An adventurer’s guide to Thailand – most recommended activities

Posted by Arda on June 27th, 2007 filed in Chiang Mai, Phuket, Samui, Pattaya, Northern Thailand, Activities, Southern Thailand, Adventure, Watersports, Thailand travel

By Jan Schauseil

While most visitors to Thailand come looking for sea, sun and sand, there are plenty more thrilling activities on offer throughout the kingdom.

In the south and among the islands, water sports are popular and include sea canoeing and kayaking as well as game fishing. In the north, the most popular option is mountain trekking, but there are dozens of other choices including mountain biking, hot-air ballooning, ATV riding, microlight flying, river rafting and caving.

Most visitors who have safely negotiated the adventure that is Bangkok head south for the beaches and islands. Here, there is plenty to do if you tire of lounging around on the beach all day. Sea canoeing is a soft adventure option which can be done at Phuket, Koh Samui, Krabi, Trang, Khao Sok and Koh Tarutao among other places.

Of you want to go sea kayaking, it is advisable to go on a guided tour, as local weather conditions, sea life and other factors make experience vital to guarantee a safe trip. Tours are available from one day up to one week in length. You will explore sea caves and hidden lagoons only accessible by kayak. Accommodation is in tents or national park lodgings. Krabi is the best place to go kayaking and since it’s close to many intriquing seascapes found in nearby Pha Nga bay. Kayaking can also be arranged from Phuket to these same areas with their limestone sea caves. More on kayaying in Krabi

Those looking to catch a big one are well catered for on Phuket, where game fishing trips take in the Andaman Sea. Catches include blue and black marlin, sailfish, dog-tooth tuna, giant trevally, jacks and even swordfish. There is a strict catch-and–release policy in place, ensuring a sustainable supply of fish. Daytrips, night-fishing and multi-day tours can be booked with a number of reputable companies.

In the north, the most popular adventure choice is trekking in the mountains combined with visits to local hill tribe villages. The best place to book a tour is from Chiang Mai, with a multitude of different tour operators of varying quality. The best way to choose a tour is to ask fellow travellers about their recent experience. Some tours keep what they promise and steer clear of areas overloaded with other trekking groups; others promise the world but deliver very little.

Trekking tours usually involve a few hours drive to your starting point and then a few more hours spent walking to the first village, where you will make an overnight stop. River rafting and elephant trekking are mainstay components and visiting a variety of tribes are normally on the agenda.

River rafting on the northern rivers can be an exhilarating experience. The Pai River near Mae Hong Son and the Nam Wa River near Nan are popular, as is the Mae Cham River near Chiang Mai. New options opening up include the Mae Klong near Tak. Whitewater rafting in Northern Thailand

It’s important to choose a reputable company which puts emphasis on safety and doesn’t cut corners. You are required to wear a helmet and life vest to protect you in case you fall overboard, something that is more likely to happen than not. The level of the rapids depends on the season and ranges from wild in the rainy season to impassable in the hot season.

The best time is from mid-June to end of January, when the water levels are favourable, with the months of August and September boasting the highest levels. You can see local wildlife such as birds and even monkeys swimming across the river.

Land rats may prefer a spot of mountain biking among the lush hills of the north. The best time for biking is November to February, when the weather is cooler. Several companies offer well-organised biking tours, with most include guides and back-up vehicles carrying food and overnight equipment. Bikes can also be rented in major tourist destinations at very reasonable rates on a daily basis. Daytrips can easily be self-organised; all you need is a good map. Mountain biking tours of Chiang Mai

One of the most rewarding adventures however is perhaps caving. Thailand’s northern provinces have a huge number of caves, some developed and easily accessible by tourists while others require treks of several days to reach. Probably the best known cave network is in Pang Mapha district of Mae Hong Son Province.

The Tham Lod lodge is operated by an Australian, who has been instrumental in exploring and opening up the vast network of caves, many of which are traversed by rivers and require rafts to negotiate. This is one place where ecotourism is not just a marketing ploy but actually practiced, and caves that are too sensitive to receive visitors are off-limits.

From below ground to high above. Fancy a hot air balloon flight over the Chiang Mai Valley? No problem, you can even top it off with a champagne breakfast on touchdown. If that’s too slow, try flying as a passenger on a microlight plane and get your picture taken in-flight to show folks back home.

The Mae Sa Valley, just 20kms outside of Chiang Mai is also called Adventure Valley. It offers a plethora of activities including bungee jumping, ATV riding, paintball arenas and archery. No matter what your preference, adventures can easily be found in all parts of Thailand to spice up your holiday.