The Pinnacles Trail
The Pinnacles Trail
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JMSherman
Birkenhead213 contributions
Sept 2024 • Family
As a reasonably fit 65 year old woman who hiked up Mount Sabinyo, Uganda in June (which involves quite a few rustic ladders) and the 3 passes in Nepal last November, I assumed correctly that I would be able to climb the Mulu Pinnacles without any trouble—our group of 5 left camp at 06.25 and were back at 13.35. I took the ascent at my own pace arriving at the summit 9 minutes behind the rest of my group (all under 35 years old) and actually found the last section with the ladders and the ropes the most enjoyable. The view at the top was sadly not as awe inspiring as I expected.
We were so lucky to have perfect weather (summiting was cancelled a few days before due to rain) and our guides were really good at allowing us to be independent of them. I didn’t feel that the gloves I had taken were necessary but I definitely needed my poles as I am very used to using them for this type of tree root and rocky ascent, so I very fortunately ignored the briefing advice not to take them. I also wore my old faithful heavy leather hiking boots which were not a problem at all on the ladders or terrain in the dry weather that we had.
We were so lucky to have perfect weather (summiting was cancelled a few days before due to rain) and our guides were really good at allowing us to be independent of them. I didn’t feel that the gloves I had taken were necessary but I definitely needed my poles as I am very used to using them for this type of tree root and rocky ascent, so I very fortunately ignored the briefing advice not to take them. I also wore my old faithful heavy leather hiking boots which were not a problem at all on the ladders or terrain in the dry weather that we had.
Written 27 October 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Vishal yadav
175 contributions
Jul 2023 • Couples
It was hard , actually not hard but it was toughest. All you do is leg exercise for 6 hours back to back. Your legs are killed. But all you experience is heart touching. You will never forget this. People you meet. The kindness of them. Nature's beauty 😍
Written 14 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lina A
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia14 contributions
Oct 2017 • Friends
The Pinnacles trail is typically done via 4 day 3 night long stay. This will also give you a chance to see the Deer/Lang Cave - (for the flight of the bats!) if you arrive on the earlier flight to Mulu. It is a little difficult to get there as you have to catch a flight from Miri to Mulu (and before that a flight from either Kota Kinabalu or Sarawak to Miri) and those flights don't happen so often and are a bit expensive given there is only one carrier (MAS Wings). But it is absolutely worth the extra effort and cash.
Mulu National Park is a UNESCO Heritage site and it is worth the title. The park HQ is very well taken care of - facilities are very fresh and clean. One drawback is the really awful WiFi which you have to pay for! Would prefer that they didn't have it at all rather than have people pay for something that doesn't work :(
If you decide to do this independently you can stay at the park HQ hostel which runs RM55 per person the night before the hike. Next day you are assigned a park guide and take a boat journey to the head of the trail stopping along the way at Wind and Clearwater caves. The hike to Camp 5 is about a 9km on a very flat trail.
Camp 5 is a very basic shelter. The dormitories are partly (do not reach all the way to the ceiling) partitioned rooms where you sleep side by side with your fellow campers on raised wooden planks padded with thin mattresses. You can rent a mosquito net, but you can probably get one cheaper one from the outside. It's definitely good to have one. You have to bring your own food. Make sure you have enough for about 3 days. Kitchen facilities are provided at Camp 5. Basic instant noodles or canned fish are good dinner options.
The next day is an early start at around 7am to head up Mt. Api. The climb is pretty steep all the way. Your guide may want to really rush it. Don't let him! Take your time! If you don't do this every day you need to pace yourself. Don't give up! The last 1/3 of the hike is the technical bit (and most fun one!). You will get to climb up ladders and use ropes. Be careful it can be slippery up there.
The view of the Pinnacles is magnificent!! Enjoy your lunch while you are up there. At an average speed you should make it down by 3pm. But if you need more time, don't worry, there is enough day light to give yourself more time. Once you are back at camp - swim in the river! The cold water will feel amazingly refreshing after the long climb!
Next day you make your way back via the same trail you came in. Boat will be there to meet you and take you back to HQ.
Tips:
-DON'T take everything with you to the mountain - you can leave your things at park HQ storage. Secure storage for valuables is also available.
-DO bring a mosquito net
-DON'T pay for WiFi (it's not worth it!) unless they have done something to fix it...
-DO Consider hiring a private guide if you need a bit more pacing on the trail, more background on the nature, trail, area and want to enjoy a superb dinner after hard work (the meals they make are delicious!)
-DO bring a sleeping bag or enough warm clothes to keep warm at night
-DO bring a swim suit to bathe in the river!
-DO plan in advance as you can score some good deals on MAS flights which occasionally has some promotions.
Mulu National Park is a UNESCO Heritage site and it is worth the title. The park HQ is very well taken care of - facilities are very fresh and clean. One drawback is the really awful WiFi which you have to pay for! Would prefer that they didn't have it at all rather than have people pay for something that doesn't work :(
If you decide to do this independently you can stay at the park HQ hostel which runs RM55 per person the night before the hike. Next day you are assigned a park guide and take a boat journey to the head of the trail stopping along the way at Wind and Clearwater caves. The hike to Camp 5 is about a 9km on a very flat trail.
Camp 5 is a very basic shelter. The dormitories are partly (do not reach all the way to the ceiling) partitioned rooms where you sleep side by side with your fellow campers on raised wooden planks padded with thin mattresses. You can rent a mosquito net, but you can probably get one cheaper one from the outside. It's definitely good to have one. You have to bring your own food. Make sure you have enough for about 3 days. Kitchen facilities are provided at Camp 5. Basic instant noodles or canned fish are good dinner options.
The next day is an early start at around 7am to head up Mt. Api. The climb is pretty steep all the way. Your guide may want to really rush it. Don't let him! Take your time! If you don't do this every day you need to pace yourself. Don't give up! The last 1/3 of the hike is the technical bit (and most fun one!). You will get to climb up ladders and use ropes. Be careful it can be slippery up there.
