This is the post most people come looking for. The pre-dawn wake up, the dark ascent, the granite slabs, the sunrise from Low’s Peak. Day 1 is the mountain letting you in. Day 2 is the mountain asking what you are made of. Here is what the Summit Push on Day 2 of climbing Mount Kinabalu looks like.
Table of Contents
⇾ Wake-Up Call & Supper at Laban Rata
⇾ Setting Off into the Darkness
⇾ Sayat-Sayat Checkpoint & The Grind up the Granite Face
⇾ Low’s Peak: Sunrise on Mount Kinabalu Summit
⇾ Descent from Low’s Peak back to Sayat-Sayat: A Completely Different Experience
⇾ Back at Panalaban for Breakfast and Check Out
⇾ The Highest Postbox in Malaysia & Southeast Asia — Pendant Hut
⇾ Final Descent to Timpohon Gate
⇾ Important Points for Day 2 (Summit Push)
Wake up Call & Supper at Laban Rata
Half the base camp was already buzzing with energy by 1:30am — the sounds of shuffling boots and muffled conversations seeping through the hostel walls from all directions. The cold hits immediately once you step outside. You could literally see your breath. By 2:00am, the dining hall at Laban Rata was alive. Much busier than it was at dinner with trekkers layered up, headlamps ready, excitement cutting through the freezing air.
Supper was simpler. Scrambled eggs, hot dogs and a few more options. I made cup noodles that I had brought with me and ate it alongside the buffet. Eat something even if you don’t feel like it. You’ll need the energy for summit climb. At the same time, keep it light.
Setting Off into the Darkness
At 2:30am, we set off. The trail begins with metal steps up from Pendant Hut (3,289m). As the steps are narrow, movement is slow. You will be pacing behind whoever is in front and all you see is a trail of lights winding up into the darkness infront. About 20min in, your body will start warming up. I started unzipping layers despite the cold. Dress in layers you can easily adjust. You will go from freezing to sweating quickly.
The wooden steps gradually gave way to stone steps. Groups slowed and some stopped. We pushed on steadily, overtook along the way and paused on an open platform to catch a breath. It was a clear night. The lit-up towns were visible far below as the slow moving queue of headlamps came through. Above us, the Milky Way.
Sayat-Sayat Checkpoint & The Grind up the Granite Face
We passed by the 7km (3,653m) marker at around 3:30am and reached Sayat-Sayat Checkpoint (3,668m) shortly after. You will have to flash your climb pass here and there are toilets for those who need it. This is also the check point with strict cutoff timing of 5:30am. If you do not reach in time, you will be turned back.
From Sayat-Sayat, the trail transitions into open inclined granite slopes. It gets windier on the exposed granite and your hands will feel the cold so put on your gloves. A fixed rope lies along the route for the rest of the way to the summit and functions as your guide from here. Follow it closely. In misty or wet conditions, it is the only way to navigate reliably. If you ever lose sight of it, stop where you are and blow your whistle.
This was easily my favourite part of the entire climb. You’re no longer stuck in a line. The sky feels wider and the air sharper. Sensing the openness of it all in the dark is exhilarating. As I was reminded to slow down, my breaths calmed and my mind shifted from summit-oriented to one that is simply present. In the quiet darkness, walking at my own pace, I felt connected. The mountain became less like a place I was passing through and more like something I was genuinely part of. It was no longer about getting to the top but about each moment that is carrying my journey forward.
At 8km (3,939m), the incline steepens. By 8.5km (4,008m), the trail moves up over large granite rocks. The formations around you appear as large shapes as you climb past. When the sun came up, I found out one of them was St John’s Peak. The final stretch of rocks leading to Low’s Peak is steep at 45-degree, requiring some light scrambling. Use the rope for support.
Low’s Peak: Sunrise on Mount Kinabalu Summit
The summit sign came into view. We reached Low’s Peak (4,095.2m) at about 5:00am and quickly took our summit photos before the queue formed behind us. Though the sky was still dark and we were just staring out into pitch black, there was an innate joy standing at the highest point in Southeast Asia knowing you made it.
Standing still, the cold hit hard. We moved slightly to the side of Low’s Peak into a corner behind one of the granite slabs to wait for sunrise. This was the toughest part for me. Even with a windbreaker and light down jacket, I started freezing within 10min. The tactical gloves I was wearing also did not trap enough heat. Thankfully, I had handwarmers (a lifesaver) and my thermal flask of hot ginger tea which kept my core temperature from dropping too drastically. Still, I spent most of the wait huddling from the wind and was unable to move around freely. Bring a proper insulating layer (fleece or heavier down) and good winter gloves. The summit wait can be brutally cold.
