant Among Mountains
Alright, let’s talk about Mount Kinabalu. Not just any mountain, mind you. This isn’t your average hill you trot up on a Sunday afternoon for a bit of exercise. We’re talking about a proper, bona fide, ‘highest mountain in Malaysia & Borneo’ kind of deal.
So, if you’re looking for bragging rights, this is definitely one for the list.
Standing proudly at a rather impressive 4,095 metres (or 13,435 feet if you’re more comfortable with imperial measurements, though I suspect by the top you’ll be too busy gasping for air to care), Kinabalu isn’t just a local celebrity.
This formidable lump of rock also claims the rather specific title of the third-highest peak of an island on Earth.
Which, if you think about it, is quite the niche category but impressive nonetheless.
But wait, there’s more! For those who enjoy their mountainous superlatives, Kinabalu is also the 28th highest peak in Southeast Asia.
And, just to round out its trophy cabinet, it’s the 20th most prominent mountain in the world. “Prominent” in this context meaning it really sticks out. Like a sore thumb, perhaps, but a magnificent, cloud-piercing sore thumb.
Mount Kinabalu
Geographically speaking, for the pedants among us, you’ll find this majestic beast nestled in the Ranau district, West Coast Division of Sabah, Malaysia. So, not exactly in your backyard unless your backyard happens to be a rather large, biodiverse chunk of Borneo.
It’s a landmark that dominates the landscape, a silent (or, as I heard, sometimes wind-howling) sentinel over Sabah.
In short, it’s a big deal. A really, really big deal.
The Plan: Up, Up, & (Hopefully) Not Away
Our local tour company assures us this will be an unforgettable experience.
We’re expecting the usual suspects: breathtaking views, sheer physical exertion, and quite possibly, an internal debate about why we signed up for this in the first place.
Operation K2: Phase One
The summit, we’re told, will be decidedly chilly.
At over 4,000 meters, there’s also the delightful prospect of mild altitude sickness – a gentle headache, perhaps a touch of nausea, just enough to add that authentic “expedition” feel without actually endangering our lives.
It’s all character building, right? And crucial intel for K2.
Just a touch of altitude sickness. You know, for that authentic ‘expedition’ feel
Then there’s the Via Ferrata. This is where things get truly interesting. My wife, bless her adventurous spirit, isn’t exactly a fan of heights.
In fact, there was this one time in Panama, involving a waterfall and an abseil, where she decided not to participate at the very last minute. So, the idea of clipping into a steel cable path on a near-vertical rock face at dizzying altitudes?
The Via Ferrata: A robust test of both nerve & marital harmony
Let’s just say it promises to be a robust test of both nerve and marital harmony.
Located at Mt Kinabalu’s Panalaban rock face at 3,776 metres above sea level, this is the world’s highest via ferrata.
What could possibly go wrong?
The Luxuries of Mountain Living
We’re also bracing ourselves for the finer things in life, like basic mountain hut food and the sheer joy of sharing a dorm for one night.
Forget gourmet dining or private suites with turn-down service.
Yes, that’s our five-star accommodation for the night
This isn’t a holiday; it’s a mission.
And speaking of missions, we’re actually planning to travel light this time. No “kitchen sink” approach here, unlike certain past clifftop escapades.
We’re aiming for minimalist suffering – just the essentials for survival and maybe a few extra layers for when the humidity turns into outright frostbite.
Traveling light, for once.
The Greater Goal
Ultimately, this Kinabalu climb isn’t just about ticking off a bucket-list item.
It’s about proving to ourselves that we have the endurance, the mental fortitude, and the ability to tolerate each other’s grumbling when faced with extreme discomfort.
Every aching muscle, every gasping breath, every “are we there yet?” will be a data point for the grander K2 Base Camp adventure.
So, as November approaches, we’re lacing up our boots, mentally preparing for the cold, and gently reminding each other about the long-term objective.
Kota Kinabalu, here we come. Just try not to break us before K2, alright?
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Peak performance (and relief). Every aching muscle is just a data point for K2
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