100 Unforgettable Adventure Experiences in Thailand by Bookletia

Published and distributed by Tourism Authority of Thailand Attractions Promotion Division, Product Promotion Department. 1600 Phetchaburi Road, Makkasan, Ratchathewi, Bangkok 10400, THAILAND http://adventure.tourismthailand.org att_pdiv@tat.or.th +66 2250 5500 ISBN: 978-974-679-207-3 First published in November 2011, 1,125 copies

Edited and designed by Travelanium Co., Ltd. 73 Sukhumvit Soi 2, Khlong Toei, Bangkok 10100 Tel: 02 6617117 Fax: 02 6617882 http://www.travelanium.com Printed in Thailand by Amarin Printing and Publishing Public Company Limited

Photography by TAT Photo Bank Osotho Magazine Pinida Chaikul Tawesit Werawattanachai Kittipat Mahapunt Taradol Chitmanchaitham Worrawit Juasathirattana

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording or any other information storage and retrieval system without prior permission in writing from the Tourism Authority of Thailand. The production of this book was done in strict compliance with forward thinking environmental initiatives from the team. It was created using recyclable environmentally-friendly materials with FSC certified paper for the cover and 100% EcoFibre paper for the pages using soy-based ink.

Message from the Governor Tourism Authority of Thailand

Suraphon Svetasreni

he changing trend of tourism and increased concern for the environment has resulted in a change in travel patterns worldwide. With growing international competition in tourism, the aim of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is to strike a balance in the use of Thailand’s tourism resources. Even though Thailand has an abundance of natural attractions, there is still a need to improve its overall tourism capability in promoting the country’s integral tourism by developing a mixture of outstanding natural highlights with a wider variety of ecotourism and adventure to meet the demands of target visitors. With the TAT’s vision in leading Thailand’s tourism towards Sustainable Tourism or Green Tourism, we aim to promote balanced tourism that preserves valuable natural resources. TAT has therefore published an adventure-based travel handbook named “100 Thailand’s Most Adventurous Travel Experiences” which comprises information on adventure ecotourism in 100 locations in 33 provinces of Thailand with a wide selection of activities e.g. white-water rafting, diving, elephant riding, trekking, parachuting, dirt biking, rock climbing, tree-top adventure, hot-air balloon, etc. This handbook should be useful for travel agencies in developing travel plans and is a great step in cooperatively creating a tourism culture of “Thailand Goes Green” for tourists to realise tourism values, as well as sustainability. TAT hopes that the “100 Thailand’s Most Adventurous Travel Experiences” handbook will enhance the geographic distribution of tourists across the country, as well as increase travel frequency all year round including the non-seasonal period. Foreign visitors will also gain travel experiences beyond their expectations which will strengthen the reputation of Thai tourism in quality and value for money under the slogan “Amazing Thailand; Always Amazes You”.

Foreword

ow many times a year would we have the opportunity to gain new experiences adventuring close to nature? Go to new places. Do new things. Exciting things. Challenging things. Learn new skills and techniques. Make new friends. See the world in a different light.

is to be lived. Throw “ Life away boredom and enter

a world of adventure filled with challenges and enjoyment!

”

In the past, adventure tourism in Thailand has only attracted a niche group of tourists because of the focus on heavy outdoor activities. 6

Travel was difficult and accommodation unsatisfying and, therefore, not suitable for people with low endurance or high expectations of comfort. However, the modern trend of “adventure tourism” is gaining popularity with both foreign, as well as domestic tourists because of the developments and adjustments of activities to make them more suitable for different groups and individuals. New hotels and other forms of accommodation, as well as new flight routes have been developed close to destinations making travel more convenient. The standardisation done by the responsible organisations also helps raise the level of management of the destinations, as well as the adventure tourism operators.

About the Guide

he team explored and researched 100 of Thailandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s adventure tour destinations that should not be missed. The book covers 33 provinces and more than 10 heavy and light adventurous activities, inspiring tourists who want to add colour to their lives by taking themselves, friends, family, or partner to experience nature or new places and adventurous activities. The various destinations are organised according to the type of activity for ease in use. Information helpful to planning a trip is also included; such as, travel directions, GPS location, suitable times for visiting, time required for activities, advice, and other supplemental information with picture symbols as follows: Sky Diving, Rock Climbing, Homestay Camping Sunbathing Paragliding Abseiling White-water Elephant Boating Cycling ATV Riding Rafting Trekking Bamboo Balloon Flying Learning Horse Riding Diving Rafting Canopy Motocrossing Bird Watching Swimming Trekking Adventure In addition, we have assigned the picture symbols below to each attraction to guide what attraction is suitable for you. Female Traveller Family Traveller Extreme Traveller Senior Traveller 7

Contents

Message from TATâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Governor 5

Foreword

About the Guide

Contents

7 Greens Concept

306

Index

318

White-water Rafting

Pai River Mae Taeng River Nam Wa River San River Khek River Umphang Khi & Namtok Thi Lo Su Namtok Thi Lo Re Mae Rewa Creek Phu Ko Nakhon Nayok River Kaeng Hin Phoeng Khlong Pong Nam Ron Phato Ton Pariwat

26 28 30 34 36 40 44 48 50 52 54 56 58 60

Khlong Klai Nan Mot Daeng Khlong Lam Lon - Wang Sai Thong

62 64 66

Diving

Pattaya Dive Sites Ko Wai Mu Ko Chumphon Ko Tao Mu Ko Surin Mu Ko Similan Mu Ko Phi Phi Ko He and Mu Ko Racha Ko Kradan Ko Tarutao & Ko Adang - Rawi

82 84 86 88 90 92 96 100 102 104

Amazing Experiences Underwater

Indomitable Courage Challenging over Wild Rivers

Elephant Trekking

12 106

Patara Elephant Camp 116 Thai Elephant Conservation Centre 118 Ban Ta Klang Elephant Study Centre 120 Ranti River 122 Namtok Khlong Phlu 124 Hua Hin Hills Vineyard 126 Khao Sok 128 Amazing Bukit Safari 130

Rock Climbing

132

Spirit Well Cave Crazy Horse Cliff Kio Lom Dam Namtok Wang Tum

144 146 148 150

Namtok Than Rattana Railay Bay

Kayaking/Canoeing

152 154

156

Kaeng Khutkhu, Mekong River Ko Kut Mu Ko Ang Thong Rajjaprabha Dam Hat Khanom Mu Ko Hong Ban Bo Tho Ao Tha Len

168 170 172 174 178 180 182 184

Cave Exploring

186

Tham Nam Lot Hup Pa Tat

194 196 9

A Fight against Gravity

Adventure on the Top of Gentle Giants

106

132

Best Kayaking/ Canoeing Routes

156

236 198 Xtrem Adventure Phuket 238 200 The Peninsular Botanic Garden (Thung Khai) 202 204 240 206 Others 244 208 Doi Pha Hom Pok (Mae Fang) 246 210 Pang Ung 248 212 Galyani Vadhana District Daradalay Banndin Farm 250 Canopy Adventure 214 Chiang Mai X-Centre 252 254 Thong Kwao Airfield 220 Chiang Khan 256 Flight of the Gibbon, Mae Kampong 222 Si Satchanalai Historical Park Birdâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Paradise Extreme Resort 224 Agriculture Project Sukhothai Airport 258 260 The Nature Club Resort 226 Kaeng Bang Rachan 262 Flight of the Gibbon, Chon Buri 228 Beung Boraphet 264 Thung Prong Thong 230 Ko Thepho 266 Hat Khung Wiman 232 Sam Phan Bok 268 Tree Top Adventure Park, Ko Chang 234 Pha Chan Village

Tham Than Lot Tham Nok Nang Aen Tham Sao Hin Tham Thi Phu Che Tham Lawa Tham Le Khao Kop Tham Morakot Tham Chet Khot

Great Caves of Thailand

186

Other Adventure Activities

Feel Your Adrenaline Rush

Native Horse Conservation Club - Sirindhorn District Mon Bridge Namtok Phu Toei The Hellfire Pass Museum Hin Tok River Camp Namtok Erawan The Old Capital Ayutthaya Sarika Explorer - Adventure Activity Centre Amphawa Khlong Clone Mangrove Forest Khao Khiao Open Zoo Namtok Khao Chamao The Park Adventure Land Salak Khok Village Namtok Pa La-u Ko Panyi

270 272 274 276 278 280 282 284

240

214

Sa Morakot Thale Noi

302 304

286 288 290 292 294 296 298 300 11

Introduction

hite-water rafting is one of the leading forms of holiday activities in Thailand; it is an adventure in the wilderness, taking participants to remote places that can only be reached by highways of water. If you are fascinated by rivers - by the call to find what lies around the next bend of moving water - then this door is open for those who take on the challenge of running rivers. Whether you are a first-time rafter or a seasoned veteran of white-water rivers, it is a truly exciting time to be a river runner and a witness to the power and splendour of the riverâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mighty rapids. Like most outdoor sports, rafting in general has become safer over the years. Expertise in the sport has increased, as well as a rescue team, and equipment has become more specialised and increased in quality. At the same time, rafting must balance its use of nature with the conservation of rivers as a natural resource and habitat. Because of these issues, some rivers now have regulations restricting the annual and daily operating times or numbers of rafters.

International Grading System White-water Classification Level 1

Level 2

Level 4

Level 3

Level 5

Level I: Easy

Fast moving water with ripples and small waves. Few obstructions, all obvious and easily missed with little training. Risk to swimmers is slight; self-rescue is easy.

Level II: Novice

Straightforward rapids with wide, clear channels which are evident without scouting. Occasional manoeuvering may be required, but rocks and medium-sized waves are easily missed by trained paddlers. Swimmers are seldom injured and group assistance, while helpful, is seldom needed.

Level III: Intermediate

Waves numerous, high, irregular; rocks; eddies; rapids with passages clear though narrow, requiring expertise in manoeuvering; scouting usually needed. It also requires good operator and boat.

Level IV: Advanced

Long, intense, powerful but predictable rapids; waves high, irregular; dangerous rocks; boiling eddies; best passages difficult to scout; scouting mandatory first time; powerful and precise manoeuvering required. Demands expert boatman and excellent boat and good quality equipment.

Level V: Expert

Long distance obstructed or violent rapids which expose paddlers to above average danger. Drops may contain large unavoidable waves or holes. Rapids may continue for long distances between pools, requiring a high level of fitness. Scouting is a must. 15

Thailand Tourism Standards for White-water Rafting

o ensure the safety of tourists who choose to participate in White-water rafting, the Department of Tourism Development, Ministry of Tourism and Sports, has issued the Thailand’s Tourism Standards for White-water Rafting to provide guidelines on the sport with emphasis on safety for participants. For more information, visit http://www.tourism.go.th

The Thailand’s Tourism Standards for White-water Rafting apply to two main areas:

I. Standards for White-water Rafting Operators There are three criteria that operators must achieve in order to meet the Standards. They are for:

1. Administration and management

1.1 Professional standards. Operators should obtain: • An operating licence from a domestic or international agency, or the Department of Tourism. • Permission from the site owners to organise white-water rafting. 1.2 Personnel readiness. Operators should have: • Experienced rafting supervisors. • Trained employees in white-water rafting. • Regular staff meetings. 1.3 Equipment readiness. Operators should provide:

• Sufficient standard life jackets. • Sufficient standard paddles. • Sufficient standard helmets.

• Standard life-saving ropes. • First aid kit. • Documents/pamphlets/handbooks on the sport. • Standard rescue equipment.

• Standard inflatable rafts in good condition.

1.4 Standard of transport. Operators should provide: • Proper means of transport to the rafting site. • Fit and healthy drivers with no major accident records. • Vehicles in good condition with valid insurance cover. 1.5 Safety assurance. Operators must be sure that: • Tourists have travel and accident insurance coverage. • There is a risk management plan. • There is a safety plan and enough lifeguards. • Rafting sites are regularly assessed. 1.6 Operation and management. Operators should provide: • Adequate proportion of supervisors to tourists. • Classification of tourists by language. • Classification of tourists’ risk factors: age, fitness, swimming ability. • Adequate seating for safety. • Handbooks/regulations/prohibitions and notification of the rules. • Encouragement/control of tourists to comply with the regulations. • Regular waste disposal.

2.4 Provide handbooks to explain the whitewater rafting system. 2.5 Give on-site talks on environmental conservation and protection.

3 Cooperation from local communities

3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7

A clear understanding of this eco-adventure activity must be established with local communities where sites are located. White-water rafting operators should: Encourage local people to take part in the operation. Train local people to be well-informed guides. Obtain a licence or permission from the site owners. Encourage local communities to provide a food service. Cooperate with local communities to arrange accommodation. Cooperate with communities on hiring ancillary workers. Cooperate with communities on safety and security.

2. Information for white-water rafting tourists

To provide information and better understanding of this eco-adventure sporting activity among tourists, whitewater rafting operators should: 2.1 Provide information on safety measures and demonstrate the use of safety equipment. 2.2 Provide information on how to be a good white-water rafting tourist and ecotourist. 2.3 Demonstrate use of safety equipment to tourists.

II. Standards for White-water Rafting Sites There are six major components to consider when evaluating a white-water rafting site:

1. Natural features

• Levels of difficulty in the rapids. • Density of rocks in the rapids. • Diversity of the rapids routes. • Clarity of the water. • River environment.

2. Suitability as an enjoyable whitewater rafting amenity

2.1 Accessibility of sites: • Permission of sites. • Site location. • Overnight stay options. • Rafting period. • Method of transport (on foot/by vehicle). 2.2 Number of experienced supervisors.

3. Administration and management

3.1 Amenities and facilities: • Notification and enforcement of rules and regulations. • Accommodation inside and outside the activity areas. • Availability of communication devices. • Availability of route maps and handbooks. • Availability of restaurants, food shops and food stalls. • Availability of toilets and parking area. • Sanitation: Number of trash bins and frequency of trash collection time. • Clinics: Location and service hours of nearby medical facilities. • Security: Availability of trained security guards, warning systems, signboards. • Availability of recreational and learning areas. • Availability of tourist services.

3.2 Availability of standard rescue equipment and first aid kits. 3.3 Measures to identify, prevent and correct potential impacts: • Limit the number of travellers per day. • Set a safe spot for both starting and ending points. • Identify guidelines to prevent negative impacts. • Monitor changes of white-water negative impacts. • Implement plans to restore natural resources. • Record changes in white-water rafting activity. 3.4 Giving information to white-water rafting tourists. 3.5 Participation of local communities.

Best Practice of White-water Rafting There are some useful tips for river runners; If you plan to do rafting on your own, please contact local area officers for permission before entering the areas; for example, a national park or the Royal Forest Department. If you plan to do rafting with travel agents, a travel company with the white-water rafting operator certificate is highly recommended. Get to know the river and stream, especially the area with rapids with difficulty levels 3-5. Learn how to read hand signals. Before getting started, check your raft’s condition carefully. It is good to know each member’s skills (swimming, rafting and language) in order to set the proper seating position on a boat. Make sure you wear safety gear at all times. Bring only necessary items with you and put them in a dry bag. You should wear light, fitting and anti-water absorbing clothes. Bringing spare clothes and shoes is recommended. No flip flops. During the winter season, a jacket can keep you warmer. Follow instructions given by your boat captain. Prepare yourself well for both physical and mental strengths.

How to Save Yourself When Falling into a River

• Don’t panic! Hold your breath until you come to the surface. Pull your feet up to the surface so they cannot get trapped between rocks on the river bottom. • If you find yourself under the raft, reach up and push the raft in one direction with both arms until you surface. Try to hold on to the paddle if you can. • If you are in moving water, immediately get your feet faced downstream and toes to the surface in the defensive swimming position. Assess your situation. • Backstroke to keep your feet up and slow yourself down. Lowering your head back will raise your bottom higher. • Do not get stuck between a rock and the raft; swim hard to avoid that. Don’t hold onto the side of the raft; it blocks your vision of what’s ahead. Put some distance away from it. • Tree branches or snags form strainers that can trap you underwater are your worst enemy. Stay away! If hitting branches appears unavoidable, switch to a breaststroke position and try to haul yourself onto and over them.

River Rescuing

rafting activity is very risky for travellers to have an accident, especially at the rapids where the river is strong. Therefore, it is very important for white-water rafting operators and local area officers to have a standardised rescue preparation and experienced rescue team. There are 2 fundamental skills required for river rescue.

Throw Ropes to a Victim

If someone throws a bag with a rope out from the shore to rescue you, donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t grab the bag. Grab the rope and turn on your back with the rope over your shoulder as they pull you to the side. If you go face first, you inhale water. Ropes are most commonly used from the shore below more difficult level 4 and 5 rapids when a safety person is placed downstream below the rapid.

B A

Crossing the River to a Victim

It is the best to attempt a foot crossing at a place where the water is as slow and shallow as possible. When crossing by yourself, always try to use a paddle or branch as an additional support. Facing upstream so that the pressure of the water locks your knees, use the paddle for support and move your feet across. Once your feet are firmly in place, move the paddle across. In this way you can make your way across the river, moving from eddy to eddy. If a large number of people crossings are required or the speed of the river flows too fast, and the equipment is available, it may be worth setting up a fixed rope across the river to use as a rope traverse.

The Rescue Principle

• Determine who and what are to be rescued first by considering the obstacles, limitations, environment and victim’s conditions. • Be quick, accurate and careful of your own safety. • Do not make yourself to be another victim. In case you cannot rescue a victim by yourself, try to ask for help immediately.

The Hand Signals

While some prefer to scream or shout for help, hand signals are the preferred method of communicating while on the river. White-water rafting has a distinct sound, and often that sound makes it impossible to hear fellow river boarders while running a rapid. For your safety and the safety of other river boarders, kayakers, and rafters, it is important to use hand signals while on the river.

Stop

Right

Help/Emergency

Left

All Clear

Ok and not hurt 21

Rafting Vs 7 Greens Dump garbage only in the spot provided. And it is much better if you can take back all garbage and dispose of it in town in the spot provided. Do not feed wildlife, as it will disturb or interfere with their natural behaviour. Camp only in the area provided. Try not to bother the nature. Give useful information about rafting; such as, paddling techniques, how to read a river, hand signals and how to rescue yourself before it starting. Arrange enough rescue teams along a river. Limit the Tourism Carrying Capacity (TCC) per day in terms of the number of travellers. Notification and enforcement of rules and regulations to travellers once they arrive. Continuously train staff to improve the standards of service, especially rescuing. Organise optional Zero-carbon transportation; such as, bicycles or ox carts.

Use PVC pipes to create a raft instead of bamboo trees in order not to bother the nature.

You might consider other slow travel options in order to reduce the carbon footprint; such as, travelling by train instead of airplane or carpooling. Have good management of solid waste, from the reduction of waste, especially the non-recycled one, to the categorisation and disposal of waste, in order to reduce the green house effect. Organise a volunteer-based programme dedicated to directly cleaning up a river as often as possible.

Where to do White-water Rafting Rivers of Thailand Place

View more details about White-water Rafting at http://adventure. tourismthailand.org/eng/ raft.php

Province

Season To Visit

Level Time

1 Pai River

Mae Hong Son

All year long

3-4

6 hours

2 Mae Taeng River

Chiang Mai

All year long

2-5

2.5 hours

3 Nam Wa River

Nan

May - Oct Nov - Feb

3-5 3-4

3 hours to 3 days

4 San River

Loei

Jun - Oct

1-5

3 hours

5 Khek River

Phitsanulok

May - Oct Nov - Feb Mar - May

4-5 3-4 2-3

2-3 hours

6 Umphang Khi

Tak

Nov - May

3-4

4 hours

7 Namtok Thi Lo Re

Tak

Nov - May

3-4

6 hours

8 Mae Rewa Creek

Nakhon Sawan

All year long

2-3

1.5 hours

9 Phu Ko

Saraburi

Oct - Jan

1-3

1.5 hours

10 Nakhon Nayok River Nakhon Nayok

Jul - Oct

2-3

2 hours

11 Kaeng Hin Phoeng Prachin Buri

Jun - Oct

3-5

2 hours

12 Khlong Pong

Chanthaburi

Jun - Nov

1-3

2-3 hours

13 Phato

Chumphon

All year long

3-4

3 hours

14 Ton Pariwat

Phang-nga

All year long

2-4

2 hours

15 Khlong Klai

Nakhon Si Thammarat

All year long

1-3

3 hours

16 Nan Mot Daeng

Phatthalung

All year long

1-3

2 hours

17 Khlong Lam Lon -

Satun

All year long

1-3

2 hours

Nam Ron

Wang Sai Thong

3 4 5

6 7

8 9 10

11 12

13 14 15 16 17

atio

tin des

Travel Info From Mae Hong Son, go along Highway 1095 to the north for 9 km. Then turn right and follow the signs “Namtok Mae Surin National Park”.

GPS Location

N19° 21.196’, E97° 58.89’

Contact

TAT Mae Hong Son Office +66 5361 2982 to 3 Namtok Mae Surin National Park +66 5361 2996

Facilities & Services

Guide, boat, food, restroom, safety gear and parking.

Taking Wild Rafting, Conquering Pai River

ai River is a meandered river that is not very wide. Most of the area of the river is shallow and full of pebbles. You can see rocks emerging at the middle of the river from point to point. Along the river, there is a line of unspoiled forest, which is also a residential area. The Pai River’s rubber boat rafting starts at Ban Huai San Nok in the small river that flows down smoothly to join the Pai River. The first part of the river is about 15 m wide and contains a group of small rapids perfectly for easy rafting so you can feel the nature and enjoy the view. During the rafting, the boat will stop by Susa Waterfall, a renowned waterfall of the Shan people. This beautiful waterfall has water flowing throughout the year.

Know Before You Go

The best season to do rafting is during July-November. The Pai River Rafting Programmes are offered as a one-day trip from 8.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. and a camping trip for 2 days 1 night. Normally, a rafting package includes a free pickup service from your accommodation.

Mae Hong Son

Then the boat will continue rafting along the river until meeting the Pai River. From this point forward, the rocks are getting bigger. These groups of rocks are divided into over 15 parts. Each part can be 30 to 300 m long. Some parts might be pretty tough with a difficulty level 3-4; such as, “Kaeng Pai Kit”, a highlight of Pai River rafting. Kaeng Pai Kit is like a narrow canal between the cliffs that has the very fast and strong water flow. Before the end of the rafting trip, the boat will stop at a hot spring next to the Pai River where you can relax and enjoy a mud wrap. The total rafting distance is about 50 km.

Recommendation

You should book in advance and strictly comply with the rafting staff’s instruction.

atio

tin des

Travel Info The site is in Kuet Chang, Mae Taeng district. The easiest and most convenient way is to book a rafting package including all transfer services from your accommodation.

GPS Location

N19° 12.130’, E098° 53.142’

Contact

TAT Chiang Mai Office +66 5324 8604 +66 5324 8607 The Peak Adventure Tour +66 5380 0567 to 8 www.thepeakadventure.com

Facilities & Services

Tour guide, raft, restroom, safety gear and parking.

Conquer the Power of Nature Mae Taeng River

ere the excitement and danger may be the same because of the complex and twisted islets of Mae Taeng Stream. The total distance is 10 km. The trip takes about 2.5 hours. The rafting can be divided into three stages. The first stage is from Ban Sop Kai to Pang Ko with a total distance of 4 km. The difficulty is at the Level 2-3. Rafting at this stage is safe and enjoyable perfectly for getting use to the boat control while you are rafting through 6 fun and safe islets. The second stage is from Pang Ko to Ban Huai Masang with a total distance of 2 km and the difficulty at the Level 4-5. This toughest stage comprises of 7-8 islets. So teamwork, including physical and mental strength, is really required. The third stage is from Ban Huai Masang to Mueang Kit with a total distance of 4 km. The difficulty is at the Level 3-4. This stage has over 6 big challenging islets.

Know Before You Go

The trip is fine for experienced and nonexperienced adventurers and able to do rafting all year round. The professional staff will provide understanding and training to all participants before the rafting. Pregnant women, little children below 7 years old and heart disease suffering persons are not allowed for the rafting.

Chiang Mai

The best part is where you face 3 big islets in a row for about 500 m. The rafting at this last stage is exciting and adventurers can also explore the nature closely seeing gibbons crying, snakes crossing the river, kingfishers catching fish, sandpipers, hornbills, storks, lianas and butterflies flying in front of them.

Recommendation

Wear light, fitting and antiwater absorbing clothes. Jeans are not recommended because they will be heavier when exposed to the water. You should also bring spare clothes.

Please

Follow instructions given by your boat captain. And dump garbage in the specified area.

tion

ina

t des

Travel Info From Nan, take Highway 1168 to Mae Charim District and continue on Highway 1243 until you reach Ban Huai Sai. Then, turn left to the National Park.

GPS Location

N18° 36.052’, E100° 58.73’

Contact

Mae Charim National Park +66 5473 0040 to 1

Facilities & Services

Tour guide, safety gear, raft, food, camping site, restaurant, restroom, accommodation and parking.

Test Your Courage on the Best of Thailand’s White-water Routes Nam Wa River

am Wa River white-water rafting is the main adventure activity of the Mae Charim National Park and is considered one of the hardest and most enjoyable white-water areas in Thailand. The difficulty ranges from Level 1 all the way up to Level 5 depending on the season. The difficulty of rapids is at Level 3-5 during June to October, at Level 3-4 during November to February, and at Level 2-3 during March to May. The suitability of the different parts of the river is also dependent on the season as well. The upper portion of the Nam Wa River is more suitable for rafting during the cool season after which the water level drops and surfacing rocks become obstacles to the inflatable rafts. The middle part of the Nam Wa River is suitable during October to February while the lower portion of the river is suitable all year round. The Nam Wa River is about 100 km long making it impossible to journey down the entire river in one go. The rafting route is therefore split into three areas as follows:

1256

1169

Mae Charim National Park

Recommendation

The upper part of the Nam Wa River might be too risky for beginners during the rainy season.

r Rive Wa

Nam

1243

Mae Charim District

Upper Part (Sapan Village)

Follow the instructions of the raft guides strictly.

Middle Part (Sop Mang Village)

1080 1168

Call your tour operator to check the water flow suitability before travelling to Nan.

Please

Bo Kluea District

1081

Know Before You Go

Nan

Nam Wa White-water Rafting

1168

Lower Part (Nam Phang Village)

Elephant Camp 1162

Part One: “Upper Nam Wa River”

It begins at Sapan Village and ends at Sop Mang Village at a distance of 35 km. The early part takes you through pristine forest and jungle. On the banks, you may see rare birds, as well as animal tracks. After about 20 minutes, you will begin to come across large rocks and other obstacles; such as, whirlpools and waterfalls that come together to form the Level 3-4 whitewater rapids; such as, Kaeng Suea Ten I, Kaeng Pong, Kaeng La-u, Kaeng Sop Huai Luang, Kaeng Hia, Kaeng Kot, and Kaeng Sop Pat. Then comes the Level 5 rapids, Kaeng Tum Hok. The highlight of the Upper Wa River is the area in which you cross in rapid succession; Kaeng Hua Meang, Kaeng Wang Ling, Kaeng Sop Huai Pa, Kaeng Wang Chang, Kaeng Suea Ten II, Kaeng Wang Put, Kaeng Wang Kaeo, Kaeng Wang Kom, Kaeng Luea Ngam, and Kaeng Sop Hua O because the distance between the various rapids is only 20–30 m. Afterwards is various smaller rapids until you reach the end at Kaeng Sop Mang. 31

Part Two “Middle Wa River”

This part of the Wa River starts from Sop Mang Village and ends at Wang Lun Village, which normally takes around two days to finish the 85-km route. You will have to navigate your boat through 100 large and small rapids with the difficulty level up to 5. Both sides of the waterway are green with forest vegetation. Because the river here is wide and deep, the water tends to flow very quickly and strongly. The obstacles in the area include whirlpools and large waves. Some rapids are like a small waterfall that can easily suck rafts to flip over. Traversing them requires a considerable amount of energy and skill; therefore, it is only recommended for experienced rafters.

