Nestled at the base of Mount Kinabalu, Kinabalu Park Village is the main base for visitors wanting to explore the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Kinabalu Park. It is clustered with guesthouses and restaurants serving trekkers preparing to scale what is the highest mountain between the Himalayas and New Guinea.
Secure a mountain guide and permit to scale what is Malaysia’s highest peak, Mount Kinabalu, with most trekkers ascending and descending over two days. The trail takes in steamy rainforest, montane grasslands and alpine meadows, before reaching the rocky terrain of the mountain’s 4,095-metre-high summit.
Kinabalu Park Village also serves as the starting point for shorter nature trails, which offer insight into the exceptional biodiversity of Sabah. Don’t miss the Mount Kinabalu Botanical Garden, where flora from across the park has been replanted, including several species with medicinal values.
Getting there
Kinabalu Park Village is just under two hours’ drive from Kota Kinabalu and two hours from Kota Kinabalu International Airport, which has flights to destinations across Asia. Buses and minivans connect from the Sabah capital to Kinabalu Park Village while its streets are compact enough to explore on foot.