Laban Rata Resthouse at Mount Kinabalu

We were so so glad to see a guesthouse after a 6 hour mega trek up the steepest of hills with 3 kids in tow. But the joy was very short lived. When we opened the door to our room, the ceiling had partially fallen down, the beds were clean and comfy but our outside-positioned room was freezing and without cold water or heating and no way to dry our soaking clothes; our spirits dropped massively on the realisation. The food was really poor (not sure what the other reviews are referring to but it was grim) and the whole affair was tawdry and so basic. Tbh in hindsight I have no idea how we managed to get up the rest of the huge climb after this pit stop. The only plusses are that our room was quiet and I guess at 3000m high you can’t hope for much. A warm solar shower and some half decent food would have been a start though.

We booked a mountain climbing package from Sabah Kinabalu Park organisation and they offered to stay in Laban Rata near to Panalaban checkpoint of mountain. We do enjoy with their foods sponsored and their nice Nescafe coffee. Although the menu is pretty pricey, it worth for us at this accommodation. The shower room does not have water heater, it was bloody cold water that we are not able to take a shower. And yet every 11:30 a.m. they will shut down the water supply due to Sabah Kinabalu Park regulations. It was pretty annoying but we have to follow the schedule of mountain climbing activity.