Awesome Hiking Trails In Asia

April 5, 2023

Hey Tourist! Traveling for any outdoor enthusiast always includes a hike through gorgeous landscapes. Exploring some of the most popular trails on your trip abroad shows you the local culture and ecosystem while offering some of the most magnificent natural and human-made sightseeing opportunities. Planning your hiking journey can help you find local guides and complete your travel itinerary. It is also important to learn about weather conditions, accommodations like camping or hotel stays, and proper gear and equipment. You also want to make use of your time, so finding a trail worth the hike is an essential part of your planning.

Here are some of the best hiking trails in Asia to help you narrow your options.

Tiger Leaping Gorge, China

Situated above the famous Chinese Yangtze River lies one of the world's deepest gorges. Tourists come to explore the high trail section at 8,800 feet in between the western Haba Snow and the eastern Jade Dragon Snow Mountain where they can experience relaxing solitude and amazing views of the river and landscape. Travelers can split the hike into two days of ten hours total since local guesthouses and cafes are scattered through the trail for pitstops. Most of the trail is moderately difficult, except for a steep climb near the beginning. Along the way, you will see an abundance of wildlife as the gorge is located within a UNESCO wildlife preservation area and centralized where several different ecosystems converge. Although it is one of the most popular hikes in China, you will not see many other hikers along your route. The best times to visit the Tiger Leaping Gorge is in October, November or May to avoid the rain and winter seasons.

Continue on your hiking journey by visiting the Philippines next.

Mount Pulag, Philippines

Climb to the clouds at the highest point in Luzon, Philippines: Mount Pulag. This national park is home to many endangered species and several native tribes who consider the land to be scared hence its name "playground of the gods." Visitors can either drive or hike to the ranger station to park near the entrance where the first campsite sits. There's another campsite located two and a half miles away, reachable by a paved trail. You are not far from the top of the mountain, which can be reached by four different trails in one to four hours depending on your speed and trail choice. Rain is abundant in this region, so bring raingear and nonslip shoes. Mount Pulag is worth it for its view of vast grassland among thick mossy forests, dwarf bamboo pastures, and the unique perspective above the clouds.

Travel over to Cambodia for the next stunning hiking trail.

Bokor National Park, Cambodia

Visitors can explore a deep jungle of wild elephants, tigers, and snakes while discovering French colonial relics at Bokor Nationa Park. There are several options to get to the top of Bokor Mountain including hitching a ride, taking a bus, renting a bike, or hiking. If you are going to hike, hiring a tour guide is almost mandatory as trails are not well marked and poachers lurch in the jungle. The closest town to the park entrance is Kampot, which offers tour buses, guides, and bike rentals, located about five miles away. Once you enter the park, it is a twenty-mile journey to the submit to Bokor Hill Station, a small town built by the French in 1920s. Here you will find an ancient French palace, an old pagoda, and an abandoned casino. Among the ruins is a four-star hotel and casino, Tansur Bokor Highland Resort. There are several trails once you reach the summit to explore the jungle. A guided day trip of the Bokor National Park is recommended from Kampot, which has many hotels and restaurants.

Continue reading to learn about the fantastic trail in Bhutan.

Tigers Nest Trail, Bhutan

This holy hike leads travelers to a monastery beautifully anchored on a cliff nearby the cave where the Buddhist monk, Rinpoche, first meditated. The legend says he was carried to this location from Tibet via a tigress, which led to the introduction of Buddhism to Bhutan. The city of Paro is ten miles from the monastery, which is where you can find accommodations for your visit. There is a convenient parking area at the trailhead filled with local handmade crafts and keepsakes for sale. This is a full-day hike with four hours of walking and one to two hours of touring the monastery's four active temples. The hike is uphill, but is easy if you take your time. Rest halfway at the Takstang cafeteria where you can find prayer wheels and flags, and also snap a great photo of the monastery in the distance. The path flattens out as you continue over a flag-covered bridge filled followed by a steep stairway where you can have a guided tour.

Head over to Malaysia for the next stunning hiking opportunity.

Penang National Park, Malaysia

This island jungle national park is filled with white-sanded beaches and exotic wildlife. The entrance is easily reached by bus, stopping at the main Teluk Bahang station. From there you can walk to the trailhead and choose from two different paths. The simpler route starts with a fifteen-minute walk to Sungai Tukun and a swimming pool area. Continue along the coastal trail for another ten minutes to reach Tanjung Aling Beach. Another forty-five minutes takes you to Monkey Beach where you will see some sunbathing primates, and after thirty minutes uphill, you will come to a restricted lighthouse at Muka Head for some gorgeous views of the island. If you are looking for more secluded beaches, try the more strenuous trail through the jungle leading to Kerachut Beach. Here you will find a meromictic lake separating sea and fresh water as well as the Penang Sea Turtle Sanctuary. Penang National Park is the perfect mixture of beach and trail hiking.

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