Asia and the Pacific

Published May 2, 2004 12:00AM


The Trip Finder, January 1997 Asia and the Pacific By Kathy Martin O’Neil New Australia \| China \| Fiji \| New India \| Indonesia \| Classic New Zealand \| Pakistan Thailand \| New Tibet \| Vietnam New Australia Cruising the Kimberley The Route A 15-day expedition from Darwin to Broome along the coast of Australia’s northernmost outback. From a 42-passenger luxury catamaran you’ll take excursions by Zodiac and helicopter up coastal rivers. When To Go Apr – Jun Difficulty Easy Travel Advisory If you’ve got time, don’t miss Zegrahm’s six-day extension ($1,980) to Kakadu National Park’s looming escarpment, tidal flats, and Aboriginal rock art sites. High/Low Points Taking part in a corroboree, an aboriginal ritual of songs and dances recalling the Dreamtime Trying to discern (while swimming) the difference between a harmless freshwater crocodile and a dangerous saltwater croc China Rafting the Great Bend of the Yangtze River The Route A two-week journey through one of the world’s premier river canyons–nearly twice as deep as the Grand Canyon–including a 20-mile cliffside trek through Tiger Leaping Gorge and a 110-mile descent of the Class IV-V rapids of the Great Bend When To Go Oct – Nov Difficulty Strenuous Travel Advisory To avoid being rude and intrusive, you should ask permission from the Tibetan villagers before you take their pictures; they see very few visitors. High/Low Points Plowing unscathed through a 20-foot wall of churning froth at Baptism rapid Realizing that hundreds of miles downriver, the Three Gorges Dam will force more than a million people out of their homes Fiji Sea Kayaking the Outer Islands The Route A 12- to 14-day paddle in the lagoons and aqua sea surrounding Fiji’s satellite islands, including hikes in the rainforest, visits to Melanesian villages, and reef snorkeling with sea turtles, porpoises, and iridescent fish When To Go Jun – Jan Difficulty Easy to moderate Travel Advisory Ocean conditions and weather in Fiji are stable this time of year, but wind and distances between islands may require a full day’s paddling, so get your back and shoulders primed before the trip. High/Low Points Paddling along zigzag coastlines with cliffs, waterfalls, and rainforests inaccessible except by boat Being reminded by everyone you meet that The Blue Lagoon was filmed in these islands New India Trekking Rupshu The Route An 18- to 25-day pilgrimage to the harsh, high-altitude desert of Ladakh, including an eight- to 13-day trek through high valleys and passes flanked by alpine lakes and 20,000-foot peaks When To Go Jul – Oct Difficulty Strenuous Travel Advisory Until very recently, Rupshu was closed to visitors because of its strategic position on the Indo-Tibetan border. You’ll still see a lot of military camps in the area. High/Low Points Hiking up to Tso Morari lake at 14,850 feet–a breeding ground for black-necked cranes Slipping into icy boots in the morning while camping in freezing temperatures above 15,000 feet Indonesia Hiking Sulawesi The Route A seven- to 17-day exploration of Sulawesi’s Tana Toraja region, a highland plateau surrounded by mountains that have isolated unique native customs. You’ll trek through pine forests and rice paddies and visit Torajan villages. When To Go Mar – May Jul – Oct Difficulty Moderate Travel Advisory Torajan ceremonies, mainly animist rituals for the dead that last three to seven days, are most frequent from August to October, but you need to be invited by villagers to attend. High/Low Points Being asked into a Torajan tongkonan, a boat-shaped house said to resemble the starships from which the Torajan people came Contemplating the Torajan baby graves, where pure, young souls are entombed in a living tree Classic New Zealand Cycling the South Island The Route A 14- to 19-day bike tour through New Zealand’s spectacular South Island landscape, which has 140 peaks over 7,000 feet. You’ll ride an average of 30 to 50 miles per day with time for rafting, horseback riding, and hiking. When To Go Jan – Mar Difficulty Moderate Travel Advisory Road cyclists should go with Backcountry, Vermont Bicycle Touring, Gerhard’s, or New Zealand Pedaltours, which run trips primarily on paved roads. Fat-tire riders can opt for off-road itineraries run by Rim Tours or Outer Edge. High/Low Points Surviving the 1,700-foot climb over Haast Pass to take in the whole snowcapped spine of the Southern Alps Finding canned spaghetti on the breakfast menu at most hotels along the route Pakistan Walking from the Hindu Kush to the Karakoram Range The Route A 15- to 32-day journey along the glacial rivers, sand dunes, and icefalls of Northern Pakistan, including a seven- to 20-day trek that crosses 15,000-foot-high mountain passes between Chitral, near the Afghanistan border, and Gilgit When To Go Jul – Sep Difficulty Moderate to strenuous Travel Advisory Most outfitters include a glacier crossing of the Chilinji-An snowfield. You’ll need to bring a climbing harness and ice ax, and rope up for the technical descent. High/Low Points Lingering over the view of the Karakoram spires from 14,100-foot Karumbar Pass Enduring 12 to 16 hours of formidable switchback driving when flights are canceled due to bad weather or overbooking Thailand Mountain Biking the Golden Triangle The Route An eight- to nine-day ride through Thailand’s northern hilltribe country, taking side trips to Karen, Yao, and Hmong villages. Some trips also include an elephant-back safari and dugout canoe paddle. When To Go Nov – Feb Difficulty Moderate Travel Advisory Most of the terrain is rolling, but there are some steep hauls–in heat and humidity–for which you’d better be in good shape. High/Low Points Pedaling through a thick teak forest to emerge upon an ancient Buddhist temple Riding atop a male elephant that suddenly goes into rut New Tibet Celebrating the Festivals of Kham The Route A 23-day hiking and four-wheel drive tour across the grasslands and wildflower meadows of Kham, a pastoral oasis between mountain ranges on the Tibetan Plateau, to visit Khampa nomads and attend traditional Buddhist festivals When To Go Jul – Aug Difficulty Easy to moderate Travel Advisory The festivals are prime barter and trade events. Bring gifts, extra personal items like sunglasses and baseball caps, or small equestrian-oriented things such as bits. High/Low Points Witnessing the jubilant festival at Paiyul, where men in gaudy costumes display their horsemanship Having your image of pious Buddhism shattered after meeting the “Coca-Cola lama,” an enterprising capitalist, at Karthok Monastery Vietnam Sea Kayaking Ha Long Bay The Route A ten- to 15-day paddle in Ha Long Bay, a World Heritage Site featuring thousands of complex limestone islands interconnected by caves, where the Viet fleet concealed its ships and men during the Vietnam War When To Go Apr – Jul Oct – Nov Difficulty Easy Travel Advisory Don’t count on having access to all the islands. Ha Long’s tidal lagoons are so large that they often generate currents too dangerous to paddle. High/Low Points Discovering a secret passage to an uncharted sea cave in Dao Cat Ba Island National Park Contemplating strange Vietnamese legends of Ha Long sea monsters while you’re lost among jagged islands and spires * includes airfare from U.S. Copyright 1997, Outside magazine