10 best hiking-base cities in Asia

Trail networks within reach. Day hikes from downtown.

Ranked by climate, cost of living, language access, safety, and lifestyle fit. Personalize this →

#1
Kathmandu, Nepal
100
match
Himalayan basecamp. Temples in the smog, treks at the doorstep, momos on every corner.
#2
Almaty, Kazakhstan
100
match
Mountains rise straight from the southern edge. Soviet skeleton, Asian heart, surprisingly cosmopolitan.
#3
Hong Kong, Hong Kong
100
match
Vertical city where finance towers back onto hiking trails. Dim sum, Star Ferry, and the densest skyline on earth.
#4
Pokhara, Nepal
100
match
Lakeside Himalayan base camp. Annapurna trek launchpad, paragliding from above town.
#5
Yangshuo, China
100
match
Karst pinnacles rising straight out of rice paddies along the Li River. Quiet, dramatic, cycle-friendly.

Kathmandu, Nepal