10 Best Short Hikes in Southeast Asia (Easiest to Hardest)

Bromo is the ultimate hike for max views with minimal effort. A 20-min walk up stairs takes you to the crater of Mt Bromo, with landscapes so surreal they look straight out of Dune. It’s touristy, but you can ask your guide to take you to quieter spots for the best photos. The journey is part of the fun: you’ll ride a jeep across a vast sea of sand before starting your short hike. Want to make the most of East Java? Pair Bromo with Tumpak Sewu, one of Indonesia’s most gorgeous waterfalls, on a 4D3N adventure.

𝙃𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚: 20 mins each way. Plan for half a day to explore Bromo.

𝙒𝙝𝙤 𝙛𝙤𝙧: Everyone! It’s easy and perfect for all fitness levels.

A short 20-30 minute hike, Mt Padar offers jaw-dropping panoramic views of the famous pink, black, and white beaches of Komodo National Park. The hike is steep and rocky, so sturdy shoes are a must, but it’s doable for anyone. (Our 70-year-old parents tackled it in 40 mins!) This is the perfect stop on a 1-3 day Komodo Island adventure, where you’ll also see dragons and swim in turquoise bays.

𝙃𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚: 20-30 mins each way. Do as part of a Komodo boat trip.

𝙒𝙝𝙤 𝙛𝙤𝙧: Anyone! No training needed, just a sense of adventure.

Mt Batur is one of Bali’s most popular hikes, and for good reason. The views from the summit are incredible! But if you’d like a quieter experience, there’s an alternative that takes you to the caldera and includes a moonlit boat ride across Lake Batur. You’ll get to enjoy stunning views of Mt Agung, Lombok, and Rinjani while avoiding the crowds. It’s an easy-to-moderate trek, though the ground can be uneven.

𝙃𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚: 45 minutes each way.

𝙒𝙝𝙤 𝙛𝙤𝙧: All fitness levels. Slightly uneven ground.

Mt Ijen is known for its electric blue flames, a natural phenomenon that can be seen during a 2-3 hour night trek. The hike itself isn’t too difficult, but the night trek can make it tricky to navigate, and the sulfur smell is strong (so if you have respiratory problems, give this a miss!). Once you reach the summit (2,386m), you’ll also get a view of the world’s largest crater lake – stunning at sunrise. Pro tip: Pair Mt Ijen with a trip to Mt Bromo for an epic East Java adventure!

𝙃𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚: 2-3 hours each way.

𝙒𝙝𝙤 𝙛𝙤𝙧: Beginner-intermediate hikers. No training needed.

If you're looking for a once-in-a-lifetime explorer's journey, this is IT. Mt Tambora is no ordinary trek. This beast of a volcano caused the year without a summer back in 1815 – it was so powerful it changed the climate worldwide. A 16km, 11-hour journey to the top will take you through some jaw-dropping landscapes and lead to a sunrise over the crater that will make you feel like you’re walking through an epic movie. It’s challenging but the history and views make it unforgettable.

𝙃𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚: 2D1N, 11 hours to summit.

𝙒𝙝𝙤 𝙛𝙤𝙧: Beginner-intermediate hikers with stamina.

If you want to stand on top of Bali, Mt Agung is your challenge. This 7-8 hour round trip will test your stamina, but the reward is worth it: a stunning 360-degree view of Bali from the highest peak in Bali. There are two routes – one easier, one harder – but either way, you’ll want to wear solid hiking boots and be ready for a serious climb. The sunrise views from the summit are incredible, and the bragging rights of being on Bali's is something that few people will have!

𝙃𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚: 4 hours each way (crater rim route) or 5-6 hours each way (summit route).

𝙒𝙝𝙤 𝙛𝙤𝙧: Experienced hikers.

Mt Fansipan is the highest peak in Indochina (3,147m), but also a bit of a Russian roulette of a hike! Some days, the views are insane – you can see the whole Sapa range for miles. But most of the time, you’ll power through a hard climb and reach the top only to find... nothing but thick mist. It’s a tough climb with boulders, ladders, and some serious scrambling. But if you’re after a challenge and don’t mind the unpredictability, it’s totally worth it. Pro tip: Take the cable car down – the view is the same, and your legs will thank you. If you do climb down, Fansipan is harder than Mt Kinabalu (next on this list)!

𝙃𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚: 5-6 hours each way.

𝙒𝙝𝙤 𝙛𝙤𝙧: Experienced hikers.

Mt Kinabalu is Southeast Asia's highest peak (4,095m) and one of our favorite hikes in the region because of the crazy range of terrains you’ll experience in just 24 hours. You’ll go from lush tropical rainforest to beautiful bonsai forests, and then up to a moonscape-like summit. It’s beginner-friendly, mainly because it's all stairs (600 flights, to be exact!), but don't be fooled – it's still a challenge. If you’re craving a bit more of a challenge, you can add the via ferrata – a thrilling activity off the side of the mountain!

𝙃𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚: 2D1N, with 6 hours on the first day and 10-12 hours on the second day.

𝙒𝙝𝙤 𝙛𝙤𝙧: Beginner hikers with a few weeks of stair training!

Mt Rinjani is one of the toughest but most rewarding hikes in Southeast Asia. We were super excited when we discovered the secret Torean route - created after the 2018 earthquake, it takes you through beautiful valleys, waterfalls, and green mountains that feel like a scene from Jurassic Park or Moana. Best part? It’s still relatively unknown, so you can enjoy it without the crowds.

Regardless of the route you choose, the Rinjani summit stretch is steep and slippery volcanic ash – two steps forward, one step back – so it’s tough on the calves! Pro tip: You don’t need to summit to enjoy epic views – the scenery along the way is just as incredible, and we think it actually beats the summit views!

𝙃𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚: 3-4 days

𝙒𝙝𝙤 𝙛𝙤𝙧: Intermediate and advanced hikers.

Mulu looks like it comes out of a fantasy novel– the Pinnacles look like the tombstones of giants! The Mulu Pinnacles climb is no joke – it’s steep, exposed, and requires some scrambling and ropes. Some even say this is where Malaysia's special forces train, so it’s short but not easy! We recommend training a few months ahead to be ready for the challenge.

𝙃𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚: The Pinnacles hike itself takes about 6-7 hours, but the full Mulu adventure, including cave visits, takes 4D3N.

𝙒𝙝𝙤 𝙛𝙤𝙧: Experienced hikers.