Welcome To The Great Outdoors - Eco-Adventure in Thailand - Adventure Destinations

    For the active traveller, Thailand presents 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.

    On the map, Thailand has the shape of an axe with a long, narrow handle. From the topmost part to the butt end is a length of some 1,650 kilometres, roughly the distance between New York and Miami. Thanks to its extraordinary length, the country has the most diverse climate in Southeast Asia. In the mountainous North, wintertime temperatures can drop below freezing point while in the Peninsula South it stays balmy all year round. Geographically Thailand is divided into four regions, and the landscape varies from one to the other. The Central Plains, which includes the national capital of Bangkok, is flat and fertile.

    The North is marked by forested mountains while the high plateau of the Northeast is relatively dry. The Southern Peninsula, flanked by the Gulf of Thailand to the East and the Andaman Sea to the West, has beaches and wetlands either side of its lush central mountain range. The country has 2,700 kilometres of coastline, making it one of the top destinations for beach and sun lovers.

    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.

    If a large part of the country's charm is the work of nature, the cultural diversity that exists here is responsible for the rest. Village life varies from one place to another, and the ethnic tribes and native people of each region have their own distinct traditions and ways of life. Trips to their homes will enable you to explore both the beautiful landscape and the people's amazing customs and lifestyles.

    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 beach and sun: Pattaya and other beach resorts on the Eastern Seaboard; Phuket, Phangnga and Krabi in the South; and the islands in the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman

    For trekking, 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.

    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.

    Western backpackers were the pioneers of eco-adventure in Thailand back in the 1970s. They were the first to penetrate the mountain vastness of the North and explore the distinct culture of the ethnic tribes.

    Over the years, the local travel industry has grown to meet international adventure tourism needs, and tour operators now offer trekking, mountainbiking, rafting, diving, birdwatching, animal safaris and just about any type of adventure imaginable. In recent years, the interest in a new, more sustainable form of tourism has resulted in an industry-wide reorientation towards conserving the ecological system in which tourism takes place. The eco-tourism policy promoted by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) focuses upon sustainable development, preservation of tourism resources and participation by the community.

    A large number of operators now specialize in ecotourism, offering a combination of nature-based and cultural tourism in the same package. Among these operators are Phuket-based Seacanoe (Thailand), which offers an alternative way of exploring the fascinating sea caves and other natural marvels of the Andaman, and Khiriwong Village Eco-tourism Club in Nakhon Si Thammarat, which arranges eco-friendly treks in nearby mountain areas as well as homestay in the village. Both are recent winners of the TAT Tourism Awards. For names and addresses of eco-tourism operators at your destination, see Directory.

    National parks and wildlife sanctuaries have rules for visitors that are made to ensure environmental protection as well as your own safety. You can contribute to the preservation of Thailand's natural heritage by observing the simple rules of leaving nothing behind, taking nothing with you, and respecting the residents of the place you visit, human or otherwise.

    Thailand has 96 national parks, 100 wildlife and non-hunting sanctuaries and 65 forest parks, which together make up a full 13 percent of land area.The park system, managed by the Royal Forestry Department, provides the visitor with easy access to the country’s natural treasure, from the mountain pine forests of the North to the southern rainforests to the spectacular coral and marine life off both coasts.

    Some of the wildlife and non-hunting sanctuaries adjoin one another, making conservation efforts easier. Most of the parks are accessible by road, offer simple accommodation and charge a small admission fee. In the larger ones such as Khao Yai, rangers can be hired as guides for long treks. Wildlife sanctuaries are not tourism areas, however, so visitors must bring food and camping gear and observe the no-disturbance rules set up to protect the animals.

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