Thinking of going up Kota Kinabalu in January 2010, but it appears its the worst weather season. Should we do it?
Is there really a big difference between the seasons?
Have you ever climbed KK in the wet season?
Are you there now?
Any other advice?
Need to know to decide on booking our transfer flights...
Reply to this A couple of years ago we were at Mount Kinabalu in January. It was wet. Very very wet. We didn't climb, not because it was dangerous, but simply because we are lazy. But we met a lot of people who did. They said it was very slippy towards the top in places, and when they got to the top there was no view because it was under a cloud.
We saw the top of Mount K from the bottom. At 6am because it was the only time it wasn't in a blanket of cloud.
But the hardcore people still enjoyed it, so I guess it depends what your purpose for going up is. If it's the challenge and you don't mind about the view....
K&K
Reply to this thanks for that advice - -good old travelblog!
Anyone else been there in jan? Or knows about the weather in that area in jan?
Reply to this Hi Crashpacker,
I am from Sabah. The weather in Malaysia should be dry and a little bit of rainfall in January-April. The highest rainfall usually in Oct-Dec. I suggest, when you reach Kota Kinabalu, then only you plan your trip to Mount Kinabalu. There are plenty of travel agency in Kota Kinabalu doing a 3 days trip to Mount Kinabalu inclusive of everything(transportation + accomodation + food+permit ). They are best to give u more advise on when to climb the Mount Kinabalu. Good luck and enjoy my homeland 😊
Reply to this Cool thanks.
Any tips on what to do if we have to wait a few days for the weather to clear? nice chilled beaches would do me. I'll need some chilling...
Reply to this hey Embai, isn't that January is cloudy and misty for KK? i am from peninsular ;P
Reply to this There are some beaches on some small islands off Kota Kinabalu city.....
Reply to this ahh right, Sapi Island, and not to forget Tiga island, where first season of survivor took place.
Reply to this
It could be, after all, weather in mount kinabalu is rather unpredictable. For sure, Jan-April has less rainfall. So best to check with local travel operators which day wud be the best to climb.
For the islands, Manukan and Sapi island is just 20-25 mins ride by boat frm KK city. These islands usually busy in the weekend. Tiga island may take 4-5 hours to travel. Worth going tho. quite and white sandy beaches with a chance to soak yourself in volcano mud. while u are in the city, upperstar and texas are 2 popular cafe for drinking.
Reply to this i Asked a similar Q on the thorntree (got to say that the TT forum is busier and more replies, but so clumsy and slow - give me TB anyday!) and got some good responses about the weather being OK, but was totally washed out last Jan, and the weather in KK is different to the mountain.
Thinking we may go trekking in the Highlands outside KL so there is less travelling (esp airtravel) and we can be more flexible, as we'll be travelling from the pennisula.
Going to start another thread asking for trekking tips...
Cheers everyone for the responses
Reply to this I was in Sabah in late Feb to early March two years ago, generally the weather was alright, but have to expect the occational heavy rainfall that we experienced during our trip. It really caught us off guard last time we went and we were soaked completely.
Reply to this Well, I went up there along with about a hundred others and we got soaked!
Really good trek, i did all of it in crocs as it was mostly climbing through streams.
The hotel place was pretty much booked out and none of us were allowed to the summit due to the amount of rain. A guy i chatted to had trekked to the hotel and carried on that evening as the clouds broke and was the only person to make it as everyone else had waited till 3 in the morning.
Fair enough, it was raining hard and would have been too dangerous.
Later in the year would deffo be a better time to go, but seeing how busy it is, booking ahead is invaluable!
Reply to this 
