Summit Goal: Highest Points to Hike in These 10 Asian Countries

The journey might be hard but the summit view makes it worth it
by Kyzia Maramara | July 31, 2019

A list of tallest mountains wouldn’t be complete without Mount Everest, the highest peak in Asia and the tallest mountain in the world. Reaching the summit is no mean feat as it would take two months to climb from start to finish and even then, not everyone is guaranteed to make it to the top. Everest base camp sits at an altitude of 17,000 feet and is where hikers spend a few weeks to get used to adjust to the altitude and wait for favorable weather conditions. Those who plan on climbing this gargantuan mountain must be physically fit and loaded with cash as hikers have to pay almost $100,000 for permits, medical care, oxygen, high-altitude gear, and more. Read about it here!

PAKISTAN: K2, 28,251 feet

The world’s second-tallest mountain is also found in Asia and it’s the (literally) breathtaking K2 where hikers risk life and limb to summit. The mountain sits on the border of Pakistan and China, along the Himalayas’ Karakoram Range. Its name means K for Karakoram, and 2 based on an 1896 survey where the mountains were named K1, K2, and K3.  Other mountains had names identified by locals but K2 was too far from any village for it to have a name. Hikers wishing to summit K2 must understand that, like Mount Everest, they have to risk avalanches, weird weather, and all sorts of conflicts to get to the top. K2 has taken its fair share of lives and those willing to risk theirs to summit have been aptly warned.

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VIETNAM: Fansipan, 10,326 feet

Fansipan is dubbed as the ‘Roof of Indochina’ with it being the highest peak in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia. Before, it used to take 5-6 days to reach the peak and return to the base but now, a three-day-two-night hike will suffice. Tour companies offer tour guides and accommodation for a more comfortable climb. In 2016, a cable car that starts from Sapa, Mount Fansipan’s base, to the top was inaugurated so if you want to skip the strenuous climb, it can now take only 20 minutes (and a fat wallet) to get to the mountain’s peak.

TIMOR LESTE: Tatamailau, 9,797 feet