Hiking East AsiaSafety & permits
A short, practical guide to hiking safely and legally in this region.
- 1
Book through the official authority, not a stranger’s chat group
Every park on this site links to the government department, state forestry office or park corporation that actually issues the permit. Book or pay through that channel, or through a guide company they officially list, and keep the receipt.
- 2
Check the guide is licensed
Parks that require a permit usually also require a registered guide, such as Taman Negara, Fraser’s Hill and Gunung Mulu. Ask for the guide’s registration number and verify it with the park office before you pay a deposit.
- 3
Be wary of trips organised only through social media
A trip that only exists as an Instagram or Threads post, with payment to a personal bank account and no permit reference number, is much harder to verify or get a refund from if something goes wrong. Ask to see the permit or booking confirmation before paying in full.
- 4
Check the season before you go
Monsoon and rainy-season patterns vary sharply by country: Malaysia’s east coast and Borneo’s interior flood from November to March, Vietnam and the Philippines have their own typhoon seasons, and Japan’s mountains close under snow in winter. The country section further down this page, and every area’s own season panel, states its actual best and avoid months. Always check the current trail status page of the relevant authority on the morning you leave.
- 5
Tell someone your plan
Share your route, your group size and your expected return time with someone who is not on the hike. For remote multi-day treks, register with the park office as required and carry a means of calling for help.
The pattern to watch for
This is the shape a hiking trip scam takes in this region. It is written from accounts passed between hikers, with every name, group and amount removed, so no individual is described here. If a trip you are looking at follows three or more of these steps, treat the rest of the pattern as likely.
- 01
The trip exists only as a post
One message in a chat group or one social media post, an attractive price, and a place limit that creates urgency. There is no company name, no permit reference and nothing you can look up.
- 02
Payment goes to a person, not a business
The deposit is requested to a personal bank account or an e-wallet number, often in a different name from the organiser you have been speaking to.
- 03
The date slips, with an official-sounding reason
Close to departure the trip is postponed or cancelled, blamed on a permit that was not approved or on the weather. No permit number or authority is ever named, because there was no application.
- 04
The refund becomes a credit
A refund is promised, then turned into a place on a future trip whose date keeps moving. Each delay is small enough to seem reasonable, and the total time keeps growing.
- 05
Contact thins out
Replies slow down, the group is closed or the account changes, and the people who paid have no shared record of who else is owed money.
What breaks the pattern
Ask two questions before you pay anything: which authority issued the permit, and what is the reference number. A real organiser answers both in one sentence. Pay into a business account or an official booking platform, keep the receipt, and check a guide licence with the park office rather than with the organiser.
Verify before you pay
0 / 6Work through this list before you send money for any hike, even one that looks fully legitimate.
All checked. That’s a good sign, though it’s never a guarantee. Trust your judgement too.
Every country has its own law
Permits, fees, guide rules and emergency numbers are set country by country, and in several countries each park adds its own rules on top. This section sets out what actually applies in each of the twelve countries on this site, taken from the same authority pages the trail pages cite.
Malaysia
99917/25
Emergency numbers
- All services999
Permits and the law
17 of the 25 areas listed here need a permit or a paid ticket. The rest are open access.
Issuing authorities
- Sabah Parks
- Department of Wildlife and National Parks (PERHILITAN)
- Cameron Highlands District Forestry Office (Pahang Forestry Department)
- Mulu National Park / Sarawak Forestry Corporation
- Pusat Pelancongan Gua Tempurung (Tourism Perak Malaysia)
- Jabatan Perhutanan Negeri Sembilan (Pejabat Hutan Daerah Negeri Sembilan Timur)
- Baram Peace Park / KOPPES (Koperasi Pelancongan Penan Selungo)
- Jabatan Perhutanan Selangor (sistem e-permit SeForest)
- Johor National Parks Corporation (Perbadanan Taman Negara Johor)
- Sarawak Forestry Corporation
- Kedah State Forestry Department
- Pahang Forestry Department
- Pejabat Hutan Daerah Hulu Selangor (Jabatan Perhutanan Selangor)
- Jabatan Perhutanan Negeri Pahang (Pejabat Hutan Daerah Bentong)
- Forestry Department of Peninsular Malaysia (Jabatan Perhutanan Semenanjung Malaysia)
Guides
Several parks here will not issue a permit without a licensed guide, among them Mount Kinabalu, Taman Negara and Gunung Mulu. Ask for the guide's registration number and check it with the park office, not only with the organiser.
Season and weather, area by area
| Area | Region or city | Permit | Best months | Avoid |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mount Kinabalu | Sabah, Borneo | Required | March to August, the drier season | November to January, the wettest months |
| Even in the dry season, expect rain most afternoons and near-freezing temperatures at Low's Peak before sunrise. | ||||
| Taman Negara | Pahang / Kelantan / Terengganu | Required | February to September | November to January, when the Tahan trek often closes and rivers flood |
| This is equatorial rainforest, so expect rain at any time of year; the monsoon months bring the highest risk of flooding and leech activity. | ||||
| Cameron Highlands | Pahang | Required | March to September | November to January, when trails are muddiest and some close after storm damage |
| Cameron Highlands sits at 1,500 metres plus, so it is cool year round; check current trail status since individual trails close after landslides or fallen trees. | ||||
| Gunung Mulu National Park | Sarawak, Borneo | Required | March to September | November to January, when Camp 5 and the Pinnacles trail sometimes close after heavy rain |
| As rainforest, expect rain year round; river levels and trail conditions can change the Pinnacles trek status day to day. | ||||
| Penang National Park | Penang | Not required | December to March, the driest window on Penang's west coast | September to November, the wettest months for northern Peninsular Malaysia's west coast |
| Trails get slippery and river crossings rise during the September to November rains; the park stays open year round. | ||||
| Bukit Gasing | Selangor / Kuala Lumpur | Not required | Year round, best early morning | Avoid straight after heavy rain, when the clay trails get slippery |
| Kuala Lumpur's climate is fairly consistent year round; the wettest spells usually fall around October to December. | ||||
| Gua Tempurung | Gopeng, Perak | Required | June to August, the driest months in Perak | October to December, when heavy rain closes the river sections |
| The dry upper galleries stay open in almost any weather. The wet tours follow an underground river and are the first thing cancelled when it rains hard, so check on the morning rather than assuming. | ||||
| Gua Batu Maloi | Johol, Kuala Pilah, Negeri Sembilan | Required | June to August, the driest stretch of the year | November to January, and any day with rain forecast upstream |
| This is a river cave, so the weather that matters is the weather upstream rather than the weather at the entrance. Water inside can rise from waist to chest in minutes after a downpour, and people have been trapped by exactly that. | ||||
| Gunung Angsi | Ulu Bendul, Kuala Pilah, Negeri Sembilan | Not required | February to August, and always an early start | November to January, when the trail turns to mud and leeches |
| Negeri Sembilan gets rain year round with a wetter spell towards the end of the year. Afternoon thunderstorms are common, which is the practical argument for starting at opening time rather than mid-morning. | ||||
| Upper Baram (Ulu Baram) | Ulu Baram, Miri Division, Sarawak | Required | March to September, when the logging roads are passable | November to February, when the roads turn and the rivers run high |
| The limiting factor is not the walking, it is the four hours of logging road between Lapok and the villages. Heavy rain closes that road and no amount of planning gets you past it, which is why trips here are built with spare days rather than tight connections. | ||||
