Feature: Thailand’s many activity adventures
Australia and New Zealand offer activity adventures galore, but a close runner up in the adrenaline game would have to be Thailand. Although this unique country has steadfastly retained its traditional culture, the past 30 years of tourism has steadily opened up numerous adventure scenes which are generally very easy on your wallet. Here are some of our favourites...
Cycling
With an abundance of scenery ranging from rainforest, beach, salt flats, pastureland and limestone karsts (to name but a few!), one of the best ways to see all this beauty at your own pace is by cycling. In many towns it’s possible to pick up a bike or mountain bike for under £3 a day. But unless you have a very informative guide book you won’t really know what many of the temples or villages are that you pass! And whilst rural cycling is great, nothing can beat exploring the inner lanes and passageways of a frenetic Asian city like Bangkok.
So get on your bike with Viator who is offering a three hour guided tour of this huge city. Focusing on the metropolis’ unknown wonders, you won’t have to fear the city’s legendary traffic as you’ll pass by canals, through ancient markets, and winding side streets, for a taste of local life. But you’ll also visit the 25 foot high Buddha in Wat Suthat temple and cycle over the 90 year old Memorial Bridge. Prices start from £27.50.
Another great tour is with Spice Roads, who are offering a three day trip through the wilds of Kanchanaburi province. Not only is this area west of Bangkok stunningly beautiful, it’s also home to some surprising World War II history. You’ll start by walking over the infamous Bridge on the River Kwai before boarding a train for a shot trip on the Death Railway. This line was built by POWs and Asian slaves when the Japanese occupied Thailand and was used as a supply line into Burma. After two days of bike riding you’ll come to Hellfire Pass where a fantastic museum pays homage to the many who died building the railway. Although the tracks have now been lifted, you’ll get to cycle down the gorge. Prices start from £200.
Paramotoring
What is paramotoring you ask? Well it’s basically paragliding with a backpack sized motor strapped to your back! Like something out of an Inspector Gadget cartoon, these fantastic devices let you soar over stunning landscapes for longer than a paraglider, so you can either ride of the wave of thermals or rise up higher yourself. If you’ve never done this before, Pattaya and Rayong are great places to try. The Extreme Sports Cafe offer 5 to 7 day courses with accommodation, starting from £95.
Diving
The Gulf of Thailand’s tiny Koh Tao is easily the cheapest place to learn how to dive but it’s not necessarily the best. If it’s ‘out of this world’ diving that you’re looking for then you need to head to the Andaman Sea on the other side of the peninsula. Numerous outfits leaving from Phuket, Koh Lanta and Koh Phi Phi all offer reasonably priced packages for all abilities. Expect to see leopard sharks, moray eels, barracuda, octopus, crayfish and millions of multi-coloured tiny fish. If you are very lucky...you might see a gigantic manta ray or whale shark...
Trekking
The cultural capital of the north, Chiang Mai, is where many visitors come to do a bit of trekking, but the large industry has swelled to make the experience relatively unauthentic. With some outfits you’ll only trek for a few hours a day, wildlife is scarce and there is little interaction with hill tribe village residents. If you want the ‘gold in the crown’ of Thai trekking, one that even rivals northern India and Nepal, then you need to head to the Golden Triangle.
This huge jungle area that crosses into neighbouring Burma and Laos used to be one of the world’s major production centres of opium. Now, the eco-trekking routes, which pass through hill tribe villages and jungle mountains, s are unrivalled. Golden Triangle Tours offer four day trips through this wonderland with village accommodation and food thrown in, starting from £100.
Rock climbing
If you’ve never tried this strenuous but exhilarating sport but would like to give it a go, your best bet is to head to the staggering limestone karst scenery of Krabi. Located on the west coast of the southern peninsula, towering high cliff faces stand tall over the aquamarine Andaman Sea. For beginners, there are many outfits offering courses on Railay Beach. But if you’d like something a bit more, Rock and Sun are offering a 12 day itinerary taking in the best sights on all of the east coast. You’ll visit national parks and isolated islands and in the evening you’ll be free to dine, drink or indulge in cheap Thai massages at your whim...
Elephant rides
Unlike other countries in the region, the Thai authorities have been quite good at administering national parks and cutting down on poaching. But although wild elephants can only really be found in protected areas and remote jungle locations, their tamed cousins are everywhere! We are not joking, it is possible to ride one of these magnificent beasts nearly everywhere you go for a very reasonable price. But being a third world country, you sometimes wonder how well the elephants are treated...
If you’re after a very unique ride with a well-treated elephant guiding you (and not the other way round!), then head to sleepy, mountainous Pai a few hours away from Chiang Mai. Deep in the countryside is Thom’s Pai Elephant Camp, the only place in the country where you can ride an elephant without a seat! Sitting on her back, the 30 year old female then gets to choose where it goes (a mahout still follows for safety). So expect to be dipped in the water, traipsed through jungle and thrown of playfully as you help bathe this happy creature! Prices start from £10.
Thailand is such a brilliant destination, it’s no wonder it’s as popular as it is. But it’s so easy to get away from tourist areas and see some truly wild scenery. These activities listed above really help you do that...
