Seven spectacular mountains in South-East Asia
For those who seek adventure beyond the cities and sandy shores, South-East Asia is the place to be. This is especially true if you're looking to climb some mountains.
The mountains in South-East Asia range from misty summits that graze the clouds, to rugged peaks that challenge hikers and reward them with breathtaking views.
Spanning across the entire region, these seven peaks are a must-visit for seasoned climbers or those in search of a worthwhile trek through nature and to the clouds.
1. Hkakabo Razi (Myanmar)
Standing at a proud 5,881m, the Hkakabo Razi is said to be South-East Asia's tallest mountain.
Hidden deep in the jungles of the northern Myanmar state of Kachin, this mountain is a difficult one to climb. Even reaching the base camp can take two weeks – according to reports – and this involves jungle treks, boat rides, muddy terrain and blood-sucking leeches.
This is what makes it an arduous feat, with only two documented successful summits made. The various expedition attempts faced extreme weather, technical rock climbing and logistical issues.
If you're a hardcore mountaineer looking for the ultimate test, this peak might be worth considering. It is recommended to go between November and April, as there is less rain and the weather is more stable.
The Unesco-listed Kinabalu Park is home to Malaysia's highest peak. — ANTON ZELENOV/Wikimedia Commons
2. Mount Kinabalu (Malaysia)
If Hkakabo Razi is the most elusive, Mount Kinabalu is one of the most accessible to climb.
With a height of 4,095m, this Bornean beauty is not just Malaysia's tallest peak, it is also one of the most biodiverse places in the world.
Located in Ranau, Sabah, the Unesco-listed Kinabalu Park is home to thousands of plant and animal species, including the giant Rafflesia flower.
Though the hike requires not much technical climbing skills, it is a long trek and you would still need to be in fairly good health to conquer this mountain.
You first need to hike to the Panalaban base camp (3,272m) and then stay there overnight. The journey up to the summit, known as Low's Peak, usually begins before dawn from Panalaban and will take about three to four hours. If you reach the summit in time for sunrise, you will be rewarded with a horizon that glows in golden rays and a sea of clouds stretching endlessly beneath you.
Climbers have to be well-equipped with rock-climbing skills to take on Puncak Jaya in Indonesia. — ALFINDRA PRIMALDHI/Wikimedia Commons
3. Puncak Jaya (Indonesia)
Unlike other mountains on this list, Puncak Jaya – also known as Carstensz Pyramid – is a rock-climbing adventure rather than a trek or hike.
At 4,884m, the peak is part of the Sudirman Range in the Papua region of Indonesia. Being equipped with just basic mountaineering skills is not enough to climb this beast, you would also need technical rock-climbing knowledge and proper equipment.
With sheer vertical rock faces, jagged terrain, unpredictable weather and a remote location, it will no doubt be a gruelling journey for those who desire to take on one of the Seven Summits (the highest peaks on each continent; Puncak Jaya is geographically on the Oceania continent).
Reaching the top of Puncak Jaya will grant you one of the most stunning views on Earth – a tropical rainforest merging into snowy ridges.
A statue of the Great Buddha sits atop Vietnam's Fansipan. — Pexels
4. Fansipan (Vietnam)
Nicknamed the 'Roof of Indochina', Fansipan is the highest mountain in Vietnam at a height of 3,143m. Located in the Lao Cai province, it offers a cultural discovery and a glimpse into the beauty of the region.
The six-hour journey – following the Tram Ton trail – cuts through bamboo groves, tranquil streams and views of rolling hills covered in mist.
Upon reaching the top, you will see a dramatic Buddhist pagoda complex and a giant bronze statue of the Buddha, adding a spiritual touch to the breathtaking view.
If you want to experience the summit minus the trek, there are cable cars and a funicular train that can take you up there faster, for a fee.
The twin pagodas on Doi Inthanon commemorate Thailand's former king and queen. — JJ HARRISON/Wikimedia Commons
5. Doi Inthanon (Thailand)
Unlike other mountains that are prized for their height and difficulty, Doi Inthanon is revered for its historical significance.
Just a two-hour drive from the city of Chiang Mai, the mountain stands at an elevation of 2,565m and is part of a national park filled with lush forests, waterfalls and villages of the Karen and Hmong hill tribes.