| Gunung Nuang | Kampung Pangsun, Hulu Langat, Selangor | Required | February to August, and even then only once Sungai Yong has settled after any recent rain | November to January, when the seven crossings are at their most dangerous |
| Selangor’s wetter months run from November to January, but on this particular trail the date matters less than the river on the day: Sungai Yong can rise within an hour of rain falling upstream, out of sight of anyone at the trailhead. Afternoon thunderstorms are common even in the drier months, which is the reason for an early start rather than a late one. | ||||
| Bukit Tabur | Gombak, Selangor | Required | February to August | November to January, and any morning with rain already falling |
| The quartz itself is the seasonal hazard more than the weather pattern: it is markedly more slippery wet than dry, so a dry morning matters here more than the time of year. Selangor’s wettest stretch still runs November to January, and afternoon storms are common even outside it. | ||||
| Broga Hill | Semenyih, Selangor | Required | February to August, for the clearest mornings and the best chance of a cloud inversion | November to January, when cloud cover often obscures the sunrise entirely |
| The whole point of the climb is the view, so this is one of the more weather-sensitive hikes on this site: a clear, dry morning after a cooler night gives the best chance of the cloud inversion, while Selangor’s wetter months from November to January bring cloud cover that can hide the valley completely. | ||||
| Gunung Ledang (Mount Ophir) | Gunung Ledang National Park, Ledang District, Johor, on the border with Melaka | Required | May to September, the driest stretch for this part of southern Johor | November to January, when the park itself usually closes for the monsoon rather than merely discouraging hikers |
| Johor National Parks Corporation typically closes Gunung Ledang outright for a stretch of the northeast monsoon, rather than leaving it open but discouraged, so check directly with them before planning a trip in this window. | ||||
| Bako National Park | Bako National Park, Muara Tebas Peninsula, Kuching Division, Sarawak | Required | March to September, when the sea crossing is calmest | November to February, when the northeast monsoon roughens the crossing and boats are limited to four passengers at a time |
| The park stays open year round and the sea stacks and wildlife are there in any season, but rough seas during the monsoon mean smaller, bumpier boatloads and occasionally cancelled night walks. Check conditions with Sarawak Forestry on the morning you travel rather than assuming the crossing will run as normal. | ||||
| Gunung Raya | Langkawi, Kedah | Required | December to March, Langkawi’s driest and calmest months | September and October, the peak of the southwest monsoon and the wettest months of the year |
| The stair trail is still walked in the wetter months but becomes slippery and considerably slower; the summit road stays open in most weather, which is why many visitors treat it as a scenic drive rather than a hike outside the December to March window. | ||||
| Pine Tree Trail, Fraser’s Hill | Fraser's Hill (Bukit Fraser), Raub District, Pahang | Required | March to September, the drier stretch for this part of the Titiwangsa Range | November to January, when the highland rains are heaviest and the trail turns to thick mud |
| The elevation here means cool, often misty conditions in any month, so the seasonal difference is mainly underfoot: firm and dusty in the dry months, consistently slick with roots and mud once the northeast monsoon sets in. | ||||
| Bukit Kutu | Kuala Kubu Bharu, Hulu Selangor, Selangor | Required | February to August, the same drier window as the rest of Selangor’s Main Range trails | November to January, when the climb to the ridge turns to mud and cloud closes in early |
| Bukit Kutu shares Selangor’s wetter November to January stretch with Gunung Nuang and Bukit Tabur. The old hill station ruins near the summit sit exposed on the ridge, so afternoon cloud and wind arrive quickly whatever the season, and the descent past Cobra Rock is harder to judge in failing light. | ||||
| Gunung Datuk | Rembau, Negeri Sembilan | Not required | February to August, matching the rest of Negeri Sembilan’s hiking calendar | November to January, when the granite sections near the summit get slick |
| The final stretch to the summit crosses bare granite held with fixed ropes, which turns genuinely slippery in rain regardless of the month. Negeri Sembilan sees rain year round, so a dry morning is worth more than a dry season here. | ||||
| Templer Park | Rawang, Gombak District, Selangor | Not required | February to August, the same window as the rest of the Selangor lowlands | November to January, when the waterfall pools run high and fast |
| The park sees rain year round with a wetter stretch from November to January. The waterfall and swimming pools are the first thing closed when the river rises, so a dry recent forecast matters more than the calendar month. | ||||
| FRIM Kepong | Kepong, Selangor | Not required | Year round for the ground trails, since they sit in mature, well-covered lowland forest | No sharp seasonal window, though the canopy walkway alone closes for lightning risk more often from November to January, when afternoon storms are most frequent |
| FRIM’s ground trails are walkable in almost any weather since they sit in mature lowland forest with good cover. The canopy walkway is the exception: it closes for lightning risk at the first sign of a thunderstorm, which is common on afternoons from November to January. | ||||
| Gunung Rajah | Bentong, Pahang | Required | February to August, the same drier window as the rest of the Main Range | November to January, when the river crossings near Chamang Waterfall run highest |
| Gunung Rajah shares its trailhead with Chamang Waterfall, so the same river that makes a pleasant pool in the dry months can rise fast and block the early crossings after rain. This is one of the longest and steepest day routes on the whole site; most groups either start in the dark or split it over two days with a camp partway up. | ||||
| KL Forest Eco Park (Bukit Nanas) | Bukit Nanas, Kuala Lumpur | Required | Year-round: the reserve is entirely shaded, but the park is closed every Friday whatever the season, and it can close without notice in heavy weather | No sharp seasonal window; the operational closures matter more here than the weather, since the park does not open at all on Fridays and the canopy walkway has its own separate maintenance schedule |
| The 200 metre canopy walkway is the park’s signature feature, but 2026 visitor reports describe it closed for maintenance more than once, while some general guides still list it as open; call the park office before a visit built specifically around the walkway. The ground-level rainforest loop trails are unaffected by that and are the more dependable reason to come. | ||||
| Bukit Kiara | Taman Tun Dr Ismail, Kuala Lumpur | Not required | Year-round, with genuinely no bad months for the paved lake loop; the upper Rock Garden and ridge trails are the part to treat carefully after heavy rain | No sharp seasonal window for the lower lake loop; the upper Rock Garden and ridge sections are the ones to treat with more care after heavy rain, and the recent uneven reopening matters more here than any month of the year |
| The federal park was closed entirely for a drainage and stream upgrade from around mid-2024, missed an earlier promised reopening date, and finally reopened around June 2026, with some residents reporting the upgrade fell short of what was promised. As of this research pass, the connector trail between Bukit Sri Bintang and the main Bukit Kiara ridge, and a section near Rock Garden affected by landslide damage, had both been reported closed earlier in 2026 and may still be. Treat the TTDI Park lake loop and main marked trails as the reliable core of a visit, and check current status for the Bukit Sri Bintang connector specifically before relying on it. | ||||
| Taman Tugu | Taman Tugu, Kuala Lumpur | Not required | Year-round: the trails run almost entirely under forest canopy, which is a genuine advantage over more exposed Kuala Lumpur hikes in the heat of the day | No sharp seasonal window; near-total canopy shade keeps the trails walkable through the wetter months too, though any dirt trail turns slippery after a heavy downpour |
| Opened in phases from 2020 as a forest restoration project rather than a repurposed park, Taman Tugu had no reported closures at the time of this research, unlike two of the other Kuala Lumpur sites on this site. That can change, so a quick check of the official site before a visit is still sensible. | ||||
Singapore
999 · 995Not required
Permits and the law
None of the 10 areas listed here need a permit. Access is open and free.
