For the active traveller, Thailand offers endless opportunities for new and exciting adventure. Hiking, jungle treks, scuba diving, birdwatching, whitewater rafting, rock climbing, are just some of the ways to explore the country’s immense natural and cultural wealth.
Thailand’s location at the heart of Southeast Asia means the array of plant and wildlife it supports is very diverse. The mountains of the North form the southerly tip of the Himalayan range , making them a natural habitat for high-altitude species not seen in other parts of the country. The Southern Peninsula, on the other hand, is home to flora and fauna similar to those in Malaysia and Indonesia.
A large number of operators now specialize in ecotourism, offering a combination of nature-based and cultural tourism in the same package. To do all and see all that the country has to offer, you will need months or even years, but if you are planning an adventure holiday, you will probably have to choose from the wide range of choice.
- For watersports: canoeing, kayaking, fishing, sailing – Pattaya, Phuket, Phangnga and Krabi in the South; and the islands in the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman.
- For trekking, rafing, mountain hiking and hilltribe culture – The mountains of Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Mae Hong Son and the forest land on the Western border with Myanmar, in Tak and Kanchanaburi.
- For diving and marine life – Islands in the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman Sea especially Koh Tao, Koh Pangan, Koh Phi Phi and Koh Similan. Scuba Diving in Thailand
- For animal spotting and bird watching – Khao Yai to the North of Bangkok, Doi Inthanon in Chiang Mai and other wildlife sanctuaries around the country.