Part Three “Lower Wa River”

With a length of about 12 km, it is the smallest and lightest of the 3 parts. With the difficulty level less than 3, it is suitable for adventurers of all ages. Starting from Kaeng Pong, you will enjoyably traverse numerous large and small rapids, including floating around and splashing about, before ending at the elephant camp. The last part of the Wa River takes approximately 3 hours.

Nan

tion

ina

t des

Travel Info From Loei town, take Highway 203 (Loei–Phu Ruea), then turn right to Highway 2294 and go straight for 8 km; you will reach Lat Khang Sub-district Administrative Organisation.

GPS Location

N17° 31.376’, E101° 15.611’

Contact

TAT Loei Office +66 4281 2812 +66 4281 1405 Phu Ruea Boat Team +668 3670 6653 www.longkaengphurua.com

Facilities & Services

Guide, raft, restaurant, toilet, accommodation and parking.

The Most Adventurous Rafting in the Northeast of Thailand San River

an River is the main river of Phu Ruea District. It will turn brown in the rainy season and become crystal clear in the summer. The stream will flow through the curve of the valley until ending at Hueang River, a natural border of Thailand-Lao PDR. The canal is about 20-40 m wide. The rafting route will start at Ban Kaeng Kliang and end at Ban Huai Tio. The route is divided into 3 parts with the total length of 10 km. More than 60 rocks both small and big stand along the way giving difficulty ranging from Levels 1-5. Part 1: The rafting is 2 km long from Kaeng Kliang to Kaeng Sok with difficulty levels 2-3 of 6 isles. Part 2: The 4-km-route challenge starts from Kaeng Lat Nok Khi Thi rafting for 4 km through over 10 rocks to a small power plant.

Know Before You Go

Loei

Some points have the rapid and devious water flow. The difficulty range is Levels 3-5. Part 3: This part covers 4 km in length from Kaeng Khon Pa to Wang Sam Phan. Along Part 3: you will find both exciting points and relaxing points. Adventurers can enjoy the natural green view of the mountains and jungle on each side of the canal. Rafting through all 3 parts takes approximately 3 hours.

The best time to travel is during June to October. The rafting package includes a free pickup service from your accommodation in Loei.

Recommendation

Make a booking in advance is highly advised.

Please

Strictly observe the instruction of your guide and dump garbage in the specified area.

San River Rafting Map

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Travel Info From Phitsanulok town, take Highway 12 to Lom Sak. It takes around 44 km until you reach Kaeng Song where the rafting centres are located.

GPS Location

N16° 52.01’, E100° 37.89’

Contact

The Rain Forest Resort +66 5529 3085 +668 1395 9575 www.rainforestthailand.com/ Pop Tour +66 5524 2060 +668 1680 3939

Facilities & Services

Guide, raft, restaurant, toilet, accommodation and parking.

Go Extreme at the Khek River with 18 Challenging Rapids

riginating from the Petchabun Mountains, “Khek” is a small river flowing through Thung Salaeng Luang National Park and becomes the famous waterfalls of Phitsanulok province Namtok Sidit and Namtok Kaeng Sopha. The water turns into a brown colour in the rainy season and crystal-clear green colour in the dry season. White-water rafting here takes around 3 hours for a distance of 8 km. through the entire 18 exciting rapids with difficulty Levels1-5. Besides fun, excitement, and challenge, you will see astonishing scenery and lush green trees along the Khek River - one of the best white-water rafting routes in Thailand. Additionally, there are rescue teams on standby at all risky rapids.

Start

N Khlo

ng Y

ang

Ratchamangkhala Park 12

Sap Phraiwan Market

Kaeng Tha Kham

Kaeng Pak Yang Kaeng Hin Lat

Kaeng Suan Ratchamangkhala

Recommendation

Do not miss Kaeng Song Coffee, the famous Phitsanulok’s local Arabica coffee with intense taste and sweet aroma. Additionally, there are many restaurants along the Khek River where you can taste fresh river fish dishes.

Phitsanulok

Khek River Rafting Map

Kaeng Nang Khoi

Sopha Ram

Finish

Kaeng Yao Kaeng Wang Nam Yen Kaeng Thap Khun Tai Namtok Kaeng Song

The boat journey starts at “Kaeng Tha Kham”, small rapids allowing paddlers to practice manoeuvering and navigating the inflatable boat for a while before continuing to the next rapids. “Kaeng Sai” - the zigzagged level-3 rapids covered with thick bushes and trees, navigating the boat through this rapid requires experienced rafting skill, as the streams will be divided into two. Next is “Kaeng Pak Yang” a 100-m-long rapid with difficulty Levels 2-3. Afterwards, the ultimate fun begins when reaching “Kaeng Hin Lat” because of its strong torrents. Paddlers have to hold on tight to the boat; otherwise, they will end up in the water or bounce backwards to the stern. Along to another exciting rapid “Kaeng Suan Ratchamangkhala” paddlers have to manoeuver the boat through ledges in the middle of the waterway. Here, waves can be as high as 1 m if rafting when the water level is rising. The flow will bring you to “Kaeng Sang”, a wide rapid with rocky ground in different steps. The difficulty here is classified at Levels 4-5. 37

e then continue to an S-shaped rapid “Kaeng Sopha Ram” and “Kaeng Nang Khoi”, the nature of these rapids are like steps with strong and high water waves. Therefore, advanced rafting skills and teamwork are needed to conquer the boulders and ledges under the water. Be proud of yourself if you can pass this area without the boat being flipped over. Continuing to a 100-m-long rapid “Kaeng Yao”, the current flows through boulders and ledges, which are submerged under the water in the rainy season. In some parts of the rapid, the water level can be shockingly decreased. Advanced paddling skill is compulsory. Once conquering “Kaeng Yao”, the remaining rapids - “Kaeng Dong Sak”, “Kaeng Wang Nam Yen” and many more - will be easy for you since they are scaled at Levels 2-3 only. Before reaching “Kaeng Thap Khun Tai” - our final rafting destination, you can let yourself float in the river.

Phitsanulok

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Travel Info There is no direct bus or plane service from Bangkok to Umphang. You need to travel to the border town of Mae Sot first (by daily bus from Bangkok), then take a Mae Sot-Umphang local shuttle service from the bus terminal. It is a tough 169 km. 4-hour ride guaranteed to cause motion sickness, so be prepared.

GPS Location

N15° 55.848’, E098° 45.86’

Contact

Umphang Wildlife Sunctuary +66 5551 1142 TAT Tak Office +66 5551 4341 to 3

Facilities & Services

Inflatable boat, local guide, safety gear, accommodation, food and parking.

The True Spirit of Adventure Umphang Khi & Namtok Thi Lo Su Day 1

Rafting through Umphang Khi

ur travel destination is “Umphang Khi Karen Village” - where we will start rafting on an inflatable craft along the Umphang Creek and Thanon Thong Chai Mountain Range through milder rapids (Level 2-3). The soft curls will offer us ample scope to get a hold on the white waters. While you raft further in the course, noticeably the river’s flow starts picking up pace and the torrent tends to get faster. We will paddle past over 77 rapids in different sizes, lengths and levels of difficulty against the smooth and exciting waves until reaching “Pae Do Tha Village”. It takes approximately 4 hours in total. Then, we will continue the journey by car to the accommodation for resting and getting ready for the next day.

Tak Thi 1090Lo Su Rafting Map 1167

Umphang

Day 2 District Day 1

(Umphang Town) 1288

H Tee Lo Cho uai Umphang Waterfall Hot Spring

Day 2

lon Huai Mae K g

Umphang Wildlife Sanctuary Thi Lo Su Waterfall

(From Umphang Khi to Pae Do Tha)

Doi Hua Mot 1090

Finish Rafting (Ban Tha Sai)

10 km. walk to Thi Lo Su Waterfall.

Mae Klong’s Headwater to Namtok Thi Lo Su

Starting at the headwater of Huai Ya Mae, we paddle the inflatable craft along the creek, past the city centre to Huai Mae Klong’s headwater. This part of the river is suitable for paddling while enjoying the lush green trees along both sides and the clear sky as the water current is still slow. In addition, it is acclaimed to be the most beautiful white-water rafting course in Thailand, especially during the winter season. After a while, we will arrive at “Namtok Thi Lo Cho” (which means a rain waterfall in local Karen language), it is a 5-level curtain waterfall which you can navigate the boat through. You will feel like you are paddling in the middle of the rain. Not far away, we will approach ”Namtok Sai Rung”. The highlight is a strikingly beautiful rainbow when the sun shines on it. The next stopover is the “Hot Spring”. We have to park the raft and walk on the shore, relaxingly soaking your feet in the hot spring and freshening up before continuing to “Ban Tha Sai” where lunch is served. The whole rafting ride to here takes 2 hours. Our next and final destination is “Namtok Thi Lor Su” (which means a black waterfall in local Karen language), located in the Umphang Wildlife Sanctuary zone, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which links with the Thung Yai Naresuan and Huai Kha Kaeng Wildlife Sactuary, as well as Namtok Khlong Lan and Mae Wong National Parks. Together, they form Thailand’s largest wildlife haven and Southeast Asia’s top virgin forest. Namtok Thi Lo Su is also considered as the sixth largest waterfall in the world and the biggest waterfall in Thailand with unparalleled beauty, especially during the rainy season. This limestone waterfall stands 200 m high and 400 m wide. 41

Tak Know Before You Go

This trip requires full strength and stamina as it takes approximately 3-4 hours by foot (at least 10 km distance) to walk from the drop-off spot to Thi Lo Su Waterfall. However, you can enter by 4-wheel vehicles and then continue by foot for a shorter distance but this option can only be done during the non-monsoon season.

It is a 3-tiered waterfall with a sunken plunge pool. During the winter season, you can walk up to the 2nd tier, where a beautiful rainbow is usually visible in the mid-afternoon. For the 3rd tier, no walking path is available. If you wish to see the waterfall from a higher perspective, there is an entrance to the walking trail near the parking area. Before reaching the waterfall, there is a walking trail on the right leading up to the top of the mountain, which takes approximately 1 hour to get there. Seeing the beauty of waterfall from this top spot will take not only your breath but also your tiredness away. This tour programme is truly a thrilling and fascinating experience. If you have an opportunity to visit Umphang District or Thi Lo Su Waterfall, it is highly recommended to spare some days to try this white-water rafting thrill at Thi Lo Su once. You will definitely have an awesome rafting experience of a lifetime.

Recommendation

The waterfall will be most beautiful during JuneOctober.

Please

Do not leave any trash in the jungle and river. Keep tracks and the campsite clean. Follow local guides for your own safety.

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Conquer the Mighty Mae Klong River NamtokThi Lo Re

Travel Info From Umphang district, take the road (Umphang-Ban Pal La Tha) for about 27 km.

GPS Location

N15° 50.503’, E98° 51.196’

Contact

Umphang Wildlife Sanctuary Office +66 5551 1142 TAT Tak Office +66 5551 4341 to 3

Facilities & Services

Inflatable boat, local guide, safety gear, accommodation, food and parking.

Tak Thi Lo Re Rafting Map Umphang District Huai Ump hang

Thi Lo Cho Waterfall

Huai M ae

Umphang Ban Tha Sai Wildlife Sanctuary

Klon g

Hot Spring

Start

at Ban Pa La Tha Hu ai Mae Lamung

Thi Lo Su Waterfall

Ban Pa La Tha

Huai Mae Klong

Ban Kho Tha

Ban Thi Pho Chi

Thi Lo Re Waterfall

Finish Ban So Chi Tha

hi Lo Re white-water rafting journey starts at the Mae Klong River’s headwater – one of the challenging streams. The idea of rafting down the Mae Klong River - a series of adventurous rapids and fantastic scenery with abundant lush green forest on both sides as a background, must have inspired the imagination of not a few explorers.

Day 1: Get your body and soul ready. Let the adventure begin! You start paddling from Ban Pa La Tha, passing “Kaeng Le Ka Te” - the first checkpoint where there are 3 exciting rapids clustering together for approximately 200 m long and very meandering. Next point is “Kaeng Bandai”, which has a cluster of 3 rapids similar to the first one but with a much shorter length. Then there is a beach where you can stop to take a break. 45

Once regaining your energy, “Kaeng Tukkae” - a small rapid with a length of 20 m is ahead. However, this rapid will probably be submerged when the water level is extremely high. After conquering 3 easy islets, now it is time for the real thrill. “Kaeng Hak Sok” is a bottleneck-shaped rapid with 150 m in length naturally created by two huge boulders (resembling a bottleneck) that force the stream to flow powerfully downwards. “Kaeng Namtok Noi” is a small 30-m long rapid, with massive rocks in the middle of the waterway. The white-water rafting team needs to be united in manoeuvering the raft in paddling away from the boulder. Otherwise, the raft could be forced to flip upside down. “Kaeng Kon Mong” is an ultimate thrilling spot where you have to navigate the boat through 3 rapids in a row (approximately 200 m long). With boulders and ledges blocking the waterway like a bottleneck, the width of the stream is therefore getting smaller in width, causing the current to flow very rapidly. When the level of water is high, the current will be extremely strong. The current can run into the ledge, causing the water to pile up and create pressure waves, just like boiling water. After completing the 1st-day’s white-water rafting mission in the late afternoon, it is time to set up a riverside campsite. You will have your precious time to rest, relax and get ready for the next ride on the 2nd day.

Tak

Day 2: Towards Thi Lo Re Waterfall, the Mighty Mae Klong River Begin the Day 2 journey with the inflatable raft through “Kaeng Ka So Chi Kae”, which is 40 m away from the campsite. You will see a huge boulder, standing firmly in the middle of the rapid, splitting the river into 2 streams which later merge into a single stream. The next one is 60-m-long “Kaeng Ok Taek”, which has a strong flow of water despite its small size. Away from this rapid for another 200 m, you will see the roughly 80-m-high beautiful “Te Lo Re Waterfall” where is the final destination. During the neap time, a line of rocks will emerge above the water and you can walk around or play in the water. On the way back to Pa La Tha Village, you can choose to go back either by foot or on elephant back. The total distance is around 35 km and will continue by car to Umphang district for another 27 km.

Know Before You Go

The headwater of Thi Lo Re Waterfall originates from the mountain in Tambon Mo Kro, Umphang District. This creek will join the Mae Chan River and later unite with the Mae Klong River.

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Travel Info From Nakhon Sawan, take Highway 1072 (Nakhon Sawan –Lat Yao–Klong Lan) and continue on Highway 1117 (Khlong Lan - Umphang). The entrance to the Mae Wong National Park is at the Km. 65th marker.

GPS Location

N15° 55.313’, E99° 19.312’

Contact

Mae Rewa Eco & Adventure Club +66 5623 4604 TAT UThai Thani Office +66 5651 4982 Fuji Tours +66 2918 6067 to 8 www.fujitours.co.th

Facilities & Services

Tour guide, boat, accommodation, camp sites, restrooms and parking.

The Adventurous Trail in Nakhon Sawan Mae Rewa Creek

he Mae Rewa Creek flows from Doi Mokochu, the highest mountain of the western forest. It flows through luscious forests and has clean, clear water year-round. The creek is very winding and flows through many rapids. The rocks of the rapids are not very high, so inflatable rafts and canoes are suitable for travel. Mae Wong National Park has developed the creek into an adventure tourism destination. The length of the white-water route is about 8 km. The adventure begins about 5 km into the forest. You start off riding a bicycle or walking on a trail studying the nature along the way. You can also catch a ride a tractor hitch provided and operated by the locals that they use as another means of income. Embarking the raft is done at a point where the water is calm. After the first bend in the creek, the adventure on the rapids will begin. The difficulty of the rapids is at Level 2-3. Kayaking here is very enjoyable because during some parts of the creek splits into multiple paths like a labyrinth. Also, the scenery on both sides is beautiful.

Know Before You Go

Nakhon Sawan

Recommendation

After you get through the rapids, you can enjoy splashing in the water at the rocky bed and have the water massage your body. During the November to August period, the water level is very low making it suitable for only kayaks.

You will pass the “Mo I Huet” scenic rest area that is located on a mountaintop on your right hand side. The entire white-water adventure takes about 1.5 hours then you reach “Kaeng Lan Nok Yung” that marks the end of your journey. It is a very challenging area because of the multiple levels similar to small waterfalls and narrow passageways. The water also flows violently. People who can pass through in kayaks without flipping over are considered masters.

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Travel Info From Saraburi town, take Mitraphap Road past Kaeng Khoi district to Muak Lek. Continue driving by following the sign of “Namtok Chet Sao Noi National Park”. The rafting operator office is just 9 km from the National Park. The total distance is around 62 km.

GPS Location

N14° 43.804’, E101° 11.517’

Contact

Muak Lek Rafting Team +66 (89) 084 1515 +66 (80) 438 9196 TAT Lop Buri Office +66 (36) 770 096 to 7

Facilities & Services

Tour guide, raft, kayak, food, restroom and parking.

White-water Rafting at Phu Ko – Indochinese Water Dragons

he substantial amount of water from Namtok Chet Sao Noi has created a flowing stream nestled amongst lush tropical forest, which is great for a white-water rafting activity. This river is recognised as “Phu Ko” with a total distance of 6 km; around 1.5-hour boat ride. Available here are single or double white-water kayaks and 6-person inflatable boats. The exciting part of this white-water rafting starts at the moment the craft is released from a wooden slide to the stream. Then, the current will take the raft through 16 rapids in different sizes and levels of difficulty 1-3. The rapids which will thrill you to the core and soak you to the bone are “Kaeng Tha Kham”, “Kaeng Wat Chai”,“Kaeng Slider”,“Kaeng Khwang” and “Kaeng Phu Ko”. One of the distinctive highlights here is the perfect ecosystem along the unspoiled stream which dashes out from the bushes; little fish swimming around the raft, the scent of soil and grass.

Know Before You Go

Late October to January is the best time to do rafting here.

Saraburi

You will be enchanted along the waterway by spectacular scenes and a sweet natural scent while various kinds of birds are chirping in the trees. In addition, the endangered â&#x20AC;&#x153;Indochinese Water Dragonsâ&#x20AC;? are found only here. These amazing creatures are able to change their colours into green, red and black, depending on the seasons.

Recommendation

Not far from here, you can visit Rai Kusuma Resort for ATV and canopy adventure activities.

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Travel Info From Bangkok, take Highway 3049 (Bangkok-Nakhon Nayok). Just 2 km before you reach the Nang Rong Waterfall, turn right to the Khlong Tha Dan Dam.

GPS Location

N14° 19.935’, E101° 19.024’

Contact

Sarika Adventure Point +66 3761 6164 +66 81251 8317 www.sarikaadventurepoint.com

Facilities & Services Tour guide, raft, kayak, restroom and parking.

Rafting along the Nakhon Nayok River

f you have a day left in your trip, we strongly recommend an adventure at Nakhon Nayok River to cool down out of the heat. Originating from Khao Yai National Park, it flows down creating the Nang Rong Waterfall before becoming the Nakhon Nayok River. The river is special as there are 3 slanted rocks, arranged like steps that are about 50 m in length. The water flows onto these rocks creating 1 m wave above. These exciting rapids are a challenge for kayaks and canoes alike. Before reaching the Three Rock Rapids, there is an extremely sharp turn. Adventurers should concentrate on paddling the boat to get through this area.

Khlong Tha Dan Dam

Nang Rong Waterfall

Recommendation

Bring a change of clothing because you will definitely get wet.

Kaeng Tiam Kaeng Song Wang Takrai Waterfall

Know Before You Go

The stream is released from the Khlong Tha Dan Dam, so we can do rafting all year round.

Please

Follow instructions given by your boat captain, and dump garbage in the specified area.

Kaeng Sam Chan

a kh

Sarika Waterfall

Nakhon Nayok

Nakhon Nayok River Rafting Map

on N

a y o k Ri

v er

To Bangkok-Nakhon Nayok

Another charm of the Nakhon Nayok River rafting is the snake-like winding of the waterway throughout the route. You can enjoy practising controlling your raft, canoe, or kayak all the way to Ban Wang Yao, the end of the route.

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Travel Info Located at Khao Yai National Park. From Prachin Buri, take Highway 3452, and then continue on Highway 33. Turn left to the road beside a PTT gas station at Km. 201 and drive ahead for 200 m.

GPS Location

N14° 8.169’, E101° 44.449’

Contact

TAT Nakhon Nayok Office +66 3731 2282 +66 3731 2284 www.tat8.com

Travel Season July - October

Facilities & Services

Inflatable boat, life jacket, tour guide, toilet, bathroom, food and parking.

7 Rapids Adventure Boat Ride Kaeng Hin Phoeng

he rapid here is 4.5 km long with the levels of difficulty from 3-5. The total rafting time is approximately 2 hours, starting at the first rapid “Kaeng Hin Phoeng”. It is a big stream of water, 200 m in length, with a broken rock formation creating an eddy and strong current flowing through layers of rocks. After Kaeng Hin Phoeng, you will face another exciting rapid, “Kaeng Phak Nam Lom”, which is like a large natural whirlpool. Experienced skill is required to paddle forward through the waterway. After conquering the fierce water turbulences, “Kaeng Wang Yao” is ahead waiting to welcome you with the soft river current but there are some waves for you to get excited with. The next rapid is “Kaeng Luk Sua”, a short rapid with the current as powerful as ”Kaeng Hin Phoeng”. Followed by ”Kaeng Wang Bon”, you will experience boulders in the middle of the waterway converting the current into small beautiful streams. “Kaeng Wang Sai” is a rocky rapids 50 - 60 m in width, 150 m in length with a 30-degree slope. This is another exhilirating rapid because of its waves. The final rapid is “Kaeng Ngu Hao” - the most peaceful rafting area for the perfect finale of this white-water rafting adventure.

Prachin Buri

Know Before You Go

A 2-km walk into the jungle is required before arriving at the white-water rafting spot, which takes approximately 50 minutes. The total rafting time is around 2 hours.

Recommendation

There are jungle trails and bike trails nearby; a great opportunity to enjoy the beautiful nature.

Festival

Kaeng Hin Phoeng White-water Rafting Festival starts annually around July. Hundreds of inflatable boats and crafts are gathered together for great fun.

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Travel Info From Chanthaburi town, take Highway 317 (ChanthaburiSa Kaeo) and turn right to Highway 3193. Once reaching Km.18; turn left and follow the sign of Wang Khon Chalet Resort. The total distance is around 42 km.

GPS Location

N12° 54.653’, E102° 24.684’

Contact

Wang Khon Chalet Resort +66 3931 7024 +668 1864 1805 www.wangkhonchalet.com TAT Rayong Office +66 3865 5420 to 1 +66 3866 4585

Facilities & Services

Inflatable boat, life jacket, tour guide, toilet, food, accommodation, camp sites and parking.

Best White-water Rafting in the East of Thailand Khlong Pong Nam Ron

he white-water rafting course is in Pong Nam Ron district with a distance of 12 km, featuring the most scenic waterfalls and exciting 20-30 rapids with difficulty levels from 1-3. Indeed visitors in Thailand love to explore the waters of the fabulous river since, it brings along the most thrilling white-waters. The river travels through Ban Laem and finally ends in a lake in Cambodia. The stimulating rafting adventure on the Khlong Pong Nam Ron attracts rafters of every age group. The journey starts off with soft curls, offering you ample scope to hone your basic paddling skill. While you move further in the course, noticeably the Khlong Pong Nam Ron starts picking up pace and the torrents tend to get faster. Further in its course, the river brings you waters of Level 3 with smooth currents and exciting waves in several important locations of Thailand; namely “Kaeng Roi Met”, “Kaeng Wang Khon”, “Kaeng Wang Yao”, “Kaeng Nong Bon”, etc. Set in picturesque natural locations, the Khlong Pong Nam Ron also offers you the wonderful view of the magnificent fruit orchards and lush forestland by the riverside.

Know Before You Go

Before starting the journey, a team of staff is there to assist and advise you on paddling skills and information on white-water rafting course.

Chanthaburi

Interestingly, the calm currents of the Khlong Pong Nam Ron are easily navigable by novice rafters, as well as experienced rafters. The rafting experience on the river is indeed breathtaking since the gripping white-water rafting journey drifts you through the scenic natural settings on the river.

Rafting Season

Best time is during JuneNovember

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Travel Info From Chumphon town, take Highway 41 past Thung Tako district and turn left into Highway 4006. Continue for another 40 km by following the signs “Phato”.

GPS Location

N9° 47.445’, E98° 46.623’

Contact

Phato Ecotourism Club +668 4925 7007 TAT. Chumphon Office +66 7750 2775-6

Facilities & Services

Tour guide, raft, homestay, food, restroom and parking.

Phato

he forest filled with green vegetation and the waterway that flows down the mountains of its birth is important to the local people in Phato. In travelling to Phato not only will you have an adventure in the midst of plentiful nature, but you will also see the strong community cooperating to preserve the forest and the source of the river. The community manages the teaching of locals and tourists in the importance of this forest, as well as developing the area into an ecofriendly adventure tourism destination along the principles of “living forest living people”. White-water rafting here is done on an 11-km route with difficulty Levels 3-4. There are 7-8 exciting white-water areas which are named “Kaeng Bok Fai”, “Kaeng Heo Bua Thong”, “Kaeng Heo Ta Wan”, “Kaeng Heo Ta On”, “Kaeng Khuean Nam Won”, “Kaeng Hua Kalok”, and “Kaeng Hin Chang”. It takes around 3 hours to complete the route. Some areas of the waterway have vegetation that has grown over or into it which will keep you busy guiding your raft to dodge them. There are also areas of the waterway where the water flows slowly and you can take a rest, splashing around enjoying the cool and clear water. Take in the scenery of the lush forest on both sides of the river, considered to be the richest in wildlife and vegetation in southern Thailand, while listening to the songs of the various birds. Besides the rafting, there is also a fruit orchard tour that allows visitors to taste fresh fruit right off the tree. On the journey, you may see Hornbills, Kingfishers, or the Dusky Leaf Monkey which goes to show the plentiful wildlife of the forest and waterway that has existed together for so long.

Recommendation

If there is time, take a hike into the forest to study the upstream ecosystem and the way of life of the community that has existed along with the forest in a sustainable fashion. It is an excellent model for other forest-dwelling communities to follow. You can say this community is living proof that co-existing with the forest is possible with the cooperation between the community, forestry officials, and the forest’s natural resources.

Chumphon

Exciting White-watering on an Inflatable Raft

Know Before You Go

It is open to travellers all year round. If you want to do rafting, go during July and August. During June to October, you can also visit fruit orchards and taste ripened fruit right off the tree.

Festivals

From January-February, there is rafting in the Phato Ecotourism Festival. There will be more excitement on the water during this period.

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Travel Info From Phuket, take Highway 4 to Phang-nga and Thap Rut district. In 5 km, you will reach the intersection and meet the guardhouse of Nop Pring Sub-district on the left. Turn left, drive through Kapaong and cross a bridge over the Phang-nga River. Then, take a right turn follow the sign of Song Praek Local district to Ban Song Phraek. You will finally notice the left sign of “Phuket Sea Land” and reach the rafting spot.

GPS Location

N8° 35.393’, E98° 33.701’

Contact TAT Krabi Office +66 7641 1720, +66 7641 3515

Facilities & Services

Guide, boat, safety gear, elephant, food and restroom.

Ton Pariwat

he Song Phraek rafting trip is held at Ton Pariwat Wildlife Sanctuary; streams flow down from the ‘Kata Kwam’ and “Ra Sung” Mountains in Phang-nga province. The rafting routes are about 5 km long with rapids at the difficulty level of 2-4 and beautiful green forests on both banks of the river. At the starting point, there is a dam built to regulate the water level for supporting local tourism; you can also do rafting even in the dry season. When the water is released from the dam, the adventure on the rapids will begin. Over 100 rafts are flown along the swift stream, the rafts hit the big rocks nearby continuously and this adds more fun. From the narrow stream to the wider stream, rafts are flowing wildly through the stream and bounce up, down and are sucked in a whirlpool but not for a long time because other rafts will then bump your raft out of the whirlpool. It takes about 45 minutes to finish the rafting and might be shorter during the dry season. After kayaking alongside the stream, elephant trekking is highly recommended. You can indulge and see the nature in a different view from the top of an elephant including waterfalls in Ton Pariwat Wildlife Sanctuary.