Guides
No guide is needed. Every route listed here is a public park trail managed by NParks, open without booking, so anyone charging you for access is not charging you for a permit.
Season and weather, area by area
| Area | Region or city | Permit | Best months | Avoid |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Central Catchment Nature Reserve | Central Singapore | Not required | February and August, Singapore's driest months | November to January, the wettest and stormiest period |
| Singapore is equatorial, so expect rain in any month; afternoon thunderstorms are common year round and the TreeTop Walk closes during lightning. | ||||
| Bukit Timah Nature Reserve | Central Singapore | Not required | February and August | November to January |
| As Singapore's oldest forest reserve, trails can close temporarily after storm damage; check the current trail status page before visiting. | ||||
| Southern Ridges | Southern Singapore | Not required | Year round; early morning or late afternoon avoids the midday heat | No closed season, though afternoon thunderstorms are more frequent November to January |
| The route is fully paved and elevated in sections, so it stays walkable even after heavy rain. | ||||
| Pulau Ubin & Chek Jawa Wetlands | Eastern Singapore (offshore island) | Not required | Year round; check tide tables for the best Chek Jawa exposure | None fixed, though high tide covers most of the intertidal flat |
| Chek Jawa's wildlife is most visible at low tide; check the tide calendar before your trip. | ||||
| Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve | North West Singapore, near Kranji | Not required | September to March, when migratory shorebirds pass through on the East Asian-Australasian Flyway | April to August is not a closed season, only the weakest one for shorebirds: most have left for their northern breeding grounds and will not be back until September |
| There is no closed season: the reserve is open year round and wildlife is present in every month. Shorebird numbers simply peak during the northern winter migration, so a September to March visit gives the best chance of a big count. | ||||
| Rail Corridor | Northern Singapore to Central Singapore, from Kranji south towards Bukit Timah | Not required | February and August, Singapore's driest months | November to January, the wettest and stormiest period |
| Most of the corridor has no tree cover, unlike a forest trail, so it runs hot in the midday sun regardless of season. Ballast and gravel sections drain quickly, but low-lying stretches can puddle for a day or two after the heaviest rain. | ||||
| Labrador Nature Reserve | Southern Singapore | Not required | February and August, Singapore's driest months | November to January, the wettest and stormiest period |
| The exposed rocky shore is the one place on this list where tide matters more than season: a falling tide exposes more of the natural shoreline, while the paved and boardwalk sections are walkable at any tide or time of year. | ||||
| Dairy Farm Nature Park | Upper Bukit Timah, Central Singapore | Not required | February and August, Singapore's driest months | November to January, the wettest and stormiest period |
| The Wallace Trail itself is mostly paved or well-drained gravel, so it stays walkable through the wetter months better than a dirt forest trail would. The main reason to prefer a dry morning is the Singapore Quarry viewing deck, which is far more rewarding under clear light than in flat, rainy grey. | ||||
| Coney Island Park | Punggol, North East Singapore (offshore island) | Not required | February and August, Singapore's driest months | November to January, the wettest and stormiest period |
| There is almost no shade along the coastal sections of the loop, so the practical reason to time a visit is the sun rather than the rain: an overcast dry-season morning is more comfortable than a clear one in the middle of the day. Storms in November to January also make the exposed sea walls unpleasant and occasionally close beach access. | ||||
| Pasir Ris Mangrove Boardwalk | Pasir Ris, Eastern Singapore | Not required | February and August, Singapore's driest months | November to January, the wettest and stormiest period |
| The boardwalk itself is elevated above the mud, so it stays open and dry underfoot in any weather. The main seasonal consideration is the timber surface, which turns slippery within minutes of rain, and the birdwatching tower, which is far more useful on a clear morning than in low, rainy light. | ||||
Thailand
191 · 16695/11
Permits and the law
5 of the 11 areas listed here need a permit or a paid ticket. The rest are open access.
Issuing authorities
Guides
Most day routes need no guide, but the DNP requires a park-arranged guide on some overnight and restricted routes. Park entry fees are collected at the gate and differ for Thai and non-Thai visitors.
Season and weather, area by area
| Area | Region or city | Permit | Best months | Avoid |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Doi Inthanon National Park | Chiang Mai | Not required | November to February, the cool season | March to May, the hot season, and June to October, the rainy season |
| Doi Inthanon is Thailand's highest point and can drop close to freezing overnight in December and January, with occasional frost near the summit. | ||||
| Khao Yai National Park | Nakhon Ratchasima | Required | November to February | June to October, the wettest months |
| Khao Yai is a UNESCO World Heritage forest complex with big mammal sightings (elephants, gibbons) most reliable in the cooler, drier months. | ||||
| Khao Sok National Park | Surat Thani | Required | December to April, the dry season | September to October, the wettest months |
| Khao Sok is ancient rainforest, among the wettest parts of Thailand, so expect rain even in the better months and higher river levels after storms. | ||||
| Doi Suthep-Pui National Park | Chiang Mai | Not required | November to February | March to April, burning season haze, and June to October rains |
| Chiang Mai's dry season brings clear views from the ridge; March and April can bring agricultural burning haze that reduces visibility and air quality. | ||||
| Erawan National Park | Kanchanaburi | Not required | November to February | March to May, when some upper pools can run low |
| The waterfalls are fullest just after the rainy season, from around October to December; expect the trail to be busiest on weekends and Thai public holidays. | ||||
| Phu Kradueng | Phu Kradueng National Park, Loei Province | Required | November to February, when the plateau is coolest and driest, sometimes near freezing at dawn | June to September, when the park is closed outright rather than merely wetter |
| The closure is a fixed annual rule for forest recovery, not a weather-dependent recommendation, so there is no way to hike Phu Kradueng in this window regardless of conditions. March to May is hot and increasingly humid ahead of the closure, making the November to February window the realistic target for most visitors. | ||||
| Doi Chiang Dao | Chiang Dao Wildlife Sanctuary, Chiang Mai Province | Required | November to February, the season the sanctuary actually opens the trail for | June to September, when the trail is closed to protect the sanctuary during the wet season and, later in the year, smoke haze can also affect access |
