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WHOA is proud to be associated with Mountain Torq's(MT) unique adventure in Kota Kinabalu's UNESCO world heritage site, Mount Kinabalu. Professionally established and managed by an mountaineers team from Malaysia and Singapore, they have established new records in Malaysia:

• At 3,800m, Mountain Torq has the world’s highest via feratta verified by Guiness Book of Records
  
• Establishing South East Asia’s first mountaineering training center (2008 )
• Whether you have been to Mount Kinabalu or not, MT now has another reason why you should be heading up there. You don't need to be an experienced mountain climber to go up the Via Feratta. We just need you to have an adventurous spirit and have little fear of heights. The paths up to Laban Rata base camp are now a little wider and the rest areas along the trek have been spruced up with bricks and new roofs.

Kinabalu alpine rock/ sports climbing available now!

The air upthere...

Having experienced the adventure first hand, I can pledge to its WOW factor. Battling the early morning chill, initial fear of the heights and mild altitude discomfort, the activities offered are not for the weak-hearted. If you are afraid heights then this adventure may not be for you as you will be walking on vertical surfaces as well as crossing valleys on cable lines. All this done possibly in wretched weather conditions. Although you will be led by an experienced guide, there will be responsibility to yourself and other participants as all of you will be linked together with each person having the task of handling their own safety mechanism.
Proper mountain attire allows you to endure the weather.

Experience the thrills and spills of mountaineering under a safe and controlled environment. With a proper system of routes, devices and an experienced trainer to guide you, Via Ferrata climbing allows anyone to experience the exciting challenge of this sport under the safest of conditions.

Check out the map of VIA FERATTA ROUTES!

What do I get to do?

Experience the highest peak in South East Asia at the break of dawn and then top it up by walking/climbing the highest Via Feratta in the world.

Is it Safe?

Frequently Asked Questions (download)
Besides a helmet and training before the activity, you have double safety on the climb. A climber wears a harness clipped to a steel cable along the route and a second line is clipped to the next climber or the guide.
The steel cables that line the route can hold up to 3,000kg of weight. The ladder rungs and footholds are rated to withstand up to 300kg of weight. The routes have been set up by the best via feratta builders from Europe and its no wonder that MT has been been awarded a certificate of compliance based on European safety standards for Via Feratta.
The routes will go through a full maintenance check. every 3 years.
The company only takes on a maximum of 30 guests per day. The ratio is one trainer to ten(10) guests (Walk the Torq), and one to six(6) for Low’s Peak Circuit/Preamble. LPC and Preamble are basically the same depending on which direction you go.
Do check with your health advisor if you are qualified for this adventure.

Adventure Rating and Remarks/ Requirements

A must do actvity if you do not have a phobia of heights and medium fitness. After reaching successfully at Low's Peak and viewing the majestic sunrise, you can add on the thrill with  Walk the Torq or Preamble/Low's Peak Circuit. VIA FERATTA ROUTES
REQUIREMENTS: Participants must be less than 100kg and at least 1.3m tall.

Laban Rata (Pendant Hut) Accommodation

Mountain Torq offers you their own accommodation, Pendant Hut, when you book their activities. This makes your adventure easier to arrange as the other accommodations here are always full and reserved for the standard summit climbers. Pendant Hut is a cozy, eco-friendly hut with 4 dormitory style rooms (30 beds), a VIP room (double bed for 2 pax) and a private room (max 4 pax) catering exclusively to our guests. Guests are not allowed to cook. VIP and Private rooms have additional charges. Pendant Hut is not heated.

From the hut, you will have easy access to Mountain Torq’s activities and even watch via ferrata climbers on the Panar Laban rock face! It is also where pre-activity briefings are held. Beds at Pendant Hut are prioritized for via ferrata participants
Facilities:
-Early morning – Continental Breakfast or equivalent
-Late morning – American Breakfast or equivalent
-Complementary use of house slippers
-Sleeping bags with sleeping bag liners
-Common toilets and bathrooms with electric warm water shower (the water temp from the source is around 10°C, so we can’t promise a piping hot shower, but with the right adjustment on the water pressure, you can get a fairly warm shower)
-Cozy lounge area with a mini mountaineering library
-Short walk to Laban Rata restaurant (for dinner & other meals)

They have also taken over management of final check point (3668m) Sayat Sayat and converted it to an accommodation hut (picture) for their alpine climbing activities. It is a traditional mountain hut with basic facilities and a self-service kitchen. It has 10 dormitory-style bunk beds and non heated.