The view of the Pinnacles is magnificent!! Enjoy your lunch while you are up there. At an average speed you should make it down by 3pm. But if you need more time, don't worry, there is enough day light to give yourself more time. Once you are back at camp - swim in the river! The cold water will feel amazingly refreshing after the long climb!
Next day you make your way back via the same trail you came in. Boat will be there to meet you and take you back to HQ.
Tips:
-DON'T take everything with you to the mountain - you can leave your things at park HQ storage. Secure storage for valuables is also available.
-DO bring a mosquito net
-DON'T pay for WiFi (it's not worth it!) unless they have done something to fix it...
-DO Consider hiring a private guide if you need a bit more pacing on the trail, more background on the nature, trail, area and want to enjoy a superb dinner after hard work (the meals they make are delicious!)
-DO bring a sleeping bag or enough warm clothes to keep warm at night
-DO bring a swim suit to bathe in the river!
-DO plan in advance as you can score some good deals on MAS flights which occasionally has some promotions.
Written 8 January 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lana B
London, UK2 contributions
May 2016 • Couples
If you love nature, this is a definite must-do when visiting Sarawak. The whole trip usually takes 3 days, with the first including a boat trip to Clearwater/Wind caves, and then onward to Camp 5 following a gentle 8km hike through the jungles. Camp 5 is a convenient place to stay, - while amenities are basic, you feel very cozy there, and there's absolutely everything you need (but bring a mosquito net, - while I haven't got any bites, this could be an issue sometimes). After dinner, you guide will have a quick talk with you, explaining the structure of the ascend, timeline and necessary safety precautions - the climb can be done only in good weather, and you need to reach the top not later that 11 or 12, as the weather quickly deteriorates in the afternoon, and you need to have enough time to get down a rather steep and potentially slippery slope, covered with stones and roots.
The second day is the climb. You leave the camp at around 7am, and start the track, - there will be several milestones on the way (like Minipinnacles), that help to track the time and assess the progress. The whole way up took us about 3-3.5 hours, you have to go relatively slowly, as the path is often slippery and requires minor scrambling, especially in the upper part with ladders and ropes. Be sure to bring 2-3 litres of water. You don't need to have any particular scrambling/climbing skills to ascend the mountain, - you just need to be reasonably fit, and I expect that most people who jog or do some sport can do the climb in a reasonable time.
While the view of the pinnaces will blow your mind and undoubtedly be an amazing reward for the efforts, I have to highlight that the forest itself is utterly breathtaking, especially the upper part (ladders, etc). Thick forestry, tree roots that take amazing shapes and forms, a mix of sharp rocks and lush green plants, lots of moss, - if you could ever imagine the perfect jungle forest, this is it! While I have done a fair bit of hiking before, this is by far the most beautiful forest I have ever been to. If you're not too tires to look around, - do it, it will blow your mind! Watch out for the wildlife too - squirrels, monkeys, ants, insects, birds...
After you have a lunch at the top, you start going down. Now, it is really the down climb that causes most difficulty to people, because the path is fairly steep, so you really need to go slow, and it takes a considerable amount of time, you get tired easily. But really, it's not that hard - just keep going at your own pace and enjoy the nature. It is unlikely to take less than 3 hours. As the weather often deteriorates in the afternoon, it may get cloudy and start raining (in fact, it was raining heavily during the last hour of our descend), but it's well worth it. Once you get back to Camp 5, take a swim in the local river - it will be so refreshing after the climb.
One the last day you hike back 8km or so down the trail toward the point where the boat can pick you up, and then it takes you back to the park centre, where you can have lunch. We went adventure caving in the afternoon (Racer cave), and had a blast of scrambling up and down the bounders, enjoying unusual rock formations and cave wildlife.
While bats exodus and the usual showcases and incredible beautiful and spectacular, for me it was the pinnacles trek that really made the trip unforgettable. So, let me say this again - if you love nature, you really, really have to go there! You will be amazed and won't regret it for sure.
While you can book the trip with the park centre, an easier (and honestly, far more enjoyable way) is to find a local guide that will be able to plan the whole trip for you (in case you want to do more than just one-two days of typical showcaves). Our guide was Willie Kajan, - he's a local and a very enthusiastic person, who has been doing tours for nearly twenty years: there is literally nothing he does not know about the nature there: fish, plants, animals, traditions and village history. He can sort out your accommodation and plan the whole trip. Honestly, he was a fantastic guide, and I am to go back to Mulu, I have no reservations on who to get in touch with regarding planning. In short, I recommend him without any reservations: Willie Kajan, +60 12 872 9159, welkaj@hotmail.com
The second day is the climb. You leave the camp at around 7am, and start the track, - there will be several milestones on the way (like Minipinnacles), that help to track the time and assess the progress. The whole way up took us about 3-3.5 hours, you have to go relatively slowly, as the path is often slippery and requires minor scrambling, especially in the upper part with ladders and ropes. Be sure to bring 2-3 litres of water. You don't need to have any particular scrambling/climbing skills to ascend the mountain, - you just need to be reasonably fit, and I expect that most people who jog or do some sport can do the climb in a reasonable time.
While the view of the pinnaces will blow your mind and undoubtedly be an amazing reward for the efforts, I have to highlight that the forest itself is utterly breathtaking, especially the upper part (ladders, etc). Thick forestry, tree roots that take amazing shapes and forms, a mix of sharp rocks and lush green plants, lots of moss, - if you could ever imagine the perfect jungle forest, this is it! While I have done a fair bit of hiking before, this is by far the most beautiful forest I have ever been to. If you're not too tires to look around, - do it, it will blow your mind! Watch out for the wildlife too - squirrels, monkeys, ants, insects, birds...
