Accommodation

Accommodation within Kinabalu Park is provided courtesy of Sutera Sanctuary Lodges, a luxury resort company that runs a monopoly on the climb with the help of Sabah Parks, the government body that oversees the area. Hence, staying here is expensive though there are pseudo-budget options in the form of hostels and dorms. Most of the park accommodation consists of lodges, which are wooden chalets of varying sizes, facilities and comfort levels with individual names. The more expensive lodges are actual bungalows with two or three bedrooms inside, catering for families or small groups of guests with the money to spare and share.

Conventional hotel rooms are available in the large visitor center complex, while purported budget accommodation comes in the form of hostels.These hostels offer bunk beds in dormitories with common bathrooms and shared lounge areas (with adjoining pantry), but their going rates are exceedingly high by backpacker standards. Mesilau also has a luxury resort with a similiar range of accommodation options for visitors. If you intend to climb the mountain, then the park will push you into staying a night in Laban Rata, an ostentatiously priced hostel that sits on a plateau near the peak.

However, visitors can finish the climb in a day if they want to, and avoid paying the (more) ridiculous sum associated with overnight climbs. If you don't mind overlooking the convenience of hitting jungle trails from your doorstep, then stay outside instead, specifically in one of the many hotels and resorts that line the main road down to Kundasang. The equivalent rate of a dorm bed in one of Kinabalu Park's hostels can pay for a spacious room in a hotel outside, with en-suite bathroom (hot shower included), balcony with a view (of Mount Kinabalu or the Kundasang Valley depending on which side of the road it's at), twin or queen beds, satellite televison (ASTRO) and complimentary western breakfast of toast, sausages and eggs for two.

Furthermore, you have cheaper dining options in local restaurants within the hotels themselves or along the main road, saving more money on your stay. If you're adventurous, you can even opt for a homestay programme in one of the many villages that line Kundasang Valley. Sundry shops that supply travel necessities can be found along the main road and in the town area. Finally, compare rates during the various tourist seasons of the year in Sabah; if it's not a school holiday period or national festival, the rates can drop dramatically. Also, it's always best to stay in a hotel or resort that has a stable connection of hot water - Kundasang can be a very chilly place at night