| Opening and closing dates shift slightly year to year depending on the end of the rains or the early arrival of dry-season smoke haze, which is itself a separate seasonal hazard in northern Thailand and can affect visibility and air quality even within the open window. Treat any date here as indicative and confirm against the sanctuary's own announcement for the year you plan to go. | ||||
| Khao Phanom Bencha | Khao Phanom Bencha National Park, Krabi Province | Required | December to March, the driest window on this part of the Andaman coast | September to November, the peak of the southwest monsoon, when the summit trail is at its most treacherous |
| The waterfall trails stay pleasant most of the year since the forest keeps them shaded and the water flow is part of the appeal even in wetter months. The summit trail is the one that changes character with the rain: steep, sometimes unmarked ground turns genuinely hazardous when saturated, which is the main reason to time that specific hike for the dry season. | ||||
| Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park | Laem Sala Beach, Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park, Prachuap Khiri Khan | Not required | November to February, the cool, dry season with the clearest skies for the cave’s light shaft | June to September, the wettest months, when the boat crossing can be cancelled in rough seas |
| The famous light shaft inside Phraya Nakhon Cave depends on the sun angle as much as the calendar: it appears for roughly an hour around mid-morning to noon, so an overcast morning ruins the effect even in the best months. Check the marine forecast before booking a boat in the rainy season, since crossings are cancelled rather than run rough. | ||||
| Tarutao National Marine Park | Ko Tarutao, Tarutao National Marine Park, Satun | Not required | December to April, calm seas and reliable ferry crossings | June to September, the monsoon, when most of the park beyond the main island closes and seas turn rough |
| The main island stays open year round, but treating it as a monsoon-season destination misses most of what makes the wider marine park worth the trip: outer islands, better snorkelling and calmer boat travel all belong to the December to April window. Confirm ferry schedules directly before travelling in the shoulder months either side of the monsoon, since services thin out as conditions change. | ||||
| Doi Pha Hom Pok | Fang, Chiang Mai | Not required | November to February, cool and clear with the best mountain views | March to May, northern Thailand’s agricultural burning season, when smoke haze can blot out the views entirely |
| The March to May haze is a genuine air-quality event across northern Thailand, not a minor inconvenience: visibility and air quality both drop sharply as farmers burn fields ahead of the planting season, and even a clear-looking morning can carry unhealthy particulate levels. Check air-quality readings for Chiang Mai and Fang before committing to this trip in those months. | ||||
Indonesia
1126/6
Emergency numbers
- All services112
Permits and the law
All 6 areas listed here need a permit or a paid ticket before you walk.
Issuing authorities
- Mount Rinjani National Park Authority (TNGR)
- Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park Authority (TNBTS)
- East Java Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BBKSDA Jawa Timur)
- Association of Mount Batur Trekking Guides (HPPGB), under the Batur UNESCO Global Geopark
- Balai Taman Nasional Kelimutu (Ministry of Environment and Forestry)
- Balai Taman Nasional Bantimurung Bulusaraung
Guides
A guide is effectively compulsory on the volcano routes here. Rinjani requires a registered operator, and Batur is controlled by a single guide association, so a price quoted without a named operator is a warning sign.
Season and weather, area by area
| Area | Region or city | Permit | Best months | Avoid |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mount Rinjani National Park | Lombok | Required | April to December, the official trekking season | January to March, when the park closes annually for the monsoon and ecosystem recovery |
| Rinjani is an active volcano inside a national park where access rules change with conditions; trail status, closures and safe zones are announced on the TNGR website and should always be checked before booking. | ||||
| Mount Bromo & the Sea of Sand | East Java | Required | May to October, the dry season with the clearest sunrise views | December to March, when mist and rain often hide the sunrise |
| Bromo remains an active volcano with a monitored alert level; the crater rim can close on short notice if activity increases, so check the current status on the official portal before travelling. The neighbouring Semeru summit trail, inside the same national park, is separately and periodically closed for safety or environmental reasons and does not affect access to Bromo or the Sea of Sand. | ||||
| Kawah Ijen (Ijen Crater) | East Java | Required | April to October, the dry season, for the clearest pre-dawn views | November to March, when the crater trail turns slippery and sulfuric gas pools more heavily on the crater floor |
| Ijen hosts one of the world's largest highly acidic crater lakes alongside the blue fire phenomenon, both best seen in the dry season when trail footing and air quality are more predictable. | ||||
| Mount Batur | Bali | Required | April to September, the dry season, for the most reliable sunrise conditions | December to February, the wettest months, when cloud often hides the sunrise |
| Batur is an active volcano within a UNESCO Global Geopark; trails are short enough to climb year-round, but the pre-dawn path can be muddy and slippery after rain, so sturdy footwear matters even on a moderate hike. | ||||
| Kelimutu | Kelimutu National Park, Ende Regency, Flores, East Nusa Tenggara | Required | April to September, the dry season, when cloud is least likely to hide the crater and the sunrise view | December to February, the wet season, when the summit is frequently clouded over at dawn |
| The walk itself is unaffected by weather, but the entire reason to make the pre-dawn trip is the view, so a clouded-over dry-season morning is still a better bet than a clear wet-season one. The lake colours themselves shift throughout the year regardless of season, driven by the volcano’s own chemistry rather than rainfall. | ||||
| Bantimurung-Bulusaraung | Bantimurung-Bulusaraung National Park, Maros Regency, South Sulawesi | Required | May to September, the dry season, when the karst river trip is calmest and the waterfall flow is manageable rather than overwhelming | December to February, when heavy rain raises the karst rivers and can make the boat trip to Rammang-Rammang unsafe or unavailable |
| The waterfall and cave areas stay open through the wet season, since they are less exposed, but the Rammang-Rammang river trip is the part most sensitive to rain: check conditions with a local boatman rather than assuming the trip will run as usual in the wetter months. | ||||
Vietnam
113 · 114 · 1153/6
Permits and the law
3 of the 6 areas listed here need a permit or a paid ticket. The rest are open access.
Issuing authorities
Guides
Park management boards register visitors at the gate and arrange guides for the longer routes. Fansipan can also be reached by cable car, so check whether a trip you are paying for is actually a trek.