After you have a lunch at the top, you start going down. Now, it is really the down climb that causes most difficulty to people, because the path is fairly steep, so you really need to go slow, and it takes a considerable amount of time, you get tired easily. But really, it's not that hard - just keep going at your own pace and enjoy the nature. It is unlikely to take less than 3 hours. As the weather often deteriorates in the afternoon, it may get cloudy and start raining (in fact, it was raining heavily during the last hour of our descend), but it's well worth it. Once you get back to Camp 5, take a swim in the local river - it will be so refreshing after the climb.
One the last day you hike back 8km or so down the trail toward the point where the boat can pick you up, and then it takes you back to the park centre, where you can have lunch. We went adventure caving in the afternoon (Racer cave), and had a blast of scrambling up and down the bounders, enjoying unusual rock formations and cave wildlife.
While bats exodus and the usual showcases and incredible beautiful and spectacular, for me it was the pinnacles trek that really made the trip unforgettable. So, let me say this again - if you love nature, you really, really have to go there! You will be amazed and won't regret it for sure.
While you can book the trip with the park centre, an easier (and honestly, far more enjoyable way) is to find a local guide that will be able to plan the whole trip for you (in case you want to do more than just one-two days of typical showcaves). Our guide was Willie Kajan, - he's a local and a very enthusiastic person, who has been doing tours for nearly twenty years: there is literally nothing he does not know about the nature there: fish, plants, animals, traditions and village history. He can sort out your accommodation and plan the whole trip. Honestly, he was a fantastic guide, and I am to go back to Mulu, I have no reservations on who to get in touch with regarding planning. In short, I recommend him without any reservations: Willie Kajan, +60 12 872 9159, welkaj@hotmail.com
Written 13 May 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
STonthego
Canada6 contributions
Nov 2018 • Couples
We did the Pinnacles in early November at the beginning of Mulu's rainy season with our trusty guide Chris (or Christian), a very sweet and friendly man who calls the jungle his "office". He had near encyclopedic knowledge of the geology of Mulu and reassured us that we were in good hands with a very thorough briefing on what to expect and how to prepare for the climb. His advice during the climb (especially the descent) were also invaluable, as he knew the safest ways to go up and, particularly, down.
Fortunately it was dry on the way up, as it barely rained the day before. Also, after the first 30-45 minutes, a breeze kept us comfortably cool for the remainder of the climb. It rained lightly during our descent and poured pretty heavily during the last hour, but we kept a slow, steady pace to make it down safely. We were in pretty good shape, as we have done similar hikes before (900-1100+ m elevation gain with rugged terrain / scrambling), but we still took our sweet time on the steeper sections, particularly when coming down as I have tender knees.
My advice would be to have leech socks for the 9km hikes to/from Camp 5 (we experienced one leech bite and found numerous leeches on our shoes), wash your clothing/body thoroughly at Camp 5 as the bees are attracted to sweat (they will land all over your shoes/clothing and fly around you if sweaty), rent a mosquito net from Mulu HQ (there are plenty of insects at night, including some very big leaf insects), and make sure you have plenty of water, nutritious, energy-packed snacks/meals, and proper equipment for Camp 5 and the 9km/Pinnacles trails.
Also note that, if you booked Pinnacles through Mulu HQ (not with a tour agency), you'll be hiking the 9km trail from the river to Camp 5 on your own (without a guide). The trail was mostly unmarked when we did it (or the markings were not visible) though the route is almost entirely flat and straight and, for the most part, easy to follow (with boardwalks, bridges and a mainly clear pathway). Just keep going and you'll be thinking "hallelujah" when you reach the 4km marker (meaning 4km from Camp 5) and glimpse civilization (i.e. other fellow campers) at the end of the trail.
For the climb, I'd recommend close-toed, grippy shoes (I used the local Adidas Kampongs, which I bought at the Mulu HQ gift shop for less than $5; they worked perfectly), gloves for the rocks/ropes, and at least 3L of water (e.g. 2L water bladder and 1L bottle to leave at the midpoint; Camp 5 can lend you a bottle) are essential. I would not recommend heavy duty hiking boots as your feet will not be able to fit into small, tight crevices or maneuver around roots and rocks. I'd also recommend wearing tight-fitting, full-length pants to protect your legs. My legs got pretty bruised and scratched even with thick sport leggings on, but would have probably been much worse without them.
The last 400m of climbing was scarier than we anticipated because sections are literally vertical rock-climbing (or technical bouldering) walls without ropes to secure you. As the guide mentioned, the ropes are intended to be guidelines only and are not intended to be used for holding onto since they swing freely. Fortunately, the large tree roots and limestone rocks are pretty solid and perfectly shaped for handgrips. The ladders were mostly angled (vs. vertical) and relatively short, making them a breeze (even for folks afraid of heights). The scariest part was thinking "how the heck am I going to come back down", but we actually found coming down easier (just slower). Just take your time and don't rush it.
My one word of advice would be to watch where you put your hands and, if it's getting dark (the time when the insects/spiders come out), don't brush against thick foliage. When putting my hand on a rock, I got bitten by an ant, and it was quite painful. Another time, I almost put my hand on a rock where a small, light yellow snake was hanging out. At first, I thought it was a tree root, but then I realized it was a snake in striking position. Lastly, I got bitten by something when brushing past foliage walking on the boardwalks back to camp. Whatever bit me managed to puncture through my thick jogging tights and make two small puncture holes in my calf (spaced wider than a spider or snake bite). It was quite painful and swollen, but fortunately the pain/swelling went down after awhile.
Overall, we found the whole Camp 5 / Pinnacles experience to be one of the best ways to experience everything Mulu has to offer since it includes visiting the Wind and Clearwater Caves, longboat river rides, a visit to an indigenous village, hiking/camping in the jungle, and physically challenging hiking. It was the most intimate and immersive way to experience the extraordinarily biodiverse jungles of Mulu, and it felt like a true achievement in the end. It certainly made settling into a Garden Bungalow at Mulu HQ, listening to the barking frogs, a slice of heaven after we got back.
