Nature in Asia: parks, mountains and countryside
Guides to Asia’s national parks, mountains, rivers and countryside: when to go, how to get there and where to stay nearby.
Japan
08
Hakone
How many nights Hakone needs, which area to stay in, which way to ride the Hakone loop, whether the Freepass pays, ropeway closures and onsen manners.
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Mount Fuji
Day trip or a night at Lake Kawaguchi? Where to stay for clear morning views, the Chureito Pagoda and other viewpoints in order, and the 2026 climbing rules.
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Hakuba
Plan a Hakuba ski week: the ten resorts, whether the 2026–27 valley pass pays, which village to sleep in, and the shinkansen and bus from Tokyo.
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Niseko
How long to ski Niseko, whether to stay in Hirafu, Niseko Village, Annupuri or Kutchan, 2026–27 pass prices, airport buses and the backcountry rules.
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Ginzan Onsen and Yamadera
How to book a Ginzan Onsen ryokan, reach it from Oishida Station, handle winter park-and-ride and fit in Yamadera's 1,015 steps from Yamagata or Sendai.
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Iya Valley
How many nights the Iya Valley needs, whether to sleep in a gorge hotel, an Ochiai farmhouse or at Oboke, and how trains, buses and a hire car change the plan.
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Beppu and Yufuin
How many nights Beppu and Yufuin need, where to sleep, the hells common ticket, the sand bath, steam cooking, onsen manners and the Beppu to Yufuin bus.
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Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route
Six vehicles across the Northern Alps from Toyama to Nagano: when it opens, which way to ride, ticket prices, the snow walls, Kurobe Dam and your luggage.
Read the guideThailand
03
Pai
Book three nights in Pai, ride the scheduled van from Chiang Mai, and plan the canyon, walking street, Yunnanese village and hot springs without rushing.
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Khao Yai National Park
Book two nights near Khao Yai, arrange transport before arrival, plan its waterfalls and wildlife, and add Phimai only as a separate day.
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Khao Sok National Park and Cheow Lan Lake
Plan three nights in Khao Sok: split the village and Cheow Lan Lake, know the park fee and raft-house rates, read seasonal closures and plan your transfer.
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Amed and East Bali
How many nights to give Amed and East Bali, where to sleep, snorkelling at Jemeluk, the Tulamben wreck, Lempuyang, Tirta Gangga and Sidemen, with fees checked.
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Mount Rinjani
Which Rinjani trails are open, the park's dated notices, the 2027 wet-season closure, eRinjani permits and fees, and an all-in budget for the summit trek.
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Labuan Bajo and Komodo National Park
Plan Labuan Bajo and Komodo National Park: nights, where to sleep, the 2026 visitor quota, SiOra tickets and fees, day boat or liveaboard, Rinca, Padar and flights.
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Mount Bromo
Where to sleep for Bromo, the online park ticket, closures and the alert level, the Penanjakan sunrise, getting there, and Ijen as the next stop.
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Lake Toba and Samosir
Plan Lake Toba and Samosir: how many nights, Tuktuk or Parapat, the Ajibata ferry, Batak villages, Silangit versus Kualanamu and the Sinabung alert.
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Bukit Lawang
How many nights Bukit Lawang needs, how to choose a trek and guide, the rules for meeting orangutans, the road from Kualanamu and the flood risk on the river.
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Tanjung Puting National Park
How many nights to spend on a Tanjung Puting klotok, what the park fee and package should cover, Camp Leakey, flights to Pangkalan Bun and the dry-season smoke.
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08
Ninh Binh (Trang An and Tam Coc)
Trang An or Tam Coc, Hoa Lu, Hang Mua and Bai Dinh: how to choose, ticket prices, the train from Hanoi, day trip or two nights, and where to stay.
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Sa Pa
Plan two nights in Sa Pa: the day van from Hanoi, Muong Hoa valley villages, trekking with a licensed local guide, the Fansipan cable car and when the rice turns gold.
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Phong Nha-Ke Bang
Phong Nha Cave by boat, Paradise Cave, Dark Cave and the Chay River, with park tickets, Dong Hoi flights and trains, the Hue train and a budget for two.