Know Before You Go Rafting is available throughout the year

Recommendation

Phang-nga

Rafting and Elephant Trekking

To buy a tour package that includes all transfer from/to your accommodation.

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Travel Info From Nakhon Si Thammarat, use Highway 4016. Once reaching the junction, turn left and continue to Nopphitam Sub-district, then turn right into Highway 4186. Follow the signs of Krung Ching Waterwall. The total distance is around 70 km.

GPS Location

N08° 48.229’, E099° 36.416’

Contact

Khlong Klai Tourist Information Services +668 1228 2051 TAT Nakhon Si Thammarat +66 7534 6515 to 6

Facilities & Services

Tour guide, Inflatable boat, kayak, life jacket, toilet , food and parking.

Khlong Klai Rafting

hlong Klai is originated from the Krung Ching Forest in the Khao Nan National Park and Khao Luang National Park. It is considered as one of the perfect white-water rafting courses for inflatable boats and kayaks. The rafting course has 2 different distances. The first one is “Pak Khlong Phitam to Lan Hin Dan” which takes 1.5 hours for the total distance of 2.5 km. The second is “Pak Khlong Phitam to Ban Thung Nai”, taking 3 hours for a distance of 6 km. The Klai canal is narrow and shallow and has a dozen rapids with lots of flora all around. The rapids vary from large boulders to narrow channels with the levels of difficulty from 1-3. At the beginning, the current is calm so you can appreciate the green natural scenery on both sides while paddling. As you continue, you’ll be exhilarated by dozens of challenging rapids; such as, “Kaeng Hin Mon”, “Kaeng Chong Puen”, “Kaeng Pra”, “Kaeng Ya Nat” and many more. Along the course, there are experienced rescue staff standing by to ensure your safety.

Recommendation

Nakhon Si Thammarat

Know Before You Go

At Khlong Klai, the white-water rafting activity is available all year long. It is highly recommended to go there during November to December because of its crystal-clear water and perfect weather. After the ride, donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t forget to check out the natural hot spring at Krung Ching Hot Spring and visit Hong Cave.

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Travel Info From Phatthalung, take Highway 41 to Pa Payom District and turn left to Highway 4270. Continue on the road by following Nan Mot Daeng signs for about 9 km.

GPS Locaton

N 7° 53.085’, E99° 50.039’

Contact

Khun Yothin Khaokaikaeo +668 9873 1464 +668 1370 2123 www.nhanmoddang.com TAT Phatthalung Office +66 7434 6514 Phatthalung Kayaking +66 7468 1364 +66 7468 1086

Facilities & Services

Guide, boat, safety gear, elephant, food, restroom and parking.

Phatthalung

Kayak to Conquer 40 Rapids Nan Mot Daeng

ayaking in Nan Mot Daeng is the newest holiday activity in Pa Payom district, Phatthalung province. Before the adventure starts, paddlers will be trained about a rafting route, paddling skills, how to read the currents, regulations and safety measures. The launch point is at Huai Nam Sai Reservoir. The rafting distance is about 6 km, taking 2 hours in total. Paddling along a rather narrow stream through over 40 rapids with the difficulty at Levels 1-3, the most notorious rapids here are “Kaeng Lung Chuan”, “Kaeng Song Phi Nong”, “Kaeng Mot Daeng”, “Kaeng Yao” and “Kaeng Mai Pai” where is used to measure a paddler’s skill. As there are strong currents flowing down like multiple steps of a waterfall, whoever passes this point without their kayak being flipped upside-down is considered a skillful kayaker. Both sides of the canal are abundant with natural splendours numerous kinds of flowers and local birds. The water is so cool and crystal clear that schools of fish and seaweed are visible from above the water. After the kayaking thrill, you can relax your muscles in the herbal steam room, the favourite activity for working and older adults.

Know Before You Go

“Nan” in local dialect means “Kaeng” (or rapids) and “Mot Daeng” means red ant. According to the local people, Nan Mot Daeng is a great, never-ending source for fish. When they got the fish, they would cut the head and tail of the fish. The smell of the fish attracted numerous red ants to feast on fish remains. That’s the origin of the name “Nan Mot Daeng”

Best Time to Visit All year long

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Travel Info Located in Nam Phut Sub-district. From Satun, take Highway 406 and then 416 to La-ngu District and then turn right by following the Namtok Wang Sai Thong signs.

GPS Locaton

N07° 5.336’, E099° 54.603’

Contact

Nanamtok Home Stay +668 4195 5208 +668 0714 6317 www.nanamtokhomestay.com TAT Satun Office +66 7423 1055 +66 7423 8518

Facilities & Services

Guide, boat, safety gear, elephant, food, restroom and parking.

White-water Rafting to Waterfall by kayak

Khlong Lam Lon-Wang Sai Thong

hlong Lam Lon is Satun province’s main canal, originating from the Banthat Mountain Range which connects 3 provinces – Patthalung, Trang and Satun. The stream is flowing down from the watershed forest to the Andaman Sea at Pak Bara - creating many small rapids including Namtok Wang Sai Thong, the only limestone waterfall in the South. With a total distance of 8 km with big trees along both sides creating the shade shielding paddlers from the sun, making it impressively pleasant for white-water rafting. It is more exciting to do rafting through 16 rapids in total by a kayak rather than an inflatable boat, as the overall difficulty of rapids is at the Level 1-2.

Satun

You will enjoy the ultimate peaceful nature along the way - the crystal clear water, numerous wild orchids, and lifestyles of the local people by the canal as well as the Sagai Tribe. In addition, there will be staff along the rafting course to make sure youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be safe. It usually takes around 2 hours to finish the course.

Khlong Lam Lon-Wang Sai Thong Map Trang -Satun Road

Saphan Wa T-junction

Khuan Kalong Hospital

aterfall Roa

Hat Yai - Satun Road

Starting Point

Sai Rung W

Wang Sai Thong Waterfall

Best Time to Visit All year long.

Know Before You Go

Different companies have different white-water rafting routes because there is no white-water rafting association or club.

Recommendation

a Trang Ro g n lu a Phatth

Chet Khot Cave, Wang Sai Thong Waterfall and Phu Pha Phet cave are nearby and worth visiting.

Introduction

cuba diving is Thailandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most popular water sport and the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s coast and islands have come of the most beautiful dive sites in the world. The water is clear, with plentiful marine life, and transport and accommodation readily available. There is a high standard of training, too. All reputable dive shops are affiliated with PADI or other international dive bodies, and most holding courses in several languages. With thousands of miles of coastline, hundreds of island, dazzling marine life and breathtaking natural beauty, it is no wonder that most visitors to Thailand head for the sea for at least part of their stay. At present, two of the most popular new activities in Thai waters are wreck diving, mostly in the Gulf of Thailand, and cave diving along the Andaman Sea coastline. The Gulf of Thailand has many pottery wrecks from sunken merchant vessels, some of which date as far back as 700 years. At some recommended sites, the water is so clear that the underwater world of whale sharks, manta rays, marlin, flying fish, dolphins and coral reefs is visible from the surface. All over Thailand, you can expect modern amenities, international standard boats and professional facilities. Diving is possible at all times of the year, although visibility changes according to the season. In the Andaman Sea, the best time is from October to April, and the Gulf of Thailand from May to September.

Diving in Your Style There are 3 types of diving which are;

Snorkelling or Skin Diving

is the practice of swimming on or through a body of water while equipped with a diving mask, a shaped tube called a snorkel, and usually swim fins. The primary appeal is the opportunity to observe underwater life in a natural setting without the complicated equipment and training required for scuba diving and, it appeals to all ages because of how little effort there is, and without the exhaled bubbles of scuba-diving equipment.

Scuba

(Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus) - Unlike early diving, which relied either on a breath-hold or on air pumped from the surface, scuba divers carry their own source of breathing gas (usually compressed air), allowing them greater freedom of movement than with an air line. Depending on the purpose of the dive, a diver usually moves underwater by swim fins attached to the feet, but external propulsion can come from an underwater vehicle, or a sled pulled from the surface. There are many diver level courses ; • Open Water Diver Course • Advanced Open Water Diver Course • Rescue Diver Course After finishing the Rescue Diver Course, there are two options for you to continue learning; First option: You can take an Adventure Diver Course to serve your preferred interest; such as, Deep Dive, Wreck Dive, Night Dive, Cave Dive, etc. After finishing one of these diver courses, then you will become a Master Scuba Diver. Second option: In case you wish to open a Scuba diving school, then you have to take a Divemaster Course. 71

Snuba

(Self Non-contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus) is an underwater breathing system developed by Snuba International. The swimmer uses swim fins, a diving mask, weights, and diving regulator as in scuba diving. The air, however, instead of coming from tanks strapped to the diver’s back, comes through a long hose from tanks on pontoon rafts on the surface. Snuba often serves as a form of introductory diving, in the presence of a professional, insured guide, and following a half-hour lesson (but not requiring scuba certification).

The Key Scuba Diving Safety Rules Avoid drinking alcohol before diving. Do not eat food too much. Never dive alone. Use hand signals under the water. Avoid diving near boats. Should listen to your local guide and avoid diving in the area with a strong current. For snorkelling, make sure you wear a life jacket at all times. Be careful of getting contact with long spined sea urchins and jelly fish. Secure diving equipment; such as, gauges and spare regulators that may drag on coral or along the bottom. If something happens, stop, breathe, think and act. Do not panic and rush to the surface. Do not take short, shallow breathes and never hold your breath. Holding your breath underwater can lead to lung injuries and worse, in the extreme case. Move carefully and always be aware of exactly where your body and equipment are, relative to coral and other underwater features. Be careful not to touch anything with your fins, so as not to break coral or stir up sediment. Be especially aware of your buoyancy and placement at night and when taking photographs, as your path of vision is limited. When you are hovering over a reef, keep your eyes fixed on a reference object so you don’t drift or sink onto coral. Ascend slowly and with control as you ascend you are ridding your body of nitrogen in your tissues and bloodstream. If you ascend too quickly, you risk “the bends” or decompression sickness (DCS). You should not ascend more than 9 m per minute. 72

Before you begin diving

• Have enough rest to get yourself ready for the next day. Lack of sleep is a cause of getting DCS easily. • Drink enough water and avoid having alcohol or caffeine drinks. • Other divers’ limitation and diving experiences to be considered in your diving plan. • Examine your diving gear again. • Recheck with your buddy if everything is alright before getting into the water.

While you are diving

• Check you are weighted correctly for neutral buoyancy, and make any buoyancy adjustments away from coral areas. • Recheck your breathing speed. Remember to always breathe slowly and in a relaxed manner and to exhale fully. • Check your buddy and buddy’s measuring gear often. • Follow your diving plan strictly, you and your buddy should know the maximum depth you will go, the amount of bottom time you will have and how much air you will start to ascend with. But feel free to stop diving earlier if your oxygen is depleted quicker or feel anything wrong with your body or diving gear. • Make a safety stop at the end of dives. That means you should pause at about 5 m for a minimum of 3-5 minutes before your final ascent to the surface. Some experts recommend safety stops as long as 10 to 15 minutes under certain conditions, especially if that dive is deeper than 18 m.

After Diving

• Exposure to altitude or flying too soon after a dive can also increase the risk of decompression sickness. It is recommended to wait for 12-24 hours before catching the flight. • No hard exercise after diving. You should wait for at least 1 hour. • Drink water as much as you can, as this will help release Carbon Dioxide from your body.

Diver Rescue

ost of the diving-related magazines and professional divers strongly recommend that all divers should finish the Rescue Diver Course; learning how to respond to emergencies that could come up while scuba diving.

Step 1: Get Air

• There are two main ways of delivering gas to the out-of-air diver; provide the casualty with a normal demand valve, preferably on a long hose, or “buddy breathing”, the more risky of the two, where the two divers share one mouthpiece. At the end of a deep dive, they will need gas to breathe during the slow ascent to the surface and during any decompression stops. • Ensure the victim is breathing. If not, do not waste time trying anything. Just bring the victim to the surface for CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) as quickly as possible.

Step 2: Get to the Surface

• If the casualty is not capable of making an ascent, due to injury or unconsciousness, or the casualty cannot make a safe and controlled ascent, perhaps due to the loss or damage of the diving mask, the rescuer must control the casualty’s ascent by using the Buoyancy Compensator Device (BCD). As the casualty is totally dependent on the rescuer, it is important if the two were to separate underwater that the casualty should continue to ascend to the surface in a failsafe way. • If the casualty is not breathing, an urgent ascent directly to the surface is needed so that resuscitation can take place there. In this situation and if the rescuer needs to do decompression stops, the rescuer has a dilemma; take the casualty to the surface and increase the risk or severity of the bends, including irreversible injuries or death, or do the stops and kill the casualty.

Step 3: Get Buoyant

• Having reached the relative safety of the surface, it is important that the casualty does not accidentally re-descend. The usual methods of making the diver positively buoyant are to inflate the buoyancy compensator and inflate the dry suit, if one is being worn. The gas in a dry suit is not very secure; it can easily escape from seals and vents. Also, drop weights. • If the casualty is not breathing, it is possible to sustain respiration or even restart it by artificial ventilation (AV) at the surface of the water.

Step 4: Get Help

• At this stage in the rescue, immediate help is needed. Very often, the only people that can provide that help are nearby boat users and people on the shore, unless the emergency services are very close by. Methods of attracting help include shouting, waving a straight arm, flag or surface marker buoy, blowing a whistle, flashing or swinging a torch/flashlight at night, or using a strobe at night. • Cylinder powered, high-pressure gas whistles may be effective even over the sound of engines.

Step 5: Get Out & Get First Aid

• Urgently lifting an injured or incapacitated casualty from the water is a significant problem, especially where there are few rescuers, the sea is rough, the boat has high sides or the rescuers on the shore cannot get in or close to the water to help. • If the casualty is not breathing artificial respiration must be continuously provided. It is more likely to succeed if it is started promptly. If the casualty is showing no signs of circulation, CPR is needed.

Thailand Tourism Standards for Diving

o ensure the safety of tourists who choose to participate in diving, the Department of Tourism, Ministry of Tourism and Sports, has issued the Thailand Tourism Standards for Diving Operators and Sites to provide guidelines on the sport with emphasis on safety for participants. For more information, visit http://www.tourism.go.th

I. Standards for Scuba Diving Operators There are three criteria that operators must achieve in order to meet the standards. They are for: 1. Administration and management 1.4 Standard of transport. Operators should ensure that: There are seven criteria that scuba diving operators must adhere to: • Boats are in good condition and well equipped. 1.1 Professional standards. Operators should • Boat operators and technicians are obtain an operating licence from the certified by the Marine Department. Bureau of Tourism and Guide Registration. • There is an adequate number of boat 1.2 Personnel readiness. Operators should have: toilets and they are kept clean. • Qualified cruise directors. • Boats are clean and tidy in all sections. • Professional dive masters. • There are sufficient waste and sewage • Trained crew members. tanks on board. 1.3 Equipment readiness. Operators should 1.5 Safety assurance. Operators must be provide: sure that: • Standard equipment: mask, snorkel, fins, • Tourists have travel and accident insurance BCD, regulator, pressure gauge, wet suits, coverage. belts, dive computer, air tanks, aerators, • There is first aid-CPR-trained personnel on timer and other diving devices. board. • Fully equipped boats with VHF, SSB, Depth • Diving spots are selected according to the Sounder and GPS. tourists’ capabilities. • Sufficient life jackets. 1.6 Prevention and protection measures. • Sufficient life saving rafts. Operators must be sure that: • Sufficient oxygen tanks. • Tourists are informed of regulations while on • Comprehensive first aid kit. board. • Handbooks on scuba diving. • There are sufficient numbers of safety handbooks available.

2. Information for scuba diving tourists 3. Operation from local communities 76

II. Standards for Scuba Diving Sites There are six major components to consider when evaluating scuba diving sites:

1. Natural features

1.1 number of outstanding diving sites 1.2 Physical features: • Underwater visibility: under 10 m / 10-30 m / over 30 m. • Various types of marine life. • Currents: soft, medium and strong.

2. Suitability as an enjoyable scuba diving amenity 2.1 Accessibility of sites: • Permission requirements. • Convenience: access difficulty / seasonal accessibility / year-round accessibility. • Distance from a shore: over 100 km / 50-100 km / under 50 km. 2.2 Services in the diving site areas: • Overnight stay option. • Means of transport: live aboard, day trip.

3. Administration and management 3.1 Amenities and facilities: • Notification and enforcement of rules and regulations. • Accommodation inside and outside the activity areas. • Availability of communication devices. • Availability of route maps and handbooks. • Availability of restaurants, food shops and food stalls. • Availability of toilets and parking area. • Sanitation: Number of trash bins and frequency of collection time. • Clinics: Location and service hours of nearby medical facilities. • Security: Availability of trained security guards, warning systems, signboards. • Availability of recreational and learning areas. • Availability of tourist services.

3.2 Maximum capacity: • Limits to the number of tourists in the area. • Limits to the number of boats entering the area. • Limits to the number of tourists in a group. 3.3 Buoyancy service: • Availability of buoyancy. • Tourists informed of buoyancy’s importance.

4. Measures to identify, prevent and correct potential impacts 4.1 Assessment: none / every 7-12 months / 4-6 months / 1-3 months. 4.2 Availability of resources restoration plan. 4.3 Availability of tourists’ statistics, records. 4.4 Availability of waste disposal plan.

5. Giving information to scuba diving tourists 5.1 Provide information on safety measures and demonstrate the use of safety equipment. 5.2 Provide information on how to be a good ecodiver. 5.3 Give on-site talks on environmental conservation and protection. 5.4 Provide information about self-rescuing and how to use hand signals.

6. Participation by local communities 6.1 Encourage local people to take part in providing hospitality services; such as, food and accommodation. 6.2 Cooperate with communities on safety and security. 77

Diving Vs 7 Greens Diving without any impact is impossible as the underwater ecosystem is very sensitive, but we can minimise it. Do not touch any living underwater plants or animals, including corals. Do not collect any souvenirs, living or dead. Do not harass marine wildlife or interrupt their normal behaviour; such as, mating, feeding or resting. Do not chase, lure, ride or block the path of freeswimming animals; such as, turtles, dolphins or whales. Do not move closer than 300 m to a whale or 100 m to a dolphin. Be careful not to disturb marine wildlife when taking underwater photographs. Choose a liveaboard to reduce the carbon footprint as it minimise a number of sea transfer to the dive sites. Consider the experience of your clients and take them to the dive sites which they are best suited to. Give clients a pre-dive talk on the logistics of the dive site, low-impact diving techniques and the general rules of diving, and stress the importance of underwater conservation. Do not dump an anchor where there are coral reefs underneath. Rotate dive sites to avoid over-using a particular site. 78

Limit the Tourism Carrying Capacity (TCC) in terms of the number of divers per day for each dive. Install or lobby for permanent buoyed mooring at dive sites which are experiencing anchor damage. Maintain mooring buoys at dive sites you use. Monitor wildlife and coral cover at dive sites regularly so you are aware of any degradation; e.g. take underwater videos and photographs and record their dates. Alert local authorities to any environmental disturbance you observe at dive sites. Bring back to shore any garbage you find at dive sites. Punish those who commits illegal fishing practices strictly; such as using explosives or chemicals. Continuously train staff to improve the standards of service, especially rescuing. Choose local products for your customers; for example, local food and drink. All food served on the boat should be kept in reusable plates and glasses. Avoid using plastic at all cost. Dump garbage on the main land instead of the islands if possible. Educate local fishermen to do fishing by the right way and out of coral reef areas. Have good management of solid waste, from the reduction of waste, especially the non-recycled one, to the categorisation and disposal of waste, in order to reduce the greenhouse effect. Organise an underwater clean-up day where diving is free in exchange for picking up garbage. Bring back to shore any garbage you find at dive sites. 79

Where to do Diving Diving Route in Thailand Place

View more details about Diving at http://adventure. tourismthailand.org/ eng/dive.php

Province

Season To Visit

Type

Sea Gulf of Thailand

18 Pattaya Dive Sites

Chon Buri Nov - Apr Scuba

19 Ko Wai

Trat-Ko Chang

20 Mu Ko Chumphon

Chumphon Jan - May Snorkelling/ Gulf of Thailand Scuba

21 Ko Tao

Surat Thani Jan - Oct

22 Mu Ko Surin

Phang-nga Nov - May Snorkelling/ Andaman Scuba

Nov - Apr Snorkelling Gulf of Thailand

Snorkelling/ Gulf of Thailand Scuba

23 Mo Ko Similan Phang-nga Nov - Apr Snorkelling/ Andaman Scuba 24 Mu Ko Phi Phi Krabi Nov - Apr Snorkelling Andaman 25 Ko He and Mu Ko Racha

Phuket

Nov - Apr Snorkelling/ Andaman Scuba

26 Ko Kradan

Trang

Nov - Apr Snorkelling Andaman

27 Ko Tarutao & Satun Ko Adang-Rawi

Nov - Apr Snorkelling/ Andaman Scuba

18 19

20 21 22 23 24 25

26 27

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Travel Info Take the boat from Bali Hai pier in South Pattaya. The boat leaves daily every hour. However, all diving packages usually include sea transfers.

GOOGLE Geocoder

12.913552, 100.774727

Contact

Pattaya Dive Centre +66 3871 0918 www.divepattaya.com

Facilities & Services

Boat, diving gear, dive leader and food.

Closet Diving Sites to Bangkok Pattaya Dive Sites

attaya is a diving paradise for both experienced and nonexperienced divers. “Ko Khrok” is the nearest diving place where you can see the breath-taking coral reefs at the depth of 3–12 m. The current is suitable for drift diving. You may see sea turtles as well. The “Pattaya Vessel” is the point where you can observe the ancient vessel at the depth of 26 m near “Phra Nang Rocks”. The vessel is covered with hump corals, disc corals, mushroom corals, staghorn corals, sponges and sea fans. “Ko Lan” is also the other diving area where rare marine animals and beautiful sea slugs can be seen at the depth of 6-20 m. The current is not so swift.

Know Before You Go

HTMS Khram Wreck dive site requires Advanced Open Water Diver.

Chon Buri

Diving can be also made at “Ko Phai” where you can see beautiful fish, or you can go through the past by diving at the “HTMS Khram Wreck”, the vessel of World War II which was immersed in the sea at the depth of 30 m with 2 anchors. This vessel is the first man-made diving spot in Thailand. Not far away, the corals and Neptune’s cup sponges are very abundant at “Ko Mara Wichai”. The sea water here is very clear. Various marine animals - Red Soldierfish, Bluering Angelfish, Regal Anglefish, longnose butterflyfish and pennant butterflyfish - can be seen at the depth of 5 - 20 m. The most faraway diving spot is at “Ko Rin” where coral reefs and rare marine animals can be observed. For example, hump corals, staghorn corals, table corals, mushroom corals, black corals, sea whips, colourful soft corals, sea fan, Neptune’s cup sponges, blue sponges, nudibranch, xeno crabs, sawblade shrimp, rabbit fish, squirrel fish, barracuda, sea turtles, etc.

Recommendation

Stay over on Ko Lan for at least 1 night.

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Travel Info From Trat town, you can easily catch a local bus or taxi to Laem Ngop Pier. The boat leaves to Ko Wai once a day at 3.00 p.m. but there is also a speed boat available all day. It is about 12 km. to the southeast of Ko Chang.

GPS Location

N11° 54.057’, E102° 24.118’

Contact

TAT Trat Office +66 3959 7259 to 60

Facilities & Services

Tour guide, boat, accommodation, restaurant and restroom.

Underwater Adventure, Enjoy the Beauty of the Fish and Coral Reefs Ko Wai

f you are already visiting Ko Chang, most tourists would not miss a chance to dive at Ko Wai. Just by putting on your goggles and floating at a short distance from the shore, you would be able to see submassive coral, staghorn coral and brain coral. It is said to be the widest coral reef in the Trat Sea. The beach in front of Ko Wai is divided into 3 sections which are separated by rocks. There are paths that go through the woods to avoid the rocks and take you to other beaches.

Know Before You Go

There are resorts and restaurants on all 3 beaches of Ko Wai, reservations in advance are highly recommended.

Trat-Ko Chang

he sand on the beaches of Ko Wai is red-brown. This island is a peaceful place; ideal for simply relaxing. In addition, it is very popular among those who love to fish. Moreover, there are nearby islands; namely, “Ko Ngam” and “Ko Lao Ya”, which are also worth paying a visit to. There are 4 points of interest for deep-water diving: Hin Luk Bat: a reef of rocks slightly emerging from the water, which is located in the channel between Ko Chang and Ko Khlum. This is a deep-water diving point that has beautiful coral with a depth of 15-20 m. It takes about 1.5 hours from the pier to reach this point by boat. Hin Sam Sao: a pile of rocks underwater with many kinds of beautiful coral and big fish. This point is 15-20 m deep and about 1 hour and 45 minutes from the pier. Hin Prhai Nam: an underwater mountain which serves as a home for many kinds of large fish. The water is 20-30 m deep and it takes about 2 hours to get to this point from the pier. Ko Kra and Ko Rang: the most beautiful deep-water and shallowwater coral resources in the eastern sea. There are many beautiful fish and many kinds of coral. It takes about 3 hours from the shore to get to this point.

Recommendation

If you stay overnight on the island, you can rent a boat to go out during the night to catch some cuttlefish.

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Travel Info From Chumphon town, drive along Highway 4001 for about 7 km. to Tha Yang Pier. Lots of local buses and taxis can take you there. For easier way is to book a tour package with Chumphon Cabana Resort.

GPS Location

N10° 23.799’, E99° 21.079’

Contact

Mo Ko Chumphon National Park +66 7755 8144-6 TAT Chumphon Office +66 7750 1831 +66 7750 2775-6 Chumphon Cabana Resort +66 7756 0246 to 7 www.cabana.co.th

Facilities & Services

Diving centre, guide, boat, accommodation and restroom.

Diving with the giant whale shark Mu Ko Chumphon

here are over 41 islands in Chumphon Sea, however, only 7-8 islands have the popular and beautiful diving spots especially Ngam Islands. The undersea world around the “Ko Ngam Noi and Ko Ngam Yai” is full of huge brain corals, staghorn corals and colourful sea anemones dancing along the rhythm of the stream. These corals and sea anemones provide food and shelter for various species of colourful sea fish; such as, butterfly fish, clownfish, angelfish, rabbit fish, etc. If you are lucky, you might see the friendly giant whale shark swimming around to find food under the sea of these two islands. The most beautiful diving spot in Chumphon Sea is at “Ko Lak Ngam” with the approximate depth of 9 - 20 m. Here you will find the amazing colourful branches of one of the thickest black coral reefs in Thailand. You can also see the red sea whip, large colonies of sea anemone, schools of different species of fish and a large number of phyllidia coelestis.

Chumphon Islands National Park Map

Recommendation

Stay over at Mattra Island.

Know Before You Go

Ko Chorakhe Chumphon Town Ko Kalok Ko Samet

Chumphon

About a 100 m away from the North of Ko Ngam Yai, you can see a pile of rocks known as “Hin Phae” that is full of Black corals, Sea whip and Corallimorph. It is a home of big fish like Whale shark, Barracuda, Round batfish, Red snapper, Jackfish and large schools of yellow stripe trevally swimming around including Leopard shark and Stingray. “Ran Pet & Ran Kai” are two small islands that have the very rich deep-sea coral reefs containing black corals in different colourslight yellow, white and gold, as well as Red neptune’s cup sponge, Red sea whip, Yellow-band fusilier and Saw blade shrimp. “Ko Mattra” is the best snorkelling spot in the area with massive coral and brain coral reefs, White clownfish with black spots and small Rabbit fish. Moreover, there are several small coral reefs under the sea around “Ko Thalu” and “Ko Langka Chio” which are homes of big fish; such as, school of Rabbit fish, Fusilier and sometimes Blacktip reef shark.

