For outdoor lovers who crave adventure and exploration, the pride and joy of Singapore’s highlands is Bukit Timah Hill, which rises to a measly 164 m. That’s right, three digits. Kinda like a PSLE score.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="480"] Source: Wikipedia[/caption]

What happens when you want to go higher than that? Well, we go overseas.

1. Mount Kinabalu

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We all know someone that has climbed Mt Kinabalu. A friend, a friend’s friend, that friend’s friend’s grandmother. The nearest to Singapore and arguably the most commercialised, Mt Kinabalu is also a whopping 4,095 m high. Contrary to popular belief and some laudable marketing efforts by the Malaysia’s tourism board, it's not the highest mountain of Southeast Asia (the honor belongs to the 5,881m Hkakabo Razi in Myanmar).

Location: Kota Kinabalu

Cost: The trek costs approximately $400++ each for a party of 2

Difficulty: Beginner

Duration: 2D1N to 3D1N

X-factor: Every mother-son also got climb. Why you don’t have?

2. Gunung Rinjani

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Now, things are beginning to get interesting. At 3,726m, Gunung Rinjani may not be the tallest, but it does have the bragging rights of being an active volcano. Its last eruption (at the time of publication) was in 2010, which was relatively minor compared to its huge meltdown in 1257, believed to have wiped out an entire kingdom and changed global weather patterns. Boom. People perish annually doing the trek, so yes, this would be considered as an bona fide adventure. Don’t worry, a good portion of them make it back. Alive.

Location: Lombok, Indonesia

Cost: Approximately $375++ per person

Difficulty: Medium

Duration: Hikes last from 3D2N to 4D3N

X-factor: Frodo did it. And now you can too. But do us a favour and come back with all your fingers.

3. Gunung Tahan

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I know what you are thinking. Walao, 2,187m only. Sure can one! No. If you have any inkling of what Tahan even means (it means endure), then you best prepare yourself for one of the most grueling ascents in Southeast Asia. You will cross rivers, fend off blood-sucking leeches, venomous snakes and feed whole generations of mosquitoes. At the end of the 32 km trek (53 km if you go for the more strenuous one), you will definitely feel a sense of achievement.

Location: Taman Negara National Park, Malaysia

Cost: Approximately $100 to $120 per person

Difficulty: Painful

Duration: Hikes range from 4D3N to 7D6N, depending on which which route you take

X-factor: Do this without bitching and you’ll have our respect. Enough said.

4. Mount Fansipan

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Dubbed the ‘roof of Indochina’, Mt Fansipan pierces the sky at 3,143 m, and has a small pyramid-shaped monument to pierce the sky (again) at the summit. It is also one of the few places in Southeast Asia that you can experience snow. For the youth of Vietnam, having a picture of them snapped hugging the monument has become a rite of passage.

Location: Lào Cai, Vietnam

Cost: No more than $450

Difficulty: Medium

Duration: Anywhere from a day-trip to a 2D1N hike

X-factor: Tallest peak in Cambodia, Vietnam and Laos (for the less informed, the three nations used to be part of French IndoChina)

5. Mount Bromo

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Like Gunung Rinjani, Mount Bromo (2,329 m) is also an active volcano. It's a mere 45-minute walk to the rim of the volcano from Cemoro Lawang, the nearest village. What it lacks in challenge, Mt Bromo makes up with spectacular views of Mount Batok (2,470m) and Mount Semeru (3,767m). The former has a temple located at its peak, whilst the latter is the highest mountain on Java and can be climbed as well. You might shiver whilst waiting for sunrise, but as you watch the mist diffuse across the caldera under the light of the morning sun, there is little to regret.

Oh yes. There are also horses to bring you up if you’re the lazy sort.

Location: 3 hrs from Surabaya, Indonesia

Cost: You can climb up Mount Bromo for free, but there will be small fee to pay for park entrance.

Difficulty: Beginner

Duration: 45 mins by foot

X-factor: Undeniably has the best suffering-to-reward ratio. Plus a whole other bunch of peaks in the area to bag.

Top photo from here.

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