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Da Lat
Two nights in Da Lat: Xuan Huong Lake and the market, Crazy House tickets, Datanla, the cable car, the Trai Mat train, Langbiang and the Ho Chi Minh City coach.
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Mekong Delta
Day trip or two nights in the Mekong Delta: Cai Rang floating market at dawn, Ben Tre coconut country, coaches from Ho Chi Minh City and a sample budget.
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Tam Dao
Tam Dao in Phu Tho: how long the drive from Hanoi takes, the stone church and Thac Bac, walks in the national park, Tay Thien, when the clouds come and where to sleep.
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Mu Cang Chai
Mam Xoi, Horseshoe Hill and Khau Pha pass by car from Hanoi, the flooded-field and golden-rice seasons, where to sleep and what three days cost.
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Pu Luong
Thai villages, rice terraces and bamboo water wheels four and a half hours from Hanoi: the road via Mai Chau, the two rice seasons, homestays and what it costs.
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Sokcho and Seoraksan
Seoraksan hiking from Sokcho: trail entry gates, shelter booking, the cable car fare, autumn colour, the bus from Seoul and how many days you need.
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Hallasan
How to book the Hallasan summit, Seongpanak or Gwaneumsa, the winter and summer gate times, the no-show penalty, trailhead buses and walks needing no booking.
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Jirisan
How to walk the Jirisan ridge from Nogodan to Cheonwangbong: the shelter lottery, gate cut-offs, fire closures, buses to each trailhead and what it costs.
Read the guideTaiwan
04
Sun Moon Lake
Book two nights in Shuishe or Ita Thau for Sun Moon Lake's boats, Xiangshan walks and tea, with Taichung buses, a worked budget and Jiji or Xitou options.
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Alishan and Chiayi
Book two nights in Alishan for cypress walks and sunrise, with Chiayi railway heritage, public buses, Fenqihu food and a practical three-day budget.
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Cingjing and Hehuanshan
Choose a Cingjing base for farm walks and a Hehuanshan day, with public buses, mountain conditions, local food and a two-person overnight budget.
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East Rift Valley
Book two Chishang nights for Taiwan’s East Rift Valley, with a rice-field cycling day, Yuli noodles, Ruisui hot springs and a practical public-transport budget.
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07
Cameron Highlands
Plan two nights in the Cameron Highlands: choose Tanah Rata or Brinchang, reach the tea estates, walk Mossy Forest and organise the road journey.
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Taman Negara
Plan two nights at Taman Negara's Kuala Tahan gateway, with current canopy-walk status, rainforest guides, river trips, transport and practical bases.
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Kinabalu Park and Kundasang
Plan two highland nights for Kinabalu Park, Kundasang and Poring, with clear hotel-base trade-offs, current park access and an honest road itinerary.
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Sepilok
Plan two nights in Sepilok around the orangutan and sun bear centres, Rainforest Discovery Centre, responsible visits and the right Sabah base.
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Kinabatangan River
Compare two- and three-night Kinabatangan lodge packages, pickup points, river cruises, ethical wildlife watching and what the quoted price must include.
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Bako National Park
Plan Bako from Kuching with current entry fees, bus or transfer choices, the village boat, live trail advice and the park's partial stay reopening.
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Gunung Mulu National Park
Build a three-night Mulu trip around AirBorneo flights, Park HQ rooms, guided Deer and Lang Caves, Clearwater and Winds, rain and connection buffers.
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Banaue, Batad and Sagada
Plan five nights in Banaue, Batad and Sagada: rice terraces, where to sleep, buses from Manila, local guides and tourist registration.
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Moalboal and south Cebu
How many nights Moalboal needs, Panagsama or Basdako, snorkelling the sardine run, Pescador Island, Kawasan Falls fees and whether Oslob belongs in your trip.
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Puerto Princesa and the Underground River
Plan two or three nights in Puerto Princesa: Underground River permits and fees, city or Sabang hotels, PPS arrivals, Honda Bay and local food.
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03
Kampot
Plan three nights by the river in Kampot: La Plantation pepper tours, guided paddleboarding, local dishes, Phnom Penh buses and what the costs include.
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Mondulkiri
Base yourself in Sen Monorom for three nights, with Elephant Valley Project’s guided forest programme, Bousra waterfall and a practical budget for two.
