Welcome to Thailand's Great Outdoors
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
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 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 animal spotting and bird watching: Khao Yai to the North of
Bangkok, Doi Inthanon in Chiang Mai and other wildlife sanctuaries
around the country.
