Kinabalu GeoPark — Attraction in Borneo

We went to mount Kinabalu park and stayed in Sutera lodge located right at the entrance to the park. We wanted to do the hikes from the lodge, around the base. The hostel at the lodge is best. The other lodging is NOT good value for the high price. Day 1 we did some of the lower elevation hikes. Great paths all through the jungle. Definitely no views of the peak or mountains. After about 40 minutes of hiking it started a huge downpour. We got soaked as we forgot raincoats. But it was fun. The second morning we decided to just do a 1 hour hike before we had to check out and before the rainstorm. We did Silau Silau trail up to Kiau View trail. It was very steep. A good workout. But we were swarmed by flies the whole time. We couldn't stop swatting them away and some were biting. When we got to Kiau View trail there were steep inclines and then decline and then incline. Also a pretty strenuous trail. NO views. None at all. It's all jungle. There was no spot to get views????? There were tons of leeches. Covering the trail. We kept stopping to try and wipe them off our shoes. When we got back we all had some in our socks and had to peel some off our skin. The bites bled for hours. It started sprinkling at the end so we ran and ran to get back before the deluge. Because nobody changed or brought us clean towels and ours were still soaking wet from showering the day before, we couldn't even shower before leaving. We hike a lot in our hometown mountains. This was the worst hike we'd ever done. It was not enjoying nature. I would come back to mount Kinabalu but only to go to the peak or do via ferrata. Not to stay in the really expensive lodging of Sutera or to hike the paths around the...

I had my hike during mid-April 2015. It was a sudden decision right after exams in university. A 3D2N hike with around 15 of us started with a stayover at Mesilau, Kundasang where we took the longer trail, "The Mesilau Trail", upwards to Laban Rata. The Mesilau Trail is more interesting compared to the Timpohon trail as there are more flora and fauna to admire along the way, as well as streams and waterfalls. The hike further up towards the peak as exhilarating, full of adrenaline, climbing past cliff walls and slippery slopes. I was 15 minutes late to watch the sunrise above the peak, but the view from the top was worth the tiring climb and the freezing weather. As my hike was only a month and a half before the earthquake happened, the memories of experience was intesified, and I really appreciate the guides' focus on our safety. Also, my condolences to the life loss in the tragedy of 05062015. I would definitely show my support by visiting Mount Kinabalu...

Disappointing in more than one aspect:

15 ringgit entrance fee/person for just one day (at Bako and mulu you pay the same for 5 days!)

Just a few trails available (longest one around 1,5h) because the longer ones with the nice view points and the waterfall are closed since November!

Therefore there is not much to do/hike for more than 1 day, I don’t recommend staying there for one night or even more.

If you visited mulu and/or Bako NP before, it’s not worth the trip.

The mountain hiking and the climbing offered at the park are rip-offs: they force you to pay highly overpriced rates for bad accommodations because you „have to stay for one night“ in the park.

Besides the boardwalks are in bad conditions, the map and the trails are badly signed and close to them you have a high frequented street and black plumbs (like...