At the top, you'll find twin pagodas honouring the reign of King Bhumibol and Queen Sirikit. The summit itself is shrouded in mist, and the cool temperature offers a nice respite from Thailand's tropical heat.
You can choose to drive up the winding roads with picturesque stops, or you can hike your way up following any of the various accessible trails.
Mount Apo in the Philippines is a dormant volcano with a lake crater. — Jdeligero24/Wikimedia Commons
6. Mount Apo (Philippines)
The tallest mountain in the Philippines is Mount Apo (2,954m), a dormant volcano that's also a biodiversity hotspot.
Located to the south-west of Davao City, Mount Apo serves as a refuge for the critically endangered Philippine eagle, one of the largest eagles in the world.
The climb is a diverse adventure, taking you through mossy forests, sulphur vents and massive boulders left by previous eruptions. It will take you three days on average to reach the top, with camping spots and rest stops along the way.
Reaching the top feels like standing on a different planet – a barren, rocky summit with sweeping views of Mindanao, and some water-filled craters below.
Timorese often journey up Mount Ramelau as a spiritual pilgrimage. — COLIN TRAINOR/Wikimedia Commons
7. Mount Ramelau (Timor-Leste)
For most climbers, reaching a summit is all about the view and experience, but for locals in Timor-Leste, Mount Ramelau is a site for spiritual pilgrimage.
Situated to the south of the capital city of Dili, this 2,986m-tall mountain – also known as Tatamailau – is crowned by a statue of the Virgin Mary, making it a sacred site for many Christian Timorese.
Mount Ramelau's trek is relatively short (two to three hours) – but no less rewarding.
The best way to experience it? Start before dawn and hike under the stars. By the time you summit, you will be greeted with skies painted fiery orange, and if you're lucky, you can see an unobstructed view of the Timor Sea stretching across the horizon.
The best time to hike here is between June and September as it is the driest period, providing the best chance of a great view at the top.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
7 days ago
- The Star
Egypt, Greece agree to protect status of Mount Sinai monastery, after court ruling
FILE PHOTO: A general view of St. Catherine's Monastery in South Sinai, Egypt, March 7, 2019. Picture taken March 7, 2019. REUTERS/Mohamed Abd El Ghany/File Photo ATHENS (Reuters) -Greece and Egypt have agreed to safeguard the status of one of the world's oldest sites of Christian worship, foreign ministers of both countries said late on Wednesday, after an Egyptian court ruling last week cast uncertainty over its future. The St Catherine's Monastery, at the foot of Egypt's Mount Sinai, was founded in the 6th century and is the oldest Christian monastery still in use for its original function, says UNESCO, which has listed the area as a World Heritage site. Revered by Christians, Muslims and Jews, the monastery is at the site where by Biblical tradition Moses received the Ten Commandments. But last week, an Egyptian court ruling seen by Reuters ordered Orthodox monks to vacate several plots of land that the monks have used for years, including vineyards and gardens adjacent to the monastery compound, on the grounds that they were illegally sequestered, prompting a diplomatic flurry between Cairo and Athens over the site's status. "We agreed in the immediate future to work towards safeguarding the rights of the monastery, as well as its legal status," Greek Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis said after meeting his Egyptian counterpart Badr Abdelatty in Cairo. "Both Egypt and Greece intend to move forward based on the long-standing tradition and the already established status of an emblematic monastery for its Greek Orthodox character of worship". Abdelatty said that the ruling preserves the monastery's profound spiritual value and religious standing, and confirmed that the monks would continue to have access to and use of the monastery and its religious and historical sites, according to a foreign ministry statement. With a long history of diplomatic ties, Greece and Egypt have deepened cooperation in recent years. St Catherine's is a sprawling complex, and according to tradition it was built around a burning bush where God was said to have spoken to Moses as described in the Book of Exodus. Its library is one of the most extensive worldwide, containing some of the world's earliest Christian manuscripts. (Reporting by Renee Maltezou, Mohamed Ezz and Michele Kambas, Editing by William Maclean)
The Star
02-06-2025
- The Star
Lao economic indicators show signs of recovery amid global uncertainty