Finally, around 6:00am, the first ray of orange started breaking across the horizon. Slowly, then all at once, the sun broke through and the sky lit up, unveiling the extraordinary landscape before you. The sea of clouds came into view and the surrounding peaks emerged from the dark one by one. As the light hit St John’s Peak, it simultaneously casted a shadow of Low’s Peak against the clouds. It was unreal. Waiting in the cold was tough but being there early helped us experience the sunrise fully.
Descent from Low’s Peak back to Sayat-Sayat: A Completely Different Experience
Without delay, we began our descend. Going down was nothing like coming up. What was invisible in the dark earlier is now fully revealed. The vast granite plateau stretched out beneath our feet into the drifting clouds and Sabah’s landscape unfolded infinitely far below. To our side was South Peak, the most iconic silhouettes of Mount Kinabalu, rising sharply against the morning sky. We spent a good amount of time along the slopes near South Peak, just soaking in the views. It was a welcome pause to take plenty of photos, hydrate, shed the layers and reapply sun protection under the growing warmth of the sun. A luxury you will not be able to afford if you were descending Via Ferratta.
We reached Sayat-Sayat around 7:30am, stopped briefly for a toilet break and descended the steps back to base camp. The journey down was considerably faster than the ascent and a completely different visual experience. With the lush landscape now visible and vibrant in the morning light, each step down brings you deeper into the breathtaking scenary.
Back at Panalaban for Breakfast and Check Out
We were back at base camp by 8:30am, At 10:00am, we headed to Laban Rata for a well-earned breakfast. The spread was simple, but satisfying. Porridge, fried noodles, eggs, toast, beans, some repeat items from the supper buffet. There is a particular kind of peace that settles over a room of people who have just accomplished something hard together. Nobody needed to say much.
Checkout from Panalaban is 10:30am. A few members of our group needed more time to rest so Hariz helped to check with the office and we managed to extend checkout to 11:30am for an additional MYR 100.
The Highest Postbox in Malaysia & Southeast Asia — Pendant Hut
Before leaving, I wrote my postcards and made the walk up to Pendant Hut to post them. The bright red postbox just below the hut is impossible to miss. This is the highest postbox in Malaysia and Southeast Asia, sitting at 3,289m above sea level. Get the special Mount Kinabalu chop stamped by the staff in the hut before posting. My postcards arrived in Singapore about 2 weeks later.
Final Descent to Timpohon Gate
The going down is often underestimated. While it may seem technically easier, many struggle due to muscle fatigue from Day 1 and the morning summit push, and knee strain from the constant downhill pressure. This is when preparation, or the lack of it, becomes painfully clear. We started the descent at 12:00pm, aware we were on the later side. The plan was for the faster movers to get down first, reach Timpohon Gate by 3pm to catch the shuttle back to Park Office and help the group sort out the luggage and climb certificates collection before things closed up. So, few of us sped down while the others slowly proceeded. We quickly found a rhythm, skipping the rest stops except for a short water break at Layang-Layang. Gradually, the descent turned into a personal speed challenge and the group naturally broke up into smaller pairs.
As a result of the patchy reception on the trail, it was only at the 2km mark when the message came through that one of our friends had cramped up halfway. In possession of heat rub and painkillers, my friend and I immediately turned back up. The climb back felt like Deja Vu. Exhaustion hit me hard again at the 2.5km mark and I had to pull myself up the steps using the wooden railings. We bearly managed to pass the medication up to another friend who met us halfway at 3km.
It was 1:30pm when we turned back once more to resume our descent, at a pace slower than before. We regained momentum 30min later and finally reached Timpohon Gate at 2:30pm. That final stretch of staircase which was so unassuming on Day 1 felt absolutely savage on the way out. But once you step through, it was immense relief, deep satisfaction and a lasting sense of pride having completed the Mount Kinabalu trek.
Arriving earlier than our 3:00pm target, we caught the 2:45pm shuttle from Timpohon Gate back to Kinabalu Park Office. We collected our Mount Kinabalu climb certificates on behalf of the group (MYR 10 each for the full-colour version) and left a tip at the registration counter since our guides were still on the trail with the remaining members. We retrieved our luggages from Sutera Sanctuary and arranged transport to Kota Kinabalu with the driver we had connected with on our arrival day. By 4:00pm, we were on the road and after some minor traffice, we reached Kota Kinabalu at 6.15pm. Our last two members who have arrived back at Kinabalu Park Office at 7:00pm made it to the city at 9:00pm, just in time for our seafood dinner.
Important Points for Day 2 Summit Push
- Layer smart. You will heat up fast but freeze when stationary.
- Carry a hot drink if possible
- Train your legs for descent. This is where many struggle.
(See Part 4 for summary of tips and learning points from our Mount Kinabalu climb)
This is part of the Mountain Stories from Our Ultimate Guide to DIY your Mount Kinabalu Trek under S$500.