Mountain climbing? Trail hiking? Snorkelling or kayaking? Whatever your adventurous poison, South East Asia offers travellers a unique chance to let their wild side loose, embark on an adventure-filled journey and take in some of the continent’s most wondrous surroundings and backdrops.
Mountain Climbing
Nothing encapsulates the adventurer’s spirit more than mountain climbing and Mount Kinabalu in Borneo is
Malaysia’s highest mountain. Though the climb is over 4,000 meters, but it is generally an easy climb and can be done in a few hours.
Many climbers also opt to spend the night at Laban Rata, a gorgeous mountain-side lodge located within Kinabalu Park. Staying here means waking up to a quality breakfast before heading off towards the summit, where you can watch the sun rise over the beautiful country below. Whilst in Borneo, you may also want to climb the other highest peaks Gunung Tambuyukon and Gunong Trusmadi.
When you’re done with mountain climbing, how about snorkelling, scuba diving or jet-skiing which are all available along the Borneo coast and its surrounding islands. For those not afraid of the dark and deep, we highly recommend the colossal and remarkable Mulu ‘wild cave’ guided adventure treks.
Trekking the Kokoda Track
The infamous Kokoda Track in Papua New Guinea, where the now legendary troops of the 39th Australian Infantry Battalion fought a series of battles with the Japanese, is a formidable trek that is only suitable for the most fit and determined adventurers. The trail can be completed over several days or several hours, depending on how much of a challenge you want.
There are a number of companies that offer tours, all of which include food, accommodation, transportation and other features to suit your needs. Since the trail is located in an isolated area with sporadic access to clean drinking water, it is strongly recommended that ample physical preparation be undertaken before embarking on this particular adventure.
Cycling through the Mekong Delta
The Mekong Delta is a historically, culturally and biologically rich area in south western
Vietnam. Here, visitors will find cycling tours in abundance. Most will take you to a variety of amazing spots and allow you to get up close and personal with some of the region’s more remote and traditional locations that you might miss out on as part of an ordinary tour.
A great way to cap off this holiday is to trek up Sam Mountain in Chau Doc. The peak sits at around 1,000 metres above sea level, and many temples and pagodas are located nearby and at the top, so you can have a break, lie in a hammock and view the Mekong Delta landscape below.
Fishing trips in Cambodia
If you love water-based adventures, Phnom Penh, Cambodia’s capital city, is the point of departure for adventurous fishing tours that allow you to get the most out of the waters of
Cambodia. The tour will take you across Cambodia’s beautiful landscape to tiny floating fishing villages, remote waterfalls, rapids, and more. Each day will give you a chance to try a new activity, including deep sea fishing, hiking, snorkelling, kayaking and angling, before settling down at a camp spot or lodge.
Wildlife tours
If you love getting close to nature, Borneo has a range of wildlife tours to satisfy even the most curious soul. There are guided jungle and wetland trail walks available for those who prefer to trek it themselves, or plenty of organised tours to choose from. Be sure to look out for Mudskippers, the grotesque-looking Proboscis monkey, the colourful Hornbill, and of course, the orangutans. Make a visit to one of the sanctuaries – you won’t regret it.
Travelling to Thailand? Instead of paying to ride, or have your photograph taken with an elephant, why not embark on a short jungle safari tour, where you’ll stay in a national park, and get to meet elephants whilst helping with conversation and environmental efforts.
