{"id":4916,"date":"2015-02-11T23:56:14","date_gmt":"2015-02-11T15:56:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.mysabah.com\/wordpress\/?p=4916"},"modified":"2017-09-19T10:30:27","modified_gmt":"2017-09-19T02:30:27","slug":"loop-trail-mt-kinabalu-best-hiking-route-sabah","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mysabah.com\/wordpress\/loop-trail-mt-kinabalu-best-hiking-route-sabah\/","title":{"rendered":"Loop Trail of Mt. Kinabalu, the Best Hiking Route of Sabah"},"content":{"rendered":"

(Update:<\/strong> Mesilau Trail is permanently closed, and day hike to both Timpohon and Mesilau trails is no longer allowed)<\/span> The space to climb Mt. Kinabalu is always full, so many tourists don’t have the chance to climb the highest mountain of Malaysia. Don’t be disappointed if you are one of them, because you still can try Loop Trail<\/em>, which allows you to hike up to 2,745 Meters asl (asl = Above Sea Level), about half the height of Mt. Kinabalu (4,095M).<\/strong> The height of Mt. Kinabalu is not the reason why it’s listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. The real treasure of Kinabalu Park is its high density of endemic flora & fauna, which you can see along the Loop Trail. I would say it’s one of the Best Hiking Trails in Malaysia<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

The Loop Trail<\/h3>\n

Loop Trail is a day-trip easy to arrange and you won’t be under pressure to conquer the mountain. You only need to hire a Mountain Guide and pay a small fee.<\/strong> More on this later. Please note the Loop Trail (in orange color) in the 2D trail map below:
\n\"Loop<\/a>
\nYou can pick one of the starting points for Loop Trail, namely, Timpohon Gate and Mesilau Gate, and both trails join at Layang-Layang<\/strong> after 4 KM (2.5 Miles) and 6.2 KM (3.9 Miles) respectively. At Layang-Layang, Loop Trail visitors have two options, (1) turn back to where they begin, or (2) proceed to another Gate. Loop Trail visitors are forbidden to take the Summit Trail after Layang-Layang, and no, you can’t camp in the shelter.<\/p>\n

Timpohon Vs. Mesilau Trails<\/h4>\n

Timpohon Trail is shorter and easier, Mesilau Trail is longer but the view along this trail is more beautiful<\/strong> (EVERYONE says that). Timpohon Trail is mostly uphill trail so descending is fast and easy. In contrast, Mesilau Trail is a series of ascending and descending trails, so turning back is almost as challenging as going up. Anyway, it’s not mandatory to finish the loop trail. You are free to stop at any time and head home.<\/p>\n

Below is a table that shows you 3 types of route you can do in Loop Trail:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Route<\/strong><\/td>\nDistance<\/strong><\/td>\nRemark<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Timpohon Gate \u2192 Layang-Layang \u2192 Timpohon Gate<\/td>\n8KM (5 Miles)<\/td>\nThe Easiest route, take 3 to 5 hours.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Mesilau Gate \u2192 Layang-Layang \u2192 Timpohon Gate<\/td>\n10.2KM (6.34 Miles)<\/td>\nRecommended route to get the most of Loop Trail. Take 5 to 7 hours. Tip:<\/strong> start the climb from Mesilau in the morning, for clear view of Mt. Kinabalu (would be covered by fog after 9am)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Mesilau Gate \u2192 Layang-Layang \u2192 Mesilau Gate<\/td>\n12.4KM (7.7 Miles)<\/td>\nHardest route. May need over 7 hours. You have to be very fit. Some trail runners do this loop as a training.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

*The number of hours taken is highly dependent on your physical fitness.<\/p>\n

Though Loop Trail ends at the altitude of 2,745 M (9,006 feet), you already reach a height taller than the second and third highest mountains of Malaysia<\/strong>, i.e. Mt. Trus Madi<\/a> (2,642M) and Mt. Tambuyukon<\/a> (2,579M)! Overall, along the trail there are shelters with toilet, water tank to refill water (it’s untreated water from mountain stream, use water purification tablet if you have sensitive stomach) and support such as stairway, hand rail and wooden plank. The trail is well-marked and there is no leech (a blood sucking critter), bear and Bigfoot.<\/p>\n

\"view<\/p>\n

Things to Do<\/h3>\n

Besides hiking, the following are some fun activities to keep yourselves entertained during the walk:<\/p>\n