Canyon sights in Asia
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Pai Canyon
Located 8km from Pai along the road to Chiang Mai, a paved stairway here culminates in an elevated lookout over high rock cliffs and the Pai valley. The latter can be followed by a dirt trail, but lacking shade, is best tackled in the morning or afternoon.
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Canyon
Between the summit and the mobile-phone antenna, a deep Canyon - its vertical sides cloaked in greenery - descends steeply through a natural arch to a 'lost world' of stalactites, creeping vines, air roots, bats and statues of two Angkorian warriors.
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Choar
Choar is a vast alpine meadow area, as big as Alai itself, a long day's walk (one way) up either the Rupkanai or Nogram Khwars. It's accessible only from May to August, when herds are driven up to it. You can camp there, even trek across to the Kaghan Valley, but a local guide is essential - talk to locals.
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Phusre Khola Gorge
In the same area, you can get a dramatic view of the much larger Phusre Khola Gorge from the Phewa Power House - the track to the power station leaves the Butwal Hwy just south of Pardi Birauta Chowk, near the small road bridge. Locals come here in the afternoons to watch planes performing giddying turns as they come in to land at Pokhara's tiny airport.
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Wakhan Corridor
The Tajik half of the superbly remote Wakhan Valley is peppered with Silk Road forts, Zoroastrian ruins and spectacular views of the Hindu Kush. The best way to visit is to hire a jeep in Khorog or Murghab. From the regional centre of Ishkashim explore the Khakha fortress dating from the 3rd century BC and the Yamchun fort with the nearby Bibi Fatima springs.
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Golden Canyon
The Sanjhan North River flows through southern Taroko Park. A short 2km trail has been built along the river following a canal built by the US government in 1952 (clean, clear water still flows down the canal), but the real reason to come here is to river trace to an area called the Golden Canyon. Those who have done the trip rave about the beauty of the gorge, the numerous waterfalls and the deep swimming pools.
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Gumbezkul Valley
A short but excellent trip is to hike up the Gumbezkul Valley from its junction with the Pshart Valley. The 9km (5mi) hike takes you over the 4731m (15518ft) Gumbezkul Pass down the Gumbezkul Valley, from where a rough jeep road leads 7km (4mi) down to the Madiyan Valley.
The path is easy to follow and there are stunning views in both directions from the pass, although it's a steep scramble on both sides. For a post-hike soak, the Madiyan hot springs are just up the Madiyan Valley.
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Jiuzhaigou Nature Reserve
Jiuzhaigou (Nine Village Gully) refers to the nine Amdo Tibetan villages that can be found in the valley. According to legend, Jiuzhaigou was created when a jealous devil caused the goddess Wunosemo to drop her magic mirror, a present from her lover the warlord God Dage. The mirror dropped to the ground and shattered into 118 shimmering turquoise lakes.
Those pools of eye candy are what lie within your dreams after you leave, along with the snow-crusted mountain peaks, and forests and meadows home to protected takins, golden monkeys and pandas.
The park is pristine, however, resort-style hotels leading up to the park entrance have 20,000 beds; over 1.5 million people per…
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Underground Forest
Between the park entrance and the dàozhànkōu, about 12km from the north gate, this verdant forest is a pretty hiking spot. Following the trail for about 30 minutes leads to a crater filled in with trees.
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Ala-Archa Canyon
This grand, rugged but very accessible gorge is a state nature park offering dozens of walking and trekking possibilities, including hikes to glaciers and, for the serious mountaineer, treks to the region's highest peak. There are basic shelters scattered throughout the park but the best way to enjoy the area is to bring your own tent and supplies.
You can use the Upper Ala-Archa Mountain Ski Base as a starting point from which to ski on glaciers, even in summer, though lifts only operate during the December to April winter season. Bishkek travel agents can arrange excursions to the canyon or you can make your own way there by car or by using the local buses. A small fee…
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Taroko Gorge
An awe-inspiring canyon with marble-walled canyons, lush vegetation and cliffs so giant they block out the sky, Taroko covers 120,000 hectares with mountain peaks rising to 3700m. The environment of this massive park is filled with high mountain peaks and the Liwu River, which cuts through the centre of the gorge, forging many deep valleys, ravines and waterfalls in its course. There are an abundance of hiking trails that lead visitors to shrines, temples, hot springs and panoramic vistas of the mountains and the sea.
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