MOUNT KINABALU

Gunung Kinabalu, as it is known in Malay, is the highest mountain on the world's third largest island. It is also the highest point between the Himalayas and the island of New Guinea. Rising almost twice as high as its Crocker Range neighbours, and culminating in a crown wild granite spires, it is a sight to behold. Amazingly, the mountain is still growing; increasing in height by about 5mm a year.

The 4095m Mt Kinabalu may not be a Himalayan sky-poker, but Malaysia's first UNESCO World Heritage Site is a major drawcard attracting thousands of climbers every year. The climb, by no means an easy jaunt, is essentially a long walk up a very steep hill, through jungle then barren moonscapes, with a little scrambling thrown in for good measure. On a clear day you can see the Philippines from the summit; often, though, the mountain is wreathed in cloud.