Mount Kinabalu Tours Reviews
What climbers say about the guided ways up Mount Kinabalu, in their own words, grouped by the climb they booked. Every one of them starts inside Kinabalu Park, and guide names appear where the climbers named them.
The two-day climb from Kota Kinabalu
One of the most-reviewed Mount Kinabalu climbs you can book. Climbers keep returning to two things: the organisation holding from pickup to drop-off, and the guide.
★ 4.9 from 578 reviews on this climb’s own listing.
“Climbed it with my thirteen-year-old and never once felt we were being rushed. The organisation on Mount Kinabalu held from the pickup to the drop-off, and every question got answered before we set off. Plenty of food, and our dietary requests were handled without fuss. Our guide Shukki made the whole thing.”
Jennifer G. · Parent and teenager · October 2024
“Johnson was patient, thorough and, on the descent, genuinely a safety net. We came down far later than planned and he kept the office updated the whole way, so the transport waited, the meals were held and our certificates were there at the end.”
Eric C. · Solo climber · September 2023
“A hard climb and an unforgettable one. Our private guide thought ahead for us the entire way. Standing on the Mount Kinabalu summit is not something we are going to forget.”
Benthe B. · Couple · September 2023
The via ferrata climb
Reviews here split neatly between the summit and the iron road, and almost everyone rates the second higher. One climber notes it was harder than expected in the wet, which is worth reading before you book a shoulder-season date.
★ 4.9 from 105 reviews on this climb’s own listing.
“Walk The Torq was easily the best part of the Mount Kinabalu climb. The views were extraordinary and the gear felt completely secure. Climbing on my own, I was looked after from start to finish.”
Tripadvisor reviewer · Solo climber · July 2026
“Climbed Mount Kinabalu in June and had a great time despite the rain every afternoon. My guide Apson set a pace that got me up and back without trouble. The via ferrata was harder than I expected in the wet.”
Tripadvisor reviewer · Solo climber · June 2026
“The Walk The Torq session was the highlight, mostly because I had the guide entirely to myself. One to one made it far more enjoyable than it would have been in a group.”
Tripadvisor reviewer · Solo climber · June 2026
“Our Mount Kinabalu climb was coordinated well from end to end, from the transport through to the accommodation. It felt smooth and safe throughout.”
Tripadvisor reviewer · Group of friends · May 2026
“The itinerary was well planned, though the schedule was tight in places. The side trip to Kundasang was a real bonus, and Pendant Hut was better than I expected.”
Tripadvisor reviewer · Group of friends · May 2026
“My fifth summit of Mount Kinabalu and my first time on the Low's Peak Circuit. Professionally run, with experienced guides.”
Tripadvisor reviewer · Repeat climber · May 2026
The three-day climb from Kinabalu Park
A small set of reviews on a small-group departure. Both mention the responsiveness of the operator before the climb rather than on it, which matters more here than on a mountain you can turn up to.
★ 5.0 from 8 reviews on this climb’s own listing.
“We wanted to test ourselves on Mount Kinabalu and went with a group of friends. The price varies a lot depending on which package you pick, so read them properly. Every question we asked before the climb got answered.”
Tripadvisor reviewer · Group of friends · January 2026
“Responsive from the first enquiry right through the trip itself. We had a few requests along the way and they were all accommodated. John made a second Kinabalu hike as seamless as the first.”
Tripadvisor reviewer · Repeat climber · July 2024
“John Tan arranged our three-day, two-night Mount Kinabalu hike and the whole thing ran without a hitch. It was my second time up and I would use them again.”
Tripadvisor reviewer · Repeat climber · May 2024
“A friend who had climbed with them before recommended them, and the service held up. John even managed to secure us a private dormitory on the mountain.”
Tripadvisor reviewer · Group of friends · April 2024
“Very well managed. They did their best to accommodate what we asked for and everything was sorted out properly. A satisfying trip from start to finish.”
Tripadvisor reviewer · Group of friends · September 2023
The two-day small-group climb
One review, and it is a fair summary of what this format asks: genuinely challenging, and organised end to end.
★ 5.0 from 5 reviews on this climb’s own listing.
“Genuinely challenging, and Mount Kinabalu is for the adventurous and the fit. Everything else was organised properly: the hotel pickup, the park permits, the packed lunch, the accommodation, the certificate and the ride back. Our guide, Mr Luke, looked after us the whole way.”
Barten and Nuria H. · Couple · August 2024
What climbers keep saying
- The guide makes the climb. Shukki, Johnson, Apson, Luke and John are all named by the climbers who walked with them.
- It is hard, and nobody pretends otherwise. “Challenging” appears in review after review, alongside “worth it”.
- The logistics hold. Pickup, permits, packed lunch, hut, certificate, drop-off — climbers list them because they all happened.
- Weather is part of it. One June climber describes rain every afternoon and still rates the trip five stars.
The operators’ own rating figures
| Climb | Operator | Rating | Reviews | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2D1N Mount Kinabalu Climbing | Borneo Calling | ★ 4.9 | 578 | 2 days |
| 2d1n Mount Kinabalu Via Ferrata - Walk The Torq | Borneo Calling | ★ 4.9 | 105 | 2 days |
| Mount Kinabalu Climbing 3 Days 2 Nights | TYH Borneo Tours and Travel SDN BHD | ★ 5.0 | 8 | 3 days |
| Mount Kinabalu Climbing 2 Days 1 Night | TYH Borneo Tours and Travel SDN BHD | ★ 5.0 | 5 | 2 days |
These are the operators’ own figures, taken from each climb’s booking listing on 1 September 2026, and they move. Each one comes from that listing’s star breakdown rather than its summary line, because the two disagree.
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Compare the climbs on length, group size and what each fare covers, then pick your dates.