Season and weather, area by area
| Area | Region or city | Permit | Best months | Avoid |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mount Fansipan | Sapa, Lao Cai | Required | September to November and February to April | June to August, the wettest and mistiest months, and December to January, when the summit can see frost or snow |
| Fansipan is Vietnam's and Indochina's highest point; weather turns fast above the tree line, and even in the dry season the summit can be well below freezing at night. | ||||
| Cat Ba National Park | Hai Phong | Not required | October to December and March to May | June to September, the hot, humid and typhoon-prone season in the Gulf of Tonkin |
| Cat Ba National Park protects the largest tract of primary rainforest left on the limestone karst islands of the Ha Long-Cat Ba archipelago, home to the critically endangered Cat Ba langur. | ||||
| Pu Luong Nature Reserve | Thanh Hoa | Not required | May to June and September to October, for the golden rice terraces | July and August, the wettest and most humid months, when trails and river crossings can be difficult |
| Pu Luong's terraced valleys and Thai and Muong stilt-house villages are at their most photogenic around the two annual rice cycles; outside those windows the terraces are green or freshly ploughed rather than golden. | ||||
| Ba Vi National Park | Hanoi | Not required | October to April, the cooler, drier months | June to August, the hottest and wettest months around Hanoi |
| Ba Vi is often misty year-round, which suits its cool-climate pine forest character but can limit the summit view; clearer visibility is more likely in the cooler months. | ||||
| Phong Nha-Ke Bang | Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, Bo Trach District, Quang Binh | Required | February to August, before the autumn flood season | September to November, when central Vietnam’s flood season regularly closes river-access caves like Phong Nha Cave itself |
| Phong Nha Cave is entered by boat along an underground river, so it is the first thing affected when water levels rise; Paradise Cave and Tien Son Cave sit higher and stay open more reliably through the shoulder months. Check current conditions locally rather than assuming every cave follows the same calendar. | ||||
| Lang Biang | Lang Biang, Bidoup Nui Ba National Park, Lac Duong District, Lam Dong | Required | December to March, the dry season in the southern central highlands, with cool, clear mornings | July to September, the peak of the wet season, when the summit trail is at its muddiest and cloud most often hides the view |
| Da Lat's highland climate keeps this cooler than most of Vietnam year round, so rain rather than heat is the main seasonal variable. The jeep-accessible lower viewpoint stays a reasonable option even in wetter months; it is the unpaved summit trail beyond it that suffers most. | ||||
Philippines
9114/6
Emergency numbers
- All services911
Permits and the law
4 of the 6 areas listed here need a permit or a paid ticket. The rest are open access.
Issuing authorities
Guides
DENR-run protected areas and local tourism offices normally require a registered local guide and a logged registration. That registration is the thing to ask for: a legitimate organiser can name the office that issued it.
Season and weather, area by area
| Area | Region or city | Permit | Best months | Avoid |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mount Pulag National Park | Benguet / Ifugao, Luzon | Required | November to February, for the reliable pre-dawn sea of clouds | June to October, the southwest monsoon and typhoon season |
| Pulag is Luzon's highest peak and the sea-of-clouds phenomenon at sunrise is weather-dependent even in the dry season; nights on the summit grasslands regularly approach freezing. | ||||
| Mount Pinatubo | Tarlac / Zambales | Required | November to May, the dry season | June to October, the rainy season, when the river-bed trail is prone to flash flooding |
| Pinatubo's 1991 eruption reshaped the region, and the trek follows a lahar-carved river valley to the caldera lake formed in the aftermath; the trail crosses Aeta ancestral domain, so guides are drawn from and organised with the local Aeta community. | ||||
| Mount Apo Natural Park | Davao / North Cotabato, Mindanao | Required | September to May, outside the annual closure and wettest months | June to August, when the entire park is closed to trekking and camping under the PAMB annual closure |
| Mount Apo is the highest peak in the Philippines and a dormant volcano sacred to the Lumad peoples of Mindanao, including the Bagobo and Manobo; the PAMB enforces the June-to-August closure to let vegetation and wildlife recover during the wettest months. | ||||
| Mount Batulao | Nasugbu, Batangas | Not required | November to April, the dry season | June to October, the rainy season, when the grassy slopes turn slippery |
| Batulao is one of the most-hiked mountains near Manila thanks to its short drive and dramatic jagged ridgeline, so weekends and holidays draw large crowds; a weekday or early-morning start is far quieter. | ||||
| Osmeña Peak | Mantalungon, Dalaguete, Cebu, Visayas | Required | December to April, the dry season across the Visayas | July to October, when the southwest monsoon and typhoon season bring the heaviest rain and the least reliable views |
| The peak is walkable year round, since the trail is short and not weather-dependent in the way a long trek would be, but the entire appeal is the 360-degree view, so a typhoon-season trip risks paying for a guide and a climb with nothing to see at the top. | ||||
| Mount Tapyas | Coron, Busuanga Island, Palawan, MIMAROPA | Not required | December to April, the driest and calmest months in this part of Palawan | July to September, the peak of the southwest monsoon and typhoon season |
| The concrete steps stay climbable in almost any weather short of an active storm, so this is more forgiving of a spontaneous plan than most entries on this site; the main seasonal factor is simply how likely a clear sunset view is on a given evening. | ||||
Brunei
993 · 991 · 9952/6
Permits and the law
2 of the 6 areas listed here need a permit or a paid ticket. The rest are open access.
Issuing authorities
Guides
Ulu Temburong can only be reached through an approved operator, since access is by longboat and the park controls numbers. The other reserves listed here are open walk-in recreation areas.
Season and weather, area by area
| Area | Region or city | Permit | Best months | Avoid |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ulu Temburong National Park | Temburong District | Required | February to August, when river levels are more predictable | November to January, the wettest months of the northeast monsoon, when high river levels can suspend longboat transfers |
| Brunei's equatorial rainforest sees rain year-round, so this is a matter of degree rather than a dry season versus a wet one; operators reschedule or adjust the river route when levels run high, so build a little flexibility into the trip. | ||||
| Bukit Patoi, Peradayan Forest Reserve | Temburong District | Not required | February to August, with the clearest views from the summit | November to January, the wettest months, when the boulder sections near the summit turn especially slippery |
| The rock sections near the summit are slippery whenever wet, so it is worth checking recent weather rather than fixating on a single best season in this equatorial climate. | ||||
| Bukit Shahbandar Forest Recreation Park | Brunei-Muara District | Not required | Year-round, ideally in the early morning before the midday heat and humidity build | No sharp seasonal window, though the northeast monsoon months of November to January bring the heaviest rain and muddier trails |
| Shahbandar is a popular local exercise spot as much as a visitor trail, so weekday mornings are quieter than weekend afternoons. | ||||
| Tasek Merimbun Heritage Park | Mukim Rambai, Tutong District | Not required | February to August, the same drier stretch as the rest of Brunei | November to January, the northeast monsoon period, when the lake and swamp forest are at their fullest and the boardwalks can flood |
| Merimbun is a lake and swamp forest, so its boardwalks are more flood-prone than a hillside trail: heavy monsoon rain can put sections of the Merimbun Botanical Trail under water rather than just making it muddy. | ||||
| Bukit Teraja | Kampong Teraja, Labi, Belait District | Required | February to August, the drier half of the year | November to January, the northeast monsoon, when the stream crossings on the way to the waterfall run high |
| The trail crosses several streams on the way to the waterfall pool, which is the main reason the wetter months matter more here than on a straightforward hill walk: a crossing that is ankle-deep in the dry months can be waist-deep after sustained monsoon rain. | ||||
| Luagan Lalak Forest Recreation Park | Kampong Sungai Petai, Belait District | Not required | Year round, since the boardwalks sit above the water rather than on a dirt trail that turns muddy | No sharp seasonal window, though the northeast monsoon of November to January raises the swamp water level and can put the lowest boardwalk sections closer to it |
| Unlike a hill trail, the main seasonal variable here is how much of the swamp is visible above the waterline rather than how muddy the ground is, since visitors never actually touch the ground. | ||||
Japan
110 · 1191/11
Permits and the law
1 of the 11 areas listed here need a permit or a paid ticket. The rest are open access.
