Attempting to single out the best trekking in Asia is an almost impossible task when faced with the seemingly limitless hiking options the planet’s largest continent has to offer. Visit hill tribes in the jungles and valleys of the mountains of Northern Thailand, discover the ancient Khmer temples of Cambodia’s Angkor Wat, explore the streets of Hanoi and sunset over Halong Bay in Vietnam, step back in time amongst the more than 2,000 enigmatic stupas and temples and the saffron-robed monks of Myanmar’s enigmatic Bagan Plain, have your breath taken away at the mountain vistas on a Himalaya Annapurna trek in Nepal, or explore the ancient pilgrimage trails and historic towns and villages in rural Japan. The best places to hike in Asia are almost always just outside your door and accessible to anybody with a sturdy pair of shoes and a desire for adventure. At Secret Retreats we are experts in creating the ideal Asia travel itinerary for those looking for the best hiking in Southeast Asia and beyond - whether traveling on a solo trip, as part of a group, or with friends and family. We are aware that the phrase ‘trekking in Asia’ might conjure images of hefty backpacks and technical treks up steep mountainsides, due to the magnificent mountains that crease the maps of Asia. However, there are many options for walking holidays in Asia that are just that, a gentle, non-technical walk that begins and ends with a comfy bed in a boutique hotel curated by Secret Retreats and a delicious meal crafted from the freshest seasonal, local, produce.
Take a sunrise walk up Mount Batur Volcano in Bali, Indonesia. Of all the bucket-list hikes in Asia, watching the sun come up from the top of a semi-active volcano must be on many must see bucket lists. Following a hearty breakfast, a guide will take you through the steaming cracks of the volcano for some unforgettable views. Dragon’s Back Hike in Hong Kong is easily accessible from the city. This is a gentle morning, or afternoon walk that even young children will enjoy. The trail rewards ramblers with some of the best panoramic views of the skyscrapers of Hong Kong and the city's surroundings. Padar Island in the Komodo National Park - trekking in Asia doesn’t come much more rewarding than the one-hour hike to the viewpoint on Padar Island. The experience is made more satisfying as it begins with a boat ride through crystal clear waters past breathtaking nature. Reportedly the inspiration for the movie Avatar, China’s Zhangjiajie National Forest Park offers numerous easy trails through incredible jagged sandstone peaks emerging from lush jungles. An hour’s bus ride from Zhangjiajie, the Golden Whip Trail guides visitors along the valley floor, and the aptly named ‘Avatar Viewpoint’ provides a surreal experience up in the clouds.
Take a sunrise walk up Mount Batur Volcano in Bali, Indonesia. Of all the bucket-list hikes in Asia, watching the sun come up from the top of a semi-active volcano must be on many must see bucket lists. Following a hearty breakfast, a guide will take you through the steaming cracks of the volcano for some unforgettable views. Dragon’s Back Hike in Hong Kong is easily accessible from the city. This is a gentle morning, or afternoon walk that even young children will enjoy. The trail rewards ramblers with some of the best panoramic views of the skyscrapers of Hong Kong and the city's surroundings. Padar Island in the Komodo National Park - trekking in Asia doesn’t come much more rewarding than the one-hour hike to the viewpoint on Padar Island. The experience is made more satisfying as it begins with a boat ride through crystal clear waters past breathtaking nature. Reportedly the inspiration for the movie Avatar, China’s Zhangjiajie National Forest Park offers numerous easy trails through incredible jagged sandstone peaks emerging from lush jungles. An hour’s bus ride from Zhangjiajie, the Golden Whip Trail guides visitors along the valley floor, and the aptly named ‘Avatar Viewpoint’ provides a surreal experience up in the clouds.