If you'd like to add some adventure and extreme physical challenge to your Mulu visit, while also having a more intimate, immersive jungle experience, hiking the Pinnacles is for you!
Fortunately it was dry on the way up, as it barely rained the day before. Also, after the first 30-45 minutes, a breeze kept us comfortably cool for the remainder of the climb. It rained lightly during our descent and poured pretty heavily during the last hour, but we kept a slow, steady pace to make it down safely. We were in pretty good shape, as we have done similar hikes before (900-1100+ m elevation gain with rugged terrain / scrambling), but we still took our sweet time on the steeper sections, particularly when coming down as I have tender knees.
My advice would be to have leech socks for the 9km hikes to/from Camp 5 (we experienced one leech bite and found numerous leeches on our shoes), wash your clothing/body thoroughly at Camp 5 as the bees are attracted to sweat (they will land all over your shoes/clothing and fly around you if sweaty), rent a mosquito net from Mulu HQ (there are plenty of insects at night, including some very big leaf insects), and make sure you have plenty of water, nutritious, energy-packed snacks/meals, and proper equipment for Camp 5 and the 9km/Pinnacles trails.
Also note that, if you booked Pinnacles through Mulu HQ (not with a tour agency), you'll be hiking the 9km trail from the river to Camp 5 on your own (without a guide). The trail was mostly unmarked when we did it (or the markings were not visible) though the route is almost entirely flat and straight and, for the most part, easy to follow (with boardwalks, bridges and a mainly clear pathway). Just keep going and you'll be thinking "hallelujah" when you reach the 4km marker (meaning 4km from Camp 5) and glimpse civilization (i.e. other fellow campers) at the end of the trail.
For the climb, I'd recommend close-toed, grippy shoes (I used the local Adidas Kampongs, which I bought at the Mulu HQ gift shop for less than $5; they worked perfectly), gloves for the rocks/ropes, and at least 3L of water (e.g. 2L water bladder and 1L bottle to leave at the midpoint; Camp 5 can lend you a bottle) are essential. I would not recommend heavy duty hiking boots as your feet will not be able to fit into small, tight crevices or maneuver around roots and rocks. I'd also recommend wearing tight-fitting, full-length pants to protect your legs. My legs got pretty bruised and scratched even with thick sport leggings on, but would have probably been much worse without them.
The last 400m of climbing was scarier than we anticipated because sections are literally vertical rock-climbing (or technical bouldering) walls without ropes to secure you. As the guide mentioned, the ropes are intended to be guidelines only and are not intended to be used for holding onto since they swing freely. Fortunately, the large tree roots and limestone rocks are pretty solid and perfectly shaped for handgrips. The ladders were mostly angled (vs. vertical) and relatively short, making them a breeze (even for folks afraid of heights). The scariest part was thinking "how the heck am I going to come back down", but we actually found coming down easier (just slower). Just take your time and don't rush it.
My one word of advice would be to watch where you put your hands and, if it's getting dark (the time when the insects/spiders come out), don't brush against thick foliage. When putting my hand on a rock, I got bitten by an ant, and it was quite painful. Another time, I almost put my hand on a rock where a small, light yellow snake was hanging out. At first, I thought it was a tree root, but then I realized it was a snake in striking position. Lastly, I got bitten by something when brushing past foliage walking on the boardwalks back to camp. Whatever bit me managed to puncture through my thick jogging tights and make two small puncture holes in my calf (spaced wider than a spider or snake bite). It was quite painful and swollen, but fortunately the pain/swelling went down after awhile.
Overall, we found the whole Camp 5 / Pinnacles experience to be one of the best ways to experience everything Mulu has to offer since it includes visiting the Wind and Clearwater Caves, longboat river rides, a visit to an indigenous village, hiking/camping in the jungle, and physically challenging hiking. It was the most intimate and immersive way to experience the extraordinarily biodiverse jungles of Mulu, and it felt like a true achievement in the end. It certainly made settling into a Garden Bungalow at Mulu HQ, listening to the barking frogs, a slice of heaven after we got back.
If you'd like to add some adventure and extreme physical challenge to your Mulu visit, while also having a more intimate, immersive jungle experience, hiking the Pinnacles is for you!
Written 26 November 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Michelle J
Irvine, CA102 contributions
Oct 2017 • Couples
I just returned from Borneo and after
climbing Mt Kinabalu my husband and I headed over to Mulu from our base in Kota Kinabalu. We booked the Show Cave and Pinnacle climb through Amazing Borneo and they did a fantastic job. Compared to other groups and guides we saw on our visit I would definitely use Amazing Borneo again. Our guide (Jason Lau email: borneohornbill83@gmail.com)was outstanding and definitely gave us great briefings as well as great guiding and he also cooked for us all our meals at Base Camp 5, got us back to park hq in plenty of time to catch our flight and stopped off to print off our boarding passes on the way back. He also took excellent care of the forest trails and used his machete to clear fallen branches etc. Mr. Lau cares very much for the environment and he is an excellent steward of the park and all its resources.
Now for those of you considering the Pinnacle climb here is some information:
1. The longboat ride from Clearwater Cave point is 45 minutes unless you decide to come during the dry season then it will take you 1.5 hours as you will have to exit the boat several times due to low water levels.
2. From the longboat exit it says the trek to base camp 5 is 9km but I suspected it was farther and my gps watch said it was 5.65 miles (so over 10k). The walk is flat through the forest on a well marked trail. When you reach the 2nd suspension bridge you are halfway there. We were told to wear leech socks which we did but never saw leeches.
3. Base Camp 5 is actually a nice camp next to the river with buildings for sleeping with mats, blankets and mosquito nets(last two items we rented for 2 nights for 80 ringgit from the camp). There is a large indoor kitchen facility and outdoor covered eating area and bathrooms with showers. They also provide drinking water. There is no cell coverage there and we did not need a power source but a British Cave group was there and they did have laptops and power was provided to them so you may be able to get that for a fee.
