Best glacier destinations in Asia

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The Himalayas hold more glacial ice than anywhere outside the polar regions, often called the Third Pole, feeding rivers that millions of people across Asia depend on. Central Asian mountain ranges add a less visited, equally significant glacial landscape further north.

The destinations on this list range from high-altitude Himalayan glaciers requiring serious trekking experience and altitude acclimatisation to more remote Central Asian ice fields that see only a fraction of the visitor numbers. Both demand careful, well-prepared planning.

Allowing extra days for altitude acclimatisation matters considerably across the region, where altitude sickness poses a genuine risk on most glacier approaches. Local guiding companies can advise on current glacier and route conditions. Packing for extreme cold also matters considerably given the altitude involved in reaching these sites.