TOP 10 ASIAN ADVENTURES
- TREK TIGER LEAPING GORGE
Lijiang, Southwest China
Beneath snow-clad peaks and shimmering waterfalls, the High
Trail snakes along a precarious path, teetering on the airy,
crumbling edge of the Jinsha River gorge where a long-ago South
China tiger once leapt into infamy. From the raging river far
below (the world’s third longest no less), f laring rock walls shoot
4,000 metres to the snow-capped Haba and Jade Dragon Snow
Mountains, forming a spectacular river canyon that’s amongst the
world’s deepest.
High above the river, from the slenderest of market gardens,
Naxi villagers feed up the trekkers who come for a brief reprieve
from the chaos that tends to be Chinese exploring. And while it
might take you just a day and a half to tackle this 22km-long
scenic wander, the High Trail through Tiger Leaping Gorge is
easily Southwest China’s best teahouse mini-trek, and a standout
in a region bereft of real wilderness trails.
From the village of Qiaotou, the trail switchbacks up steep
gorge walls, winding through bamboo and pine forests to deliver
you to teahouses in Nuoyu village in time to watch the light fade
over the mountains. After a good night’s sleep and a breakfast of
steamed buns and rosebud tea, walk on to Walnut Grove,
descending to the river’s edge to unwind with fellow trekkers over
bottles of cold Dali beer served in sunny guesthouse courtyards.
The essentials: Tiger Leaping Gorge lies in Yunnan Province in
Southwest China, a two-hour bus ride from Lijiang. Entry costs
around $15. Time your trek from September to October, or from
March to May.- CYCLE TOUR SOUTHERN THAILAND
Sungai Kolok to Krabi
Far from Thailand’s idyllic, coral-fringed isles and intoxicating
party scene, the south-east coast sees very few travellers. Yet its
scenery is every bit as breathtaking as anywhere in the country,
and better yet, it’s crowd-free, uber affordable and utterly
authentic.
For lovers of slow, self-determined travel, cycling into
Phatthalung is a dream come true and what rocks most is what
dominates the horizon: a rugged limestone outcrop known as
Khao Ok Thalu, girthed by forest and tamed by a 1,000 steep
80 / Outdoor