Issuing authorities
Guides
Guides are not required, but Mount Fuji has an official climbing season, a per-person fee and entry gates that close overnight. Outside that season the huts and rescue cover close and the climb becomes a winter mountaineering undertaking.
Season and weather, area by area
| Area | Region or city | Permit | Best months | Avoid |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mount Fuji | Yamanashi / Shizuoka | Required | Early July to early September, the official climbing season | Outside the official season, when huts, toilets and rescue services close and the mountain carries snow and ice, making an ascent a serious winter-mountaineering undertaking |
| Fuji is climbable only within the short official season; outside it, the mountain is a genuine alpine environment reserved for experienced winter mountaineers, not a casual hike regardless of how the summit looks from a distance. | ||||
| Kumano Kodo (Nakahechi Route) | Wakayama, Kii Peninsula | Not required | March to May and October to November | Late July to September, hot, humid and prone to typhoons on the Kii Peninsula |
| A UNESCO World Heritage pilgrimage route walked continuously for over a thousand years, Kumano Kodo passes through working forestry villages rather than wilderness, so lodging is in family-run inns rather than tents, and stone-paved sections can be slippery when wet. | ||||
| Mount Takao | Tokyo | Not required | Year-round, with mid-November to early December drawing the largest crowds for autumn foliage | No closed season, though midsummer humidity makes the climb noticeably more strenuous |
| One of the most-climbed mountains in the world thanks to its easy access from central Tokyo, Takao holds three Michelin stars for its views and old-growth forest, and gets genuinely crowded on autumn weekends. | ||||
| Yakushima (Jomon Sugi Trail) | Kagoshima | Not required | May and October to November, for a relatively drier and cooler window on one of Japan's wettest islands | June, the plum-rain season, and August to September, when typhoons regularly cross the island |
| Yakushima is famously said to rain 35 days a month; the Jomon Sugi trail can run at any time of year, but heavy rain raises the risk of slippery boardwalk sections and swollen streams, so checking the forecast the night before matters more than the calendar month. | ||||
| Kamikochi | Kamikochi, Chubu-Sangaku National Park, Matsumoto City, Nagano, Northern Japan Alps | Not required | Late April to June for fresh green and fewer crowds, and September to mid-October for autumn colour, avoiding the height of summer crowds and the July-August rainy patches | Mid-November to mid-April, when Kamikochi closes entirely and both the bus service and every facility in the valley shut down for winter |
| Kamikochi is not merely quieter in winter, it is completely closed: no bus service runs and no facilities operate between roughly 15 November and 17 April each year, so there is no way to visit the valley floor itself in that window, let alone attempt the higher peaks. | ||||
| Asahidake, Daisetsuzan | Asahidake, Daisetsuzan National Park, Higashikawa, Hokkaido | Not required | July to September, Hokkaido's short true summer hiking season | October to June, when snow typically closes the higher trails and Daisetsuzan often sees Japan’s first snowfall of the year as early as late September |
| Daisetsuzan earns its nickname as Japan's first mountains to see snow: the hiking window here is genuinely shorter than almost anywhere else on this site, and conditions can turn wintry with little warning even within the official season. Check the ropeway and trail status on the day rather than relying on the calendar alone. | ||||
| Mount Rishiri | Rishiri Island, Rishiri-Rebun-Sarobetsu National Park, Hokkaido | Not required | June to early October, the only window the trail is reliably snow-free | October to May, when snow and ice make the upper ridge genuinely dangerous |
| Rishiri sits far enough north and close enough to the sea that weather changes fast: a clear morning at the trailhead is no guarantee of a clear summit ridge four hours later. Staff at the campsite hut post daily conditions; treat a turn-back advisory as final rather than pushing on. | ||||
| Mount Hakkoda | Hakkoda Mountains, Towada-Hachimantai National Park, Aomori, Tohoku | Not required | Late May to June for fresh green and lingering snow patches, September to October for autumn colour | November to March, when Hakkoda becomes one of Japan’s most extreme winter mountaineering and backcountry ski destinations rather than a hiking one |
| Hakkoda is famous for its winter juhyo, wind-sculpted "snow monsters" formed on frozen fir trees, but that is a viewing season for the ropeway, not a hiking one: winter access to the ridge trails is for experienced mountaineers with full winter gear only. The marked hiking season runs roughly late April to early November, weather permitting. | ||||
| Mount Aso: Kusasenri | Kusasenri, Mount Aso, Aso-Kuju National Park, Kumamoto, Kyushu | Not required | September to November, clear skies and grazing horses on the grassland | June and July, the peak of the rainy season |
| Kusasenri is walkable year round in mild weather, and horse riding on the grassland runs from early March to mid December. The bigger variable here is not the season but Nakadake’s access status, which can change with volcanic activity regardless of month, so a same-day check matters more than a seasonal one. | ||||
| Nakasendo: Magome to Tsumago | Magome-Tsumago, Kiso Valley, Nagano and Gifu, Central Japan | Not required | April to May and October to November, mild temperatures and spring or autumn colour along the route | July and August, when high heat and humidity make the exposed sections of paved road uncomfortable |
| The route is walkable year round and stays open through light winter snow, though a few icy mornings a year make the stone paving slick. Spring and autumn simply give the most comfortable walking weather and the best photographs of the post towns. | ||||
| Mount Tateyama (Murodo Route) | Murodo, Mount Tateyama, Chubu-Sangaku National Park, Toyama, Northern Japan Alps | Not required | Late June to early October, when the Murodo trails are clear of snow | Late November to mid April, when the Alpine Route itself closes for winter |
| The Alpine Route opens mid to late April and closes around 30 November each year, but the famous snow corridor walk near the opening date is a separate attraction from the Oyama hike: snow lingers on the Murodo plateau itself well into June, so the actual hiking trail to the summit is only reliably clear from late June. | ||||
South Korea
112 · 1193/4
Permits and the law
3 of the 4 areas listed here need a permit or a paid ticket. The rest are open access.
Issuing authorities
Guides
No guide is needed, but the Korea National Park Service runs a reservation system on the busiest peaks and closes trails outright for fire risk and for winter conditions. Check the trail status page on the morning you leave.