There are also a lot of bees who are attracted to the salt in your sweat so you need to rinse out and change your clothes or the bees will be attracted to you(there are clothes lines to hang clothes).
4. Pinnacles is a 2.4km trek up to a viewpoint where you see the Pinnacles. You will not be able to get to touch the Pinnacles themselves it is simply a viewpoint. The trek is challenging because it is steep and it’s tree covered but humid. Your guide will tell you how much water to bring and let you know how much farther to go. Mr. Lau told me I completed the climb up and down in the fastest time of anyone he has guided(he takes 3 trips/week in high season and once a week rest of time). You may need more time so don’t feel you need to rush as fast as you can. Just go your own speed. My guide made me a pack lunch and we spent an hour at the top. They said there were 17 ladders but I thought that part was fairly easy and fun. I had a headlamp and gloves but I did not need either of them. I wore my ASICS workout shoes but it would have been better with some lightweight hiking shoes. I was told NOT to bring any rain gear because of the steepness of the trail it could interfere with my footing. Same thing applies if you want to use trekking poles (they won’t help you anyway this is more of a quad/calf workout).the view is worth it but I did wish I could get closer to the Pinnacles themselves.
5. There is also a 4km round trip hike to a gorge if you decide Pinnacles is not for you.
6. You hike back out the way you came in. The boat is normally there to pick you up at 930am but it was there early so we left at 915. Keep your eyes open on the way out we saw a huge peacock just walking on the trail and other birds and insects.
7. We got back to the park and our guide got us into the hostel to use their showers and we got lunch at the cafe (incl in our pkg) and toured the discovery center(well worth visiting). We easily made our 230 flight but we could have made a1230 flight(which we had but Malaysia Air changed the time).
We will definitely be back next year to do the Mulu Summit hike (24 km) and we will definitely be hiring Jason Lau again.
climbing Mt Kinabalu my husband and I headed over to Mulu from our base in Kota Kinabalu. We booked the Show Cave and Pinnacle climb through Amazing Borneo and they did a fantastic job. Compared to other groups and guides we saw on our visit I would definitely use Amazing Borneo again. Our guide (Jason Lau email: borneohornbill83@gmail.com)was outstanding and definitely gave us great briefings as well as great guiding and he also cooked for us all our meals at Base Camp 5, got us back to park hq in plenty of time to catch our flight and stopped off to print off our boarding passes on the way back. He also took excellent care of the forest trails and used his machete to clear fallen branches etc. Mr. Lau cares very much for the environment and he is an excellent steward of the park and all its resources.
Now for those of you considering the Pinnacle climb here is some information:
1. The longboat ride from Clearwater Cave point is 45 minutes unless you decide to come during the dry season then it will take you 1.5 hours as you will have to exit the boat several times due to low water levels.
2. From the longboat exit it says the trek to base camp 5 is 9km but I suspected it was farther and my gps watch said it was 5.65 miles (so over 10k). The walk is flat through the forest on a well marked trail. When you reach the 2nd suspension bridge you are halfway there. We were told to wear leech socks which we did but never saw leeches.
3. Base Camp 5 is actually a nice camp next to the river with buildings for sleeping with mats, blankets and mosquito nets(last two items we rented for 2 nights for 80 ringgit from the camp). There is a large indoor kitchen facility and outdoor covered eating area and bathrooms with showers. They also provide drinking water. There is no cell coverage there and we did not need a power source but a British Cave group was there and they did have laptops and power was provided to them so you may be able to get that for a fee.
There are also a lot of bees who are attracted to the salt in your sweat so you need to rinse out and change your clothes or the bees will be attracted to you(there are clothes lines to hang clothes).
4. Pinnacles is a 2.4km trek up to a viewpoint where you see the Pinnacles. You will not be able to get to touch the Pinnacles themselves it is simply a viewpoint. The trek is challenging because it is steep and it’s tree covered but humid. Your guide will tell you how much water to bring and let you know how much farther to go. Mr. Lau told me I completed the climb up and down in the fastest time of anyone he has guided(he takes 3 trips/week in high season and once a week rest of time). You may need more time so don’t feel you need to rush as fast as you can. Just go your own speed. My guide made me a pack lunch and we spent an hour at the top. They said there were 17 ladders but I thought that part was fairly easy and fun. I had a headlamp and gloves but I did not need either of them. I wore my ASICS workout shoes but it would have been better with some lightweight hiking shoes. I was told NOT to bring any rain gear because of the steepness of the trail it could interfere with my footing. Same thing applies if you want to use trekking poles (they won’t help you anyway this is more of a quad/calf workout).the view is worth it but I did wish I could get closer to the Pinnacles themselves.
5. There is also a 4km round trip hike to a gorge if you decide Pinnacles is not for you.
6. You hike back out the way you came in. The boat is normally there to pick you up at 930am but it was there early so we left at 915. Keep your eyes open on the way out we saw a huge peacock just walking on the trail and other birds and insects.
7. We got back to the park and our guide got us into the hostel to use their showers and we got lunch at the cafe (incl in our pkg) and toured the discovery center(well worth visiting). We easily made our 230 flight but we could have made a1230 flight(which we had but Malaysia Air changed the time).
We will definitely be back next year to do the Mulu Summit hike (24 km) and we will definitely be hiring Jason Lau again.
Written 1 November 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
lunarJade
Ipoh, Malaysia723 contributions
Apr 2014 • Friends
Don't underestimate the level of difficulty for the Pinnacles climb, it's ultra HARD. But what an achievement it is when you get to the top! From the word 'go', the trail is pretty much straight up, up, up all the way ... very steep and relentless. Endurance and determination is great, but for the Pinnacles climb, you really need to have a good level of physical fitness. The guide will determine whether you can proceed with the climb by checking if you can achieve the two milestones by the cutoff time (so some speed is needed) - must reach Mini Pinnacles at altitude of 400m (distance: 900m climb from Camp 5) within one hour from start; must reach the first ladder at altitude of 1,000m by 11 am (distance: 2,000m climb from Camp 5) - prerequisites to ensure that you have adequate time to return to Camp 5 before dark.