If you intend to stay a night at either Kinabalu Nature Park(Timpohon Trail) to Mesilau Nature Park(Mesilau Trail) before the climb(to laban rate),  below are the optional rates

Sutera Sanctuary Lodges Accommodation Rates 2009 (Kinabalu Park & Mesilau Park)

If you prefer to stay a night before the climb at mountain-base, these are the accommodations available.

Kinabalu Nature Park (TImpohon Trail)
Check-in before 10pm, Climb registration 7.30am-5pm
*breakfast inclusive
RM100-120 per pax dorm
(below per room/lodge unit)
RM310-500 for twin share room at different lodges, subject to availability
RM590-760 for 4pax lodge, subject to availability

Mesilau Nature Park (Park located approximately 30minutes from KNP) (Mesilau Trail)
Check-in before 10pm, Climb registration close 7.30am-5pm
*breakfast inclusive
RM100-120 per pax for dorm
(below per room/lodge unit)
RM305-320 for twin share room
RM755-895 for 4pax lodge
RM825-960 for 6pax lodge
RM925-1070 for 6pax lodge with kitchen, satellite TV & living room

*rates subject to change without notice

ITINERARY & RATE 2009 for Mountain Torq Via Feratta (Rates per pax, valid for activitie dates before 31 March 2010)

See bottom page for booking rates for dates after 1st April 2010.

Mountain Torq Via Ferrata activity with Pendant Hut Accommodation	Meals included (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)	International		Malaysian
		(RM) SINGLE	(RM) Min 2pax	(RM) Min 2pax
2D1N Walk The Torq	2B , 1D	680	635	585
2D1N Low’s Peak Circuit	2B , 1D	820	765	705
3D2N Low’s Peak Circuit  (with 2 nights stay at  Laban Rata area)	Day 1 – D Day 2 – B, L ,D Day 3 – B	1280	1190	1100
4D3N MT TORQTM Experience: Low’s Peak Circuit & Intro to Abseiling	Day 1 – D Day 2 – B, L ,D Day 3 – B, L ,D Day 4 - B	1940	1800	1660

*All breakfast at Pendant hut.  All lunch & dinners at Laban Rata Resthouse
Includes VF activity, meals listed, VF guide, VF training & gear. Excludes transfers, mountain guide, Sabah Parks climbing registration fees (Scroll to the bottom end), insurance
**Private transfers available. Please email us.
Why pre arrange a return private transfer? For example, if you are going via timpohon trail, note that kinabalu park is 10mins drive from timpohon gate. A park bus seat can be arranged during climb registration. This may sound easy enought but on descent, you will need to wait for this park bus or walk out. It can be a long wait - made worse from your tiredness. At kinabalu park, again you will need to wait for a taxi or public bus to return KK. Very tedious again. A private transfer solves all this unnecessary delay as it’s ready to pick up your group only. You can evaluate convenience vs price. Separately, Mesilau is further away from Kinabalu Park, a little more remote and a little more difficult to hail a taxi or bus.

PACKAGES ABOVE EXCLUDES standard summit climbing registration at Sabah Parks: climbing permits, mountain guide, insurance, certificate which you can easily arrange at Kinabalu Park or Mesilau Nature Park Office before climb. You choose your own trail up to Laban Rata. Your transport from Kota Kinabalu will have to coincide with the trail you choose.

General Itinerary: 2 day 1 night Via Feratta program(A detailed itinerary provided upon booking confirmation)

Day	Low's Peak Circuit (LPC)	The Preamble	Walk the Torq (WTT)
Day 1 early morning to early afternoon	6-7 hr hike up to Laban Rata with Sabah Park’s Mountain Guides via Timpohon Trail or Mesilau Trail (1.5km longer). Check in at Pendant Hut.
Day 1 afternoon, 3pm	Via Ferrata familiarization/ Introduction / Briefing		Walk the Torq
Day 2 2 - 3 am	Hike up to Low's Peak with your Sabah Park Mountain Guide	Sleep	Hike up to Low's Peak with Sabah Park Mountain Guide
Day 2 6 am *LPC cut off 7am *WTT cut off 7.30am MT is very strick on cut off times.	Meet MT Trainers at Sayat Sayat, start Low's Peak circuit	Meet MT Trainers at Laban Rata for Preamble circuit	Back up day for Walk the Torq circuit
Day 2 late morning	Complete via ferrata, meet your Sabah Park Mountain Guides and descend to Park HQ