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More of the Best Places to Hike in Asia
Mount Pinatubo in the Philippines is a jewel in any Southeast Asia hiking itinerary and one of the best places to hike in Asia as it is easily accessed as a day trip from Manila. There’s no scrabbling up slopes here as the two-hour stroll through other-worldly scenery to the crater lake is mostly flat. Following an eruption in 1991, a striking, turquoise-colored lake was formed beneath the craggy, desolate sides of the caldera. If you are heading to Southern Thailand for a spot of island hopping, the province of Krabi is a must visit. Close to the islands of Phuket, Phi Phi, Koh Jum and Koh Phra Thong to name some of the highlights. While visiting Krabi, be sure to walk the Dragon Crest trail for the stunning views from the top of Thailand’s picture postcard perfect bay, Phang Nga Bay. If you decide to head to the mountains in the north of the country, then be sure to add a trip to Doi Inthanon National Park to your list of mountains to hike in Asia. Often regarded as one of the best day hikes in Asia a walk in the Cloud Forest near the summit of Doi Inthanon is an absolute delight. More of a nature trail than a trek, the route takes in cloud forest, magical moss-covered rainforest and semi-alpine grassland that ends at precipitous cliff edges. Not a long walk, around 3miles, so not a day hike in itself although there are lots of other walks one can enjoy on the vicinity on the slopes of Inthanon, but the beautiful nature and stunning scenery make for so many photo stops, it is a walk that will take time. The last mountain and end point of the mighty Himalayan Mountain range, a walk up Doi Inthanon requires far less preparation than taking a hike up its cousin Mount Everest. Although the tallest mountain in Thailand, Inthanon is an easy day out for waterfall fans and birdwatchers. It is a great place to visit for nature lovers and trekkers during a holiday in Chiang Mai.The Secret Retreats Concierges will be happy to sort out a day trip to ‘the Roof of Thailand’ for you and your family as part of your holiday itinerary. Another on the bucket list of walking holidays in Asia has to be the Great Wall of China. The only real way to explore this ancient triumph of Chinese engineering is by foot. The most popular sections of the Wall are easily accessible by car from Beijing, but as one of the best places to hike in Asia, the sections close to China’s capital city can get crowded. Those wishing to spend more than a day on the Wall will find welcoming guesthouses and homestays to break the journey. The Cameron Highlands in Malaysia feature some of the best family-friendly hiking holidays Asia has to offer. An all-year-round cool climate, fresh air, and incredible landscapes of emerald tea plantations, flower farms, and lush jungle trails await visitors to Pahang. It is almost impossible to imagine hiking Southeast Asia without picturing rice terraces carved into the hillsides. And among the most stunning are the Sapa Vietnam Rice Fields in the far north of the country close to the Chinese border in Vietnam’s Tonkinese Alps. As well as easy single-day excursions, with or without a guide, visitors can opt to immerse themselves in the local culture and spend the night with one of the local tribes enjoying a meal and learning about their traditions.
Easy Walking Holidays in the Himalayas
Although hiking the Himalayas is not something immediately associated with a gentle mountain ramble or a casual hillside saunter, there are plenty of walking holidays in the Himalayas that are suited to those looking for a gentle walk through some of the planet’s most spectacular mountain scenery. Among the best hikes in the Himalayas is the Chatakpur Tiger Hill Trek just outside Darjeeling. Covering a distance of around seven kms through the Senchal Wildlife Sanctuary, the trek takes walks through orchards, past Buddhist temples, and through forests and even rewards travelers with views of Mount Everest and Kanchenjunga. During July and August, a stroll through the Valley of Flowers reveals breathtaking blooming meadows as well as the chance to spot snow leopards, musk deer, and blue sheep (if the farmer’s had his colouring pencils out again). Another of the shortest treks in the Himalayas is a trip to see Parashar Lake in the Kullu Valley of Himachal Pradesh. A highlight of the trek is the blue water lake and Prashar Rishi temple built on its shore. Perfect for families, the views of the Dhauladhar, Pir Panjal, and Kinnaur ranges are unforgettable. Among the other best hikes in the Himalayas that take only a day is the Nagarkot day trip in Nepal. This is one of the most popular easy treks out of Kathmandu and takes in the Changunarayan temple overlooking Sankhu village and Bhaktapur. The temple is said to have been built by King Hari Datta Varma in 323 AD. As well as dramatic views across the Kathmandu Valley, hikers can also take in Ganesh Himal, Langtang Lirung, Dorje Lakpa, and the mighty Mount Everest. The Shivapuri Day Hiking tour is up there with the best treks in the Himalayas for bird watchers. The Shivapuri National Park in the Kathmandu Valley offers cherry and pine forest trails to the Budhanilkantha temple. An uphill stroll through the bamboo, rhododendron, and oak forest beyond the monastery takes hikers to some unforgettable views of the snowcapped Himalayan peaks. Another popular choice for hiking in the Himalayas is the Nagarjun Hill Day Hiking trip. The hike starts just 7km from Kathmandu and lasts for around two hours at a gentle walking pace. Nagarjuna Hill is the ideal choice for those who want to experience the beauty of the mountains but are pressed for time. Those opting for day trips and longer walking holidays in the Himalayas should aim to do so between September and December (Autumn), and March and May (Spring).There are so many options for walks and treks to suit all ages and abilities across Asia, that we really cannot list them all. But we cannot close without mentioning Bhutan’s iconic Tiger’s Nest Trek. A short distance from Paro, this could easily be in the list of best day hikes in Asia. Not technical, but a basic level of fitness required due to the elevation, the walk climbs over 500m to a high point, at the temple, of over 3,000m, steep in places and certainly breathtaking and not just for the incredible views. The trail ends at the Tiger’s Nest temple, a beautiful Buddhist temple that seemingly clings to a rock face and looks out onto forest covered mountains and the valley below. Stunning, an adjective that can be used to described so much of Asia’s scenery, but it truly is, from fascinating city, urban and village walks to treks in the beautiful, sometimes awesome, countryside and wild spaces of Asia. Start planning and booking your hikes in Asia with the Secret Retreats Concierges today.
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