After a while, the hike was just like rock climbing. The slope was so steep that we were pretty much climbing on all fours for most of the trail ... grab a part of a tree (root, main branch) or rock (make sure it's a firm hold) to pull ourselves up, use another as a step and repeat. Very challenging indeed especially for someone who is only 5ft tall as the steps can be huge. There were parts of the climb before the ladder section where ropes were in place - don't just rely on the rope (it is not stretched tight and can sway) but ensure you always have your other hand gripping on something else that is securely fixed like a rock or tree root for better balance. The ladder section (final 400m to the top) is probably the easiest part of the entire climb, definitely the most fun part too. Like others have said, the climb is quite treacherous and risky because it is extremely steep and the terrain is rocky so you could end up seriously injured in a fall. Hence, we just can't stress enough how important it is to be focus and always be sure of your footing. We took almost 4 hours to reach the top, spent an hour at the top for photographs and a bite, and 5 long hours to descend - so obviously in the 'not so fit' category. It was surely tougher on the descend, more so when it started to pour midway down. Coming back down is a careful and slow-moving process as we were already exhausted, but still got to think where to put our foot next and most times. it was easier doing this backwards. The fitter guys on our group just raced ahead.
We were lucky that our group was the only one that climbed the Pinnacles that day and could take our time at the small viewing area at the top. The view of these razor sharp spikes was superb and we had a clear view. Isn't mother nature amazing! You can even see the runway of Mulu airport (from near ladder no.10).
The vegetation changes as you climb, from mixed dipterocarp forest to lower tropical montane forest (rhododendron shrubs). There were hardly any leeches but we saw maroon langurs and treeshrews!
Undi, our Sarawak Park guide, was fantastic. Despite the slow pace, he never pushed but constantly kept an eye out. We observed that he would go ahead to check the ropes (and re-tied them when necessary) and ladders; and for loose rocks.
Do:
Plan ahead as bookings must be made in advance for a place (limited space in Camp 5). When we booked, Mulu NP HQ indicated that we might have to pay for the equivalent of 3 people which is the usual minimum group size, but we ended up paying the quoted cost per person as there were others wanting to attempt the climb on the very same day.
Bring cash. Mulu NP HQ, the gift shop and Mulu Cafe' only accept cash.
Check the inside of your shoes for bees before putting them on. There are lots of bees around Camp 5. The bees are attracted to our sweat just as they like the honey of flowering plants. Hence, it is best to wash and dry your clothes, socks and poncho as soon as you remove them. What we did was to rinse off at the nice cool waters of Melinau River right next to Camp 5. That really helped to reduce the number of bees swarming our clothes and socks that were drenched in sweat.
For the Pinnacles climb:
- Wear trail shoes or runners, and not hiking boots. These have better traction and have more flexible soles which allow you to feel the terrain which is important for finding your footing and keeping your balance while climbing.
- Wear pants that are generally fitting (i.e. not loose) so that it does not get caught on the trees or in between rocks. We prefer long pants - minimise scratches on your legs especially on the descent.
- You use your arms as much as your legs. So wear fitting gloves [cotton (breathable fabric) ones but with rubber on one side (non-slip), can be purchased from DIY and hardware shops]. We found having gloves to be very very helpful with the climb.
This trail is definitely not a leisurely walk in the park. It was highly challenging but fun. If you were fit and up for a challenge, why not give it a thought.
After a while, the hike was just like rock climbing. The slope was so steep that we were pretty much climbing on all fours for most of the trail ... grab a part of a tree (root, main branch) or rock (make sure it's a firm hold) to pull ourselves up, use another as a step and repeat. Very challenging indeed especially for someone who is only 5ft tall as the steps can be huge. There were parts of the climb before the ladder section where ropes were in place - don't just rely on the rope (it is not stretched tight and can sway) but ensure you always have your other hand gripping on something else that is securely fixed like a rock or tree root for better balance. The ladder section (final 400m to the top) is probably the easiest part of the entire climb, definitely the most fun part too. Like others have said, the climb is quite treacherous and risky because it is extremely steep and the terrain is rocky so you could end up seriously injured in a fall. Hence, we just can't stress enough how important it is to be focus and always be sure of your footing. We took almost 4 hours to reach the top, spent an hour at the top for photographs and a bite, and 5 long hours to descend - so obviously in the 'not so fit' category. It was surely tougher on the descend, more so when it started to pour midway down. Coming back down is a careful and slow-moving process as we were already exhausted, but still got to think where to put our foot next and most times. it was easier doing this backwards. The fitter guys on our group just raced ahead.
We were lucky that our group was the only one that climbed the Pinnacles that day and could take our time at the small viewing area at the top. The view of these razor sharp spikes was superb and we had a clear view. Isn't mother nature amazing! You can even see the runway of Mulu airport (from near ladder no.10).
The vegetation changes as you climb, from mixed dipterocarp forest to lower tropical montane forest (rhododendron shrubs). There were hardly any leeches but we saw maroon langurs and treeshrews!
Undi, our Sarawak Park guide, was fantastic. Despite the slow pace, he never pushed but constantly kept an eye out. We observed that he would go ahead to check the ropes (and re-tied them when necessary) and ladders; and for loose rocks.
Do:
Plan ahead as bookings must be made in advance for a place (limited space in Camp 5). When we booked, Mulu NP HQ indicated that we might have to pay for the equivalent of 3 people which is the usual minimum group size, but we ended up paying the quoted cost per person as there were others wanting to attempt the climb on the very same day.
Bring cash. Mulu NP HQ, the gift shop and Mulu Cafe' only accept cash.
