ABOUT MOUNTAIN BIKING

Mountain biking is a more rigorous type of cycling on off-track terrains and is a relatively new sport in Thailand, found mostly in the steeper terrain of the north. Thailand’s mountain biking routes are mainly located in national parks however, more and more new routes have been opened-up by specialists, some of which have not been officially mapped out, making for formidable challengers.

ABOUT BICYCLE TOURS

Going on a tour by bicycle is probably one of the best ways to visit some of Thailand’s important sites whether in the capital, Bangkok, or neighboring provinces close to the capital such as Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, Phetchaburi, Kanchaburi, Chon Buri and Rayong. Depending on your preference, the BEST bicycle experience is probably right here in Bangkok where easy-going bicycle trips through areas surrounding the Grand Palace are available.

ADVENTURE TO THAILAND FOR YOUNG TRAVELLER

Before embarking on you journey to Thailand, it might be best to check with your international clubs and associations within your university or school to start establishing ties with a friend your age in Thailand. Having a friendly contact in Thailand before you arrive is a good idea as you have someone to look forward to meet. Such clubs as Rotary International and Skal Club would normally have worldwide presence in all educational institutions. Being in touch with these types of organizations well ahead of your intended trip gives you the opportunity to exchange thoughts with someone your age, as well as ensure that you have a group of friends even before you arrive, making your trip to Thailand even more memorable. Another good idea is to be in touch with the various international language centres in your country that are affiliated with a school in Thailand such as British council, AUA (American Alumni Association), Goethe Institute, ect. These language centres are idea for you to be associated with as they are usually a hub for young people around the world to learn a foreign language and this means the opportunity to make even more friends. Also visit the Federation of International Youth Travel Organisations (FIYTO) for travel ideas as well as a listing of accommodation in Thailand. Visiting your local YMCA(Young Men’s Christian Association) and YWCA(Young Women’s Christian Association) is also a good idea in order to get information concerning their location in Thailand and the type of accommodation and support provided. Before starting your travels to Thailand, it may also be a good idea to drop by at a Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) office closet to you or, visit http://www.tourismthailand.org/ for more information.

LOY KATHONG A ROMANTIC FESTIVAL

This most charming of all Thai celebrations takes place on the full moon night of the 12th lunar month . Loy Kathong is a romantic festival which usually falls in November. As night falls, the country’s waterways are illuminated by tiny floats filled with flowers, incense and a candle. Couple go to float their Krathongs together. Along the riverside, visitors can buy ready-made, cheap Krathong and join in the festivities. On the water, a thousand twinkling lights bob up and down, representing people’s hopes and dreams. This celebration is a delight for all the family and should not be missed.

FOREST TREKKING : NORTHERN FORESTS

From the young world travelers of the 1970s who organized informal groups to explore the mountain forests of northern Thailand, the trekking industry has developed rapidly in the northern capital of Chiang Mai. There are innumerable trails through jungle terrain, across flower-strewn meadows, beside fast-flowing streams. Chiang Mai’s Pai District and Ma Hong Son’s Mae Chan have the biggest selection for first-time or experienced trekkers. Further off the beaten track, the rugged back-country around Phrae and Nan, or between Chiang Rai and Fang, offer new paths into the unknown. Along the trail, trekkers meet the hilltribe people who make their homes in the area: Karen, Lisu, Akha, Hmong, Lawa and Meo, each with their distinctive traditional dress. A typical hilltribe tour trekkers, a guide, a cook, overnight stays in hilltribe villages and a hike of four, five or even ten days.

While trekking has become a more upmarket industry—often with elephant rides and raft trips included in the package—the slog up and down mountains, coupled with hot sun, drenching rain and basic food, still demands youthful stamina.

The Kok River is a favourite thoroughfare for visits to hilltribe north and south of its banks. At riverside town of Tha Thon, hiking and rafting can be arranged. The rafts may be either traditional bamboo craft or inflatable.

West of Chiang Mai near the Myanmar border, Mae Hong Son has guesthouses which specialize in hilltribe treks. South of Chiang Mai, in Tak Province, the small town of Umphang is populated mainly by Karens, and is a popular jumping-off point for treks to more remote villagers.

RIDING A JUMBO

Siamese soldiers rode elephants into battle as the tanks of ancient battlefields. Now tourists can ride one, too. Though you can go for an elephant trek on many Thai islands, the most scenic outings are up in the great green north. Atop the elephant’s back you can climb hills, ford streams and lumber through the jungle. Some of the camps also put on shows. For an incredible display of the animal’s might, just watch them hauling logs. At the National Elephant Institute, in the northern province of Lumpang tourists can also sign up for courses on how to be a mahout. Learn how to ‘drive’ the beast, how to take them to the river for a bath, and even sleep with your own elephant out in the jungle. Please bear in the mind that these intelligent and endangered creatures, which have the same lifespan as a human being, are sacred to Thai people and that a white elephant once graced the flag of Siam. Even today, you can still see Thais walking under the elephant’s belly, like ancient Siamese warriors used to do, in order to bring themselves good luck and strength.

ON TOP OF THAILAND

Imagine climbing down a cliff face with a gushing waterfall on both sides of you. That’s the thrill of abseiling in Khao Yai National Park, which has been named a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its diverse eco-systems and 800 different species of fauna. The park is also renowned for its waterfalls, ranging from 15 to 50 meters high. Abseiling (or walking backwards) down them is a thrill sport that will make you feel like Spider-man.

But there are more than just chills and spills to fill out a day in the park. To get to some of the waterfalls requires kayaking across a lake, or trekking through some of the most luscious greenery in the Kingdom. And the jungle is a lair for wild elephant herds, gibbons and hornbills. Even Spider-man never got this wild.

BE ADVENTUROUS LIKE JAMES BOND

Whether you’re looking for hard or soft adventures, from sea kayaking to simply soaking up the sun on a sandy tropical beach, the islands of Krabi province (renowned as the setting for The Beach) and Phuket (close to where The Man with the Golden Gun was shot), are truly amazing destinations. The symbol of Krabi, which is the oldest continually inhabited province in Thailand is the limestone crag. Nature’s exclamation marks, these towering monoliths seaview sunsets. For water sports aficionados, there are lots of ways to get a light tide of adrenaline flowing, from jet-skis to banana boats, and parasailing to marine fishing. But softer tours of beauty are available in the area, too. One of the most scenic trips is visiting Phang-nga Bay, studded with limestone crags rising hundreds of meters out of the sea. Most of these tours throw in a stopover at James Bond Island, while “paddling guides” also take you in kayaks through sea caves that open up into lagoons, overflowing with placid aquamarine water that’s surrounded by limestone cliffs.

TIME TRAVELING ON A BICYCLE

Sukhothai, which means “Dawn of Happiness,” also marked the dawning of the first Siamese Kingdom and the birth of the Thai language. Once an outpost of the Khmer empire, they were driven out by the Siamese who established their first Kingdom here in 1238. It was a golden age for classical art, architecture and Buddhism. To traverse these magnificent ruins in the Sukhothai Historical Park – Thailand’s equivalent of Angkor Wat-rent a mountain bike for a pittance. You can also cycle leisurely past dozens of remnants from the next Siamese empire, Ayutthaya, in its “Ancient City,” or scattered around the town, and hugging the banks of the rivers, which form a natural moat around what was once considered the most glorious town and trading port in Asia. And well-appointed museums in the city give me an overview of the Kingdom’s 400 year-plus reign. There are not many towns in the world where you can drive by the ruins of a 15th century pagoda, just down the street from a modern convenience store, but that’s the magic of Ayutthaya for you.