If your commitment to making 2012 the year to get off the couch and go out into the world has waned, then an active holiday is just the thing you need. Whether it’s trekking through the jungles of Borneo or cycling through the valleys of Bhutan, you just have to make the effort to put down that remote control and take that first step.
Malaysia
The Roof of Borneo
Scaling the Malayan archipelago’s tallest mountain is one way to break free from the strain of lowland living. Mount Kinabalu, which is nestled in the heart of Sabah’s Crocker Range, is a popular place for mountaineers, both seasoned and inexperienced. Discover Borneo offers a tour from US$410 ($510), for a minimum of two people, which includes daily meals, mountain guide fees, transport to and from Kota Kinabalu and accommodation at Laban Rata Resthouse. Once you complete the climb, you’ll even get a certificate to show off to your friends at home.
Getting there: SilkAir flies direct to Kota Kinabalu daily from about $445 return.
Brunei
Trekking in Temburong
If you’re the kind of person who doesn’t mind getting down into the mud, then check out Intrepid Tours’ Overnight Eco-Heritage Tour. Among the trips they organize is a two-day stay in Brunei’s Ulu Temburong National Park which starts off with a guided forest walk along the famous Temburong River. You’ll get to explore the vast rainforest, see a majestic waterfall and experience the lifestyle of rural families as they house you in an authentic longhouse for the night. For a little extra $35-40, you can also participate in a rapid water rafting session. Tours cost from BND 258 per adult ($259) for a group of 6 people (email for a quotation) and the rafting trip will set you back about $35-40.
Getting there: Royal Brunei Airlines flies direct to Bandar Seri Begawan twice daily from $490 round trip.
Thailand
A Spot of Spelunking
Not claustrophobic? Then you won’t mind a jaunt into the beautiful caves of Pang Mapha. The Cave Lodge offers a comprehensive tour that will take you through its surrounding caverns from THB600 ($24). The main highlight is the 100-meter deep Spirit Well, a collapsed cave with a pristine primeval forest at its base that’s still largely unexplored. Accommodation at The Cave Lodge starts from THB120-150 ($5-6) for dorms, THB300 ($12) for a hut with an outside bathroom and THB500-600 ($20-24) for a deluxe teak bungalow.
Getting there: Thai Airways flies to Chiang Mai daily from $541 return. Hourly buses run from Chiang Mai’s Arcade Bus Station to Pang Mapha for B250 ($10).
Mongolia
Traversing the Gobi Desert
Definitely something for the intrepid, Gobitours offers a six-day desert camp that will take you through some of the most remarkable parts of the Gobi Desert. You’ll get to see the legendary Singing Dunes, explore sites where fossilized dinosaur eggs were found back in the 1920s, travel on camel back with local nomads and visit the famous valley of Yolling Am. Accommodation is in a typical Mongolian ger, a felt-lined tent. Prices start from US$565 ($703) per person for a group of three to four people and will cover all transportation and food expenses.
Getting there: To get to Mongolia, first fly to Beijing. Pick from Air China (twice daily from $872 return), Singapore Airlines (four times daily from $1330 round trip) and Jet Star (daily, from $500 return). From Beijing, Mongolia Airlines flies to Ulaanbaator twice daily from $717 return.
Bhutan
Druk Yul by Bike
Explore the kingdom of Bhutan (one of Asia’s most underrated tourist destinations), with Spice Roads Cycle Tours on a mountain bike. The two-week trail will take you to some of Bhutan’s most amazing architecture like the fortresses and Buddhist monasteries that pepper the roads out of Thimpu. Prices start from US$4,275 ($5,318) and can be booked individually or in groups of up to 16 people.
Getting there: Travel via Bangkok, with Thai Airways (from $368 return), Singapore Airlines (from $304 return), or Tiger Airways (from $172 return). From there, DrukAir flies to Paro six times a week from $1005 roundtrip.