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Kratie and the Mekong
Plan two nights by the Mekong in Kratie, with a Kampi dolphin boat trip, Koh Trong cycling, Le Tonlé rooms, Phnom Penh transfers and a budget for two.
Read the guideLaos
03
Vang Vieng
Plan three nights in Vang Vieng: town or river stays, guided Nam Song kayaking, caves and lagoon outings, local Lao food and railway arrival details.
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Pakse and the Bolaven Plateau
Plan three nights on the Bolaven Plateau near Pakse: Tad Fane, Tad Yuang, a coffee plantation, seasonal Pakse flights and a priced stay for two.
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Nong Khiaw
Plan three nights in Nong Khiaw: riverside bases, a guided Nam Ou boat day, village visits, bus times from Luang Prabang and a clear budget for two.
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03
Rishikesh
Three nights in Rishikesh: the evening Ganga aarti, Ram Jhula and the ashrams, yoga stays, rafting season and rules, Haridwar, trains and a budget for two.
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Kerala backwaters
Two nights on Kerala's backwaters: choosing an approved houseboat in Alappuzha, the public boats, Kuttanad, Kumarakom's birds, the Nehru Trophy and a budget.
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Munnar
Two nights in Munnar: Eravikulam National Park tickets, time slots and the calving closure, the tea museum, Mattupetty, Top Station, the road from Kochi and a budget.
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06
Nagarkot
Whether to sleep a night in Nagarkot or visit for the day, how to get there from Kathmandu, which season gives the clearest views, and the hill walk to Changu Narayan.
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Pokhara
How many nights Pokhara needs, where to sleep, Phewa Lake, Sarangkot by daylight, the International Mountain Museum, flight or bus from Kathmandu and the Annapurna treks.
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Poon Hill Trek
Poon Hill from Pokhara: three to four days from Birethanti to Ghandruk, the guide and TIMS rule, the ACAP permit, the sunrise, the season and the lodges.
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Annapurna Base Camp Trek
The Annapurna Base Camp trek from Pokhara: direct and Poon Hill routes, guide and TIMS rule, ACAP permit, altitude at 4,130 m and season.
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Chitwan
How many nights Chitwan needs, the park permit and other fees, jungle activities from Sauraha, getting there from Kathmandu, the seasons and mosquitoes.
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Everest Base Camp Trek
The Everest Base Camp trek from Lukla: 14 nights on the trail, the Lukla and Ramechhap flights, the guide and TIMS rule, the park permit, season and altitude.
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Ella
How many nights Ella needs, how to get there from Kandy while the hill line is partly closed, Nine Arch Bridge, Little Adam's Peak, Ella Rock, Ravana Falls and tea walks.
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Nuwara Eliya
How many nights Nuwara Eliya needs, Gregory Lake, Hakgala Botanic Gardens, Victoria Park, a tea factory, Horton Plains and World's End, and getting there by road.
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Yala
How long to give Yala, how to book the Day Visitor ePermit, which base suits you, what to see nearby and how to get there.
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Udawalawe
Udawalawe for elephants in open country: the Day Visitor ePermit, the officer in your vehicle, the Elephant Transit Home and the road in by car with a driver.
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02
Guilin and Yangshuo
One night in Guilin and two in Yangshuo: how to buy the Li River cruise, where the countryside rides and the Longji terraces fit, and what four days cost.
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Zhangjiajie
Three nights in Wulingyuan: park tickets and gates, the lifts, the Grand Canyon glass bridge, Tianmen Mountain, where to stay and what four days cost.
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Bhutan
01
Brunei
01
Mongolia
03
Terelj and the Chinggis Khaan Statue
Whether to see the giant Chinggis Khaan statue, Turtle Rock and Aryabal temple in a day from Ulaanbaatar or with a ger night in Terelj, with tours, camps and costs.
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Gobi Desert
How to see the South Gobi: the six-day loop to Tsagaan Suvarga, Bayanzag, Khongoryn Els and Yolyn Am, drive times, camps, the fly-in option and what it costs.
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Lake Khövsgöl
Three days at Lake Khövsgöl from Ulaanbaatar: the flight to Mörön, the drive to Khatgal, lakeside camps, horses and boats, winter ice and an all-in cost.
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