Check the inside of your shoes for bees before putting them on. There are lots of bees around Camp 5. The bees are attracted to our sweat just as they like the honey of flowering plants. Hence, it is best to wash and dry your clothes, socks and poncho as soon as you remove them. What we did was to rinse off at the nice cool waters of Melinau River right next to Camp 5. That really helped to reduce the number of bees swarming our clothes and socks that were drenched in sweat.
For the Pinnacles climb:
- Wear trail shoes or runners, and not hiking boots. These have better traction and have more flexible soles which allow you to feel the terrain which is important for finding your footing and keeping your balance while climbing.
- Wear pants that are generally fitting (i.e. not loose) so that it does not get caught on the trees or in between rocks. We prefer long pants - minimise scratches on your legs especially on the descent.
- You use your arms as much as your legs. So wear fitting gloves [cotton (breathable fabric) ones but with rubber on one side (non-slip), can be purchased from DIY and hardware shops]. We found having gloves to be very very helpful with the climb.
This trail is definitely not a leisurely walk in the park. It was highly challenging but fun. If you were fit and up for a challenge, why not give it a thought.
Written 21 May 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
mauroeichin
Canton of Zurich, Switzerland11 contributions
Jun 2017 • Friends
What you will need for the 3D2N Pinnacles trip if you booked trough the Mulu Park and not an agency. I wont talk about cancellation, the hike itself etc. since others have done that before.
For the climb:
- min. of 3 liters of water (your guide will tell you that - I personally only drank ca. 2 liters but everyone is different here. You can leave 1.5 liters at the halfway mark so you have it for the descend)
- good shoes (I recommend the rubber Adidas Kampung for 15 RM from the Mulu Store. Worked perfectly for me! Very good grip and small enough to stand between rocks and roots)
- Gloves (especially for the way down)
- Food (powers bars etc. nothing huge)
- camera
- torch (just in case)
- raincoat
- first aid kit
For the camp:
Just so you know, Camp 5 is very basic but you wont need much.
I found essential:
- sarong (as blanket)
- towel and toiletries
- insect repellent
- enough food for 3 days (you will cook for yourself)
- change of clothes
Nice to have:
- flipflops
- power bank
- book to read or card-game
- mosquito net (you can rent it for 10RM per night at camp 5 - worth it!)
How it will be:
First of all, you will need to be reasonable fit to make the climb. You don't need to be a pro athlete, but you should be average-fit and especially mentally ready for the climb. We where a rather small group, two people from the park with guide and two people from the agency with guide so we where rather quick, but when you are a bigger group the ascend and specially descend can take a long time. And don't be fooled, going down is much harder then going up! You will need to be very focused and concentrated until the end. However, if you make it it will be a very rewarding experience and you can be proud!
Important about camp 5 is that there are a lot of bees during the day. They are somehow attracted to the smell of sweat - so make sure you take a proper bath after your hike in the river. It's impossible to hide from them outside - expect you spend the day under your mosquito net. They don't sting as long as you don't hit them but it's just annoying and ruins a little the nice places you would otherwise have to sit outside. They will disappear as soon as it gets dark, but if you are afraid of bees or even allergic, I would not recommend you to do this trip.
Apart from that, this is a great but challenging experience. If you have the fitness and determination, I would absolutely recommend you to do this!
For the climb:
- min. of 3 liters of water (your guide will tell you that - I personally only drank ca. 2 liters but everyone is different here. You can leave 1.5 liters at the halfway mark so you have it for the descend)
- good shoes (I recommend the rubber Adidas Kampung for 15 RM from the Mulu Store. Worked perfectly for me! Very good grip and small enough to stand between rocks and roots)
- Gloves (especially for the way down)
- Food (powers bars etc. nothing huge)
- camera
- torch (just in case)
- raincoat
- first aid kit
For the camp:
Just so you know, Camp 5 is very basic but you wont need much.
I found essential:
- sarong (as blanket)
- towel and toiletries
- insect repellent
- enough food for 3 days (you will cook for yourself)
- change of clothes
Nice to have:
- flipflops
- power bank
- book to read or card-game
- mosquito net (you can rent it for 10RM per night at camp 5 - worth it!)
How it will be:
First of all, you will need to be reasonable fit to make the climb. You don't need to be a pro athlete, but you should be average-fit and especially mentally ready for the climb. We where a rather small group, two people from the park with guide and two people from the agency with guide so we where rather quick, but when you are a bigger group the ascend and specially descend can take a long time. And don't be fooled, going down is much harder then going up! You will need to be very focused and concentrated until the end. However, if you make it it will be a very rewarding experience and you can be proud!
Important about camp 5 is that there are a lot of bees during the day. They are somehow attracted to the smell of sweat - so make sure you take a proper bath after your hike in the river. It's impossible to hide from them outside - expect you spend the day under your mosquito net. They don't sting as long as you don't hit them but it's just annoying and ruins a little the nice places you would otherwise have to sit outside. They will disappear as soon as it gets dark, but if you are afraid of bees or even allergic, I would not recommend you to do this trip.
Apart from that, this is a great but challenging experience. If you have the fitness and determination, I would absolutely recommend you to do this!