Ko Thalu

You can most often see the whale shark in April. By the way, the National Park does offer boat trips for tourists.

Ko Ngam Yai Ko Ngam Noi Ko Lak Ngam

Ko Sak

Ko Mattra Ko Lak Raet Ko I-Raet Ko Lawa Ao Thung Makham Ko Ka Ko Thonglang Ao Thung Kha Ko Langka Chio Mu Ko Chumphon National Park Office

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Travel Info We suggest that you board the ferry at Tha Yang Pier in Chumphon or Ko Samui. It takes approximately 1.45 hours. It leaves from 7.00 a.m. and 1.00 p.m. daily.

GPS Location

N10° 5.991’, E99° 50.386’

Contact

TAT Surat Thani Office +66 7642 0504

Facilities & Services

Diving school and shop, various type of boats, accommodation, restaurant, grocery shop and restroom.

Heaven Underwater in the Gulf of Thailand: Diver’s Paradise Ko Tao

ith the charm of the emerald green underwater world, the beautiful coral reefs have led to come to dive in shallow and deep water not less than 700,000 people per year. This has made Ko Tao the number one diving destination in Asia. Moreover, Ko Tao is one of the few places in Thailand that has the qualifications in teaching advanced diving classes up until instructor level. Ko Tao is the place that has produced the most scuba diving students in South East Asia according to PADI from America. “Kong Tunggu” or “Southwest Pinnacle” is one of the prettiest spots for deep water diving. As you dive down a few metres, a group of large size Elephant Ear fish will swim up to welcome you. When you get to the sand bottom, you will notice that there are abundant black corals in several shades of colours. The picturesque site of underwater rocks seems to resemble “Stonehenge”. One of the most spectacular moments is when thousands of Big Eye Sea Perch fish swim around you.

Know Before You Go

During January-May, the weather is the best. At Ko Nang Yuan, there is a view point voted as top 10 in the world.

“Kong Hin Wong” - a popular diving spot where you will find huge Cooper fish, Sting Ray and several species of fishes around the coral reef at the depth of 3 - 12 m.

Recommendation

Stop by at John-Suwan view point and check the weather forecast and water currents before you travel. You should buy a round-trip ferry ticket as there might be too many people departing at the same time.

“Kong Hin Khao” or “White Rock” is a few hundred metres from Ko Nang Yuan. The depth of the coral reef is from 6 - 22 m. This is another spot with beautiful shallow water corals. “Kong Sai Daeng” or “Shark Island” is a destination for shallow water diving, as well as deep water diving because there are soft coral reefs with different colours, Antipatharia, and sponge which could be found at 5 m down until 20 m. “Hin Bai”, the isolated underwater mountain between Ko Tao and Ko Pha-ngun is a diving spot which should not be missed. The depth is 9-30 m. Under the sea, there is a rock wall which is covered with sea whip, as well as several Cooper fishes, which hide between the cracks. Around you, you can find groups of Snapper fish going in one direction, where the other group of Hard tail Scad fish going in the other direction. Rocks that are 15 m higher than sea level have become the habitat of corals and several species of trees.

Surat Thani

“Kong Chumphon” or “Northwest Pinnacle” is a diving destination with several coral reefs and several underwater creatures. And you might get some close encounters with gigantic whale sharks.

Please

Be careful of damaging coral reefs, especially in areas with strong water currents. Please pick up trash if seen and do not take corals or seashells from the island.

If You Are Lucky

You will get to see the huge whale sharks showing itself on the sea’s surface near the boat.

Kong Chumphon Northwest Pinnacle Ko Nang Yuan Ko Hin Khao

Kong Hin Wong

Ko Tao Ko Sai Daeng

Kong Tunggu Southwest Pinnacle Ko Tunggu

Ko Wao Yai

Hin Bai

Ko Pha-ngan 89

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Travel Info Khura Buri Pier is the main gateway to the Surin Islands where are approx 40 km away, as it is the closest point of land and a busy fishing pier. The speedboat ride takes an hour, and about 3 hours for ferries or liveaboard boats, to get there.

GPS Location

N9° 27.069’, E97° 52.656’

Contact

Mu Ko Surin Marine National Park +66 7649 1378 +66 7647 2145 to 6

Facilities & Services

Diving instructor, live aboard boat, scuba diving shop, food, accommodation, camping sites and restroom.

The Best Dive Site in Thailand; Visiting a Condominium of Marine Life Mu Ko Surin

he Surin Islands comprise five main islands, including 2 large islands consisting of Ko Surin Nuea and Ko Surin Tai which are located very adjacent like twin islands. They are separated by the 200 m width shallow sea where “Richelieu Rock” - one of the best places in the world to encounter whale sharks and a vast array of spectacular marine life; is located. With a depth of 5 - 37 m towards the south of the dive site, as well as colourful soft corals bejewel the intricate peppering of granite pinnacles, it deserves at least three dives where you still keep discovering new stuff. Tigertail Seahorses, Ghostpipe fish, Frogfish, Octopus, Cuttlefish, many different varieties of Scorpionfish, Lionfish, Pipefish, Cleaner shrimps, Moray eels including White Mouth Morays, Rays, Nudibranchs, Barracuda, Trivially, Jacks, Tuna, Groupers, Harlequin shrimps and more all make Richelieu Rock their home - looks like a condominium for marine animals.

Recommendation

Ko Stork

North Surin Island

Ko Mangkon Richelieu Rock South Surin Island

Ko Torinla

Take a small underwater LED pen sized torch that fits in your BC pocket. So you can explore the nooks and crannies. Many rare and interesting creatures inhabit these cracks at Richelieu. Always use an SMB when surfacing from a dive at Richelieu Rock. There is a lot of boat traffic here, including dinghies whizzing around picking up divers.

Phang-nga

Hin Kong

Please

Snorkel Scuba

The other three islands (Ko Mangkon, Ko Klang and Ko Torinla) are small rock islands with some dwarf trees and rainforest plants. They are one source of the big and best fertile shallow coral reef of Thailand, as many places the reefs have grown right up to just 1 m or so below the waterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s surface, bringing the marine life that much closer to the snorkeller. This is particularly so at Ko Torinla in the south and Ko Mangkon in the west. Here, you will be amazed with very healthy coral reefs in different colours. Other snorkelling sites that are worth to visit include Mai Ngam Bay and Suthep Bay.

Remember, there are a lot of scuba divers at Richelieu Rock. Be patient and polite to other divers. Sometimes it gets crowded down there. When Whale sharks appear, bother them at least especially chasing them. Just hang back and let them cruise past. They will come around again and again giving you plenty of opportunities to get those killer photos as they usually hang around for the entire day or longer.

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Travel Info Getting to the islands is best arranged through either a travel agent in the region or a diving or snorkelling company. There are plenty, but please make sure they are certified by the TAT, insured and actually have knowledge of the Similans.

GPS Location

N8° 38.817’, E97° 38.800’

Contact

Mo Ko Similan National Park +66 7645 3272

Facilities & Services

Diving instructor, live aboard boat, scuba diving shop, food, accommodation, camping sites and restroom.

One of the TOP TEN Dive Destinations in the World Mu Ko Similan

Recommendation

With over 25 dive sites spread over quite a large area and far from the mainland, so the best way to dive at Similan islands is liveaboards as you truly experience all that they have to offer at a relaxed pace. Also, there are many day trip packages, with and without accommodation, to choose from if you are short of time or prefer land based diving.

Phang-nga

Mu Ko Similan National Park

Know Before You Go

Only Similan Islands #4 and #8 allow you on land. There are trails and very beautiful viewpoints. Bring your shoes! The other islands are off limits to foot traffic. You can also include “Richelieu Rock”, a famous diving spot in a part of the Mu Ko Surin National Park, in any dive trip to the Similan Islands.

Please

Be patient and polite to other divers, as sometimes it gets crowded down there.

omprising 9 granite islands roofed in tropical rain forest, washed by clear blue seawater and blessed with white sandy beaches, they lie in a 25-km long north-south chain, 65 km offshore from Phang-nga Province in the Andaman Sea, about 100 km from Phuket. The Similan Islands offer the most stunning and diverse dive destination in Thailand, which are also in the list of the Top Ten Dive sites in the world. The eastern fringes of the islands feature pretty hard coral gardens in the shallows and sloping reef banks down to 30 m. At some dive sites; such as, “East of Eden”, large bommies (coral heads) rise from the sea bed and are blanketed with soft corals, fan corals, and swarms of smaller tropical fish. The east coast of the Similan Islands diving is relatively easy-going, allowing you plenty of time to explore the sites at your own leisurely pace. 93

The western side of the Similans along with the north and south points can offer more exciting diving as currents swirl around huge sunken granite boulders, which form a series of arches, tunnels and swim-through at sites; such as, “Christmas Point” and “Elephant Head Rock”. Growing on, and between, these enormous rocks you find a tapestry of colourful soft corals. In the channels between the boulders, sea fans can grow to some 3 m across, and in such numbers that you cannot possibly swim through. The contrast between the east and west coasts and the variety of underwater topography is one of the reasons the Similan Islands are so popular - every dive offers you something different. In front of Island #6 and Island #8, several shallow corals in various forms; such as, Staghorn coral, Foliose pore coral, Mushroom coral, etc., can be seen abundantly including colourful fish and lobsters hidden in the coral branches, especially around Island #8 which is the biggest island of the Similans and the location of a sail-shaped rock, the symbol of these islands. Apart from clear blue seawater, corals and fish, here you can also watch “Cha Pi Nai” or Nocobar pigeon and the natural landscape. On the Fourth Island, Mu Ko Similan National Park is located. Here, the service of accommodation, bathroom, restaurants, mini-mart and rental tents is offered. Most tourists prefer to stay overnight, so that they can enjoy the first sunrise and nature in the early morning.

Phang-nga

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Travel Info From Krabi, get on the speedboat at Khlong Chi Lat Pier or Hat Noppharat Thara. From Phuket, get on the boat at Ratsada Pier. It takes approximately 1 hour by speedboat or 2 hours by ferry.

GPS Location

N07° 44.609’, E98° 46.539’

Contact

Hat Noppharat Thara - Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park +66 7563 7200 +66 7566 1145

Facilities & Services

Boat, accommodation, camping sites, restaurant, and restroom.

The Coral Reef Kingdom Tremendous Dive Sites Mu Ko Phi Phi

lear bright blue sky, a striking limestone mountain range, white sandy beaches, warm sunshine, various kinds of fish, stunning coral reefs make Phi Phi Islands a heavenly destination for divers from all over the world. It consists of 6 islands. “Ko Phi Phi Don” is a home for soft and hard corals, gorgonians (sea whips or sea fans), flower corals, seahorses, Harlequin Ghost Pipefish, Morey Eels and stingrays. The popular dive site is around “Ao Nui” (15-22 m deep), perfect for snorkelling, as well as scuba diving. Located at Ton Sai Bay is another great diving spot called “Hin Dot”, which is like 3 chimneys aligned close together in a north-south direction, the deepest rising only to 16 m below the surface. The main pinnacle has 3 ledges at 3 m, 12 and 15 m, then drops down to 30 m. This provides an ever-changing underwater scenery as you slowly ascend, spiralling ever upwards.

Krabi

The east of the island is situated the “King Cruiser Wreck” at the depth of 12-30 m. Years after years, it has become a stunning and exciting wreck dive site - a habitat for hundreds of marine species. Diving here requires Advanced Open Water Skill. Near the shipwreck, “Ko Mai Pai” is situated around 3 km away from the north of Phi Phi Don. It has a long white sandy beach with crystal-clear sea water that you can see coral reefs in shallow water. The coral reefs here are very abundant and spread out for over 100 m around the island. “Ko Yung”, just 1 km away from Ko Mai Phai, has perfect abundant coral reefs in both shallow water and deep sea; such as, tabulate corals, huge branching coral, flower coral and sea fan.

Hat Noppharat Thara - Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park Map Phuket

Ko Yung

Ko Mai Phai Hin Klang

Krabi

King Cruiser Shipwreck

Ko Phi Phi Don

Hin Klai Ao Pi Le

Ko Phi Phi Le Ao Maya Ao Lo Sa Ma

Ko Bida Nok Ko Bida Nai

Recommendation

Krabi

“Ko Phi Phi Le”, another beautiful diving site especially around “Ao Loh Sa Ma”, “Ao Maya” and “Ao Pi Le”. The emerald green sea is surrounded by green mountains and abundant with cup coral, massive coral, branching coral, sea anemone and gorgonians. “Ko Pida Nai and Ko Pida Nok” are located around 2 km away from the south of Phi Phi Le. Alike ledges in the middle of the sea, it is a perfectly beautiful dive site underwater photographing as you will see cup coral, branching coral, and marine animals; such as, clownfish and freshwater butterfly fish. On the right side of “Ko Pida”, there are 2 more ledges submerged under the water from north to south called Shark Point. Brownbanded bamboo sharks and zebra sharks are often found here. Pink soft corals, fan coral, sea anemones, schools of fish and many other types of small sea life will impress and excite divers here.

Stay over on the islands for a couple of nights.

Please

Fish feeding indirectly ruins the ocean ecosystem. Do not crash or step on the coral reefs, especially the areas with strong currents.

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Travel Info From Phuket town, lots of local taxis can take you to the Chalong Bay Pier. Then get into a boat for the Islands. The boat ride will take about 20-30 minutes.

GOOGLE Geocoder 7.744162,98.371654

Contact

TAT Phuket Office +66 7621 1036 +66 7621 2213

Facilities & Services

Guide, boat, accommodation, restaurant and restroom.

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Ride a Boat across Waves and See the Underwater World Ko He and Mu Ko Racha

he area close to Phuket has many interesting diving areas. One of these places is “Ko He”. It is an island with two beautiful beaches. The island has restaurants, as well as accommodation. To the west of the island, you will find Rock coral, Branch coral, and Fan coral in a long reef. There are various colourful fish; such as, Butterfly fish, Stripped Bass, and Pennant coral fish. At the back of the island, there is a beach for you to relax and play in the water. The water is clean and clear. There is also coral here, but it is more peaceful and private. There is also “Ko Racha Yai”. The water around this island is clear all year round. The coral here is very beautiful and there is rare marine life unlike other diving spots; such as, Antler coral, Sea eels, Rays, Puffer fish and Octopus. As for “Ko Racha Noi”, it is a deep-sea diving area with a depth of 10-40 m. It has many hard coral; such as, Rock coral, Fan coral, as well as Soft coral, Sponges and Coralline. The northernmost part of the island is very suitable for scuba diving with a large rock in the middle of the sea where sometimes you will find Coral sharks and Devil rays.

4021

Karon Beach

4023

Chalong Bay Kata Beach

Coral Island Resort on Ko He provides scuba diving classes. Diving at the Ko Racha Noi requires Advanced Open Water Diver certification.

Recommendation

4024

Ko Lon Phromthep Cape

Know Before You Go

Phuket

Ko He and Mu Ko Racha Map

Ko Bon

Phanwa Cape

Ko Mai Thon

Ko He N

Purchase a travel package that includes boat service, meals, transport from and to the accommodation, and scuba gear. Prices will be low at the end of October or the beginning of May because it is during Low Season but it is not during monsoon season yet.

Ko Racha Yai Ko Racha Noi

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Travel Info From Trang town, take Highway 4046 and then 4162 to the Pak Meng Pier. It takes about 1.5 hours to Ko Kradan by a long-tail boat.

GPS Location

N7°18.727’, E99° 15.414’

Contact

TAT Trang Office +66 7521 5867 +66 7521 1058

Facilities & Services

Long-tail boat, restaurant, accommodation and grocery shop

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Snorkelling and Viewing Shallow-water Corals Ko Kradan

his is the most beautiful island of the Trang Sea, located to the west of Ko Muk and Ko Libong. It has more than 600 rai (approximately 240 acres) of land. The sand on the beaches is fine and white, and the water is clear enough to see the strips of sand beneath the water’s surface. At the northern part of the beach, tourists can see coral reefs stretching out into the sea for over 100 rai (approximately 40 acres) where you can see colourful fish swimming in the crystal clear water. This is a very attractive place which is unlike any other island. Ko Kradan has some of the most beautiful beaches of the Trang Sea. This is why this island was chosen to hold the Trang Underwater Wedding. At the northern part of the beach, tourists can see coral reefs stretching out into the sea for over 100 rai (approximately 40 acres); such as, brain corals, staghorn corals, red soft corals and many types of fish. You can also see colourful fish swimming in the crystal clear water. The beach is also a perfect place for watching

From this beach, there are paths leading to the other beaches of the island; such as, Ao Chong Lom located at the west of the island. It might not be as beautiful as the other beaches, but it is a perfect place for watching the sunset with Ko Rok in the view. This beach is small with fine, white sand like the others but there are brown rocks scattered all over, a strange view indeed. Other than that, there is Ao Niang to the south of the island. The beach has white sand stretching for about 800 m long, and in front of the beach is a coral reef which makes it another point of snorkelling and diving at Ko Kradan.

Recommendation

Bring along a snorkelling mask. The best time to travel is during November to April.

Trang

the sunrise since you would be able to see Ko Muk, Ko Waen, Ko Chueak, Ko Ma, all in a row all the way to Ko Hai.

Know Before You Go

For those who like to surf, there is a small bay behind the island. There would be huge waves constantly hitting the shores, perfect for surfing.

Festival

Within the month of February of every year, there would be an underwater wedding which has given this place a well-known reputation and is also in the Guinness World Records for having the biggest underwater wedding.

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Travel Info The Pak Bara Pier is easily connected with Satun by local Song Thaeo and with Hat Yai by mini vans. A boat ride takes about 1.5 hours.

GPS Location

N6° 35.479’, E99° 39.385’

Contact

Mu Ko Tarutao National Park +66 7478 1285 +66 7472 9002 to 3 TAT Trang Office +66 7521 5867 +66 7521 1058

Facilities & Services

Boat, accommodation, diving school and shop, restaurant and restroom.

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Heaven of Shallow Coral Reefs Ko Tarutao & Ko Adang-Rawi

n Thailand, the soft corals at Ko Tarutao and Ko AdangRawi are the most beautiful in particular at “Jabang Pinnacle” - the most popular dive sites (max depth of 18m) for snorkelling and scuba diving where the colourful corals in pink, red, purple and a variety of marine life including Seahorses, Pipefish, Lionfish, Shrimps and Nudibranchs can be found, as well as the colourful soft coral reefs. Around “Ko Yang”, the second diving point, the divers will be amazed with the beauty of various corals and colourful marine fish; such as, Staghorn coral, Leaf coral, Table coral, Sea anemone, Anemone fish, Parrot fish, Lionfish, Moray eel, Giant clam, Squid and Crab.

Know Before You Go

The boat departs to Ko Tarutao and Ko Li Pe at 11.00 a.m. and another round at 1.30 p.m. (only high season: November - April). The boat takes about 1.5 hours. For overnight camping on Ko Adang, you must contact the National Park in advance.

Satun

The other diving sites that you can’t miss them are at “Ko Rawi” where the coral reefs are found along the long beach. Next to the beach, there is an orange buoy line on the sea for identifying the reef area. Here, the divers will be stunned with various Gorgonians, fish, Starfish and Sea plants. “No Name Rocks” is the other recommended place for diving where beautiful soft corals, Gorgonians, Sea anemones and colourful fish await you. Lastly, “8 Mile Rock” is an advanced dive site, 70-minute boat ride from Ko Li Pe. It is a soft coral covered pinnacle that starts at 14 m below the surface and drops to 50 m deep. Diving is often not possible here due to the extreme currents that can be present but when you can dive, it is likely that you’ll see large pelagics including Whale sharks and Manta rays.

Recommendation

Stay over on Ko Li Pe for at least two nights.

Please

Be careful of damaging coral reefs, especially in areas with strong water currents. Please pick up trash if seen and do not take corals or seashells from the island.

Ko Tarutao & Ko Adang-Rawi Map N

Trang Andaman Sea Satun

Ko Phueng

Ko Rawi

Ko Dong Ko Hin Ngam

Ko Bitsi Ko Adang

Ko Khai

Ko Tarutao

Ko Klang

Ko Li Pe

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Life of Elephantsâ&#x20AC;ŚWonder of Siam

hai elephants have long been a part of the Thai peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s life. The elephant is considered as a royal animal, which was a great companion to Thai kings and ancestors in wars since ancient times. The elephant has been selected as the national animal of Thailand since the reign of King Rama II. The Thai elephant has also played an important role in the life of the Siamese people. They were used as a useful means of transportation in carrying agricultural produce and dragging logs and timber. This has formed a close relationship between humans and elephants, originating an exceptional lifestyle and culture. Later on, the government ended the forest concession to preserve the forest and environment. Elephants were no longer needed for logging. Therefore, elephant ecotourism has been initiated. Tourists can experience the elephantsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; cute characteristics and intelligence through various activities; such as, elephant jungle trekking, mahout training, and many impressive shows. 108

African elephants

Asian elephants

Interesting Things about Elephants

here are 2 categories of elephants in the world, Asian and African elephants. The Thai elephant is in the category of Asian elephants, elegant in feature and smart. The skin colour is usually grey mixed with light yellowish brown. The skin wrinkles are smoother than those of the African elephant. Its tail has many shorthaired tassels. From the front, the head is in triangular shape with 2 hemispherical bulges on the forehead. The trunk is beautifully round and not too pointy. They eat approximately 250-kilogramme of food. Thai elephants walk slower and shier than African elephants. Their average lifespan is around 80-90 years. In Thailand, there are wild elephants in most regions with abundant forests with creeks and streams as they like to often take a bath and are good at swimming. 109

The Bible of Elephant Training

hat makes Thai elephant riding unique is the ancient wisdom of elephant training, which has been passed on from generation to generation for over a century. This ancient wisdom is an important manual for elephant training, communication, and care. It starts from how to get on the elephantâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s back, how to take an elephant for a bath, how to feed, control and live with them, and how to be a good mahout. The close relationship between elephants and mahouts are impressively admirable. Thai mahoutsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; ability in controlling this worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s biggest animal is internationally accepted. Westerners see elephants as a dangerous animal, especially musk elephants which can be extremely dangerous. Therefore, it is amazing and rare for foreigners to see big wild animals like elephants being domesticated and trained to interact with humans.

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Standards of Elephant Camp Department of Tourism

To ensure the safety of tourists, the Department of Tourism, Ministry of Tourism and Sports, has issued the Thailand Tourism Standards for Elephant Camp Operators to follow. There are 4 components, 9 factors and 146 metrics. For examples, in terms of the elephant camp, the standard covers the camp structure, domesticated elephants, administration and management over environmental effect, safety, the enhancement of tourist confidence, database and human resource training.

Department of Livestock Development

The Bureau of Disease Control and Veterinary Services has set the standards according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperativesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; notification. The Standards aim to standardise the quality of elephant camps, tourist safety, services and the management of environment and elephant wellbeing. This will improve the quality of life to elephants, mahouts and operators. 111

Elephant Trekking Vs 7 Greens Follow the tourist attractionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s rules and regulations, and the officersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; instructions. Dispose of the waste and garbage in the provided bin. If possible, take the garbage and waste to dispose of outside the tourist attraction. Limit the number of rounds, showtimes and duration for elephant shows or elephant trekking activities for each elephant, considering its age and health. Elephant camps should educate visitors about the care and importance of elephants, lifestyle of mahouts, as well as encourage tourist participation in conservation.

Set the Tourism Carrying Capacity (TCC) which covers the number of visitors per day, to minimise the damage done to the tourist attraction. Members of the community or the tourism-related associations should help educate and encourage the whole community to participate in the environmental and cultural conservation.

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Carpool when travelling with friends or use a pick-up service provided by the elephant camp. Fewer cars will be driven, reducing fuel consumption and carbon dioxide emissions.

Use natural material; such as, banana leaf, to pack food to eat in the jungle. Use local materials in servicing visitors, for example, food, welcome drinks (herbal drink, coconut juice, fruit wine, etc). The Thai Elephant Conservation Centre in Lampang uses alternative energy initiated by the Royal Project Foundation. Biogas from elephant dung and solar cells have been used to generate electricity. The Centre has very well made itself a Green Attraction, according to the Tourism Authority of Thailand’s 7 Greens Concept. Elephant camps should have an official licence for using elephants in the shows. The animal‘s welfare should be according to the rules and regulations. Help plant trees in forests and along the streams or help grow forages for national park’s and wildlife sanctuary’s animals. These plants will also help to absorb carbon dioxide.

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Where to do Elephant Trekking Important Elephant Camps in Thailand Place

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Season To Visit Activity

28 Patara Elephant Camp Chiang Mai

All year long Elephant riding

Lampang 29 Thai Elephant Conservation Centre

All year long Elephant riding

Surin 30 Ban Ta Klang Elephant Study Centre

All year long Elephant riding, Mahout training, Show

31 Ranti River

View more details about Elephant Trekking at http://adventure. tourismthailand.org/eng/ elephant.php

Province

Kanchanaburi All year long Elephant riding, Mahout training

32 Namtok Khlong Phlu TratKo Chang

Nov - Apr

Elephant riding, Mahout training, Show

33 Hua Hin Hills Vineyard

Prachuap Khiri Khan

Jan - Mar

Elephant riding

34 Khao Sok

Surat Thani

Nov - Apr

Elephant riding

35 Amazing Bukit Safari Phuket

All year long Elephant riding

34 35

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Travel Info From Chiang Mai town, take Highway 108 and turn right at the Big C junction to Samoeng District. Continue along Highway 121, you will automatically enter Highway 1269. Then drive for 29 km. and you will see the farm entrance on the right.

GPS Location

N18° 48.18’, E098° 50.32’

Contact

Patara Elephant Camp +668 1671 0958 +668 1992 2551 www.pataraelephantfarm.com

Facilities & Services

Guide, food accommodation, restroom, bathroom, souvenir shop, transfer, video and photography services.

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A Memorable Adventure with Your New Big Friend Patara Elephant Camp

his green field in a small valley with the natural stream is a small elephant nature camp. This camp might be small in size, but it has great happiness of humans and elephants living together naturally. This is not an open camp where you can tour or see the elephant shows or ride an elephant into the forest. This place calls itself as a “farm” because it is a place to teach the real natural life of elephants by encouraging people to realise the value and importance of elephants. Here they do not ask for sympathy but ask for the true understanding in the nature and mind of elephants. The highlight adventure here is we will live and learn together with the elephant for 1 whole day under a restricted number of tourists. Everyone will have an elephant of their own to take care of for the entire day. Prior to the beginning of the adventure, you will be told about the history of elephants and how they became the symbol of Thailand.

Know Before You Go

Then you are getting to start by knowing the elephantsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; name and how to communicate. You will learn how to observe the elephantâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s health and how to feed and clean it correctly by yourself. You will also learn how to naturally ride the elephant as the real elephant keepers do (no regular platform). You have to know how to instruct and ride on the elephant without hurting it. Moreover, there is no howdah (a seat fastened on the back of an elephant) which can cause an indirect injury to the elephant here. You will have a chance to ride the elephant through the forest, water, mud and the mountain trail enjoying the scenic nature like a real elephant keeper. You will take the elephant to the waterfall, eat with it and take a photo together to have a good memory.

Chiang Mai

Recommendation

This activity must be booked at least 7 days in advance. What makes the farmâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s owner different is he really knows and understands the elephants. So he built this farm with his heart and will. The key of this farm is to breed elephants and protect them from becoming extinct. The farm also offers the elephant riding service for elders and the disabled.

Defining Experience

The end of the elephant riding route is a beautiful waterfall. Upon reaching the destination, everyone will picnic together in a real natural style; such as, having meal served on a banana leaf. Then you can relax or enjoy playing with the elephant in the river.