Season and weather, area by area
| Area | Region or city | Permit | Best months | Avoid |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seoraksan National Park | Gangwon | Required | September to October for autumn foliage, and April to May for spring blossom | December to February, when the upper trail is snow and ice covered and demands crampons and winter mountaineering experience |
| Seoraksan's granite peaks and maple forests make it one of Korea's most photographed autumn destinations, so the foliage weeks bring both the best colour and the biggest crowds and tightest shelter competition. | ||||
| Jirisan National Park | Jeolla / Gyeongsang | Required | April to May for spring azaleas, and September to October for autumn colour | Late July to August, the monsoon season, when the exposed ridge is prone to lightning and heavy rain |
| Jirisan is the largest national park on the Korean mainland and the source of the country's longest ridge trek; the full traverse is a serious multi-day undertaking best planned around settled weather rather than a fixed calendar date. | ||||
| Bukhansan National Park | Seoul | Not required | April to May and October to November, for mild temperatures and clearer views | Late December to February, when the rocky chain sections near the summit ice over and become genuinely hazardous without proper winter traction gear |
| Bukhansan is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the world's most-visited national park per unit area, so this is never a solitary hike; weekday mornings offer the closest thing to a quiet trail. | ||||
| Hallasan National Park | Jeju | Required | April to May for the Jindallaebat azalea bloom, and October to November for autumn colour | December to February without proper winter gear, when the upper mountain holds heavy snow and ice |
| As South Korea's highest peak and a dormant volcano, Hallasan's crater lake Baengnokdam is reachable only via the reservation system on the two summit trails; check the official website for the current status of both routes before travelling, since maintenance closures like the 2026 Gwaneumsa works can shift with little notice. | ||||
Taiwan
110 · 1192/4
Permits and the law
2 of the 4 areas listed here need a permit or a paid ticket. The rest are open access.
Issuing authorities
Guides
High-mountain routes need two separate approvals, a national park permit and a police mountain entry permit, both applied for through one government portal. Quotas are small and demand exceeds them, so an organiser promising guaranteed places should be questioned.
Season and weather, area by area
| Area | Region or city | Permit | Best months | Avoid |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yushan (Jade Mountain) | Nantou / Chiayi | Required | October to December and March to May, the clearest and driest windows | June to September, typhoon season, and January to February without full winter mountaineering gear and experience |
| As Taiwan's and Northeast Asia's highest peak, Yushan can carry snow and ice on the upper switchbacks in winter, and the exposed final scramble to the summit is unforgiving in poor visibility or high wind at any time of year. | ||||
| Xueshan (Snow Mountain) | Miaoli / Taichung | Required | October to December and March to May | June to September, typhoon season, and midwinter without crampons and ice-axe experience, given the mountain's name |
| Xueshan, meaning Snow Mountain, genuinely holds snow in cold winters, making it one of the few places in subtropical Taiwan where winter mountaineering skills matter; outside winter it is a demanding but non-technical high alpine trek. | ||||
| Hehuanshan East Peak | Nantou | Not required | October to December and March to May for clear sunrise and sea-of-clouds views | No fixed closed season, though the road can close temporarily during typhoons in summer or heavy snow in January and February |
| Hehuanshan is one of the very few places in Taiwan where a peak above 3,400 metres is reachable by road, making East Peak a favourite for sunrise, star-gazing and, in a cold winter, some of the island's most accessible snow; the separate Main Peak Trail has been under repair, so check current trail status before travelling. | ||||
| Alishan National Forest Recreation Area | Chiayi | Not required | November to April, for the most reliable sea-of-clouds and sunrise conditions | July to September, typhoon season, when heavy rain can disrupt both road and forest railway access |
| Alishan is as much a cultural and scenic institution as a hiking destination, famous for its narrow-gauge forest railway, red cypress groves and cherry blossoms in March, so trail conditions are secondary to weather affecting the wider journey up the mountain. | ||||
Hong Kong
999Not required
Emergency numbers
- All services999
Permits and the law
None of the 4 areas listed here need a permit. Access is open and free.
Guides
No permits and no guides. The country parks are free and open, and the trails carry numbered distance posts that rescue services use to locate you, so note the nearest post if you need help.
Season and weather, area by area
| Area | Region or city | Permit | Best months | Avoid |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MacLehose Trail (Sections 1-2) | Sai Kung, New Territories | Not required | October to April, the cooler, drier months | June to September, the hot, humid and typhoon-prone months |
| This opening stretch of the 100-kilometre MacLehose Trail is widely considered its most scenic, combining an easy reservoir-side walk with a genuinely rewarding ridge climb and some of Hong Kong's clearest turquoise water at Long Ke and Sai Wan. | ||||
| Dragon's Back | Shek O Country Park, Hong Kong Island | Not required | October to April, for cooler temperatures and clearer coastal views | The hottest, most humid stretch of June to September, when the largely shadeless ridge can feel punishing at midday |
| Dragon's Back has long been celebrated as one of Asia's best urban hikes, precisely because the walk from forested ridge to a surf beach takes barely half a day and needs no car; that accessibility also makes weekends genuinely crowded. | ||||
| Lion Rock | Lion Rock Country Park, Kowloon | Not required | October to April, for the clearest views over the city | Hazy summer afternoons, when humidity and pollution often blur the skyline view |
| Lion Rock's crouching-lion silhouette is a genuine Hong Kong icon, giving its name to the 'Lion Rock Spirit' associated with the city's resilience; the summit rewards a short, steep climb with one of the most complete panoramas over both Kowloon and Hong Kong Island. | ||||
| Tai Mo Shan | Tai Mo Shan Country Park, New Territories | Not required | October to February, for the clearest skies and the chance of the cool misty conditions the mountain is known for | Summer haze and typhoon-season days, when visibility from the summit road can drop to almost nothing |
| Tai Mo Shan means 'Big Hazy Mountain', a fitting name since its summit is capped by cloud and mist more often than not; on rare cold snaps it is one of the very few places in Hong Kong that sees frost. | ||||
Mainland China
110 · 119 · 1204/4
Permits and the law
All 4 areas listed here need a permit or a paid ticket before you walk.
Issuing authorities
Guides
Guides are not required, but every scenic area here sells real-name tickets tied to a passport or ID and caps daily numbers. Buy through the official platform: a ticket resold without your name on it may not admit you.
Season and weather, area by area
| Area | Region or city | Permit | Best months | Avoid |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) | Anhui | Required | April to June and September to November, plus clear winter days from December to February for snow-dusted pines | July and August, when heat, humidity and afternoon thunderstorms are most likely to block the views |
| The sea of clouds is most reliable in the hour after rain clears, and the mountain's famous pines and stairways look just as striking dusted with a light winter snow, though icy steps then call for extra caution and grippers. | ||||
| Zhangjiajie (Wulingyuan) | Hunan | Required | April to June and September to November | July and August for heat and crowds, and the Chinese New Year and 1-7 October national holiday weeks, when every viewpoint and cable car queue is at its busiest |
| Mist is common through the sandstone pillars and often clears by mid-morning, so an early start gives the best chance of the floating-peak scenery the park is famous for. | ||||
| Mount Emei (Emeishan) | Sichuan | Required | September to November and December to February for the best odds of the sea of clouds and a clear sunrise from the Golden Summit | June to August, the wettest and foggiest months, when the lower forest trail is humid and leeches are common after rain |
| Emeishan is famous for its 'four spectacles': the sea of clouds, sunrise, Buddha's rays and saint lamps, all best seen from the Golden Summit in clear winter weather; icy stone steps near the top in winter call for crampons or grippers. | ||||
| Yubeng Village (Meili Snow Mountain) | Yunnan | Required | October to May, especially mid-October to mid-November for clear views of Kawagarbo and autumn colour on the lower slopes | June to September, the summer monsoon, when rain raises the risk of landslides on the access road and trail |
| Kawagarbo, the 6,740-metre peak that watches over the village, is sacred to Tibetan Buddhists and has never been climbed, its ascent formally prohibited since 2001; cloud cover can hide the summit for days even in good months, so building in a spare day improves the odds of a clear view. | ||||
North Korea
1/1
Permits and the law
All 1 areas listed here need a permit or a paid ticket before you walk.
