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Asia, especially South East Asia, offers some wonderful treks, allowing you to spend days walking through dense rainforests, spotting spectacular wildlife, learning about the cultures of the many different tribes who live in the remoter areas and marveling at the breathtaking scenery of diverse landscapes. The following five treks in Asia are highly recommended and chosen for their diversity. Everest Base Camp, Himalayas If you are a keen trekker, then the Everest Base Camp has to be in your trekking bucket list. There are no two ways about the fact that the Everest Base Camp trek offers one of the most challenging and high-altitude expeditions on the planet. It has been rated as “one of the world’s greatest treks” by majority of the expedition guides and travel books. The Everest Base Camp trek is accessible at Khumbu, Nepal. The trek can vary from something as short as two days to an eight-day long trek. Underlying in the Himalayan region, one can obviously expect to see the grandeur exhibited by lofty mountains and risen landscapes. The route has scope for ample resting spots, and if one by chance gets lost, the local inhabitants (the Sherpa’s) are always more than welcoming to help you. The Khumbu region does not sport roads, so travel is all on foot; even navigating between the villages is also on foot though most of these villages are closely located. A typical trek route would be: Lukla - Monju to Namche - Namche Bazaar - Namche to Tengboche - Everest Base. From Kathmandu (Capital, Nepal) you can fly directly to the Lukla airport. After passing the Monju village you will encounter the Sagarmatha National Park. With each passing villages the altitude raises which is quite evident from the steep ascent. It is advisable to take altitude acclimatization rests at specific heights. The Great Wall of China The Great Wall of China is sure amongst the Seven Wonders of the World. And is definitely the only wonder offering the delights of trekking. What’s distinguishing about this long trail is that it’s not consistent everywhere in terms of hikes and may have ruined, secluded spots at few intervals. But what’s also notable is the fact that this one place offers multiple hiking options to select from, suiting your appetite for trekking and pocket size! Set against the backdrop of flamboyant Chinese Emperors dynasty, the Great Wall of China stretches 6000 km. From mountain contours to hill ranges, and farmlands to woodlands you would come across disparate geographies while taking a hike here along the Great Wall. Appended with the scenic luxuries, this trek can let you experience the Chinese history and rich culture firsthand. The tour arrangers schedule a trek spanning seven days encompassing all the trekking routes as you march from one end of the wall to the other. The major two hikes popular are - from Jinshangling to Simatai and from Jian Kou to Mutianyu. The first route i.e. from Jinshangling to Simatai is approximately around 10 km and is more striking for its umpteen upheavals in the elevations of the ground. Depending on your speed and an eye for beauty you could take anywhere between 2.5 hours to 6 hours to complete this trail. It promises to deliver you some splendid scenes and breathtaking views en route the trail. The hike from Jian Kou to Mutianyu would take about 2-3 hours. This track is mostly combined of rough terrains and crossing over of the wall. Though small, it can be a tad tedious for some. These hikes make up for fabulous camping grounds and you will mainly find non-Chinese tourists setting up their tents for a sleepover in the woods or the fields here. Trekking Trails of Bhutan A completely landlocked country on all four sides, Bhutan has an extravagant, idyllic ecological setting. The country is said to measure its prosperity in terms of GNH which when expanded reads Gross National Happiness. If encountering exotic animal species and glancing glistening lakes cradled by snow-clad sky high peaks is what you would like to savor, then Bhutan it is. By far untouched from the encroachment of industrialization, Bhutan lets you dive deep into what is an environmental hotspot, with lots of endangered species waiting to greet you on the way. The ascents are widely famous for the Yeti legends. This royal land allows you the liberty to choose from a plethora of trekking and walking routes extending from a few hours to complete 31 days! Few noted treks are - Druk Path Trek which is a six day trek passing through the wonderful blue pine forests, pristine white lakes and reliving the ancient culture and civilization. The Jhomolhari - Laya - Gasa Trek takes close to 14 days and is an extension to the Jhomolhari trek itself. Stop at Jhomolhari is essential for altitude acclimatization, at Laya for scenic day hikes and at Gasa for the hot springs. The next in the list - the Snowman Trek - is coined as one of the toughest in the world. Trekkers from all over the world pitch for this expedition particularly. It is accessible further the Laya - Gasa Trek, for higher altitude reasons this trek is only advised for those regular in this business and not for the faint-hearted. But the conclusion is a matchless bliss for the trekker with prospects of moving landscapes. Taman Negara, Malaysia Taman Negara is the largest national park in Malaysia. The Taman Negara is home to rainforests as old as 130 million years with an exotic array of flora and fauna residing in them. Most of which is untapped, still virgin. Taman Negara is for those that are excited by the wildlife and forests. It’s a perfect destination for jungle trekking, forest camping, hiking and for adventures like rock climbing. Jungle treks of a variety of durations are possible, right from a day extending up to nine days. The hikes are mostly around the river passing through the park. This trek is different from the usual ones and hence a lot of beforehand preparations and understanding of the wild environment is required. Another popular adventure here is the climbing of the Teresek Hill, followed by a canopy walk that lets you mingle with exotic species here. The park also sports Night Walking Safaris for catching a glimpse of the nocturnal creatures. Alternately, you could also go cave exploring in the Gua Telinga, Gua Kepayang and Gua Daun Menari caves. Mount Kinabalu, Malaysia One of the tallest mountains in Southeast Asia, the Mount Kinabalu is located in the Sabah province in Malaysian Borneo. Even though its one of the highest peaks, it offers one of the easiest and effortless ascending walks. The views of sunrise are a perfect icing on the cake once you’ve conquered this lofty giant. It’s an eight kilometer hike and at an average speed one takes normally two days for the ascent as well as the descent. The mount headquarters are accessible from the small town of Kota Kinabalu. Bus or a taxi is the only possible commute you could use up to the mount headquarters, which are at the base of the mountain. Shuttle vans are also available within the Kinabalu Park, though hiking is the best availed form to travel here. Camping is not permitted and tourists can only reside in the lodgings within the Park and at Laban Rata. About Odyssey Tours and Travels Odyssey Tours and Travels is a leading IATA accredited Travel Company, established in 1992. We specialize in planning customized holidays in India and abroad for our clients which includes air ticketing, worldwide hotel reservations, inclusive tours, sightseeing activities, visa assistance & travel insurance services. For further information or to make a booking contact 020-66442929 or visit http://www.odysseytravels.net/
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Everest Base Camp Himalayas, The Great Wall of China, Trekking Trails of Bhutan, Taman Negara Malaysia, Mount Kinabalu, Malaysia, ,
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