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Travel Info From Lampang, take Highway 11 (Lampang-Chiang Mai). Thai Elephant Conservation Centre is on the right, between Km 28 and Km 29.

GPS Location

N18° 21.52’, E99° 14.53’

Contact

Thai Elephant Conservation Centre +66 5482 9333 www.thailandelephant.org

Facilities

Tour guide, homestay, food, restroom and parking.

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Live, Learn, Ride Like a Mahout Thai Elephant Conservation Centre

reviously a training centre of baby elephants, the place has now become the Thai Elephant Conservation Centre, or the National Elephant Institute. It is considered to be the first mahout-training centre in the world, as well as an elephant hospital, in other words, Elephant Nature Park. Here, there are many veterinarians and mahouts ready to take care and provide medical care for sick and old elephants nationwide free of charge. Not only is it a research centre studying the nature of elephants, but also an attraction for tourists who want to have the ultimate mahout experience.

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Lampang

Hang Chat Ko Kha

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Thai Elephant Conservation Centre

Mae Tha To Tak

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Awards

The Thai Elephant Conservation Centre has received the Award of Excellence for Recreational Attraction from the Tourism Authority of Thailand in 1998.

Lampang

The Thai Elephant Conservation Centre provides homestay accommodation for tourists who are interested in the programme. Tourists will learn the techniques of elephant riding, elephant bathing, and elephant training. They will dine with mahouts and exchange experiences with them. Most importantly, they will also get to be a part of the elephant show, performed daily to visitors at the Centre. The programme starts with mahouts taking elephants to bathe and leading elephants to walk back in a row to the staging area; adorably holding each otherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s tail with their trunks. The show is followed by the demonstration of logging techniques. Tourists will get to enjoy the peaceful nature through elephant riding and trekking in the forest, experiencing the lifestyle and culture of a mahout at the Mahout Village. The show will end with the demonstration of recycling elephant dung into fibre pulp, used in the production of dung paper.

Know Before You Go

Open daily from 9.30 a.m. to 3.30 p.m. An annual event called Kantoke Chang / Satoke Chang or, the grand elephant feast, will be held on the first Friday and Saturday of February. Mahouts will ride over 70 elephants down from the mountain to enjoy specially prepared food in this event in a well-trained manner. Additionally, a religious ceremony, hindu ritual and Mot-Meng Spiritual Dance (the ritual of ancestor veneration) will be held to bring luck and prosperity to Lampang province.

Recommendation

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hrae

The mahout homestay experience should be booked with the minimum of 7 days in advance.

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Travel Info Located at Ban Ta Klang, Krapho Sub-district, Tha Tum District. From Surin town, take Highway 214 (Surin-Roi Et) and turn left at km 36, then drive along the road for 22 km.

GPS Location

N15° 17.270’, E103° 29.140’

Contact

Ban Ta Klang Elephant Study Centre +66 4414 5050 +66 4451 1975 TAT Surin Office +66 4451 4447 to 8

Facilities & Services

Guide, accommodation, food, souvenir shop, restroom and parking

Way of Elephant! Way of life! The World’s Largest Domestic Elephant Home Ban Ta Klang Elephant Study Centre

xperience a wonderful bond between the elephant and the Kui people “where the elephant is like one of their family” not just an animal kept for work. The elephants here can amazingly be trained to be domesticated constituting the way of life between human and elephants which has eventually become the interesting belief, tradition and culture expressing

a most precious relationship. The Kui have had their own way of keeping elephants since the old times. They believe that “the elephant’s happiness is our family’s happiness”. The older elephants will be respected as their grandparents, while the younger elephants will be loved as their children. 120

Impression

Surin

Visitors here can learn the simple life of the Ban Ta Klang villagers by riding the elephant around the village, seeing the elephantâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s talent, learning the Kuiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s tricks to be the elephant keeper and walking the elephant across the river to clean up. These activities can count as once in a lifetime activities. There are also the traditions and other festival activities; such as, the Elephant Ordination which has been carried on for over 200 years, the Alms Giving on Elephants festival during the Buddhist Lent day of each year, the Surin Elephant Round-up around November where all elephants in Thailand get together, the Kui Marriage on Elephants in February, and the Songkran Festival in April.

Most houses have elephants as their family members whom they respect and love each other showing a deep and delicate bond between human and animals.

Recommendation

Stop by the Elephant Museum in the village first, so you can understand their history and have more fun with the adventure.

Know Before You Go

There are two rounds of the Elephant Show starting at 10.00 a.m. and 2.00 p.m. They also offer the Home Stay Programme here teaching how to be an elephant keeper.

Please

Support the local community by purchasing local products and respect the Kui lifestyle.

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Travel Info The meeting point is at P. Guest House Resort, located on the right just before you reach the Mon Bridge.

GPS Location

N15° 8.859’, E98° 26.981’

Contact

P. Guest House Resort +66 3459 5061 +668 1450 2783 www.p-guesthouse.com

Facilities & Services

Tour guide, shuttle service, parking, bathroom, restaurant and accommodation.

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Trek on Elephants and Raft down the Ranti River

he elephant ride and rafting is under the supervision of P. Guest House Resort. They are run 4 times a day, starting at 7.00 a.m., 9.00 a.m., 11.00 a.m. and the final at 1.00 p.m. The elephant camp here has no specific name though it is well known as P. Guest House’s elephant camp. It began providing the elephant rides more than 20 years ago at Bikhli River before moving to Ranti River after the dam was built. There are 10 elephants and Thai-speaking Karen elephant trainers that were born and raised along with the elephants. What stands out about this elephant camp is the surrounding jungle and the elephant paths used are the most untouched wilderness in Kanchanaburi. That may be the reason why the elephants here live very long lives. Have an adventure on elephant back for three hours into the jungle, crossing waterways and up mountains, to a Karen village. Afterward go on an exciting trip on a bamboo raft and experience the nature on the Ranti River in the middle of the mountains going through basins alternating with rapids. The Ranti River begins from the Naresuan Field and flows past Kong Mong Tha Village to empty into the Vijiralongkorn Dam.Tourists will have a chance to experience nature to the fullest.

Recommendation

Kanchanaburi

Know Before You Go

This 4-hour tour programme includes a boat trip to visit the Mon Bridge and the Sunken Temple. Select a long raft and make sure the bamboo is fairly new because it will float better. If you fall into the water do not be alarmed. The water is shallow enough to stand in. In areas in which the water flows rapidly just let yourself float down the river and grab hold of some weeds on the banks of the river. You should eat and use the bathroom at the resort before departing.

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Travel Info On the western side of Ko Chang, lots of local buses can take you there.

GPS Location

N12° 3.74’, E102° 18.539’

Contact

TAT Trat Office +66 3959 7259 to 60

Facilities & Services

Tour guide, elephant, restroom and parking.

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Elephant trekking to the Waterfall Namtok Khlong Phlu

he mascot of the island (elephants) would take you to explore the nature of the island. The glamour of riding an elephant has always been an unforgettable memory and also gives a chance to experience nature in another aspect. The journey starts by getting on an elephant at a boarding point heading towards the Khlong Phlu Waterfall. The tourists would have a great time exploring the beauty of nature on Ko Chang, passing rivers and mountains. The majority of Ko Chang is tall and steep, widely covered by a rich tropical forest that consists of many rare tropical plants. It is also an origin of many streams and is a habitat for many types of wild animals. During the journey, you would have a great time with many of the activities along the way; such as, bathing the elephant, and training the elephants to transport lumber.

Know Before You Go

There are 4-5 boarding ports for the elephants, and each port has different paths and activities.

Please

Trat-Ko Chang

When you reach the waterfall, you would have to get off the elephant and travel by foot along the stream and even climb some rocks to get to the waterfall. It would not take too long to get there. The Khlong Phlu Waterfall is the biggest waterfall on the island of Ko Chang, which has water pouring down from it throughout the whole year; therefore, it is a good place to observe nature. You would be surrounded by a rich tropical rain forest with many rare tropical trees; such as, orchids, and wild ferns. The highest level of the waterfall has water pouring from a cliff about 30 m high down into a large pond that is free for all people to play in.

Do not bring any containers that are made of foam or plastic into the National Park.

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Elephant Ride through the Grape Field in a Mediterranean Atmosphere. Hua Hin Hills Vineyard

Travel Info From Hua HIn town, the easiest way is to take a van provided by Siam Winery, which leaves from Hua Hin Market Village daily, except on Mondays at 10.30 a.m. and 3.00 p.m.

GPS Location

N12° 31.36’, E99° 42.457’

Contact

Hua Hin Hill Vineyard +668 1701 0222 +668 1701 0444 www.huahinhillsvineyard.com

Facilities & Services

Elephant ride, bicycle rental, restaurant, restroom and parking.

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Prachuap Khiri Khan

ho would have thought that numerous grape orchards could be found quietly hidden in Hua Hin? Visiting is also unlike other places. Besides learning about grape growing as you harvest grapes holding a pair of shearers, you can also ride a friendly elephant to traverse the orchard. You can see the beautiful scenery of the mountains. From the elevated viewpoint on the elephantâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s back, the light green leaves of the grapevines go as far as the eyes can see. In combination with the luscious green mountains and the light breeze, the atmosphere becomes similar to a vineyard of the Mediterranean. For those of you who fear heights, you can bike along the trail instead. There are 2 trails. One is a flat 3 km trail. Another trail is a steep 1 km trail for serious cyclists. Do not miss wining and dining at The Sala Wine Bar and Bistro where the wine never runs out and the Chef is first class.

Know Before You Go

The best time to visit is during February and March, during the grape harvesting season.

Open Hours

on Tuesdays-Sundays including long holidays from 11.00 a.m. to 6.00 p.m.

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Travel Info From Surat Thani town, take Highway 401 (Surat ThaniTakuapa) for 109 km. You will see the junction to the National Park on your right. However, the tour package includes a free pickup service from your accommodation in Phuket, Phang-nga or Krabi, which is more convenient and wastes less fuel.

GPS Location

N8° 54.991’, E98° 31.686’

Contact

Khao Sok National Park +66 7739 5139 +66 7739 5154-5

Facilities & Services

Tour guide, restaurant, restroom, accommodation and parking

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Jungle Trekking and Canoeing to See Rare Plants and Animals Khao Sok

After having lunch you can enjoy canoeing along Khlong Sok and take pictures for 1.5 hours. The evening is the perfect time to take a car ride to view the mountains at sunset, as well as catch the villagers during their evening activities; such as, shopping at the small local market or watering their vegetables and other agricultural activities. Such lifestyles are so pleasant and charming.

Experience

The warmth and genuineness of the villagers. They are very welcoming and sincere because they truly believe you are their guests.

Surat Thani

ourists can choose to explore Khao Sok either on foot or by elephant-back. Khao Sok is a rainforest that is wet almost all year round because of the dual influences of the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand. See the miraculous variety of wildlife and plant life coexisting in much complexity. This area has given birth to many unique species of plants; such as, Bua Phut which has the largest flower in Thailand. The flower is red and when bloomed is about 50-90 cm wide. It is a rare sight indeed. There are also many different animals; such as, Asian tapir, Bengal tiger, Clouded leopard, Gaur, Banteng, and more than 200 different birds. Travel takes about 2 hours. Along the way you will be able to see the way of life of the villagers that follow the sustainable living philosophy.

Khow Before You Go

Bua Phut is a very rare flower, growing in only a hand-full of countries in the world. Most importantly they bloom for only 7-14 days of the year between the months of November-February.

Please

Do not touch the Bua Phut flower because it will shorten the length of time that it blooms.

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Travel Info From Thai Nan Intersection (Central Festival Phuket), take the route of West Chaofa Road and drive straight ahead for approximately 8 km. Turn right and drive on the route to Wat Sin Supharam (New temple of Luangpu Supha) before reaching Wat Chalong, it is on the left-hand side.

GPS Location

N7° 51.566’, E98° 19.565’

Contact

+66 7626 4378 to 80 www.amazingbukitsafari.com

Facilities & Services

Transfer, food, tour guide, toilet and parking.

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Elephant Adventure Experiences Amazing Bukit Safari

huket is not only famous for its beaches and variety of beautiful marine creatures, but tourists can also take an adventure in an amazing environment of forests at Amazing Bukit Safari. Here is the place where all adventure and tourism locations are situated and which allow tourists to experience close interactions with elephants in private and comfortable surroundings. For example, riding elephants through the valleys and jungle, learning way of the elephant life, and enjoying the show of marvellous elephants that will put a smile on your face for the rest of the day. Apart from the experience of riding through the forest and hill surroundings on an elephant’s back, there are many other interesting tourism activities available at Amazing Bukit Safari; such as, ox cart riding for viewing the lifestyle of the rural people, a monkey show, a trekking tour, riding and showering tame buffaloes, rubber tap demonstrations, kayaking to view the lifestyle of the fishermen, an ATV adventure, as well as a Thai cooking show.

Phuket

Know Before You Go

Open daily from 8.30 a.m to 6.00 p.m. There are various types of tour programmes available here and you can select activities ranging in duration from 2 hours to a full day.

Recommendation

Reservations should be made at least 3-7 days in advance, especially in the high season which starts from November and ends in April.

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Introduction

ock climbing is one of the adventurous activities for those who love challenge, excitement and outdoor sports. At the beginning, rock climbers are mostly foreigners who travel to Thailand, especially at Ao Railay in Krabi. Ao Railay is home to beautiful white sandy beaches, blue sea with stunning limestone cliffs towering into clear blue sky. Although it is considered as a dangerous activity, rock climbing is increasingly popular among international and domestic tourists. As a result, many more travel agencies have added rockclimbing activities in their tour programmes, and some have also included rappelling, jungle and waterfall trekking, as well as cave exploration in the trip. Many new rock-climbing sites have been introduced; each has its own uniqueness and beauty. There is an annual international rock-climbing competition.

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Types of Rock Climbing BOULDERING is the form of rock climbing undertaken without a rope and for the height of around 3-5 metres. Instead of ascending and descending from the cliff, bouldering usually involves sideways traversing. The purpose is to enhance your physical strength, endurance and climbing technique. If climbers regularly practice bouldering, their rock-climbing skill will be quickly developed. FREE SOLO is a type of rock climbing where the climber does not use ropes. Despite its similarity with bouldering, free solo is vertical climbing to a greater height like a mountainâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s peak while bouldering is sideway traversing. No ropes, harnesses and protective gear are used. The climber relies on his/her physical strength, climbing skill and psychological fortitude only. FREE CLIMBING is the style of rock climbing, which requires a high level of climbing technique, experience, physical strength and psychological fortitude. Though ropes and other forms of climbing protection are employed to prevent falls, they do not guarantee the safety. Free climbing usually involves conquering a mountainâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s peak or high cliff. SPORTS CLIMBING is the type of rock climbing which requires similar climbing equipment to Free Climbing but has a higher level of safety. The climbing route is already prepared, and permanent anchors and bolts are already fixed to the rock. Sports Climbing has received increasing popularity due to its safety. The climber can quickly develop his/her skill. Abseiling or Rappelling is another popular adventurous activity, which is the controlled descent down a rock using a rope, climbing gear, personal skills and many rappelling techniques. Mostly, rappelling is considered as a safe activity.

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Thailand Tourism Standards for Rock Climbing

o ensure the safety of tourists who choose to participate in Rock Climbing, the Department of Tourism has issued the Thailand Tourism Standards for Rock Climbing operators and sites to provide guidelines on the sport with emphasis on safety for participants. For more information, visit http://www.tourism.go.th

I. Standard for Rock Climbing Operators There are three criteria that operators must achieve in order to meet the standard. They are for:

1. Administration and management

• An operating licence from a domestic or internal agency, or the Department of Tourism • Permission from the site owners to organise rock climbing • Experienced rock climbing supervisors • Well-trained staff in rock climbing, rescue and first aid • Equipment readiness • Standard of transport • Safety assurance • Operation and management

2. Information for rock climbing tourists 3. Cooperation from local communities

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II. Standard for Rock Climbing Sites 1. Nature of rock formations and outstanding features 2. Suitability as an enjoyable rock climbing amenity • Accessibility of sites • Mode of transport (by foot/by vehicle) • Ability to access a site all year round

3. Administration and management

• Notification and enforcement of the rules and regulations • Availability of information signage, board, information centre • Availability of route maps and handbooks • Availability of safety equipment installed on cliffs or rock formations

• Availability of accommodation, restaurants, toilets and parking area • Availability of trash bins and collection time • Availability of clinics: location and service hours • Availability of trained security guards, warning systems and signboards • Examine of rock formation changes • Record of rock climbing activity • Resource restoration plans

4. Giving information to rock climbing tourists 5. Participation of local communities

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Introduction of Basic Rock-climbing Gear

he safety of rock climbing does not rely on personal skills or experiences only. The rockclimbing equipment is as important and should be as follows: Harness A nylon webbing tied around the waist, used to secure a person to a piece of rope or an anchor point. It can hold a weight of up to 2 tons. Quickdraw A short nylon webbing with 2 carabiners connected on both ends. It is used to connect the climbing rope to bolt anchors or other protection to prevent falls. Carbonate Bag A bag of powder that improves grip by absorbing sweat on the hands. It is usually attached to the back of a waist belt for easy access. Kermantle Rope A special rope, designed for carrying the weight of up to 2 tons. The standard length is 45, 50 and 60 m.

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Carabiner An aluminum loop with the ability to carry up to 2 tons in weight. Despite its various sizes, there are only 2 categories - locking and non-locking. If used with a harness, a locking carabiner should be used. Belay Device A mechanical friction brake device, allowing the climber to control the belay rope and descending speed. Examples of belay devices are Grigri, Figure Eight, ATC, etc. Rock-climbing Shoes Specialised footwear designed for rock climbing. The soles are made of special smooth sticky rubber. It is produced with a downward pointing toe box, enabling the climber to stand on small holds of rocks. The climber should choose the correct size for a perfect fit.

Safety Measures & Precautions Rock climbing and rappelling have a higher risk than white-water rafting and paddling. Therefore, the climber should be fully prepared, including warming up. An amateur rock climber should always have an experienced and skilled belayer assisting him/her. Both climber and belayer should pay full attention to each other and always look for signals from the other party for the climber’s safety. Figure Eight Loop is a very important rock-climbing knot. The climber should know how to tie this type of knot. Always wear climbing shoes, specially designed for rock climbing only. If feeling tired during the ascent, the climber should take a break. No need to rush to the finish point. Do not look down to the ground. Focus on the anchors, bolts or gripping points only. Do not let go of your brake hand. Do not step on ropes or any climbing gear.

Rescue

• • • •

The rescue officers should be professionally trained on techniques, climbing gear and rescue equipment. Always keep in mind that if using it wrongly, it can cost a life. Apart from officers’ personal protective equipment, the rock-climbing site should also supply other victim rescue equipment; such as, Personal First-Aid Kit, Team First-Aid Kit, Stretcher/ Litter, Neck Brace, Spinal Board, Victim Harness, Splint, Carabiner, Tubular Webbing and other necessary equipment. Officers should be fully trained on the usage of stretcher, so they can bring the injured climber down from the mountain to the medical team safely. Rescue officers should have Pre-Hospital Training, which should be regularly and efficiently conducted, so they can help the injured climber immediately.

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Rock Climbing Vs 7 Greens Do not use too much chalk because it is a chemical that can cause damage to the environment. Always put your waste and garbage in the bin to help save the environment. Set up a tent in the provided campsite only. Give a clear instruction on what climbers should or should not do when rock climbing. Explain the reasons why it is crucial for tourists to give full cooperation. Warn climbers about behaviours that could damage environmental resources. Set the Tourism Carrying Capacity (TCC), in terms of the number of tourists and rock climbing routes. Give full support to government agencies and local government organisation in protecting and maintaining the tourist sites. Organise the training or send appropriate human resources for training to increase the standard of rock climbing and rescue. Organise the training or send appropriate human resources for training to increase the service standard. Arrange environmental-friendly transportation for tourists; for example, horse carriage, cart or bicycle. 140

Commute by train instead of by plane. If you bring your own car, try a Car Pool so few cars will be used. Use a limousine service from a rock climbing agency. Using fewer cars results in less consumption of petrol and less carbon dioxide emissions.

Use local products for servicing visitors; such as, local food, welcome drinks (herbal drinks, coconut juice, fruit wine, etc), pottery tableware and basketry. Motivate visitors to participate in ecotourism.

Have good management of solid waste, from the reduction of waste, especially the non-recycled one, to the categorization and disposal of waste, in order to reduce the greenhouse effect.

Form a team of volunteers to clean the rockclimbing area.

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Where to do Rock Climbing Rock Climbing Areas in Thailand Place

View more details about Rock Climbing at http://adventure. tourismthailand.org/ eng/rock_climbing.php

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Province

Season to Visit

Type

Height

36 Spirit Well Cave Mae Hong Son Nov - Apr

Abseiling 140 m.

37 Crazy Horse Cliff Chiang Mai

Nov - Apr

Climbing/ 15-60 m. Bouldering

38 Kio Lom Dam

Lampang

Nov - Apr

Climbing/ 10-20 m. Free Solo

39 Namtok Wang Tum

Phetchabun

Jun - Feb

Abseiling 40 m.

40 Namtok Than Rattana

Nakhon Nayok Jun - Feb

Abseiling 18-70 m.

41 Railay Bay

Krabi

Climbing/ 10-75 m. Bouldering

Nov - Apr

36 37 38

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Travel Info From Mae Hong Son, take Highway 1095 heading towards Pai district and turn left to Highway 1226. Once passing through Mae Lana Checkpoint for 5 km, you will reach the entrance of Luk Khao Larm Village. Park your car there and walk up the hill through Pai Forest for another 40 minutes.

GPS Location

N19° 41.349’, E98° 8.397’

Contact

HyperVenture Team +66 86576 5158 +66 2748 9625 www.hyperventure.com The Peak Adventure +66 5380 0567 to 8 www.thepeakadventure.com

Facilities & Services

Rock climbing gear, tent, car service, tour guides.

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Spirit Well Cave

he Spirit Well Cave, also known in Thai as “Tham Nam Bo Phi”, is Lahu people’s spirit cave. It is considered the biggest and deepest sinkhole in Thailand with the size as big as 2 football fields. The most amazing part is the 140 m depth, measured from the opening to the lowest point. The only way in and out is by 1-hour rappelling down and 2-hour climbing up the ropes. Cavers have to trust their lives with 2 strings of ropes and a few pieces of equipment for rappelling to the lush rainforest down there. Once reaching the floor of the sinkhole, you will be stunned by thousands of beautiful stalactites in different sizes on the ceiling of this vast cave, clearly showing the moment of the earth’s surface. The fault lines of rock layers at the cave’s wall, as well as piles of rock falling down on the slopes, which is covered with fine-grained dust, evidence its age of thousands of years. You will feel like you have journeyed back to the pre-historic era, especially when you looking around and find that you are surrounded by lush green rainforest and the sound of birds chirping from the deep forest far away. After sunset, fog will descend downwards to the bottom of the sinkhole. At sunrise, you will see the golden sun shining down the hole, making it even more excitingly mysterious.

Know Before You Go

Before starting the rock climbing adventure, you will be trained with professional instructors and guides. An overnight accommodation is available at the bottom of the sinkhole at Cave Lodge.

Mae Hong Son

Rappelling into the Sinkhole: Unlock the World Mystery

Recommendation

The most important thing for rappelling is to stay hydrated. Find out the story why it is named “Spirit Well Cave” and do experience the local lifestyles and cultures of Black Lahu villagers at Luk Khao Lam Village.

Please

Do not build or light a campfire and leave nothing there when you leave.

Best Time to Visit

All year long, except during the heavy rain.

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Travel Info From Chiang Mai city, drive along Highway 1006 (Chiang Mai -San Kamphaeng-On Luai) and turn left to Highway 1317 (Chiang Mai-Ban Sahakorn), then follow the sign to Wat Tham Mueang On.

GPS Location

N18° 47.325’, E99° 14.286’

Contact

The Peak Adventure +66 5380 0567 to 8 www.thepeakadventure.com

Facilities & Services

Facilities: Climbing gear, trainer, transfer, toilet, food and parking.

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Ideal for Adrenaline Challenge, Testing the Height of Crazy Horse Cliff

he mountain at Mueang On Cave has its own beauty with its height reaching 150 m. There are two sides of the mountain, with the first side being a huge and stunning cave where tourists can enjoy exploring inside the cave and view the peculiarity of animalshaped stalagmites and stalactites. The other side of the mountain is a steep limestone cliff with a height of 60 - 80 m. This huge and spectacular cliff is very much suitable for climbing. Due to the unique shape of the rock, it looks very similar to the shape of a horse’s head. That’s why it is named as “Crazy Horse”. Cliff climbers are able to walk around this hill in order to find preferable climbing trails depending, of course, on the skills and experience of each individual. The trails range from the beginner level up to the expert level.

You do not need to have any cliff climbing experience because there are professional trainers available to teach you the basic skills here.

Chiang Mai

Know Before You Go

Recommendation

Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t forget to explore the amazing stalagmites and stalactites and pay respect to the Buddha image inside the Mueang On Cave.

Safety

For novice climbers, you will be trained in the Introduction to Top Rope Climbing Course to learn the necessary basic techniques which will allow you to enjoy cliff climbing safely. Once you have been trained in the Top Rope Course, you will be ready for the thrill of abseiling from the 50 m cliff to the cave entrance. These two brief courses are perfectly suitable for beginners who have never climbed before but would like to have a fun experience in climbing here.

Our professional cliff climbing trainers use high quality climbing equipment and are qualified from reliable institutes in North America. They are highly skilled and are able to provide first-class technical support.

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Travel Info The dam is located at Tham Pha Thai National Park. To go there from Lampang town, drive along the Highway No.1 (Lampang-Ngao) for about 38 km and turn left at km 623 to the Highway No.1335. Then drive for approximately 14 km. and you will find Kio Lom Dam.

Contact

The Peak Adventure +66 5380 0567 to 8 www.thepeakadventure.com

Facilities & Services

Guide, raft, kayak, long-tail boat, food, accommodation and restroom.

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Rafting, Climbing Rock, Exploring Cave and Spending Nights in a Little House in the Big Woods Kio Lom Dam

io Lom Dam is a large dam blocking the Wang River, a main river of Lampang province and the North of Thailand. This dam is not just meant for irrigation, but also to be one of the main attractions in Lampang and the North. Rock climbing is a very popular activity here since the rock stands over the charming area surrounded by a scenic river view, calm atmosphere, fresh air, cool breeze, shady plant, complex mountain range and peaceful privacy. This area comprises steep limestone mountains landscape, cloudy and misty sky, and a touch of a gentle breeze surrounded by a wide area of water. The depth of the water and the colour of moss underneath make the damâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s water look emerald green.

Lampang

There is also a medium-high climbing spot perfect for making Deep Water Solo Jump to cool down the heat by jumping from the specified spot and then diving into the pretty deep water. This kind of play will raise your adrenaline. If you are getting exhausted from rock climbing, you can unload you gear and enjoy swimming, dabbling or kayaking along a slow flow of water to explore the beautiful and tranquil Tham Sombator Treasure Cave. In World War II, this particular cave used to be a base of the Japanese Army. If the aforesaid activities are not your choice, you can just have a relaxing time sunbathing on the shore and watching schools of fish swimming around, or enjoy observing the fishermanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lifestyle, or pick up a book and listen to the melody of the birds and wild fowl.

To L

Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Hot!

1035

amp

The starry sky and charming moonlight make a romantic night perfectly for a couple who wants some privacy, as well as, family and a group of friends who are fond of the real naturally peaceful atmosphere.

Ban Samphao Thong Pier

ang Kio Lom Lake

Know Before You Go

The dam is open daily from 6.00 a.m. - 6.00 p.m. Zero experience in rock climbing is fine because we have a professional team ready to teach you the basis. Here we have either the easy and fun climbing spot for the beginners or the tough and rough climbing spot for the experts who are looking for a challenge and excitement.

