If you are not one for running, perhaps cycling then is your thing. Besides the adrenaline rush you can expect from the trails, some routes even give you eyes a treat with awesome scenery and views of mountains and rivers or perhaps just really nice foliage.
So if you are looking for some great cycling trails, you may want to consider one, or all, of these.
#1 Bukit Kiara, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Known as the best mountain biking spot in Kuala Lumpur, it is not difficult to see why. Whether you are a beginner biker or a seasoned one, this spot has trails that range from simple to highly technical ones with tricky loops and tight sections. If you are looking for something challenging, you may want to seek out some of the harder trails like ‘Snakes and Ladders’ and the lung-busting ‘Twin Peaks’.
#2 Kirirom National Park, Cambodia
Photo Credits: Cambodia Travel
Fancy a cooler ride? Then Kirirom, also known as Preah Soramarith National Park, is probably the biking trail for you. Popular with mountain bikers for its single tracking leading up to a 700-metre hill, the cooler temperatures and picturesque landscape are also hugely welcomed by cyclists. And if you are looking for some form of race, it may be good for you to know that Kirirom us also the site of an annual mountain bike race called the Kirirom Mountain Bike Challenge – one of Cambodia’s biggest cycling events.
#3 Doi Suthep-Pui National Park, Chiang Mai, Thailand
Photo Credits: Chiang Mai
If you are a casual rider just out to enjoy some views while getting onto an easy track out of Singapore, perhaps this one may work well for you. Offering some of the best downhill biking trails in Southeast Asia, you can opt for The Eagles Route through bike tour company, Mountain Biking Chiang Mai that’s mostly downhill with only a section or two of uphills. Starting from the summit of Doi Pui at over 1,600 metres above sea level, you will pass by cultural and scenic spots, including a Hmong Village, until you get to your destination of Lake Huay Tueng Tao.
#4 Maarat, San Mateo, Rizal, Philippines
Photo Credits: Patrick Pantangco
You cannot talk about biking without mentioning the town of San Mateo. Dubbed as the mountain bike capital of the Philippines, there are several trails to choose from, the most popular and possibly most challenging being the Blue Zone trail. And while the Blue Zone trail is recommended for more experienced riders on a usual basis, it has to be noted that the trail gets harder in the wet season when mud puddles and pools will make the steering and climbing harder. If you wish to be merciless to yourself, you can try The Wall where you ascend over 240 metres in less than two kilometres.
#5 Ketam Mountain Bike Park, Pulau Ubin, Singapore
Photo Credits: ASEAN Tourism Travel
Closer to home, we have this bike park that is located off the northeast coast of Singapore. Ketam boasts about 10 kilometres of mountain bike trails that were constructed to meet International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMB) standards and while it may require a bit of effort to get there, it is worth every single bit. It is good to note that Ketam’s trails are in the three highest difficulty ratings in the IMBA’s five-point ratings system, namely Blue Square, Black Diamond and Double Black Diamond. But of course if you prefer to just go for a leisurely cycle around the island, you can still do so by renting a bike from the several shops at the main village near the jetty and follow a 14 kilometres scenic route without getting onto the Ketam trail.