Tourists visit the town of Luang Prabang, a Unesco world heritage site in Laos, July 15, 2022. Foreign tourist arrivals rose by 21 per cent year-on-year to 4.12 million, generating US$1.13 billion in revenue. - Xinhua) VIENTIANE: The Lao government has observed encouraging signs of economic recovery, despite ongoing domestic economic difficulties and global turbulence. Inflation dropped to 8.3 per cent in May, marking the first single-digit rate since May 2022. This reflects a steady decline over 11 consecutive months since June last year, easing the price hikes that had affected the country for years. Improved revenue collection also supported fiscal operations, with government earnings reaching 93 percent of the first half-year target, amounting to 31,773 billion kip (US$1.476 billion). However, expenditure reached only 56.26 per cent, or 21,682 billion kip, of the planned budget. 'The government will strive to meet or exceed its revenue targets,' the government spokesperson Sonexay Sitphaxay told local media on Friday (May 30) following the two-day cabinet meeting for May. Exports (excluding electricity) rose 16.2 per cent from the previous month to over US$662 million (14,284 billion kip), resulting in a trade surplus of over US$14 million (302 billion kip). Increased exports have strengthened foreign reserves, now sufficient to cover at least five months of imports. 'Debt servicing for both domestic and external obligations is proceeding as planned,' added Sonexay, who also serves as Minister to the Prime Minister's Office. Chaired by Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone, the monthly cabinet meeting reviewed implementation of the socio-economic development plan and expected performance for the first half of 2025 and preparations for the second half. The government has set a growth target of 4.8 per cent this year, up from 4.6 per cent in 2024. The cabinet noted that efforts to ramp up domestic production and reduce imports are gaining momentum, as Laos is becoming largely self-sufficient in producing staple foods to meet domestic consumption needs. Meanwhile, tourism continues to rebound, thanks to improved transport networks and promotional campaigns under the Visit Laos Year 2024 initiative. Foreign tourist arrivals rose by 21 per cent year-on-year to 4.12 million, generating US$1.13 billion in revenue. The cabinet also discussed measures to further develop transport infrastructure. Key projects include the nearly completed bridge across the Mekong River linking Lao Xayaboury and Bokeo provinces, and the Fifth Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge connecting Borikhamxay province with Thailand's Bueng Kan province, set to open by year-end. These projects are expected to boost trade and regional connectivity. Efforts are underway to enhance passenger and freight transport, leveraging the Laos-China and Laos-Thailand railways and the Thanaleng Dry Port - Laos integrated logistics hub. Investment promotion remains a priority with effort being accelerated to improve the business environment. In May alone, seven new projects were approved, worth more than 9,244 billion kip and US$3 million (more than 64 billion kip). Looking ahead, the cabinet outlined key actions for the coming months, including strengthening foreign reserves, centralising foreign currency exchange, prioritising essential imports, monitoring goods price in local markets and enhancing revenue collection mechanisms. Other priorities include regulating movement of and certifying concentration of minerals, repairing disaster-hit infrastructure, expanding vocational training, and creating jobs. To support long-term growth and stability, the cabinet approved in principle seven strategic documents. These include draft strategies on state finance through 2035 and a vision for 2040, as well as draft decrees on direct borrowing, One District One Product, startup promotion, and tourism attraction management. The draft Five-Year National Socio-Economic Development Plan for 2026–2030 was also presented at the meeting. - Vientiane Times/ANN
The Star
01-06-2025
- The Star
Exploring Trang An, also known as the 'dry Halong Bay' in Vietnam
Step into a shaky rowboat to explore the dramatic limestone features of Vietnam's 'dry' Halong Bay. Guides row the boats, traditional sampans, at a leisurely pace through a landscape of towering karst cliffs, lush rainforests and a labyrinthine system of caves. The bay's nickname refers to its big sister, the famous Halong Bay, one of Vietnam's biggest tourist attractions. However, the dry Halong Bay, also known as Trang An, is not a seascape but is in the centre of the country, some 100km south of the capital Hanoi. The region is criss-crossed by the wide delta of the Ngo Dong River, which has shaped this extraordinary landscape over the course of time. You can easily compare dry Halong Bay with its famous namesake, with the same limestone cliffs and emerald green Gulf of Tonkin. And there are further advantages to its land-locked location. The Trang An landscape is less crowded, says our guide, Quy Vu. 