Stay at Laban Rata in Western

Laban Rata 

BORNEO, MALAYSIA

Stay 

Laban Rata Resthouse has 3 private rooms. These feature twin beds with en-suite bathroom, shower with hot water and room heater. In addition, there are multiple dormitory rooms with a total of 60 bunk beds. These have a common bathroom and a heated shower (not working at the time of print). There is a restaurant that provides refreshing meals. There is a grocery store with necessary items like candy bars.

ChildCare 

Children are welcome to stay at the Laban Rata but there are no specific facilities available. We do not recommend children below 10 years to take the trek as it can be hard going but this will depend on their physical and walking abilities. The decision should rest with the parents. 

Dine 

After the climbers have rested from their walk from Park Headquarters to Laban Rata, the hype begins to build up, noticeable by an increase in the noise level. It gets louder by the minute and peaks when the buffet meal is served. Then all hell breaks. Everyone is hungry, noisy and mad. The food is good, knowing the fact that everything is carried here by the porters. But there is enough for all to recharge for the ultimate hike to the mountaintop. 

Experience 

The eight-kilometre trek to Laban Rata starts either from the Timpohon Gate near Kinabalu park headquarters (1,800m) or Mesilau Nature Resort and takes between 4-6 hours. Next day, make an early start, and push for the summit reaching in time to view the sunrise. Once on the summit, the views overlooking the clouds and the sun rising are mesmerizing. It is one of the few rewards the nature provides to a climber and which are embedded in one’s mind as life-long memories. 

After the sun has risen above the horizon and the magical rainbow colours have faded, the show is over. The excited travellers make a run for Laban Rata, where breakfast of tea, coffee and pancakes is served. After breakfast they descend the mountain, reaching the park headquarters by mid-afternoon.