Individual Via Feratta Activity Rate available on request but best to take package

Walk the Torq (SB/KKMKWT) Duration 2 hours
Take your first steps on the world's highest via ferrata and learn how to walk the Torq.
WTT is an initiation for those who want to build their confidence in via ferrata climbing.
Grading - Easy - Everyone between 10 to 70 years old

The Low’s Peak Circuit (SB/KKMKWLPC) Duration 4 - 5 hours
Hike up to Low's Peak, Mt Kinabalu's highest point at 4,095m. On descent, take a via ferrata detour to see stunning views and explore hidden corners of the mountain plateau.
LPC is physically demanding. It is for those who are sure-footed, not fearful of heights, want to scale South East Asia's highest point and the World's highest via ferrata.
Grading Intermediate - Everyone between 10 to 70 years old

What does it exclude? What to wear/bring?

The programs listed are for  independent travellers. This means there is no tour guide, you will find your own way to the base of Mount Kinabalu and register the climb on your own at Sabah Parks office (Kinabalu Park or Mesilau Park). Private transfers can be arranged at additional cost. All inclusive packages can be arranged but expect to pay more for convenience.

Bring suitable warm clothing, waterproof gear (jacket,hat & shoes)*, good traction shoes/boots*, tough insulated gloves (waterproof is best)*, water bottle/drinks, water purification tablets (personal choice), walking pole/stick, headlamp/torchlight*, personal medication, snacks, medical kit and a day pack to carry it all. (*) important items

You will need a day pack during Via Feratta activity. You will be exhausted so bring drinks & snacks to give yourself an energy boost.

Best time to visit

The best time to visit Kinabalu is during the drier seasons between February to April. The rainy season is usually from November to January and from May to July although global warming is blurring all of this. If bad weather persists while at base camp, you may not be allowed up to the summit.

Getting here

KK International Airport can be reached direct from a number of International cities. Alternatively, there are daily flights from Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) which can be booked via Malaysia Airlines (www.mas.com.my) or AirAsia (www.airasia.com), the region's low cost carrier.

Mount Kinabalu Climbing Registration Items and Rates 2009 listed at Kinabalu Nature Park Headquarters (Update September 2008) All Rate Ringgit Malaysia (RM)

NEW RATES FOR PORTERS (EFFECTIVE :  1ST SEPTEMBER 2008) Notice:  Maximum weight is 10kg & additional weight will be charged base on daily rate Per Kg. (Reffering to item 1-9 & 14-18)
Timpohon Gate → Laban Rata → Timpohon Gate Timpohon Gate → Sayat-Sayat → Timpohon Gate Timpohon Gate → Summit → Timpohon Gate	Per Day / 10 kg   40.00   47.00   51.00
Mesilau → Laban Rata → Timpohon Gate Mesilau → Sayat-Sayat → Timpohon Gate Mesilau → Summit→ TimpohonGate	Per Day / 10 kg 45.00 50.00 57.00
Mesilau → Laban Rata → Mesilau Mesilau → Sayat-Sayat → Mesilau Mesilau → Summit → Mesilau	Per Day / 10 kg 51.00 57.00 62.00
Timpohon Gate →Eastern Ridge Timpohon Gate → Lone Tree Timpohon Gate → Easy Valley Timpohon Gate → Gurkha Hut	Per Day / 1 kg 22.00 17.00 16.00 13.00
Kotal’s Route	Per Day / 1 kg 72.00
Sub Station → Nambuyukong → Sub Station	Per Day / 1 kg 37.00
Sub Station → Air Terjun Misumpak  → Gua Kelawar → Sub Station	Per Day / 1 kg 37.00
Sub Station → Batu Penyangat → Sub Station	Per Day / 1 kg 37.00
Sub Station Monggis → Tambuyukon → Sub Station Monggis	Per Day / 10 kg 43.00
Trails Between Timpohon Gate & Mesilau Gate - 18 years & above (Per Person) - Below 18 years (Per Person)	5.00 2.00