Pha Ngam Treasure Cave

Pha Kiang

Recommendation

Book the trip at least 3-7 days in advance and spend at least a night on the dam.

Ko Chuan Fan Cape Lek Lai Cave

Wang

Kio Lom Dam River

Kio Lom Pier To Lampang

a ang R i h C To

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Travel Info Located in Khao Kho National Park. From Phetchabun town, just drive along the Highway 21 and turn left to continue on Highway 12 until reaching Camp Son Sub-district.

GPS Location

N16° 52.216’, E100° 52.986’

Contact

Khao Kho Explorer +668 9894 9211 www.khaokhoexplorer.com TAT Phitsanulok Office +66 5525 2742 to 3

Facilities & Services

Guide, safety guide, food, restroom and parking lot.

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new travelling style at Khao Kho, the ideal combination between the ecological and adventurous activities, has Namtok Wang Tum, an essential waterfall of Dong Long villagers in Khao Kho District that is only known by a few people, as a highlight of its activities. Raise your heartbeat with waterfall rock climbing using standardised safety equipment under supervision of our professional team. Prior to the beginning of your adventure, the demonstration and training of equipment usage will be provided. Then we start by trekking through the woods, passing some rocks and crossing the river. After enjoying the rich green forest for almost 1 km, we reach Wang Tum Waterfall, where you can feel the extreme excitement by roping down through the water curtain at the height of 40 m or a 12 -storeyed building! A hero who dares to go first will get a chance to relax in water waiting for the friends to come down. Then we will take a little walk along the shady trail lined with trees to the natural sliding ridge where all adventurers have to slide themselves into the swamp. Apart from roping, you can also try the jungle cable flight or a Tarzan Swing before heading back.

Know Before You Go

The adventure tour is available only on weekends, twice a day at 8.30 a.m. and 1.00 p.m. Weekday service is available upon request. Maximum 12 people per trip.

Phetchabun

Abseiling on the Cliff through the Wang Tum Waterfall

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Travel Info Located in Khao Yai National Park. From Bangkok, take Highway 305 and continue on Highway 33 until the Noen Hom Junction. And then take a left turn to Highway 3077 for about 51 km.

GPS Location

N14° 14.267’, E101° 22.614’

Contact

Sarika Adventure Point www.sarikaadventurepoint.com +66 3761 6164 +668 1251 8317

Facilities & Services

Tour guide, restroom, cloth changing room and parking.

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Abseiling on the 4 Cliffs 5 Waterfalls into a Kayak Namtok Than Rattana

ne hour before your adventure begins, there is a short tutorial and practice for abseiling and kayaking, at Khao Loan Adventure Centre. This is to test the adventurer’s spirits, upper body strength, readiness of equipment, as well as to divide rations. Then you travel to Khao Yai National Park where a park ranger will guide you to “Than Rattana Waterfall”. The path you will travel runs along a stream lined with rocks and luscious forest that you can view. After a short while, you reach the “Song Pee Nong Waterfall” the first area you can abseil from. At a height of only 70 m or roughly a 20-storey building it will give you a taste of the excitement of abseiling. The first people down will get to rest in the refreshing water below while waiting for their friends still above. Walk onward to the second cliff with a height of 18 m. Abseil down beside the first level of the “Namtok Song Sawan” or “Two Heavens Waterfall”. Take a lunch break surrounded by forest and waterways and eat sticky-rice wrapped in banana leaves with a choice of fried pork or fried snakehead murrel.

Know Before You Go

Make a booking in advance is highly recommended. Sarika Adventure Tour provides all necessary accessories for this trip including hiking shoes and dry bags.

Nakhon Nayok

After the one hour break you will cross the water and head toward the third cliff, the second level of the Two Heavens Waterfall. Abseil excitingly down the 38 m of the waterfall after which you travel, following the waterway, for about 45 minutes, to the final cliff. Go down the Wang Bo Waterfall and there will be colourful kayaks waiting for you at the bottom. Travel by kayak until you reach the banks of the river, a distance of 800 m.

Recommendation

Arrive at the National Park before 9.00 a.m. and bring a change of clothing because you will definitely get wet.

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Travel Info There are many local buses leaving from Krabi town to Hat Ao Nang or Chao Fa Pier, and then take a long-tail boat about 20 minutes to Ao Railay.

Google Geocode

8.011828,98.837467

Contact

Railay Rock Climbing Club +668 9294 0686 +668 1797 2517 TAT Krabi Office +66 7562 2163 +66 7561 2811-2

Facilities & Services

Rock climbing instructor & equipment, food, long-tail boat and restroom.

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Two Baysâ&#x20AC;ŚOver 600 Trails Towards a Cliff Hangerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Haven Ao Railay

he glamour of climbing at Railay Bay are the surroundings decorated by limestone cliffs, emerald sea water, beaches reaching out to the corners of the sky, and cliffs that are ideal for real cliff hangers. Railay Bay is separated into 2 sides: The Eastern Railay Bay and the Western Railay Bay. Tourists who claim to be true cliffhangers and crave excitement will need to get on a boat at the western bay because the limestone cliff on that side has the suitable height for climbing. There are over 600 rock-climbing routes; this presents numerous challenges for individuals of various levels of skills and experience. The towering cliffs of Railay Beach and Ton Sai Beach attract rock climbers from all over the world and have steadily gained fame as one of the premier rock-climbing destinations.

Phra Nang Nai Cave

Ton Sai Bay

Railay West Bay Viewpoint N

Phra Nang Cave Beach Ko Nok

Railay East Bay

Viewpoint

Festivals

Krabi

Railay Bay Travel Map

Annually, the Krabi tourist authorities would hold a climbing event divided into 3 types: Lead Climbing Marathon, Speed Climbing and Deep Water Soloing. During the night, there would be a Fire Contest to spice up the event.

Tips

When you reach Phra Nang Bay, do not forget to trek into the woods and up the mountains to get a breathtaking view of both sides of Railay Bay.

Lagoon Phra Nang Cave

For tourists that would love to see Phra Nang Cave would require use of a boat to the western side of the bay. The shore on this side of the bay has beautiful sand and clear water. Inside the cave is the Phra Nang Shrine where the mariners died their religious practices. In the past, fishermen would pray for safety as they leave the shores and ask that no obstacles or dangers emerge. Furthermore, the beach in front of the bay is also a destination for people who love to play in water or sunbathe.

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Introduction

he original locals of the Americas, Canada, and Europe used canoes and kayaks for travel and lived their lives beside rivers and seas. Later canoes and kayaks were used in sports and tourism. Presently in Thailand, canoeing and kayaking are eco-adventure-tourism activities that are very popular among tourists because of the excitement and challenge in exploring and touring the scenery of coastal areas, islands, mangrove forests, bays, lakes, and rivers. They are also used in still waters; such as, at reservoirs and dams as well as cave exploration without causing pollution or environmental harm. Most of the accommodation providers have equipment and services for the guests to enjoy the nature because kayaks and canoes can be used in both the sea as well as rivers. These are either free of charge, or rented hourly or daily.

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Types of Kayak-Canoe

n Thailand, most of the boats used by tourists are kayaks. There are two main types.

Sit-on-top Kayaks

They are new types of kayaks that have been developed for ease and convenience in paddling. It will not sink because it is a closed-body type and the passenger sits on top. The hull of the boat has holes for any water that has splashed in to drain out. It is used for close range trips, basic white-water, and regular rest and recreation. The boat sizes used range from one to three seats, with storage space for equipment. It is light-weight, suitable for use in the sea and it is safe.

Sit-inside

It is the original kayak type where the passenger has to insert himself / herself into the boat. There is a canvas that closes up the top to prevent water from entering. It is suitable for long distance travel (touring) or white-water with a difficulty rating of 3â&#x20AC;&#x201C;5.

Canoe

It is the vehicle used by the American Indians to travel. The boat has an open structure. The top of the boat is open while the front and back are curved upward to cut through waves and minimise the amount of water that splashes into the boat. Because of the boatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s open design, the canoe can carry a large amount of supplies. 159

Thailand Tourism Standards for Kayaking-Canoeing

o ensure the safety of tourists who choose to participate in KayakingCanoeing, the Department of Tourism, Ministry of Tourism and Sports, has issued the Thailand Tourism Standards for Kayaking-Canoeing operators and sites to provide guidelines on the sport with emphasis on safety for participants. For more information, visit http://www.tourism.go.th

I. Standards for Kayaking-Canoeing Operators 1. Administration and management

1.1 Professional standards: Operators should obtain: • An operating licence from a domestic or international agency, or the Department of Tourism. • Permission from the site owners to organise kayaking-canoeing. 1.2 Personnel readiness: Operators should have: • Experienced supervisors. • Trained employees in kayaking-canoeing. • Regular staff meetings. 1.3 Equipment readiness. Operators should provide: • Documents/pamphlets/handbooks on the sport. • Standard inflatable kayak or canoe in good condition.

• Sufficient standard life jackets. • Sufficient standard paddles. • Sufficient standard helmets. • Sufficient throw bag (at least 2 bags per team). • 2 carabiners per person. • Standard life-saving ropes. • First-aid kit. • Sufficient life buoy.

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1.4 Standards of transport. Operators should ensure: • Proper means of transport to a site. • Fit and healthy drivers with no major accident records. • Vehicles in good condition with valid insurance coverage. 1.5 Safety assurance. Operators must be sure: • Tourists have travel and accident insurance coverage. • There is a risk management plan. • There is a safety plan. • There are enough lifeguards. • Rafting sites are regularly assessed. 1.6 Administration and management. Operators should ensure: • Adequate proportion of supervisors to tourists. • Classification of tourists’ risk factors by: age, fitness, swimming ability and language. • Adequate seating for safety. • Handbooks/regulations/prohibitions and notification of the rules. • Encouragement/control of tourists to comply with the regulations. • Regular waste disposal.

3. Operation from local communities

3.1 Encourage the local people to take part in the operation. 3.2 Train the local people to be well-informed guides. 3.3 Obtain a licence or permission from the site owners. 3.4 Encourage the local communities to provide a food service. 3.5 Cooperate with the local communities to arrange accommodation. 3.6 Cooperate with the communities on hiring ancillary workers. 3.7 Cooperate with the communities on safety and security.

2. Information for tourists 2.1 Provide information on safety measures and demonstrate the use of the safety equipment. 2.2 Provide information on how to be a good kayaking-canoeing tourist and ecotourist. 2.3 Give on-site talks on environmental conservation and protection. 2.4 Provide information on self-rescuing and hand signals. 161

II. Standards for Kayaking-Canoeing Sites 1. Natural features

• Environment and scenery along a route. • Levels of adventure on the routes. • Clarity of water.

2. Accessibility of sites:

• Permission of sites. • Site location. • Overnight stay options. • Rafting period. • Method of transport (on foot/by vehicle).

4.2 Availability of standard rescue equipment and first-aid kits. 4.3 Measures to identify, prevent and correct potential impacts: • Limit the number of travellers per day. • Set a safe spot for both starting and ending points. • Identify the guidelines to prevent negative impacts. • Monitor changes of kayaking-canoeing negative impacts. • Implement plans to restore natural resources. 4.4 Giving information to kayaking-canoeing

3. Number of experienced tourists. supervisors. 5. Participation of local communities 5.1 Encourage the local people to take part 4. Administration and management 4.1 Amenities and Facilities: • Notification and enforcement of the rules and regulations. • Accommodation inside and outside the activity areas. • Availability of communication devices. • Availability of route maps and handbooks. • Availability of restaurants, food shops and food stalls. • Availability of toilets and parking area. • Sanitation: Number of trash bins and collection time. • Clinics: Location and service hours of nearby medical facilities. • Security: Availability of trained security guards, warning systems, signboards. • Availability of recreational and learning areas. • Availability of a tourist service.

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in providing hospitality services; such as, food and accommodation. 5.2 Cooperate with communities on safety and security.

Kayaking and Canoeing Regulations and Advice

efore getting into a kayak / canoe, proper preparations should be made for the trip so that enjoyment as well as safety can be had without affecting the natural environment.

If planning your own trip, you must ask permission from the authorities responsible for the area; such as, the Royal Forest Department. If choosing to use a tour operator, make sure to pick a company that is registered as such and check the itinerary and various agreements; such as, insurance, equipment, and other services Know your travel route and the direction of the waterway as well as the tides. Always wear a helmet and life-vest when on a boat. Bring only the necessities and prepare plastic bags or water-proof packs to put them in. Follow the advice of the guide. Be mentally prepared for possible obstacles and problems that may happen on your trip.

Recovery from Accidents and Emergency Situations Because participation is under still-water conditions, recovery and rescue are simple when compared to participating in white-water activities. The priorities of water recovery in order of importance are people first, then boats, and finally supplies and equipment.

Steps for rescuing people

• The quickest way is extending your hand or paddle towards the person in need. • If the person is beyond your reach, you should toss a rope from either the shore or the boat while using the following 3 principles: (1) Communicate to the victim with hand signals as well as eye contact. (2) Find a suitable shore or bank to stage the rescue. (3) Toss or throw the rope accurately. The person in need of rescue after receiving the rope should attach the said rope onto his / her life-vest across the shoulder while floating face up. • Take the boat towards the person in need. • Ask for a helicopter rescue.

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Kayaking-Canoeing Vs 7 Greens Avoid kayaking near coral reefs in shallow water. Do not harass wildlife or interrupt their normal behaviour; such as, mating, feeding or resting. Dump garbage only in the spot provided.

Give useful information to travellers; such as, paddling techniques, strong current areas, hand signals and how to rescue yourself before starting. Arrange enough members of the rescue team. Prepare enough safety equipment.

Provide useful information to travellers; such as, the local villagerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s way of life and culture. Limit the Tourism Carrying Capacity (TCC) in terms of the number of travellers per day. Acknowledge travellers upon their arrival about best practices to be an eco-traveller. Alert the local authorities to any environmental disturbance you observe at the sites. Continuously train staff to improve the standards of service, especially rescuing. 164

You might consider other slow travel options in order to reduce the carbon footprint; such as, travelling by train instead of airplane or carpooling. Encourage the local staff to dress in various traditional costumes. Encourage travellers to experience the Thai way of life closely; such as, having a homestay with locals or learning to cook a Thai dish. Educate the local fishermen to do fishing by the right way and out of coral reef areas. Have good management of solid waste, from the reduction of waste, especially the non-recycled one, to the categorisation and disposal of waste, in order to reduce the greenhouse effect. Organise a clean-up day to get rid of cumulative garbage on the sites.

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Where to do Kayaking & Canoeing Kayaking & Canoeing Routes in Thailand Province

Season To Visit

Type

42 Kaeng Khutkhu

Loei

Nov - Apr

River

43 Ko Kut

Trat-Ko Chang

Nov - Apr

Sea

44 Mu Ko Ang Thong Surat Thani 45 Rajjaprabha Dam Surat Thani

Apr - Oct

Sea

Apr - Oct

Dam

46 Mu Ko Thale Tai

Nakhon Si Thammarat

Apr - Oct

Sea

47 Mu Ko Hong

Krabi

Nov - Apr

Inland Sea

48 Ban Bo Tho

Krabi

Nov - Apr

Sea

49 Ao Tha Len

Krabi

Nov - Apr

Sea

Place

View more details about Kayaking & Canoeing at http://adventure. tourismthailand.org/eng/ kayak.php

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45 47 48

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Travel Info From Loei town, take Highway 201 until the riverfront and then turn left to Wat Si Khun Mueang Pier. It is where the journey starts, however, you need to reserve this activity in advance with the Mekong Culture & Nature Resort.

GPS Location

N17° 53.635’, E101° 39.149’

Contact

Mekong Culture & Nature Resort +66 4282 1457 +668 9569 3470 mcn_thailand@hotmail.com

Facilities & Services

Guide, kayak, long-tail boat, accommodation, restroom and restaurant.

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A Classic Tale of Adventure Kaeng Khutkhu, Mekong River

ow Chiang Khan have a new ecological adventure to add some excitement to this attraction. This new adventure is kayaking along the Mekong River from Chiang Khan (Wat Si Khun Mueang Pier) to “Kaeng Khud Khu” for 5 km. The kayaking usually starts at dawn. This part of the river is about 1 km wide. At some parts of the river, you can see the rock plate, rocks, strands and huge dune creating a charming classic view waiting to be found. Many people name it as the “Sahara of Thailand”. The other good thing is you don’t have to put much effort in kayaking. You can just let the kayak float along the water flow while you are enjoying the nature

Loei

Recommendation

The trip must be booked in advance. If you are the real river adventurer, you can continue paddling further to Pak Chom.

Know Before You Go

In the rainy season, all rocks will submerge. You should come after the rainy season around December to May.

Please

and the raft people’s lifestyle at Khong riverside such as fishing and gold panning. You can also see the scenic Sana Kham town (Chanasongkhram) of Laos on the opposite, and the shady rain trees. After enjoying the surrounding view for a while, you will soon reach “Kaeng Khud Khoo”, a group of large rocks standing in the middle of Khong River. Kaeng Khud Khoo is almost large enough to connect two sides of the river, so it leaves only a little space for the water to flow. This point is the end of 2 hours kayaking before you head back to Chiang Khan. Kayaking along Khong River is a new activity; so there are only a few experienced providers of this activity. For your safety, kayaking should be supervised by the expert who knows the water course and the intensity of water flow, and have all necessary tools. You should never kayak alone. To kayak, you have to purchase a touring programme from the provider.

Since Chiang Khan is a small town; it does not have a sophisticated waste disposing system. So if it is possible, please dispose any bottle or plastic bag at Loei town.

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Travel Info Take Highway 3148 (TratLaem Ngop) for 17 km. Once reaching Laem Ngop Pier, take a ferry around 2.5 hours or a speedboat about 1 hour 20 minutes to the island.

GPS Location

N11° 39.659’, E102° 32.577’

Contact

TAT Trat Office +66 3959 7259 to 60

Facilities & Services

Hotels, accommodation, restaurants, network coverage, kayak and motorbike rentals.

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Sea Kayaking to Explore a Waterfall Ko Kut

o Kut is the 4th biggest island of Thailand. Located at the very end of the Thai eastern maritime territory bordering Cambodia, what draws visitors, mostly locals, to come to this island is its completely pristine nature, both inland and underwater. Small mountains and ridged plains have given rise to many inland brooks, streams and waterfalls. The popular tourist area is at the west of the island, from Hat Khlong Chao, Ao Ngam Kho, Hat Bang Bao, Hat Khlong Hin, Ao Phrao to the end of Laem Thian. Hat Khlong Chao is considered as the main tourist attraction because of its white sand, crystal-clear blue sea, serene beach, which is abundant with coconut trees along the coast.

Ko Mai Si Ao Salat Ao Yai Koet Ko Raet Yai Ki Ao Yai Ki Khlong Waterfall Ao Taphao Ao Khlong Chao Khlong Chao Waterfall Ao Ngam Kho

Ao Kluai Ao Sai Ao Yai

Ao Khlong Hin Ao Phrao

Most locals living on Ko Kut are Thais and Cambodians who migrated from Ko Kong during the French colonisation of Cambodia in 1904. The main occupation of people on the island is agriculture – rubber farms, coconut farms, fruit farms and coastal fishery.

Ttrat-Ko Chang

Know Before You Go

Laem Yai Tui

Recommendation

There is no pubilc bus on Ko Kut. The most convenient way to travel around the island is to rent a motorcycle or buy a tour package from the resorts.

Please

Ao Krathing Laem Thian

While engaging in any water activities; such as, kayaking or an island boat tour, please wear a life jacket at all times for your ultimate safety.

You can kayak along the canal to the mangrove forest, enjoying the natural beauty of mangroves on both sides. Around Ko Kut, there are several remarkable snorkelling spots like “Ko Yak“, “Ko Rang“ and “Ko Kra“. At these spots, you will see many types of small fish living around the coral reefs. Approximately a 1-km walk from the pier, you will reach Namtok Khlong Chao. With three tiers, it brims with glittering water all year round, superb for soaking and swimming. It was once visited by “King Vajiravudh” (King Rama VI) and was given the royal name “Anamkok Waterfall’ in commemoration to “Ong Chiang Sue”, a Vietnamese king taking refuge in the Kingdom of Thailand during the reign of King Rama I the Great in the late 18th century.

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Kayaking across the Ocean Admiring the Scenic Panorama of 42 Islands Mu Ko Ang Thong

Travel Info From Ko Samui, you could either take a speed boat from Pak Nam Pier or take the ferry from Ban Don Pier.

GPS Location

N9° 37.397’, E99° 40.554’

Contact

Mu Ko Ang Thong National Park +66 7728 6025 +66 7728 6588

Facilities & Services

Guide, kayak, long-tail boat, accommodation, food and restroom.

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Knowing before going

For tourists who do not want to kayak, they could hire a long-tail boat to visit several islands.

Surat Thani

omprising 42 islands, the Mu Ko Ang Thong are mostly steep high rock mountains. Ang Thong islands are renowned for their beautiful miraculous nature. Having arrived here, the adventurous activities which could not be missed is to kayak across the ocean from one island to another. The starting point begins at “Sam Sao” island and ends at “Mae Ko” island, where you could kayak amidst stunning pillars rising upright against the bright blue sky. Underneath the sea around “Sam Sao” island are exquisite coral reefs, which are lined up from North to South. At “Mae Ko” island, you can walk up the stairs to watch the enclosed sea, which is like an oval salted lake surrounded by natural steep cliffs. The colour of the ocean is enchanting emerald green. Lastly, you can take the long-tail boat for skin diving round “Thai Phlao” island. Moreover, at “Wua Ta Lap” island, there are classical view stops on the mountaintop, which should not be missed. The picturesque Ang Thong islands scattered on the green emerald ocean is a breathtaking 360º panoramic view.

Suggestions

Another interesting route is to kayak around “Phaluai” island in order to visit the Fisherman Village.

Ko Thai Plao

Ko Hin Dap Ko Pae Yat Ko Sam Sao ko Mae Ko

Ko Wua Ta Lab Ko Phai Luak

Scuba

Ko Wua Te 173

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Travel Info From Surat Thani town, follow the signs “Rajjaprabha Dam” on Highway 401. The entrance to the dam is on the right before reaching Ban Ta Khun district. Mostly, the tour package includes a free pickup service from your accommodation in a communal van, which is more convenient and wastes less fuel.

GPS Location

N9° 0.976’, E98° 51.441’

Contact

Khao Sok National Park +66 7739 5139 +66 7739 5154 to 5

Facilities & Services

Guide, boat, accommodation, restaurant and parking.

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Cruising into the Hidden Heaven of Nature Rajjaprabha Dam

ajjaprabha Dam or Chiao Lan reservoir was constructed in 1982 under the supervision of Khao Sok National Park and the Provincial Electricity Authority to generate hydro-electricity to Surat Thani city and other nearby towns. When water filled the dam over 150 islands formed; many of them are stunning pillars rising upright against the bright blue sky. The mysterious and charming scenery makes us all gaze on in awe at the beauty of the exotic sights that is often likened to the incredible “Guilin” landscapes in southern China. The journey starts with an hour of pleasurable sightseeing by longtail boat; cruising into the dam where you are able to enjoy the astonishing elegance of the dam itself and crystal clear waters of the reservoir. Then you have to trek across the mountain ridge to the inner area so called “500-rai Inland Sea” where your floating raft house and major attractions are located.

Know Before You Go

There is no mobile phone signal and the electricity is available only from 6.00 p.m. to 10.00 p.m.

Surat Thani

Day 1

Recommendation

The trip can be made throughout the year. At least 3 days and 2 nights is required to explore all attractions inside the dam.

Please

Do not touch the stalagmites and stalactites in the cave at all and dump garbage in the spot provided.

After having lunch, you continue to explore “Tham Pakarang”, abundant with beautiful stalagmites and stalactites inside. Then heading back to the accommodation, you may go swimming, kayaking or let yourself indulge in the glorious sight of twilight over the magnificent landscape while waiting the sun lower itself to kiss the water. In the late evening, the night safari tour by boat is available upon request.

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Day 2

n the early morning, the dawn has lighted the portrait of mountains and cliffs, covered in rain forest and forming yet another spectacular natural scene in the mist. You will feel relaxed with the chill wind and wild animal sounds; such as, hornbills and gibbons. The beauty of nature is so beautiful that no camera can record it. After breakfast, you will experience the adventure at â&#x20AC;&#x153;Tham Nam Thaluâ&#x20AC;? where the stream flows inside the cave for a distance of over 500 metres. Within the cave are splendid stalagmite and stalactite formations growing luminously in different shapes through thousands of years of mineral deposits, left behind by trillions of drops of water. The adventure trip to Rajjaprabha Dam is beyond a pleasant excursion but also a reminder of the wonders of nature, a call to life.

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Surat Thani Rajjaprabha Dam Travel Map

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Travel Info From Surat Thani town, drive along the Highway 401 (Surat Thani-Nakhon Si Thammarat) for 50 km, turn left to the Highway No. 4041 and drive for about 30 km.

GPS Location

N9° 10.979’, E99° 51.312’

Contact

Khanom Fishing & Tour +66 7532 6573 www.khanomfishingandtour.com

Facilities & Services

Guide, boat, kayak, snorkelling gear, food, and restroom.

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Being charmed by the south sea adventure Hat Khanom-Mu Ko Thale Tai National Park

njoy kayaking in front of Talet Bay. Experience the Khanom fisherman’s life and play with the dolphins. If you are lucky, you might be greeted by pink dolphins. Float around Tha Rai Island to see a long line of amazing multi-layer rocks known as the “Pancake Rocks”. These rocks have distinctive shapes; some look like the giant arcs while some look like waves going along the cliff line composing the mysterious scene that will drive your imagination. Next you will find Nui Nok Island where you can step on and explore the water pond in the middle of the sea which holds over 100 years of history. You can go snorkelling to watch the corals at “Taen Island”, the biggest island among the Mu Ko Thale Tai (South Sea Islands) which comprises 11 islands, or at the west beach of “Wang Nok Island”, another snorkelling site where you can see Staghorn corals, Brain corals, Disc corals, colourful Sea anemones and schools of fish of various kinds.

Recommendation

Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t forget to bring your towel and sun block.

Nakhon Si Thammarat

Please

Help us grow the sea grass at the back of Ko Thamor Cave Island to revive the fertility of Khanom Sea.

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Travel Info From Krabi town, take Highway 4204 then continue on Highway 4203 to Phra Nang Bay where you can take a boat to the Hong Islands. The long-tailed boat ride takes about 1.5 hours (but only 40 minutes by speedboat).

Google Geocode

8.078605,98.678498

Contact

TAT Krabi Office +66 7562 2163 +66 7561 2812

Facilities & Services

Guides, boats, kayaks, souvenir shops, restrooms, and camp site.

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One of the Best Sea Kayaking Paradises Mu Ko Hong

ong Islands also called “Lao Bi-le Islands” is a very popular destination for nature lovers, especially kayakers. It is a limestone island with a hollow centre and is surrounded by the clear water of the ocean like a great hall. With its unique characteristics of an “Inland Sea”, it is a chest-deep giant swimming pool free of wave when the tide is high; at low tide it is a broad sandy tidal flat covered in five-pointed sea stars. The best eco way to experience the magic of this site silently is through paddle power instead of a long-tail boat. Paddling in when the tide is high. You can also paddle into the crevice that will take you to the lagoon or ‘Inland Sea’.

Recommendation

Krabi

Moreover, the outstanding topographic features, 1.25 km Rest Area the southeast beaches, the lagoon, and the sheer 1 km walls of limestone on the island, there are other Lagoon attractions. Secluded cover leads to hidden Start caves; there is also â&#x20AC;&#x153;Lao Lading Islandâ&#x20AC;?, a bird-nest gathering site where you can also enjoy shallow coral reefs around the island by snorkelling with many little colourful fish or go sunbathing on a white sandy beach.