'And there are no cruise ships here either,' adds Quy, 34, who comes from Ninh Binh and brings guests from Hanoi to his home town several times a week. The bus ride takes around two and a half hours. As soon as we leave behind the last suburbs of the capital, bustling with honking motorbikes, we are in a landscape of rice paddies. Water buffaloes doze in the sun and in villages, people sit in front of their stores and workshops. The pace is leisurely, a lifestyle adapted to the hot and humid temperatures. Entering the caves But there is hectic movement at the Trang An jetty, just a few kilometres from the provincial capital of Ninh Binh. Here, in the south of the delta, boat tours set off into the extensive karst landscape of Trang An, which was declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco in 2014. Rows of sampans are bobbing up and down on the water. Boats come and go as they pick up and return guests from their tours. It is a quick turnaround as tours are tightly scheduled to prevent jams of boats forming at the entrances to the caves. But it is silent, aside from a collective 'aah' of the passengers as the boat goes around what appears to be a pagoda built directly in the water. 'Keep your head down,' says Quy Vu as the boatman heads for a barely recognisable crevice. You can also take these smaller boats to check out the Hang Thanh Truot cave in Trang An. Then, the flat-bottomed boat glides silently into the 320m-long Hang Thanh Truot cave. This is the longest of the nine stalactite caves that the boat traverses during the three-hour tour. We step out of the boat and head to the Suoi Tien temple during a stopover on land. A few steps lead to the palatial wooden building with a pagoda roof, inside which visitors can kneel and pray in front of ornate golden statues. A short walk further on, Dia Linh comes into view, a mountain bulging vertically upward out of the water. It is one of the most famous photo motifs in the region. That this landscape is ideal for the big screen was swiftly seen by Hollywood director Jordan Vogt-Roberts who chose Trang An as the location for his 2017 film Kong: Skull Island. Although you won't meet the famous giant ape King Kong, you can still visit the village with its thatched huts that was built especially for the fantasy film. Attractions like these, the Unesco recognition, and the landscape have made the area famous, with images shared countless times on social media. Now, the region is bracing for an increase in visitors. Quy Vu would also like to open a B&B in the near future, perhaps even with a small restaurant. At the same time, the UN title has raised awareness. 'We are focussing on gentle tourism. We don't want uncontrolled construction or littering,' he says. Bicycle tour Those exploring Trang An can switch from boat to bike. Narrow side roads lead through settlements with small farms, past vegetable gardens and rice fields, framed by tropical wooded mountains. The destination of our tour is the old royal city of Hoa Lu, which was built in 968 CE as a military fortress and experienced its heyday under the Dinh, Le and Ly dynasties in the 11th century. Two temples were rebuilt in the 17th century on the remains of old foundations. Today, they are the venues for spiritual and cultural events. Of these, the annual Hoa Lu Festival in April is the largest and, with a tradition of around 1,000 years, the best known. Whether you're travelling by boat or by bicycle, you can see wild mountain goats scrambling up the steep rock faces. They are the unofficial heraldic animal of Ninh Binh, but also a culinary speciality. 'You haven't really been here if you haven't tried goat,' says Nguyen Van Quyet, chef of the restaurant Thang Long. Here, large groups of guests are dining at long tables, sampling goat dishes. The restaurant's small souvenir shop has a thematically appropriate eye-catcher: Homemade rice wine with pickled ginger, apples and goat penis. According to the chef, this guarantees 'a strength and potency booster for men'. Visitors at the Suoi Tien temple are welcome to pray inside, or take tons of pictures outside. Sweaty ascent Strength and energy are required by all for the subsequent hike to Hang Mua, around 10km away. The highlight is not the cave, but the viewing platform on the 65m-tall mountain above. It's a sweat-inducing climb up 500 steep steps leading to the top. With the high humidity, regular drinking breaks are must. But the spectacular 360° panoramic view of the seemingly endless karst mountains, the bright green rice fields and the meandering river more than reward your effort. With the depth of a baroque stage set, the landscape is one of the most beautiful in Vietnam. And, as the view from above makes clear, one thing it certainly isn't: Dry. – BETTINA HAGEN/dpa
