Adventure Travel

Rich Adz asked:


If you are visiting Borneo for an adventure vacation, then conquering the mystical Mount Kinabalu is not really an option – it is ‘the’ priority.

The mystical Mount Kinabalu, the highest peak in South East Asia, is strategically located at the Kinabalu National Park, a designated World Heritage Site. Kinabalu National Park is just about two hours drive from the city of Kota Kinabalu, the capital of Sabah, Malaysian Borneo.

Mount Kinabalu, which stood at around 4,095 meters above sea level, is an icon for Sabah as well as for Malaysia tourism. Therefore, it is of no surprise that every year, thousands flocked to climb or rather, trek up the mountain. Although the traditional route up Mount Kinabalu is via the Kinabalu Summit Trail at Kinabalu National Park, there is an alternative route on the other side of Mount Kinabalu called the Mesilau Summit Trail, a newer and more challenging route. This trail is definitely one for those who are more adventurous to consider seriously.

The Mesilau Summit Trail at the Mesilau Nature Park on the Mesilau plateau is about 30 minutes by road away from Kinabalu National Park or about 108 km from Kota Kinabalu.

It is advisable to stay a night at Mesilau before starting your ascent up Mount Kinabalu as the journey from Kota Kinabalu will likely to leave you rather exhausted. Take a rest and acclimatize with the higher altitude at the eco-friendly Mesilau Nature Resort, which is nestled amongst the trees at the foot of the mountain at about 2,000 metres above sea level within the Park. The resort has a total of 22 lodges and 96 resthouse beds.

As for the climb up to Mount Kinabalu, the Mesilau Summit Trail is definitely more rugged, about 1.5km further than the trail from Timpohon Gate at Kinabalu National Park. But it offers more opportunities for viewing flora and fauna. The Mesilau route is still relatively new, but some shelters and toilets have been built along the trail for the convenience of trekkers. The route is also less crowded than the old summit trail. You won’t bank into many mountain climbers on the way up.

The first ascent of the Mesilau Trail does involve a climb up, then a drop into the Mesilau valley, and then another ascent to regain the lost height. You will get to see both the Kinabalu and Mesilau routes at higher ground. The trail is also more “jungle” than the traditional Kinabalu Summit Trail. When trekking uphill, it is fortunate that the trail is well laid with steps cut into the earth and thus, making walking easy.

Layang-layang (Place of Swallows) is where the Mesilau Trail meets the Kinabalu Summit Trail at 2,740m. From there onwards, you will notice that the vegetation zone is like a forest of bent and twisted silvery-grey trunks with peeling bark.

A short hike after the sixth shelter, you will reach the mid-summit (i.e., Laban Rata). Conservatively, it should take a normal fit person an average 6-7 hours to reach Laban Rata, where you will be required to stay a night at Laban Rata Resthouse or at other nearby accommodations (i.e., Mountain Huts and VIP Lodge). From there, the second and more grueling ascent will follow the traditional route all the way to the summit (i.e., Low’s Peak), which will start early morning the next day at around 2 am to 3 am

The ascent should normally take a few hours but it is much more challenging than the initial ascent as the trail gets more tiring with each step up the slope as the air gets thinner and thinner. On top of this, you have to battle the freezing cold temperature (sometimes below zero degrees Celsius). If its rains and windy, it will be doubly challenging.

But once you get to the summit and catch the truly magnificent glimpse of the sunrise, you would have forgotten the tough climb. You will feel on top of the world looking down at the tiny villages and small islands off the coast of Kota Kinabalu.

For those who had climbed Mount Kinabalu before via the Kinabalu Summit Trail or for those who are searching for a more challenging trek, the Mesilau Summit Trail definitely offers a fuller Mount Kinabalu climbing and adventure vacation experience. To quote an avid climber: “You have not truly conquered Mount Kinabalu if you have not conquer it from both sides of the mountain”.



CM Burns

Sam Smith asked:

It seems like everyone enjoys a good adventure. However, proper preparation can certainly make the difference between a great trip and a great disaster. Knowing what to expect, what to pack, and covering your basis will make your trip go smoothly and therefore be a lot more enjoyable then being unprepared. Below you will find a collection of some of the most important adventure travel tips from experienced travelers.

Things To Do Before You Go:

It is important to do some research on the country that you will be traveling to. Are there things that you should be aware of before going to the country? For example knowing a little bit about the history, culture and political climate of the country you will be traveling in can not only help you stay safe it can also improve your enjoyment and knowledge of the trip. Also before going you will want to clearly find out what important documents you will need to take to travel. Will you need a passport for example? It can also be a good idea to find out the number and location of your countries consulate or embassy before going. This can again be a good extra safety measure.

Are You Covered?

One of the most important things to research before going on a trip is medical information. You will want to know if your medical insurance will cover you and if so what the procedures are if you are to get ill. Sometimes you will need to contact you medical insurance provider to get clearance before seeking any medical care in a foreign country. Otherwise you might get stuck with the bill yourself. Find out what the procedure for payment with your medical insurance company is and how it works. Do they reimburse you for any medical expense and if so what documentation will you need to get the reimbursement. It is also a good idea to make sure you have fund that are easily accessible in a medical emergency.

When You Go

It is important to get an information update on the current security measures necessary for air travel. These are changing frequently right now and it is therefore very important to check on the internet or with someone who has recently traveled. Don’t have anything on your person or in your carry-on that could be confiscated at the airport. When you are on the plane, pay attention to instructions about filling out the visa forms for the country you are entering. If you do not fill out the document on the plane, you could be charged a fee for completing one when you arrive at the airport. It is also a good idea to have some American one-dollar bills on hand for tiping when you go through the airport.

When you get there: adventure travel tips from veteran travelers urge other tourists to use common sense. Remember, you are in another country. People do many things differently from what you are accustomed to. You have a right as a guest to be treated well, but you also have a responsibility as a guest to behave well. Remember, if you are tempted to buy or use illegal drugs, that the laws in the country you are visiting are not necessarily the same as those of your own country. Foreign jails can be extremely unpleasant, and your family might have to spend a lot of money to get you home.

Just a few more adventure travel tips: stolen passports are worth a lot of money on the black market. Make sure yours is in a safe place when you are not actually carrying it. If the tap water of your host country is not safe to drink, do not use it to make ice-cubes. Freezing does not kill bacteria. Nor should the water be used to rinse lettuce or other vegetables or fruits. In some Third World countries it is best to know whom you are dealing with if you rent a vehicle. Disreputable rental operators have been known to steal rented motorcycles and cars, and then bill the renter for the cost of the vehicle. At night, keep away from dark, unfamiliar places. Being safe means being smart.

Polish bride