Bukit Gondol stands at 260 metres above sea level — the highest point in Bako National Park — and the trail to its summit is the most demanding walk in the park. The route follows the Bukit Gondol trail from park headquarters, ascending steeply through primary dipterocarp forest before emerging onto exposed sandstone ridgelines with sweeping views across the Muara Tebas peninsula, the South China Sea, and on clear mornings, the distant hills of the Sarawak interior.
The trail is 7.5 km return and typically takes 5–6 hours including time at the summit. The ascent covers 260 metres of elevation gain over roughly 3.5 km, with several steep sections where fixed ropes assist on the most exposed stretches. Unlike the Lintang Trail, which passes through multiple vegetation types, Bukit Gondol is primarily a forest walk — the understorey is dense and the canopy high, making it cooler but wildlife-sighting conditions are more demanding.
The upper trail traverses an area of kerangas forest on the summit plateau where Nepenthes rafflesiana hangs from the canopy at eye level. This section is among the best spots in the park for a close look at mature upper pitchers. Flying lemurs are frequently spotted in the tall trees below the summit ridge at dusk if you time your descent for late afternoon. The summit clearing offers a 360-degree panorama that justifies every step of the climb — a rare opportunity to see the full extent of Bako's coastline from above.
Start this trail no later than 07:00 — the summit section has no shade and becomes intensely hot from 10:00 onwards. Carry a minimum of 2 litres of water per person. Register your start time with the park office (mandatory for all day walks) and inform them of your expected return time. The trail is signposted clearly throughout but conditions deteriorate rapidly after heavy rain — check with the park office on trail status before departing. Bukit Gondol is rated challenging in the park's official trail difficulty system.