Mount Kinabalu: Conquer Torq Via Ferrata & Summit Glory

Great organization from Borneo Calling Sky. Fast response, quick booking. Throughout the trip from start to finish was smooth with no hiccups. Thank you. Also took the Ferrata and had a great experience especially because it’s low season. Had a 1-1 trainer to myself. Woohoo.

It’s a wonderful memory for me thanks to the great arrangements during the tour. They provide all necessary support, so there’s no worry throughout the trip.

Good WhatsApp communication and very simple easy process getting to the mountain and back to the hotel, lovely minibus and they took care of all the paperwork so easily. Hut was comfortable enough, having coffee available was nice. I would say that the 1:30am wake up time for 'breakfast' (pieces of white bread with mini pots of jam probably didn't need an hour before the gate opens to consume lol). The timing estimates were a wildly wide bracket and still wrong, we were up and down a lot faster and seemed to shock/ annoy the guide. She was lovely but did not speak a word of English, we could not communicate that we did not want to leave so early for the peak as we were (turns out rightfully) worried about being freezing stuck on the peak for AGES before sunrise. We kept being asked if we STILL wanted to do the via Ferrata and ended up doing it alone, I believe people usually either do the peak or the Via Ferrata not both and then take more of a break before heading down the mountain (which took the same time as the way up beware it is not really quicker as you might expect). Lots of stairs made the way down punishing and very sore for a few days afterwards (STRETCH). I would normally not bother with poles but please do consider them at least for the way down. It was a fun undertaking and a good company to go with.

I had a fantastic time thanks to the well organized trip, experienced and caring mountain guides and porters and most of all, the Malaysian hospitality. Mount KK- it was not too challenging if you train before the hikes. The scenery was breathtaking, sunrise was amazing and we met friendly hikers along the way. Walk The Torq Via Ferrata- highly recommended. It is done after the summit hike and all in it requires about 2 hours to complete. Hence, you have to reserve some energy for the activities. It was fun and our trainer (ABEY) was experienced and a good photographer. He is hilarious and we enjoyed his briefing session very much. Highly recommended Borneo Calling as the tour operator, Ramzee and Ramin, our mountain guides and ABEY, our via ferrata trainer. Thank you Mount KK and all the teams who have made the whole trip seamlessly easy and comfortable.

Mei and the team at Mount Kinabalu office were amazing in adjusting to our needs. Mei helped to insert another climbing member much later and also helped to make last minute transport timing changes due to flight changes and out travelling preferences. Mei also helped to arrange for a great hotel stay after the climb. Throughout the trip, she made sure that we are well-taken care of.

I booked this trek six months before our summit date, which happened to be my birthday. After considering various operators, I chose Borneo Calling, whose reviews indicated it is an emerging company dedicated to providing excellent services to their clients. Mei and her team were indeed responsive and helpful, guiding me through the paperwork, and payment. The anticipation and excitement finally culminated when my family of four arrived in Kota Kinabalu and was greeted by our driver, Arip. We made the two-hour drive to Pine Resort in Kundasang, with Arip stopping midway for us refill our water supplies and food at a large supermarket along the way. Checking in was a breeze, and the mountain view from Pine Resort was spectacular. The steamboat dinner had more vegetables than meat, but the broth was tasty. Mei sent WhatsApp to inform us of the pickup arrangements to the Park's Entrance the following morning. We were met by our guide, Mr. Nizam Laukang Abdullah, who made a significant difference to this arduous expedition. With over 30 years of experience in mountain climbing, he provided excellent advice and showed tremendous patience and encouragement throughout our climb and descent during the night. We would like to express our sincere gratitude to him. It is wonderful guides like Nizam that make Borneo Calling a great company to be reckoned with. Postcards are also provided free by Borneo Calling to be delivered from the Highest Post Box in Malaysia. Last but not least, I am grateful to the Mountain Torq team for celebrating my birthday in the Pendant Hut. The warm birthday song & card, complete with a delicious milo-jelly-cake made me feel so blessed. The bonds and feelings will become cherished moments. Thank you to the Borneo Calling and the Mountain Torq team for this amazing experience. Borneo Calling will be my first choice should I come back to Sabah for other activities in the future. Highly recommended!

It was amazing!!! We had so much fun. Borneo Calling could not have been more helpful, from the time of booking the tour to even beyond getting down the mountain, thank you very much Sky. It was a tough climb and descent but so worth the challenge. To get the most out of your hike you need to do steps, steps and more step training. Don’t carry much in your day bag, as the porter will carry your other bigger bag. We were very lucky with the weather, a bit of rain but not too bad. Walk the Torq was the best decision we made. Such an amazing experience. Thank you Alain, our mountain guide, for being with us every step of the way. Thank you also Handry (Mountain Torq) for reassuring us and being our “wing man”. Terima kasih / Asante sana / Thank you.

As this is the first time we book the overboard hiking activity, we have so many concerns and misgivings, and the booking service personnel is very patient by answering our every relentless questions. The schedule is always updated in time for us to know how our hiking will be proceeded which gave us much sense of security. When I finally finished hiking with almost none of stamina remained, the driver warmly presented hard-earned certificate and hot bento, I almost melted. Highly recommend Borneo Calling to those who wants to experience the beauty of Mount Kinabalu

The climb up Mount Kinabalu was an incredible and unforgettable experience. The views were breathtaking, and even though we encountered some rain, we were fortunate to witness the beauty of the sunrise and I’m already looking forward to climbing again with Borneo Calling and Mountain Torq. Had an incredible experience with my mountain guide, John, on our ascent of Mount Kinabalu. His expertise and knowledge of the terrain made me feel safe every step of the way. Also, I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to Borneo Calling and the Mountain Torq team for their prompt assistance in recovering my belongings. A special thanks to Mr. William M, whose unwavering support was instrumental in helping me locate my items, which carry great sentimental value. Team efforts truly made a difference, and I am incredibly appreciative of all your help!

We had a great and easy time coordinating with Borneo Calling (Mei) during our Mt KK hike. They can attend to our additional request (e.g. medals, porter) with ease. The guides Conan & Bi An are friendly and patient with us 😀 Helping hands are really helpful during the tough terrain routes!