| If adrenaline is your thing then Thailand is a place | | | | when the rainy season raises the height of the |
| where you can get your fix of adventure in | | | | water levels. |
| graduated doses. Some would say that | | | | When it comes to two wheeled travel Thailand |
| negotiating the Bangkok traffic on the way from | | | | offers some of the best touring and off road |
| the airport is adventure enough in itself, but if you | | | | motorcycling in the world. The roads are excellent |
| want to put your experiences on a more | | | | and pass through mountain scenery of |
| organized footing there is no shortage of | | | | breathtaking beauty. Infrastructure is good with |
| opportunity. | | | | plenty of guest houses and places to eat en |
| Most developed resort areas on the coast offer | | | | route. You can either go on a tour or hire bikes |
| bungee jumping, para-gliding, Jet skiing and water | | | | on your own, Chiang Mai having by far the |
| skiing. So flinging yourself from great heights or | | | | greatest variety on offer. It is important to be an |
| being blasted in to the air or across water at | | | | experienced driver and this is doubly true for trail |
| great speed can be easily achieved. | | | | riding. Many operators run tours and to get the |
| Thailand also remains a veritable paradise for | | | | best from off-roading, or simply finding obscure |
| those who enjoy the world underwater, whether | | | | routes, it is often better to go with a guide who |
| that's diving, snorkeling or even submarining in | | | | knows the area. |
| Phuket. | | | | For those who spurn engines then mountain biking |
| It is also a country rich in wilderness areas of | | | | is now really popular and there are many |
| mountains, forests and waterfalls which makes | | | | operators who run trips. |
| trekking big business in the north of the country. | | | | Whether on the lakes and rivers of the north or |
| The best season for trekking is between | | | | the Andaman Sea in the south Kayaking is |
| November and February when the weather is | | | | available in most tourist friendly places where |
| cool and the air is clear. Many operators in Chiang | | | | there is water. Tours are even run down the |
| Mai, Chiang Rai, Mae Hong Son and Pai offer | | | | Mekong River. In the south Krabi and Phang Nga |
| trekking tours. Often these will be run from guest | | | | provinces offer spectacular scenery with luminous |
| houses and it's worth asking around to find one | | | | seas dotted with soaring limestone outcrops. |
| that suits you. A trek usually lasts between three | | | | For those who want to get airborne there are a |
| and five days and you will need good boots and a | | | | number of ways you can do it. Ballooning is |
| proper pack since the walking can be quite hard | | | | offered both in Chiang Mai and Pattaya between |
| especially in the heat. | | | | October and March. The views in the North are |
| The guide will usually take you through ethnic | | | | better than on the coast. |
| villages of Lisu, Karen, Meo, Akha and Paduang. All | | | | Perhaps, whether it's the sea, the mountains or |
| these tribes are different in dress, language and | | | | the jungle, it is the wealth of natural beauty |
| culture and most migrated to the mountainous | | | | available in the national parks all over Thailand that |
| areas of Thailand, Laos and Vietnam within the | | | | make it so attractive to the outdoor enthusiast. |
| last century from China. Also included in a trek will | | | | From the heights of Doi Inthanon in the north to |
| be some rafting and maybe some elephant riding. | | | | the maritime depths of Surin in the south there |
| If the gentle rafting on a trek is not adventurous | | | | are 103 protected areas where you can enjoy an |
| enough for you, many operators offer the white | | | | amazing variety of scenery and wildlife. Where |
| water variety. Pai is the best place to go for this | | | | ever you are in Thailand there is a wilderness of |
| and the tours are run from mid June to January | | | | some sort near by. |