Purchase a full-day or halfday travel package as it is more convenient, cheaper and wastes less fuel. They will provide you with transport from/to your hotel, lunch, and a guide.

Know Before You Go

The join-one-day trip is not suitable for travellers who want to spend a large part of the day kayaking, as it includes less than 2 hours of kayaking.

Please

Do not litter. Dispose of trash only in places provided.

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Travel Info From Krabi town, take Highway 4 towards the Ao Luek area. Turn left at the entrance of Ban Talat Tai and follow the signs to Tham Phi Hua To.

GPS Location

N8° 23.423’, E98° 44.015’

Contact

Sea Land & Trek +66 7563 7364 www.krabisealand.com TAT Krabi Office +66 7562 2163 +66 7561 2812

Facilities & Services

Tour guide, kayak, restroom, food, parking and transfer service.

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Kayaking through the Mangrove Forest Explore Ancient Caves Ban Bo Tho

efore you jump into a kayak to discover the mysteries of this waterway, there will be a short introduction to basic kayak control. The stream of Khlong Bo Tho is calm and still because it is an inland sea, making it a popular destination for tourists year round, especially during the monsoon season. On this trip, you will depend on your two hands to paddle through the winding waterway of the mangroves onward to “Tham Phi Hua To” (or “Big Skull Devil” Cave). Among prehistoric cave paintings found scattered on the cliffs, as evidence of human settlements in this area a thousand years ago, the most remarkable frames for all visitors include a human figure wearing a top hat, a human being with an animal head and horns, wholly painted in red resembling an alien, and two hands imprinted on the cave ceiling, with one hand having 6 fingers. There is also a phoenix - like creature about to take flight. All these pose more questions about the traces of humans in the prehistoric wall paintings.

Recommendation

Krabi

Then you paddle back by passing â&#x20AC;&#x153;Tham Lot Nueaâ&#x20AC;? cave. Visit and see beautiful stalactites and stalagmites before reaching the shore and having lunch cooked by the local villagers. If there is spare time on the way back, you can stop by at the Phu Thara waterway and wash up. Enjoy the glass-like clearness of the water that has flowed from mountain streams or explore the surrounding area. You can also stop for a trek at Than Bokkhorani National Park.

Bring a change of clothing because perhaps you get wet. It is recommended to arrive at Ban Bo Tho before 9.00 a.m.

Know Before You Go

The ancient sea tribes believe that when their ancestors die, they take the form of birds that will protect them and warn them of danger. They also believe in heaven and hell. When someone passes away, a bird will take the spirit up to heaven using a boat. The cave is used for traditional ceremonies according to their belief system and has been used continuously for a long time.

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Travel Info Located in the Ao Tha Len area, Tambon Khao Thong, From Krabi town, take Highway 4 for 20 km and then 4033 for 15 km.

GPS Location

N8° 9.251’, E98° 47.216’

Contact

TAT Krabi Office +66 7562 2163 +66 7561 2812

Facilities & Services

Tour guide, kayak, long-tail boat, food and restroom.

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Kayak with a Green Heart, Visit the World-class Ecotourism Ao Tha Len

ne of the things that makes Tha Len Bay so interesting for kayakers is the path being windy and easy to paddle since the water is calm without any interference from the waves. There are 2 paths to explore Tha Len Bay: The first path is a longer trip with a distance of more than 7 km The second path is 4 km You would be travelling in a circle inside the abundant mangrove forest. Sometimes the sea water might look like there is this film of oil over it, unlike the clear water outside the lagoon. It is known that the film of oil is caused by the process of changing salt water into fresh water done by the roots of the mangrove trees. With this special ability, the mangroves are able to survive in salt water. As you go further along the path, it starts to narrow down and the mangrove trees start to turn into limestone cliffs. This means you are about to reach the strait called “Canyon”; the most beautiful viewpoint of Tha Len Bay. The atmosphere in the front of the cliffs has a

T g han

P To

ra oT

t uke way 4 h P / h Nga Hig

Pier Tha Len Bay

hw Hig

Mangrove Forest

Know Before You Go

Krabi

Tha Len Bay Kayaking Map

Most day-tour packages includes a transfer from/to your hotel and a lunch.

Fun Facts

4 403

Cave Paintings

Lagoons Chorakhe Cave 012 Canyon

Canyon

Sailors would use these lagoons as a refuge from the times of heavy rain. The limestone cliffs would protect them from the strong winds. One example was the Tsunami incident that occurred in 2004. Tourists that were in this place at that time were safe from the tragic incident.

Canyon view of mountains building up complex structures over each other throughout the whole path. This makes the sea in the area look like it is being separated into many large rooms also called â&#x20AC;&#x153;lagoonsâ&#x20AC;?. The view is so breathtaking that it would make you forget about how tired your arms are after all the paddling.

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Cave Exploration

ince ancient times, caves have long been in the life of Thai people due to their dependence on natural resources. According to historical evidence, caves were inhabited by humans or â&#x20AC;&#x153;cave menâ&#x20AC;? and were used for many purposes. Because of their distinctive characteristics and myths, caves have inevitably become attractive destinations for tourists who thirst for adventure and challenge.

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Formation of a Cave

late tectonics have caused the change in sedimentary structures; such as, the rock uplift and joints (known as fractures in rock) or large faults, which later became caves once these cracks expanded. Furthermore, rainwater seeped through the bedding planes, faults and joints. Mild carbonic acid in rainwater dissolved the limestone, creating solutional caves with strange-shaped rocks inside. The dripping of mineralised water and the deposition of calcium carbonate has created spectacular stalactites and stalagmites.

Invisible Danger

or deep caves or unexplored caves, the air circulation within the cave is extremely important. If you breathe in the air with over 5.5% of carbon dioxide, you will experience difficulty in breathing, dizziness, confusion, and loss of consciousness, which could result in death within a few minutes. The safest way to check the air inside the cave is to use an electronic carbon dioxide detector. It is designed to sound an alarm once it detects dangerous levels of carbon dioxide accumulated in the air. Alternatively, body symptoms can be used as an indicator of the carbon dioxide level, but this requires caving experience to be able to tell correctly. The low temperature inside the cave is another danger for a cave exploration. Normally, water in the cave is colder than water outside. Standing in the water for a long period of time can cause Hypothermia â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the condition of abnormally low body temperature. The symptoms are shivering, slow and laboured movements, difficulty in speaking, sluggish thinking, compromised vision and mental confusion. If the body temperature drops 5-6 degrees Celsius, you can experience a loss of consciousness, which might result in death. Therefore, appropriate clothes and equipment are highly necessary in retaining your body temperature.

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Caving Gear

• A climbing or caving helmet with a

headlamp. • Sturdy shoes preferably with knobby bottoms are a must. • Backup lights with batteries. • Jeans and a sweatshirt over another long-sleeved sweatshirt works fine. • A good pair of gloves keep your hands happy. • A cave pack and a large plastic trash bag. • Knee and elbow pads, first aid kit, compass or GPS device are nice to have.

Safety Measures Cavers around the world - amateurs, professionals, tourists - use the same safety measures to protect themselves during a cave exploration. Helmets or hard hats should be worn at all times. Cavers should carry at least 3 sources of light: one as primary, one as backup and one in case of emergency. Batteries should be sufficiently prepared. There should be at least 4 cavers in each cave exploration. If anyone has a problem, the whole team has to leave altogether. Cavers should notify their friends or people outside of their arrival time, intended return time and duration of the cave exploration. If there is any delay or no return, their friends can organise a search team. 190

Cavers should study their clothing and equipment. They should be able to fix the equipment in case of an emergency. Therefore, exploration gear should regularly be inspected and kept in good condition. For special equipment; such as, diving gear, ropes used for descending and ascending, cavers should be fully trained before any exploration begins. Nobody can help you but yourself when a problem arises. Cavers should be trained to be able to conduct first aid and should always pack first-aid kits. So, they can help their teammates when any injury occurs because it could take a very long time for a rescue team to arrive. Do not touch any rocks inside the cave, especially stalactites and stalagmites, as well as any water dripping areas. Sweat and bacteria on the skin will cause them to stop growing. Do not make any loud noise or cause any disturbance to cave animals. Always keep in mind that all caves have a unique and sensitive ecosystem. Any man-made items; such as, junk or batteries will affect the ecosystem in the long term. Some kinds of fungus or bacteria can grow quickly in caversâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; food or clothes. Please bring out everything you bring in in order to control the disturbance to the cave at the lowest level.

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Where to Do Caving Great Caves of Thailand Place

View more details about Caving at http://adventure. tourismthailand.org/eng/ cave.php

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Province

Season To Visit

Cave Type

50 Tham Nam Lot

Mae Hong Son All year long Limestone Cave

51 Hup Pa Tat

Uthai Thani

52 Tham Than Lot

Kanchanaburi All year long Limestone Cave

All year long Limestone Cave

53 Tham Nok Nang Aen Kanchanaburi Mar - May 54 Tham Sao Hin Kanchanaburi Mar - May

Limestone Cave

55 Tham Thi Phu Che

Kanchanaburi Oct - Jun

Limestone Cave

56 Tham Lawa

Kanchanaburi All year long Limestone Cave

Limestone Cave

57 Tham Le Khao Kop Trang

All year long Limestone Cave

58 Tham Morakot

Trang

All year long Sea Cave

59 Tham Chet Khot

Satun

All year long Limestone Cave

51 52 53 54 55 56

57 58 59

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Travel Info Around 77 km from Mae Hong Son city, drive along Highway1095 (Pang Mapha-Pai) until reaching at 138th - 139th km stone. There is a junction on the left side at Pang Mapha District. Follow the sign of “Ban Tham Lot” for another 9 km.

GPS Location

N19° 34.126’, E98° 16.756’

Contact

Tham Nam Lot Nature and Wildlife Education Centre +66 53 617 218 TAT Chiang Mai office +66 5324 8604 +66 5324 8607 +66 5324 1466

Facilities & Services

Tour guide, paraffin lamps, bamboo raft, toilet and parking.

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Rafting and Exploring Caves to Learn the History and Stories of Ancient Humans Tham Nam Lot

ham Nam Lot is under the supervision of the Tham Nam Lot Nature and Wildlife Education Centre. There is a brook named “Nam Lang” flowing from the cave entrance to the very end of the main cave. Formed by a small stream running through a crack in the limestone surface for millions of years, there are three chambers in the cave: “Tham Sao Hin” (Stone Column Cave), “Tham Tukkata” (Doll Cave) and “Tham Phi Maen” (Ghost Cave). As it is quite dark inside the cave, local guides with paraffin lamps and a bamboo raft are on standby to take you in and out safely. From the entrance of the cave, you have to walk around 350 m, and then take a raft for a distance of 300 m to “Tham Sao Hin”. Inside the cave, there are many interesting sights waiting for you to discover; such as, a “Stalactites Curtain” which is named as “Emery”.

Know Before You Go

The cave is open daily from 8.00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m. It is only open during these hours because there are no lights installed in the caves and it also helps to conserve the beautiful nature of these caves forever, as well as allow the local people volunteering to be a guide for tourists to make extra income. It takes around 2 hours to explore the cave.

Mae Hong Son

This limestone structure is alike a white and reflective drapery which hangs in mid-air. Scientists call it “Calcite Crystals” occurring from the flow of underground water over many thousands of years. The highlight of this cave is the number of giant limestone columns, some of which are measuring up to 20 m high. Next is “Tham Tukkata” that is just 80 m away by rafting. The exceptional stalagmites and stalactites look like dolls have been arranged on the floor of this cave. In addition, pictures painted by pre-historic humans have been discovered here. Then we continue rafting for 450 m to the last cave “Tham Phi Maen” where many significant antiques aged more than 2,000 years are found; such as, earthenware, skeletons of ancient humans, stone equipment and the “Phi Maen” coffins. There are teakwood coffins used for burying ancient humans. Archaeologists believe that the buried bodies perhaps were bureaucratic soldiers because many precious treasures were also found in the coffins.

Please

Do not touch the stalagmites and stalactites, rock paintings and antiques in the cave as they are very fragile.

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Journey Back to Jurassic Park Hup Pa Tat

Travel Info Located in Tham Pa Thun Non-Hunting Area. From Uthai Thani, take Highway 333 (Uthai Thani - Nong Chang) and then continue on Highway No.3438 (Nong Chang–Lan Sak) for approximately 90 km.

GPS Location

N15° 22.645’, E99° 37.822’

Contact

TAT Uthai Thani Office +66 5651 2916

Facilities & Services

Tour guide, restrooms and parking lot.

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Roaming around the valley is considered a distinctive pleasant experience. Surrounded by limestone mountains, only limited sunlight shines in during the day. As a result, the area is humidified, making the weather perfect for you to enjoy a nice walk around, and appreciate the tropical trees and the chirping of various kinds of birds. Walking along the 700 m path, you will find many animal footprints like those of deer, bulls, bears, boars and you can even see tigersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; claw marks on the trees. A wild boar might come out to greet you. If you are lucky, you will see rare animals like elongated tortoises and shocking pink dragon millipede, recently discovered in 2007 in this fascinating Hup Pa Tat.

Know Before You Go

Hup Pa Tat is closed at 4.00 p.m.

Recommend

Uthai Thani

alking through a long pitch-black stalactite Hup Pa Tat cave, where a flashlight is needed, you will feel like you have just made a journey back to the Jurassic Era once reaching the other side of the cave. It is incredible that the dark cave can lead you to this gigantic chamber of tropical evergreen forest with plenty of Arenga pinnata along the way (Arenga pinnata is prehistoric plant in the same family as palm trees). Hup Pa Tat is abundant with a variety of uncommon and rare plants; such as, Chukrasia velutina and strangely-shaped banyan trees. Detailed information of the plants is provided.

The best time to travel is during 11.00 a.m.-1.00 p.m. as the sunlight will shine into the valley only around midday. It is the best time to catch the perfect reflection of sunlight on the rocks and plants. Do not forget to bring a flashlight and mosquito repellant.

A Bit of History

Sueb Nakasatien, the legendary Thai conservationist, literally sacrificed his life to protect this forest for later generations until nowadays.

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Travel Info From Kanchanaburi city, take Highway 3199 and turn right to Highway 3086 and drive along for about 68 km to Nong Prue. Then turn left to Highway 3480 and drive straight all the way down for 22 km until you reach Chaloem Rattanakosin National Park.

GPS Location

N14° 39.83’, E99° 18.82’

Contact

Chaloem Rattanakosin National Park +66 3454 7020 +66 3451 9606

Facilities & Services

Restaurant, accommodation, parking, restroom and camping area

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Trekking to explore the Underworld Tham Than Lot

When you arrive at the end of the route, you will discover the lush evergreen forest. From this point, you can walk further for around 2.5 km passing the pretty Namtok Trai Trueng and then you will reach Tham Than Lot Yai - a wide hole which has resulted from the erosion of water on limestone rocks over a long period of time. After all these years, it has become a larger hole which looks like an arched bridge. There are gaps for the sunlight to shine into the cave, and it is not surprising to see various types of plants inside the cave hall. Moreover, numerous remains of ancient human skeletons, pottery and utensils have been found here.

Know Before You Go Open daily from 8.30 a.m. to 4.00 p.m.

Please

Walk on the specified route only and no pets are allowed.

Kanchanaburi

nly 100 m away from the office of the National Park, you will reach the entrance of “Tham Than Lot Noi” where the stream flows through the cave at all times. Inside the cave, there are lights provided to help guide you along the pathway. Along the route, you will view a variety of strange-shaped stalagmites and stalactites. If you continue exploring further deep inside the cave, you will hear what sounds like the barking of dogs. This makes tourists curious why dogs stay here. Actually, it is the sound of Giant Jungle Toads (so called “Jong Krong” in Thai) – one of the world’s rare animals.

Recommendation

Besides the above information, there are many other interesting tourist attractions inside the National Park; such as, Namtok Than Thong, natural rock sliders, as well as a reservoir where you can swim and cool off.

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Travel Info Located in Lam Khlong Ngu National Park. Take Route 323 (Thong Pha Phum Sangkhla Buri) and turn right at the Km. 26 marker (Phuttho T-junction). Go pass Thung Nang Khruan Waterfall and continue toward Ban Huai Suea. You will pass Ban Khao Phra In and turn left onto a dirt road. After 3 km. you will reach the parking area. Then it is a 30-minute walk to the destination.

GPS Location

N14° 54.3471’, E98° 43.8571’

Contact

TAT Kanchanaburi Office +66 3451 1200 +66 3462 3691 Lam Khlong Ngu National Park +66 3451 1200

Facilities & Services

Guide, rental life vest, food, accommodation, camping site, restroom and parking.

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Cross Mountains, Float, Climb, and Explore Unimaginable Beautiful Stalactites Tham Nok Nang Aen

ham Nok Nang Aen (or Swallow Cave) is another interesting place in Lam Khlong Ngu National Park that is worth your time. Part of the Khlong Ngu River flows through it. The water first flows underground before the cave’s entrance only showing up again in the middle of the cave itself before disappearing underground again at the end of the cave. The length of the stream throughout the cave is about 3 km. Some parts of the cave ceiling have been eroded and collapsed to the floor of the cave in piles. A collapsed ceiling is called a Karst Window and there are a total of 6 in this cave. The spaces in the cave ceiling allow light to shine in, as well as provide ventilation. The size and beauty of the natural art inside the cave are indescribable. The spaciousness of the cave, large calcite-curtains on the walls, stalagmites and stalactites of various shapes and sizes are the works of nature formed after millions of years.

Recommendation

You must reserve beforehand because a guide is required.

Know Before You Go

The exploration trail takes 7 hours. The cave is only open from March to May. The stream within the cave is not suitable for drinking because it has many pollutants.

Kanchanaburi

The cave is lit by the sunshine all throughout so there is no need for flashlight. However exploring the cave still imparts a sense of adventure and excitement because reaching the final Karst Window will require trekking through forest, crossing a fast-flowing stream, swimming, and rock-climbing.

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Travel Info From Kanchanaburi town, take Highway 323 (Thong Pha Phum-Sangkhla Buri) for 26 km. and turn left at Phuttho T-junction. Then keep an eye on the signs “Lam Khlong Ngu National Park”

GPS Location

N14° 54.347’, E98° 43.857’

Contact

Lam Khlong Ngu National Park +66 8491 32381 TAT Kanchanaburi Office +66 3451 1200,

Facilities & Services

Guide, rental life vest, food, accommodation, camping site, restroom and parking.

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Tham Sao Hin

ham Hin (Stone Pillar Cave) is renowned to be the most unspoiled beautiful cave in Thailand. It has also been recorded in the Guinness Book of Records as containing the tallest cave pillar in the world. The pillar was created by the growth of stalactites and stalagmites that have slowly grown until they have fused together. The water dripping from the ceiling of the cave contains calcium and after the water falls to the cave floor and evaporates, it leaves calcium carbonate behind which slowly grows into stalagmites. At the same time, water from the ceiling also evaporates to leave dissolved calcium behind in deposits on the ceiling that slowly grows into stalactites. After thousands of years, the stalagmites and stalactites grow larger and longer until they meet and merge into a pillar. At 62.5 m, it clearly beats the old record holder a pillar in China with a height of 33 m. The pillar has survived various natural disasters; such as, earthquakes, floods, and time numbering millions of years to stand grandly today. Another â&#x20AC;&#x153;greatnessâ&#x20AC;? known to the cave is the difficulty in accessing it. It is very suitable for adventurers because it involves trekking through jungle across 3 mountains, climbing 90-degree inclines, crossing a gushing stream in front of a waterfall to climb to the cave entrance, and pulling yourself by rope against the current for another 700 m within the cave. There are no decorations, lighting, or amenities of any type for the preservation of the cave.

Recommendation

Bring gloves and flashlights (especially head-mounted ones). Clothing should be light, tight-fitting, and easy to dry. Diving wetsuits can also be used because they protect from cold and abrasions. Some caves have very sharp rocks. Parts of the cave will have pungent smells of guano, so a mask will help. Bring your drinking water, preferably mixed with electrolytes to help prevent cramps. Wear durable sneakers that have rubber soles.

Kanchanaburi

The Most Thrilling Adventure. The Ultimate Spelunking.

Know Before You Go

The cave is only open from March to May. You have to reserve beforehand because a guide is required. The stream within the cave is not suitable for drinking because it has many pollutants. The Park has life-preservers for rent. The exploration trail takes 7 hours.

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Travel Info You can reach this cave only by the professional tour service of HyperVenture Team. You can directly contact us or Ban Huai Ulong Resort in Thong Pha Phum to make a reservation.

GPS Location

N14° 56’ 54.36”, E98° 39’ 29.52”

Contact

Ban Huay Ulong Resort +66 3453 1050 to 1 +66 3455 1543 www.banhuayulong.com HyperVenture +668 1566 2399 +668 6576 5158 www.hyperventure.com

Facilities & Services Guide, van, cave survey equipment and meal

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Ultimate Underworld Adventure Tham Thi Phu Che

he amazing beauty of the ancient stalagmites and stalactites, hidden in the cave for thousands of years, is now discovered and will be your marvellous adventurous experience. You have to descend the waterfall cave with a height of 25 metres. In the dark, you can see the way with a head-flashlight. The cave is decorated with stalagmites and stalactites showing you the incrediblybeautiful nature. On the roof of the cave, you can see a big flock of bats. From the entrance, you can walk along the twisted stream tunnel with a depth of 100 metres. You will finally arrive the 15 metres in height waterfall where you can jump under. However, the more you walk, the way is so narrower that you have to crawl. At the exit, you will be amazed with the beautiful rocks in many shapes like the glazing peach ones. The distance is approximately 1 km long.

Recommendation

You should wear light, fitting and anti-water absorbing clothes. Long pants, longsleeves, boots or canvas shoes are recommended. You should also bring spare clothes.

Kanchanaburi

Please

Do not touch any of the stalagmites and stalactites as they are continually growing.

Know Before You Go

The cave is open for survey during October to June and takes approximately 5-6 hours. Advance reservation made at least two weeks beforehand is required. A group is limited for 12 persons whereas little children are not allowed to join.

Caution

Be careful of hypothermia.

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Travel Info From Kanchanaburi town, take Highway 323 and turn left at Km. 59 to the Pak Saeng Pier. Then you have to take a boat crossing the Kwai Noi River and continue on foot for a bit further. Going there overland is a bit tricky. You have to cross the bridge a little bit southwards at Ban Kaeng Raboet and find the dirt road to the cave.

GPS Location

N14° 17.98’, E098° 58.98’

Contact

River Kwai Resotel Resort +66 2642 5497 www.riverkwairesotel.net

Facilities & Services

Tour guide, toilet, walkway, light, resort, restaurant and parking.

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Tham Lawa

ham Lawa is one of the most famous caves in Kanchanaburi, it was first discovered with ancient human’s skeletons. The journey through fascinating caverns starts from a steep climb on stairs up to the opening in the small mountain. The entrance to the cave is a bit narrow although the interior is spacious with 5 chambers including the crocodile chamber, the music chamber, the throne chamber, and the curtain chamber with “plenty of slow-growing stalactites and stalagmites” in full display. There is a secret in each chamber which relates to its name, waiting for you to discover. The lighting is cleverly hidden along a walkway, so that it appears as natural as possible. In general, the caverns are large and open and not claustrophobic to most people, but the incredible natural cave walls are close enough that you can appreciate their delicacy, as well as “several bat colonies of different species”. This breathtaking natural wonderland underground is matched by what is above, an ecological preserve of native trees, river, and animals.

Know Before You Go

It takes about 45 minutes to finish the trail. The cave opens daily from 8.00 a.m. to 6.00 p.m.

Please

Kanchanaburi

Explore a Breathtaking Natural Wonderland

Switch off the light before exploring to the next chamber. Do not touch growing stalactites and stalagmites no matter what. Keep your voice down.

Recommendation

Sleep over at the River Kwai Resotel Resort for a couple of nights.

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Travel Info From Trang town, take Highway 4 (Trang-Huai Yot-Wang Wiset). After passing Huai Yot district, turn left at the junction and continue on the road for 5 km. by following the signs of Tham Le Khao Kop.

GPS Location

N7°79.699’, E99° 57.182’

Contact

Khao Kop Sub District Administration Organisation +66 7550 0088 +66 7550 0117 TAT Trang Office +66 7521 5867 +66 7521 1058

Facilities & Services

Tour guide, boat, walkway, light, toilet and parking.

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A Thrilling Boat Ride through the Backbone of a Dragon Tham Le Khao Kop

n amazing natural wonder (Unseen Thailand), the main attraction at Khao Kop is this stream which flows through the cave. A canal from the Banthat Mountain Range is divided into 3 waterways upon reaching Khao Kop, with 2 going around the mountain and the other with a length of 800 m flowing through the cave under the mountain. In addition, the cave itself looks like a high and steep cliff with layers of rocks and stalactites and stalagmites magnificently decorating the cave for a distance of approximately 4 km. The boat journey starts from the small river with lots of green on both sides. The next thing you know, your boat would have slowed down and facing you will be a tall, steep mountain that the waterway flows into. Once inside the cave the boat will dock at multiple places for you to walk around and view the beauty of the various stalactites and stalagmites. There are a total of 8 rooms in the cave; however, only 5 are open to tourists.

Know Before You Go

Each boat has a captain and an assistant. The captain will steer the boat while the assistant becomes the rudder at the back. As this was purely paddle power, there was no electrical or motorised activity at all making this a very ecofriendly place.

Trang

The highlight of Le Khao Kop Cave is when the ceiling of the cave is getting lower and lower. That area is known as “going under the dragon’s belly”. It is so low that everybody on the boat would have to lie down to get past. The ceiling of the cave will be less than a palm’s width from your nose. The thrill of it has been known to cause people to scream. People who love thrills will not be disappointed.

Please

Do not touch the stalagmites and stalactites.

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Travel Info Located on Ko Muk. From Trang town, use Highway 4046 towards Hat Pak Meng Pier and rent a boat to the Emerald Cave which takes about 30-40 minutes.

GPS Location

N7°50.131’, E99° 31.366’

Contact

TAT Trang Office +66 7521 5867 +66 7521 1058 Hat Chao Mai National Park +66 7521 3260

Facilities & Services

Tour guide, long-tail boat, kayak, restaurant, restroom and tent camping site.

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Explore an Amazing Cave in the Middle of the Sea Tham Morakot

ham Morakot or the Emerald Cave is an extremely beautiful sea cave hidden among the cliffs. It can only be entered when the tide is low by using the small cavity as an entrance. The cavity during the low tide would be high enough for kayaks to enter. But when the tide is high, you would probably have to swim or float into the cave through windy paths for about 80 metres. If you reach the other side of the cave, you would discover a beautiful white sanded beach surrounded by towering cliffs with the sky as the rooftop with walls decorated by green leaves. The entrance cave is located on the western side of the island. When the sunlight is at the right angle, the walls of the cave would turn into emerald green walls. It is like a masterpiece of nature created for humans to appreciate its beauty.

Trang

Recommendation

The best time to explore the cave is between 10.00 a.m. to 2.00 p.m. as the sunlight shines through the cave mouth reflecting the water colour to beautiful emerald green.

On the other side of the cave is a white sandy beach with clear water to play in which is also surrounded by towering cliffs. Ko Muk has more than just the Emerald Cave; on the eastern side of the island lies a beautiful beach. The peninsula at the eastern side of the island is where the Ko Muk residents are. The majority of the villagers are fishermen. The left and right branches of the peninsula are Hua Laem Beach and Phang-nga Bay, which have beautiful fine, white sand.

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Travel Info From Satun town, take Highway 406 and continue on Highway 416. Turn right to Wang Sai Thong Waterfall and Phu Pha Phet Cave. Then turn left at the junction before reaching the Phu Pha Phet Cave following the signs “Chet Khot Cave”. The total distance is around 70 km.

GPS Location

N6° 51.792’, E100° 01.017’

Contact

TAT Trang Office +66 7521 5867

Facilities & Services

Guide, kayak, torch, restroom and parking lot .