Issuing authorities
Guides
Independent travel does not exist here: every visitor is assigned a state guide who is present at all times, and there is no separate permit, booking or emergency-calling system outside that arrangement. As of this update, North Korea remains closed to almost all foreign tourism (Russian nationals are the current exception), and several governments, including the United States, either advise against all travel there or restrict their own citizens’ passports from being used for it. Everything on this page describes what has been offered when the country has been open, for planning ahead of a reopening, not a trip you can book today.
Season and weather, area by area
| Area | Region or city | Permit | Best months | Avoid |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mount Myohyang | Hyangsan County, North Pyongan Province, on the border with South Pyongan Province | Required | April to May and September to October, the same spring and autumn windows that suit hiking across the rest of the Korean peninsula | December to February, when the mountains are deep in continental winter cold and snow |
| North Pyongan Province shares the Korean peninsula's continental monsoon climate: hot, humid summers with heavy July and August rain, and cold, dry winters. None of this changes the fact that a visit here is only possible as part of a licensed tour, on whatever dates that operator is running and the country is accepting tourists. | ||||
Official booking channels
Skip the middleman where you can. These are the government departments and park corporations that actually issue every permit on this site. Book or verify directly with them.
- Sabah Parks
- Department of Wildlife and National Parks (PERHILITAN) · Taman Negara
- Cameron Highlands District Forestry Office (Pahang Forestry Department)
- Mulu National Park / Sarawak Forestry Corporation
- Department of Wildlife and National Parks (PERHILITAN) · Penang National Park
- Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) / Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL)
- Pusat Pelancongan Gua Tempurung (Tourism Perak Malaysia)
- Jabatan Perhutanan Negeri Sembilan (Pejabat Hutan Daerah Negeri Sembilan Timur)
- Jabatan Perhutanan Negeri Sembilan (Taman Eko-Rimba Ulu Bendul)
- Baram Peace Park / KOPPES (Koperasi Pelancongan Penan Selungo)
- Jabatan Perhutanan Selangor (sistem e-permit SeForest)
- Johor National Parks Corporation (Perbadanan Taman Negara Johor)
- Sarawak Forestry Corporation
- Kedah State Forestry Department
- Pahang Forestry Department
- Pejabat Hutan Daerah Hulu Selangor (Jabatan Perhutanan Selangor)
- Koperasi Gunung Datuk Rembau Berhad (Jabatan Perhutanan Negeri Sembilan)
- Jabatan Perhutanan Selangor (Taman Rimba Templer)
- Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM)
- Jabatan Perhutanan Negeri Pahang (Pejabat Hutan Daerah Bentong)
- Forestry Department of Peninsular Malaysia (Jabatan Perhutanan Semenanjung Malaysia)
- Jabatan Landskap Negara (National Landscape Department)
- Taman Tugu Project (Yayasan Hijau)
- National Parks Board (NParks) · Central Catchment Nature Reserve
- National Parks Board (NParks) · Bukit Timah Nature Reserve
- National Parks Board (NParks) · Southern Ridges
- National Parks Board (NParks), Pulau Ubin
- National Parks Board (NParks) · Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve
- National Parks Board (NParks) · Rail Corridor
- National Parks Board (NParks) · Labrador Nature Reserve
- National Parks Board (NParks) · Dairy Farm Nature Park
- National Parks Board (NParks) · Coney Island Park
- National Parks Board (NParks) · Pasir Ris Mangrove Boardwalk
- Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP)
- Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP): Chiang Dao Wildlife Sanctuary
- Mount Rinjani National Park Authority (TNGR)
- Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park Authority (TNBTS)
- East Java Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BBKSDA Jawa Timur)
- Association of Mount Batur Trekking Guides (HPPGB), under the Batur UNESCO Global Geopark
- Balai Taman Nasional Kelimutu (Ministry of Environment and Forestry)
- Balai Taman Nasional Bantimurung Bulusaraung
- Hoang Lien National Park Management Board
- Cat Ba National Park Management Board
- Management Board of Pu Luong Nature Reserve
- Ba Vi National Park Management Board
- Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park Management Board
- Bidoup Nui Ba National Park
- Mount Pulag National Park Protected Area Office (DENR)
- Capas Tourism Office, Municipality of Capas
- Mount Apo Natural Park Protected Area Management Board (DENR)
- Municipality of Nasugbu Tourism Office
- Dalaguete Municipal Tourism Office
- Coron Municipal Tourism Office
- Brunei Forestry Department (Ulu Temburong National Park)
- Brunei Forestry Department (Peradayan Forest Reserve)
- Brunei Forestry Department (Bukit Shahbandar Forest Recreation Park)
- Jabatan Muzium-Muzium (Museums Department), Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport
- Teraja Longhouse (Kampong Teraja) sign-in, within a Brunei Forestry Department-designated forest reserve
- Brunei Forestry Department (Luagan Lalak Forest Recreation Park)
- Official Mt. Fuji Climbing Website (Yamanashi and Shizuoka Prefectures)
- Tanabe City Kumano Tourism Bureau
- Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO)
- Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) / Yakushima access shuttle
- Chubu-Sangaku National Park / Matsumoto City (Kamikochi Management Office)
- Ministry of the Environment (Daisetsuzan National Park) / Asahidake Ropeway
- Rishiri Town / Rishiri-Rebun-Sarobetsu National Park (Ministry of the Environment)
- Towada-Hachimantai National Park (Ministry of the Environment) / Hakkoda Ropeway Co.
- Aso-Kuju National Park (Ministry of the Environment) / Mt. Aso Visitor Center
- Kiso Ontake Tourism Office
- Chubu-Sangaku National Park (Ministry of the Environment) / Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route
- Korea National Park Service (KNPS)
- Korea National Park Service (KNPS) · Bukhansan National Park
- Hallasan National Park (Jeju Special Self-Governing Province)
- Yushan National Park (Hike Smart Taiwan Service)
- Shei-Pa National Park (Hike Smart Taiwan Service)
- Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency (Taiwan Forest Recreation)
- Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency (Alishan National Forest Recreation Area)
- Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD)
- Huangshan Scenic Area Administrative Committee
- Wulingyuan Scenic Area Administration
- Mount Emei Scenic Area Management Committee
- Deqin County Culture and Tourism Bureau (Meili Snow Mountain National Park)
- DPRK National Tourism Administration, arranged entirely through a licensed foreign tour operator: there is no independent permit or booking route
If something looks wrong
If a trip organiser cannot produce a valid permit number or refuses to say which authority issued it, do not pay. You can verify a park permit directly with the issuing office using the contact details on that park’s page on this site.
Email the site editors