At 4,095 metres, Mount Kinabalu is the highest peak in Malaysia and the tallest mountain between the Himalayas and the island of New Guinea. Rising dramatically from the rainforests of Sabah on the island of Borneo, this granite giant had been on our wishlist for years, and this season we finally stood on its summit.

Kinabalu sits at the heart of Kinabalu Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site famous for one of the richest collections of plant life on the planet. The climb begins in dense, humid jungle alive with pitcher plants and birdsong, and ends on bare, wind-scoured granite where the air is thin and cold. Watching the landscape transform from tropical forest to alpine rock in a single climb is an experience unlike any other.

Most climbers tackle Kinabalu over two days. Day one is a relentless uphill trek to Laban Rata, the rest house perched at around 3,270 metres, where you grab a few hours of broken sleep before the summit push. We set off again at 2 a.m. by headlamp, clipping into fixed ropes as the trail steepened into smooth granite slabs.

Reaching Low’s Peak just as the sun broke the horizon was a moment we’ll never forget. Below us, a sea of cloud stretched in every direction while the first light turned the granite gold. Cold, exhausted and elated, we soaked in the kind of view that makes every aching step worth it.

If you’re planning your own Kinabalu climb, book early, as permits are limited and fill up fast. Train your legs and lungs in advance, pack proper layers for the freezing summit, and take the altitude seriously. It’s a tough but accessible adventure, and easily one of the most rewarding summits in Southeast Asia.