Writers Will and Ellie take on the Nam Oun Wilderness Trail trek in Luang Namtha, Laos with local adventure agency, The Hiker. Did they survive the 40+ degree heat and a night camping in the jungle?!
Gunung Rinjani (Mount Rinjani) is an active volcano in Indonesia located on the island of Lombok, near Bali. The volcano is popular with adventure seekers in need of a challenge after relaxing on Bali’s nearby beaches. Are YOU UP FOR the challenge?
Chiang Mai, Thailand is a great base for planning treks into the nearby jungle-clad mountains. Hilltribe villages, waterfalls, hot springs, tropical flora and fauna and more exciting adventures await!
Doi Inthanon National Park is one of the highlights of Northern Thailand. We tell you when to go, what to pack and review one of the best tours that runs…
Sapa, Vietnam has grown notoriously touristy. However, we discovered it’s still possible to go trekking in Sapa & barely see another foreigner!
After weeks of preparation and excitement, today is the today I will climb Mount Kinabalu! Set in the beautifully luscious Mount …
Climbing Mount Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysian Borneo Read More »
Nan, located in the most eastern part of Northern Thailand in the valley of its namesake river, is a charming little town with a historical center. Surrounded by the spectacular misty mountains of Doi Phu Kha National Park bordering Laos, Nan is a place where you will find many old temples and teak wooden houses, where foreigner tourists are rare and people still enjoy the traditional slow lifestyle of the Northern Thai people.
50km from Inle Lake, Kalaw, in Shan State, was founded as a hill station by the British. At 1,320 metres, the climate offers a cool escape from the sweltering heat of the tropics. Many travellers spend just one night here before setting off on a 3-day trek to Inle Lake. Big mistake! Kalaw is one of the loveliest towns in Myanmar and there are plenty of reasons to hang around…
Just a few hours from the border of Thailand, you’ll stumble across the scruffy little town of Hpa An, which is actually the capital of the Kayin Province of Myanmar. While the town itself is nothing to write home about, the surroundings are beautiful, with enormous caves, and the awesome monolith of Mount Zwegabin, rising up amidst forest and rice fields to meet the clouds… A must stop during your trip to Burma!
Are you headed to Chiang Mai in search of adventure? If you want to swim in a river, hike in a forest and spot Thai wildlife, check out these off-the-beaten-track National Parks that few tourists visit. You’ll have to drive yourself or hire a private driver to get to these destinations, as they’re so rarely on visitors’ itineraries, but the journey to get there is worth it we promise!
Mount Batur is at the center of two concentric calderas, or volcanic depressions, in Batur village in the Kintamani district of Bali. I have read that travellers sign up for a hike to this volcano to witness the most picturesque sunrise from its collapsed top. I wanted to see that sunrise for myself…
Travel writer Nina Ragusa takes a trip to Kawah Ijen Volcano to find the mysterious blue flame amidst a sulphur stinking crater. Find out about her journey and some tips for your own visit!
Borneo is not as heavily written about as some of its other neighbouring countries, this may be due to the lack of a well trodden backpacker trail but that is definitely one of it’s charms – experiencing nature in it’s purest form…
Indonesia is home to several volcanoes, Mount Bromo being one of the more active ones. Also known as Gunung Bromo in Bahasa (Indonesian language), it is part of the Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park and towers at a height of 2,329 metres (7,641 ft). When my friend and I visited Java, hiking Bromo was top of our list, but also one of the most challenging. The main reason was because Mount Bromo had erupted as recently as January 2011! Was it still dangerous?
Myanmar is still an off the beaten path traveler’s destination, which means that sometimes creating the trip you want can be tricky. We introduce to you Asia Tours, a brand new company, run entirely by Burmese that organizes trips for backpackers wanting to explore outside the major hubs of Yangon, Mandalay and Bagan!
Burma, (or Myanmar) the land of Aung San Suu Kyi, is a country little visited by the world; however after just recently opening it’s doors there is a new surge of travelers pouring in. As tourism is relatively new, travellers have the unique opportunity to see a country re-writing it’s own history and re-creating it’s collective identity. However, it also means that the backpacker trail is not as well worn and pre-trip information is key. Here Andres Nunez del Prado- a Peruvian native traveling the world, tells us the in’s and out’s of his recent trip to Burma, giving us invaluable on the road insight!
“Amongst mountains has always been a special place for me. When things seem confused or out of order, a walk in the mountains has always helped me to calm down and realise the insignificance of my man-made problems. Looking up at the high peaks piercing the clouds, their sheer beauty and grandeur makes me feel like a small part of an awesome natural order that is slowly unfolding out of my control.” When S.E.A Backpacker’s Editor, Nikki Scott, embarked on her first ever backpacking trip, her love of misty mountain tops led her to the magical Himalaya of Nepal and the highest peaks in the world…
There are many incredible opportunities for trekking in South East Asia, from Malaysia’s mighty Kinabalu to Indonesia’s steaming volcanoes. English backpacker, Selena Black climbs to the wild peak of Vietnam’s highest mountain, the rugged Mount Fansipan, and lives to tell the tale…
When visiting Cambodia there is a well-trodden path of historical sites: lines of tourists tentatively explore the barren corridors of Tuol Sleng Torture Museum and amble timidly around the Killing Fields, groups jostle for the best view of Angkor Wat’s imposing silhouette as it is illuminated by sunrise and queue for photographs alongside the weathered stones of Ta Phrom. If you’re looking for a route less worn by the burgeoning tourism industry, for a site refreshingly free from tour operators and entrance fees, look no further than the eerie ghost town of Bokor Hill Station. Backpacker, Lottie Butler, explores…