Written 28 June 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
RaviMN
St. Paul, MN223 contributions
Dec 2010 • Couples
Our hope was to go up to the Pinnacles, but from all our research, it seemed that it would be quite hard - steep climb, rocky terrain, slippery rocks, dangerous when wet, and a tougher knee-torturing climb down. Almost all of above was true - but, it was not as bad as all that. And, yes, we did get to the top and back without any injuries or even pain. You hike with a guide (already booked at Gunung Mulu HQ), who is mostly there to help you, if you are seriously injured and to some extent give you motivation (depends on the guide). We had hiked into Camp 5 the day before (a gentle 8 km hike) and started up the Pinnacles trek around 7 a.m. in the morning. We carried a couple of bottles of water, a sandwich for lunch and a couple of snacks, along with a small camera. All these were in a backpack, as you need your hands free to climb up. You will use all your limbs :-). The trek starts gently, but, fairly quickly becomes a 45 degree uphill climb. The ever-present humidity - even if it is not raining - makes it a bit challenging. There are sharp & sometimes mossy rocks & roots and the trail is not easy. But, if you are reasonably fit, you will make it. There will be a few stops along the way to catch your breath and admire the scenery. The last part of the trail is climbing up ladders and ropes - and in fact, for us this was easier than the first part. When we reached the top, the view was mostly obsured by the clouds, but, these quickly moved away and WOW! it was absolutely fantastic. All the effort paid off! We had lunch at the top and after we had our fill, we started on the way down. At least for us, the downhill was much faster and easier. We saw people of all ages and abilities complete the trail. Of course, there were people of all ages and abilities, who stopped half-way. Lightweight shoes with a good rubber sole are quite helpful. We took along gloves, but never needed to use them. As long as you are careful, deliberate and mentally prepared, this trail will be very rewarding!
Written 29 September 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TheBob
Bethesda, MD595 contributions
Apr 2018 • Couples
I'm 63, and am in decent shape -- I've hiked a number of Colorado 14-ers and have hiked to Everest Base Camp, for example. This is harder -- it ranges from steep to very steep, and is very slippery when wet -- which is all the time because this is the rainforest. I made it to the top of Ladder 2 (out of 17), about 1000m vertical up, and then couldn't face going up the next rock face with only a rope to grab onto. My wife did make it, as she's in really good shape. Of our party of 10, 3 people didn't make it (including myself). So if you want to try this, get into good shape, especially your legs. In some ways, it is like climbing greasy stairs for 300+ floors.
Written 30 April 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Amber V
Sint-Niklaas, Belgium
How do you get a local guide who speaks English?
Written 14 February 2018
You can request one from the park headquarters or if you are staying at a larger hotel (Marriott) they can arrange it for you as well. There are also independent tour companies like Amazing Borneo that can provide an English speaking guide. You can contact my guide directly if you want, he spoke English and he provided excellent meals and cooked for us. Jason Lau borneohornbill83 at gmail . com (please use the symbol for 'at' - trip advisor doesn't allow links)
Written 14 February 2018
1) How fit must you be?
2) Can anyone give contacts of guides?
3) What was the end to end total time for the stay, climbs, etc? 3 days?
Written 13 January 2018
“
1) I would say you need a moderate level of fitness if you want to do it and not be wiped out. That means you have cardio and strength training. You can do it without that but it will take longer and with the heat/humidity people we saw who were not fit either turned back or it took them all day. Be prepared for heat/humidity. The right guide can get you there just go slow and steady. Also if the weather is good they will ignore the checkpoint time cutoffs so do not feel pressured to get to the next point.
2) I used Jason Lau you can contact him directly at Borneohornbill83 @. gmail. com. He is an outstanding guide and will also prepare meals and tea, snacks etc. He was far superior to what we observed compared to other guides.
3) you need one day to get to base camp (via longboat then a 5.65 mike forest hike). Next day you will leave by 630am to do the hike. Stay overnight then leave at 930am next morning (you need to hike back out then take longboat back to park so don’t expect to arrive before 1130 if really fit and more likely by 130-2.) so that is 3 days/2nights.
Well worth doing the climb so good luck.
Written 13 January 2018
hallo,
kan je een deken huren om te overnachten in camp 5?
Written 3 July 2017
I have to translate your question to Engligh and it said:
hello, you can rent a blanket to stay in camp 5?
My answer:
You won't need blanket as this place is hot and humid. However, you would need a mosquito net. The guide at the hut has them for rental.
Written 18 July 2017
Hi, there was a couple of mentions on tour guides who cook as well. Do you have any contacts? I have gotten one from one of the posts (Svetlana's). Does anyone else have one?
thanks in advance for the help!!
Written 18 May 2017
We went on our own. We booked direct with Mulu Park Headquarter which arranged the boat for us from the HQ jetty to the start of the 9km trek into Camp 5. From Camp 5, they have official guide from the Park HQ to take you up to the Pinnacles. The park management would only allow trekkers to go up with the park's guide. The guide and the park will not provide any food, though.
If you don't wish to bring your own food and cook your own, you can use private companies that provide such service. I met a Mr Lim of Borneo Touch Ecotour Sdn Bhd - website is walktomulu. He is very experienced and lives in Limbang,
Written 19 May 2017
Did anyone manage to catch the 2.40pm flight back to Miri after coming down from Camp 5? Anyone came down later than 2pm?
Written 21 February 2017
Yeah you can manage that flight, a group we did the climb with made it. You will need to tell your guide that you are trying to get the flight though and they can arrange an earlier boat, normally the boats will get you back around 2 so would be close. We got back at around 12:15 so was fine!
Written 22 February 2017
Hello Chriz,
My boyfriend and I plan to do Pinnacles tour in the end of December. What was the name of your tour operator for that tour? The price you mention seems very reasonable and especially if food provided by the guide is as good as you mentioned, would like to try it. Thanks for your help!
Written 2 October 2016
waikongchui
Miri, Malaysia
How do I get there from hotel in city centre? Also, what can I expect?
Regards,
W. K. Chui
Written 23 September 2016
You have to get to Mulu first (a short flight from Miri). From there it's a boat ride, and then 9 km hike through the jungles to camp 5. On the next morning you can go to the pinnacles, but not without the guide.
Written 1 October 2016
Ciao ho letto la tua recensione volevo sapere dove hai dormito....dovrei partire a giugno con mio figlio di 15 anni
Written 16 May 2016
Hi all,i plan to go here next week, so do I need to have any tourist guide? it is one day trip or advisable to stay overnight in there? ur advise will much appreciated.
Written 13 March 2015
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