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Satun

Kayaking into the Amazing Unseen Chet Khot Cave

atun is not only a place of seas Once in your life, just visit “Tham Chet Khot” or “Satta Khuha Cave” (Chet or Satta in Thai means Seven). Here, you will experience the wonderful nature where a curved cave is located through the big mountains. The stream flows inside the cave and there are seven curves as implied by the cave’s name. Tourists can row a kayak in the cave and observe the stalagmites and stalactites hidden in the dark by using a flashlight or spotlight to lead the way. It is quite silent in some areas, and there is the sound of a flowing stream and conversation of tourists in some areas. The stream is 600 m long with different depths and atmosphere. What surprises tourists most is the flocks of bats on the cave roof. They look like a group of minor planets in the distant sky. Moreover, there is diamond-like glazing sand on the ground at the curve. At the exit, the 30 m x 15 m cavity with the sandy ridge is awaiting. Outside the cave, the forests are very beautifully green when they are reflected in the stream.

Know Before You Go

Open daily from 9.00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m.

Recommendation

The best time to explore the cave is during noon as the sun shines through the cave mouth and lights up the water.

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Canopy Adventure:

Feel Your Adrenaline Rush

such as, skydiving, where you jump out of a plane along with an experienced skydiver who controls your parachute or you can go sightseeing along with top paragliders. There are also relaxing airborne activities; such as ,ballooning in the early mornings of winter where the temperature is nice and cool. No matter which activity you choose, adventure tourism with air activities are enjoyable and will leave you with unforgettable experiences.

Balloon Festival

here is no doubt that the greatest of adventure activities are the air activities. Today, it is no longer difficult for tourists to experience these activities because there are many operators who are specialised in providing high altitude tours and challenges;

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There is the â&#x20AC;&#x153;International Balloon Festivalâ&#x20AC;? in Thailand every year. Tourists can travel here to see hundreds of balloons, as well as participate in many fun activities.

Fly and Sky

Skydiving in the modern day requires that we follow the regulations of the Federation Aeronautique International (FAI) which means that to skydive you must use the following equipment: • An altimeter if the jump lasts longer than 15 seconds.

There is also the mid-air “Adventure above the Treetops” which is highly popular among adventure tourists. It is an exciting and memorable activity for you and your family, where you soar through the jungle with a cable sling or you can take a walk on a rope bridge high amongst the treetops.

• A safety helmet. • An automatic activation device (ADD)

• A parachute that has

passed the international EN 926-2 specification which is under the European Committee for Standardisation (CEN) with France (FFVL), Italy (FIVL), Great Britain (BHPA), Germany (DHV), and Switzerland (SHV) as members.

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Canopy & Sky Adventures

Top 10 Canopy & Sky Adventures in Thailand Season to Visit

Activity

60 Thong Kwao Airfield Chiang Mai

Nov - Apr

Sky Adventure

61 Flight of the Gibbon, Chiang Mai Mae Kampong

All year long Canopy Adventure

Place

62 Birdâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Paradise Extreme Resort

Sakon Nakhon All year long Sky Adventure

63 The Nature Club Resort

Kanchanaburi All year long Canopy Adventure

64 Flight of the Gibbon, Chon Buri Chon Buri

All year long Canopy Adventure

65 Thung Prong Thong Rayong

All year long Canopy Adventure

66 Khung Wiman Beach

View more details about Canopy & Sky Adventures at http://adventure. tourismthailand.org/ eng/canopy.php

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Province

Chanthaburi Nov - Apr

Sky Adventure

67 Tree Top Adventure Trat-Ko Chang All year long Canopy Park, Ko Chang Adventure 68 Xtrem Adventure Phuket All year long Canopy Phuket Adventure 69 The Peninsular Botanic Garden

Trang

All year long Canopy Adventure

6061 62

65 66 67

68 69

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Travel Info From Chiang Mai, take Highway118 and continue on Highway1014 after passing the Doi Saket District Office for 5 km. Then turn left and follow the signs “Thong Kwao Airfield”

GPS Location

N18° 50.225’, E99° 8.413’

Contact

Balloon Adventure Thailand +668 3838 0898 +668 9500 3732

www.balloonadventurethailand.com

Facilities & Services

Pilot, various size of balloon, transfer service, breakfast, restroom and parking.

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Explore Chiang Mai with a Flying Big Basket Thong Kwao Airfield

new once-in-a-lifetime experience for tourists looking for that classic feeling of airborne adventure travelling at the mercy of the winds. Let the cool air blow on your face and body as you slowly gain altitude until peaking at 2,000 metres and deeply breathe in the pure fresh air. The extensive 360-degree view from high above will show you the green skyline of the surrounding nature. The warm rays of the morning sun shine through the winter mist while some mountains are totally enveloped by thick fog. Such an atmosphere of romance will be imprinted into your memory for a long time to come.

Recommendation

Dress warmly and do not wear loose clothing. The best times for ballooning are right during sunrise and before sunset. This is for the beautiful view, as well as for the efficiency of balloon operations.

Chiang Mai

The gigantic balloon lightly floats along the gentle breeze taking you so high you can see Chiang Mai city. Look down at the Mae Kuang Dam below you and the beauty of the sun shimmering soft orange off of the water surface. The next thing you know the balloon’s basket is gradually lowering down to find a landing spot. The experience captures you so fully you don’t notice the time passing by. The final part of the flight is very exciting because you do not know where the wind has taken you. You will be on your toes until the bottom of the basket touches down onto the ground. After the excitement of landing and both your feet are planted on the ground, you will be granted a certificate of bravery. Keep it as a souvenir of your adventure above the skies of Chiang Mai.

Know Before You Go

A transport service is available to pick you up from your hotel at 6.00 a.m. and return you back at 9.00 a.m. The reserved day and time may be changed depending on the weather conditions for your safety.

Season to Visit

November - March

Time Spent on the Balloon 1.15 Hours

Please

Follow the pilot’s instructions strictly.

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Travel Info From Chiang Mai town, take Highway 1317 (Chiang Mai-San Kamphaeng) to San Kamphaeng Hot Springs. Then drive straight for about 65 km to Mae On Sub-district.

GPS Location

N18° 51.872’, E99° 20.376’

Contact

Flight of the Gibbon +668 9970 5511 +66 5301 0660 to 4 www.treetopasia.com

Facilities & Services

Guide, safety gear, transfer, restaurant and restroom.

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Chiang Mai

A Breathtaking Rainforest Adventure in the Majestic Treetops

Flight of the Gibbon, Mae Kampong

ake an adventure and enjoy the scenic jungle from the top view from the 18 platforms in the air. An unique sling tour at the top of the tree will show you a green fertile tropical jungle with the 1,500-year-old tree. This jungle flight will raise your adrenaline as you will glide along the longest zipline course in the world at over 5 km on a very high tree that you cannot see its top with your bare eyes through different layers of the rainforest canopy in pretty much the same fashion like the monkeys. Aside from the cable ride, there is a station where you can climb down from the tree to the ground to change the mood. Sometimes you will have to walk across the rope bridge which is a narrow route made from timber and rope hanging between two high trees. You will take about 3 hours to complete all routes. There is no need to be worried about safety since this place was designed and supervised by the expert from New Zealand with over 20 years of experience in building an adventure station. So, take a flight and have no fear, this is pure fun in a safe environment. The next thing you hear is the sound of your own shriek and see different kinds of birds flying around, apes, and boars running below.

Know Before You Go

Open daily from 8.00 a.m. - 2.30 p.m. Complimentary transfer service from the airport, railway station and hotels in town.

Recommendation

Wear well-fitting clothes and sneakers. Jewellery is not recommended. Do not forget to visit Ban Mae Kampong village.

Please

Strictly observe the instruction of your guide and keeper.

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Travel Info Take Highway 22 east toward Sakon Nakhon for 80 km east to Sawang Daen Din and notice the 85 km mark, then take the next available left turn (north) at the 3-way intersection for Ban Tao Hai. Follow to the sign of the Sai Mun Airport or the resort.

GPS Location

N17°31.19’, E103°32.56’’

Contact

Bird’s Paradise Extreme Resort +668 1974 0749 www.thaiskydiving.com

Facilities & Services

Private jet, instructors, swimming pool, spa, accommodation, meeting/banquet room, and safety equipment.

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Go Extreme: Ultimate Sky Experience Adventure Bird’s Paradise Extreme Resort

ird’s Paradise Extreme Resort has its own airport for all kinds of air sports; such as, skydiving and aircraft flying – small aircrafts, microlight, ultralight and paramotor. Here, it is perfect for both visitors who want to have an extraordinary once-in-a-lifetime experience and visitors who have serious interest in air sport lessons. The Resort provides qualified pilots and instructors to ensure that your thrilling experiences are safe and effective. Its training area has a high level of safety, certified by the United States Parachute Association, Sports Flying Association of Thailand and Department of Civil Aviation.

Sakon Nakhon

Recommendation

Advanced booking is recommended. More fun is guaranteed when you are going with your family or friends.

Know Before You Go

The lowest age limit for skydiving is 16 years old. Parental consent is required if you’re younger than 18 years old. Once completing the Skydiving Training course, you will receive a DVD and USPA Skydiving Licence. Then, you are ready to skydive from anywhere in the world.

The Resort also provides you with one-stop shop, selling a wide range of flying gear and accessories for air sports. For training courses, Bird’s Paradise Extreme Resort offers skydiving lessons. Provided by the Resort, the parachutes and skydiving gear are of the latest models. Their instructors are highly experienced experts, fully accredited by the United States Parachute Association or USPA.

Heaven on Earth for Extreme Sport Lovers Apart from air sports, Bird’s Paradise Extreme Resort offers many adventure activities, like Motocross, Mountain bike, ATV, Wall Climbing, Flying Fox, Jet Ski, Kayak and BB Gun. All activities have experienced staff ready to give you full assistance and ultimate safety. You will surely gain many stimulating experiences as well as meet new friends with the same passion in extreme sports. 225

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Travel Info From Kanchanaburi town, take Highway 323 to Sangkhla Buri. It takes about a 2-hour drive; the resort is on your left.

GPS Location

N15° 10.6014’, E98° 28.1331’

Contact

+66 2223 2885 www.thenatureclubresort.com

Facilities & Services

Adventure activities, accommodation, restaurant and bathrooms.

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Fly, Race, Roll, and Soar The Nature Club Resort

ithin the 1,190 acres of this resort, there are many exciting activities and fun areas for you to enjoy. High flying is one of the most popular activities of The Nature Club Resort. This activity is also known as the canopy adventure in which takes you on a tour down the spectacular rainforest, set in the Sangkla Buri Mountains. Your journey into the natural wonders begins with a 10 minute orientation that covers the basics of zip line use. After becoming acquainted with the zip line equipment, you will be transported to the top of Mountain to begin the adventure of a lifetime. Five platforms have been built against the tree on the top of hills joined by 500-metreslong steel cable for travelers to slide along to reach the next platform. Trained canopy guides are standby at each platform to assure the safety of each participant while describing interesting facts about the indigenous plants, bird life, ecology and geology of the area. Besides the zipline activity, those that love speed can tirelessly drive ATVs through the winding path along the curving mountains. Zorbing is the opportunity to jump into a large ball that will take you excitinglyrolling downhill.

Kanchanaburi

Besides the mountains, trees, and greenery within The Nature Club, there is the private lake with many activities you can enjoy including kayaking. Or you can just sunbathe, read, or relax in the natural atmosphere and the fresh air. The resort is located on the Highway 323. From Thong Pha Phum drive onward for another hour and it is on your left.

Watch Video

www.thenatureclubresort.com/video_th.php

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Extreme Adventure of 21st Century Flight of the Gibbon

Travel Info From Bangkok, just drive along Highway 36 (By-pass) and then continue on Highway 7. Exit onto Highway 3144 and drive for 400 m and make a U-turn and continue onto Highway 4036 by following the sign of Khap Kheow Open Zoo. If you go from Pattaya Beach, it takes only a 50-minute drive.

GPS Location

N13° 12.905’, E101° 3.366’

Contact

Flight of the Gibbon +668 9833 5560 +668 9970 5511 www.treetopasia.com

Facilities & Services

Guide, safety gear, transfer, restaurant and restroom.

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Know Before You Go

This canopy activity is suitable for everyone (from five to ninety-five years old, big, small, little, tall). The shuttle transfer from/to Bangkok is available. Lunch and entrance fee for Khao Khiao Open Zoo is included.

Chon Buri

etting back to nature has never been so exciting - or so secure. This pristine off-the-beaten-path area features wild storks on the adjacent lake and hundreds of cheeky monkeys visible as soon as you arrive in the sanctuary. It is also home to the more elusive gibbons, wild boar, bears, deer and hornbills. You will gain the extreme adventure experiences on trekking across swinging suspension bridges, spider web, cross walkways covered in the canopy, and soaring literally into adventure along numerous zip lines over a hundred year-old jungle. Each station affords their own unique pleasures and lets you appreciate the scenic top view of the forest and sea at the same time. Furthermore, an understanding of the rainforest ecology will be added, substance to the countless thrills experienced along the journey, through an awesome fascinating obstacle course which is designed for young and old kids. Here, it is also claimed to be the only canopy jungle adventure in Thailand designed and built by international experts from New Zealand with more than 20 years of experience and a perfect, unblemished safety record.

Recommendation

The advance reservation should be made at least 1-2 days. Do not miss Khao Khiao Open Zoo.

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Travel Info From Rayong town, take Sukhumvit Road and enter Klaeng district for 60 km. At the Pak Nam Prasae Junction, turn right and continue for 15 km before you reach the destination.

GPS Location

N12° 42.741’, E101° 42.167’

Contact

The Pak Nam Prasae Sub District Office +66 3866 1720 to 1 TAT Rayong Office +66 3865 5420 to 1 +66 3866 4585

Facilities & Services

Display boards of how ecosystem works, restroom and parking.

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Thung Prong Thong

his 2,400-acre mangrove plantation is considered the largest in Rayong province. Not only is it an important supporter of the local livelihood through the fishing of crab, shrimp and fish, but also presently there has been development in the field of ecotourism of Pak Nam Prasaeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s natural areas. A one-kilometre long wooden walkway has been built in the mangrove forest allowing you to walk on the roof of the forest that has in turn become yellow and gold fields when lit by the warm sunshine. The view becomes especially beautiful in the morning or evening light.

Recommendation

Take a cruise on the Prasae River at night to see the beautiful fireflies. If you have enough time, you should go to observe the way of life of the Pak Nam Prasae Community.

Rayong

Canopy Walkway over the Golden Mangrove Field

Please

Dump garbage in the specified area.

In your walk, you will see many types of plants. Display boards have been put up for study of an ecosystem. At the end of the walkway is a pavilion that reaches out into the sea used for resting and relaxingly enjoying the view. Moreover, it is also possible to adventure by renting a long-tailed boat at the entrance. A 20-minute ride will take you into the mangrove forest where you can see rare birds; such as, the Eastern Curlew, the River Tern, the Terek Sandpiper, the Bar-tailed Godwit, the Grey Plover, and more.

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Travel Info From Chanthaburi town, take Highway 3 (Chanthaburi–Rayong) and continue on Highway 3399 until you reach the beach. However, you need to contact the Thaiglider Club for an appointment.

GPS Location

N12° 36.31’, E101° 52.46’

Contact

Thaiglider Club www.thaiglider.com +66 2895 8879 TAT Rayong Office +66 3865 5420 to 1 +66 3866 4585

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Paragliding along a Light Breeze and Viewing the Bend of the Watercourse Khung Wiman Beach

n a day with clear skies, the wind blowing moderately, waves crashing into the cliffs of Khung Wiman Beach, is a great time to be floating above the sea on the colourful engineless wings of a parachute. Open your eyes to a new point of view with paragliding. The Khung Wiman beachfront area, besides being known for its long curved beach, it also has a two lane street that runs along the beach’s length thought to be the most beautiful of eastern Thailand. There is also an area in which the mountain slopes into the sea creating beautiful scenery and calming atmosphere.

You must reserve beforehand. Strictly follow instruction and check wind conditions before every flight.

Chanthaburi

Recommendation

Know Before You Go

The best time to fly is during November to May. Flying with an instructor for leisure takes roughly about 1-2 hours. There is a learning programme for beginners to paragliding with experienced instructors. The course takes about 10 days before you get your first flight with the instructor.

It is shaded by a variety of beach vegetation; such as, beach sea-oak. Moreover, the breeziness of this location is highly suitable for paragliding because the activity depends upon the headwind and the warmer land surface air temperature to lift you off the ground. Also the spacious field will allow you to set up your parachute above your head while the high cliff helps block strong gusts of wind before you run into the head wind and launch. Under the parachute, over the sand, see the narrow curves of the bay and the view of the pines along with the emerald sea sparkling in the sun. To your side you can see the green mountains and admire them while being cooled by the breeze as if you were in a land of happiness.

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Travel Info You can catch a local bus or arrange the time to be picked up from the hotel with the Tree Top Adventure Team.

GPS Location

N11° 59.64’, E102° 17.825’

Contact

Tree Top Adventure Park +668 4310 7600 www.treetopadventurepark.com

Facilities & Services

Tour guide, parking, food and restroom.

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Trat-Ko Chang

Challenge Yourself on the Top of Trees

Tree Top Adventure Park, Ko Chang

or those without fear and love the feeling of adrenaline, then the “Tree Top Adventure Park” is the place for you. The two acres of greenery at the seashore near Bai Lan Bay has been transformed into a place to test the bravery inside of you with tree top adventures unlike any other place. There are more than 30 soul-stirring activities; swinging like Tarzan, crossing rope bridges, skating, climbing and gliding down a sling rope at the height of 20 m. The difficulty levels are ranged from easy to extremely difficult. Before playing in any of the stations, please pay attention to the staff’s explanation and introduction on the steps and how to use the equipment, so we can have fun with the right procedures. The staff would be there for us throughout the whole activity, so you can be confident that it is 100% safe. Since we all know the rules, it is now time for some suspense. For those who are not daring enough, it is recommended that you should take the easy stations first; such as, climbing rope walls, crossing wooden bridges which are not too high. Then be prepared for the most daring station; swinging on a rope like Tarzan from one tree to another. The most highlighted station is to glide down a metal sling at the height of a 7-storey building; about 20 m high and about 150 m long. This adventurous trip is more than just fun, but it is also considered to train your concentration, too. This place has no genre or age restrictions; all are welcome to join in the fun!

Know Before You Go

First round in the morning starts from 9.00 - 12.00 a.m. and the second round starts from 2.00 - 5.00 p.m. Only a traveller taller than 140 cm is allowed to play.

Recommendation

When you are in an activity, you should be conscious at all times to avoid mistakes that might get you into danger.

Please

Follow the guidelines for your own safety.

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Travel Info From the Thai Nan Intersection (Central Festival Phuket), take the route of West Chaofa Road and drive straight ahead for approximately 8 km. Turn right and drive on the route to Wat Sin Supharam (New temple of Luangpu Supha) before reaching Wat Chalong, it is on the left-hand side.

GPS Location

N7° 51.566’, E98° 19.565’

Contact

Xtrem Adventures Phuket +66 7638 3689 +668 1536 8909 +668 1978 4228 www.xtremadventuresphuket.com

Facilities

Transfer, tour guide, safety gear, restaurant, toilet and parking.

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Unforgettable Canopy Experiences for Everyone Xtrem Adventures Phuket

he canopy adventure is one of the popular things to do in Phuket, located high up on Nak Koet Hill. “Xtrem” offers no less than 69 stations with various types of canopy activities; for example, challenging tightropes, a fun flying fox, an adventurous zip wire, as well as a 25-m high tree to climb for challenging your courage and strength. When you reach the treetop, you will be rewarded with the magnificent scenery of Ao Chalong. Furthermore, there are activities including Tarzan swings, net climbing, balancing on the airborne steps and a new innovation called “Accro Spider” which uses a special type of rope and net base covering a large area. Before starting, specialist staff will train and teach all players about how to use the equipment correctly and safely. Moreover, the staff will watch and take care of all participants closely while they enjoy doing the activities.

Know Before You Go

Open daily from 9.00 a.m. to 3.30 p.m. It takes about 3 hours to complete all stations.

Phuket

Therefore, you have no need to worry about safety because all equipment used is designed and installed by skilled experts from France. In addition, these experts are also registered with their professional licences issued in France.

Recommendation

Appropriate footwear (sneakers) must be worn, with no loose fitting clothing while participating in these activities.

Please

Pay close attention while training and learning the skills of how to play and use all equipment and follow the guidelines for your own safety.

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Travel Info From Trang town, take Highway 404 (Trang-Palian) until reaching Km. 11, you will see the entrance on the left.

GPS Location

N7°46.071’, E99° 63.525’

Contact

The Southern International Botanical Garden (Thung Khai) +66 7528 0166 www.tkbg.org

Facilities & Services

Parking, restroom, grocery shop and parking.

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Explore Thailand’s Only City Surrounding the Woods The Southern International Botanical Garden (Thung Khai)

f people were to mention woods, everybody would think about a large forest with high and low mountains stretching around the area. But at the Southern International Botanical Garden (Thung Khai), the majority of the forest here is on a plain, which is Thailand’s one and only for now. There are towers climbing to different levels, which are connected by suspension bridges with a total distance of 175 m and the height of 18 m. They were built to study the biological properties in different levels of height.

Recommendation

Another interesting path to take is the swamp forest observation path which is 1,200 m long.

Trang

The forest can now be seen up close and the nature of the community of plants or wildlife on tall trees can be observed within the same eye level. Leaves, flowers and fruits can be observed closely. Moreover, you can get really close to wildlife; such as, birds, squirrels, tree shrews, and monkeys. There is no need for you to look upwards or use binoculars anymore. If you look downward, you would be able to clearly see the boundary between the tropical rain forest and the swamp forest.

Know Before You Go

In the past, this forest was the main source for food for the local villagers. They would search for animals, vegetables and wild fruits.

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Other Adventure Activities Place

Province

70 Doi Pha Hom Pok (Mae Fang)

Chiang Mai

85 Namtok Phu Toei

Kanchanaburi

71 Pang Ung

Mae Hong Son

86 The Hellfire Pass Museum

Kanchanaburi

72 Galyani Vadhana District

Chiang Mai

87 Hin Tok River Camp Kanchanaburi

73 Daradalay Banndin Farm

Chiang Mai

74 Chiang Mai X-Centre

Chiang Mai

75 Chiang Khan 76 Si Satchanalai Historical Park

88 Namtok Erawan

Kanchanaburi

89 The Old Capital Ayutthaya

Ayutthaya Nakhon Nayok

Loei

90 Sarika Explorer Adventure Activity Centre

Sukhothai

91 Amphawa

Samut Songkhram

92 Khlong Khlon Mangrove Forest

Samut Songkhram

77 Agriculture Project Sukhothai Sukhothai Airport 78 Kaeng Bang Rachan

Phetchabun

93 Khao Khiao Open Zoo

Chon Buri

79 Beung Boraphet

Nakhon Sawan

94 Namtok Khao Chamao

Rayong

80 Ko Thepho

Uthai Thani

Rayong

81 Sam Phan Bok

Ubon Ratchathani

95 The Park Adventure Land

82 Pha Chan Village

Ubon Ratchathani

83 Native Horse Ubon Ratchathani 85 Conservation Club Sirindhorn District 84 Mon Bridge 242

Place

Kanchanaburi

96 Salak Khok Village Trat-Ko Chang 97 Namtok Pa La-u

Prachuap Khiri Khan

98 Ko Panyi

Phang-nga

99 Sa Morakot

Krabi

100 Thale Noi

Phatthalung

70 71

73 72 74 75

76 77 78 80 84 87 85 86 88

89 91 92 97

81 82 83

79 90 93 94 95 96

100

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Travel Info From Chiang Mai, take Highway 107 (Chiang Mai–Fang) leaving Mae Rim and drive straight to Fang District. Then drive along Fang-Mon Pin Road for 160 km. From the National Park, you should take a four-wheel drive car and go along Fang-Ban Huai Bon road taking about 2 hours.

GPS Location

N19° 57.733’, E99° 9.219’

Contact TAT Chiang Mai Office +66 5324 8604 +66 5324 8607 +66 5345 1441 Ext. 302

Facilities & Services

Guide, accommodation, restroom, restaurant, camping site, parking lot.

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Trek to the Top of the 2nd Tallest Mountain in Thailand Doi Pha Hom Pok (Mae Fang)

his very high mountain is called Doi Pha Hom Pok since it is always covered in a blanket of mist. The mountain is quite extraordinary with a height of 2,285 metres above sea level, which is the 2nd highest in Thailand. This mountain is a part of Laotian Mountain. Due to the dangerous height and the steep cliff area, the National Park allows no camping on top of the mountain. To see the sunrise, most tourists usually camp at Doi Kio Lom instead before hiking to the top of Doi Pha Hom Pok on the next morning around 3.00 a.m. Hiking along the popular Kio Lom trail takes about 2.5 hours. Sometimes the trail can get quite steep. The toughest and most memorable hill along this trail is Mon Wat Chai challenging those travellers who think they can reach the top. Apart from the challenging height and the famous scenic cloudy mist, most tourists want to memorise the 360 degrees view of the sun

Know Before You Go

Personal cars are allowed to Doi Pha Hom Pok only to 3.30 p.m. Nearby, tourists can also take a rest at Fang Hot Spring with the choices of a private hot spring, openair hot spring and mineral sauna room. The trip during October-February would be best.

Chiang Mai

gradually rising from the sea of mist revealing Doi Phi Pan Nam Mountain and a range of other mountains. Some tourists wish the weather gets freezing cold, so they can see the frost or rimed grass. Besides, the tourists can also observe beautiful flowers, rare birds and butterflies; such as, Purple cochoa, Brownbreasted bulbul, Kaiser imperial butterflies, Pha Hom Pok emerald butterflies, and so on.

Recommendation

Advanced permission is a must. The trip must be guided by the National Park officers.

Please

Do not litter. Dispose of trash only in places provided.

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Travel Info From Mae Hong Son town, take Highway 108 (Mae Hong Son-Pang Mapha-Pai) for about 10 km. and take a left turn following to sign “Ban Ruam Thai” until you reach Pang Ung.

GPS Location

N19° 29.877’, E97° 54.625’

Contact

TAT Mae Hong Son Office +66 5361 2982 Pang Tong Royal Project +668 7661 8594

Facilities & Services

Accommodation, tent camping sites, restaurant, grocery shop and parking.

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Hiking through the Forest, Pass through a Sea of Mist, Inhale the Scent of Nature on Mountains Pang Ung

ang-Ung is officially called “The Royal Forest Project at Pang Tong 2 (PangUng)” which has a forest of pine trees surrounding a large water reservoir. The atmosphere is charmingly quiet, especially during the winter mornings during the months of December to January. People would be longing to watch the morning’s first light when the mist is completely built up. If you are lucky enough, you might get a chance to see black swans come out to play with the morning sun in the middle of the lake. These swans were given by Her Majesty the Queen. It would be a very special experience that you should come and feel for yourself.

Know Before You Go

People who would like to come and stay overnight during August to January would have to make reservations in advance at the Mae Hong Son Arts and Crafts Centre (Tel. +66 53 611244) You would also have to get a permission card from the Centre before you enter Pang Ung, whether you are sleeping in a tent or a room at the hotel. If you bring your own tent, then you would have to pay a maintenance fee of 100 Baht.

Mae Hong Son

Moreover, bamboo rafts can be rented from the local villagers around the reservoir. Riding a horse around the area would be another interesting option, plus, paying for these ways of transportation would help make a better living for the locals. For those who like to go hiking in the forest, there is also a trekking path towards Nam Yot Cliff. The path would lead you past seedling fields and walk along the border of the reservoir until you get to the top of Nam Yot Cliff. This is considered to be one of the highlights of this place. Beautiful wild flowers grow along the path. If you have some more time to spend before leaving, it is highly recommended for you to visit the Pang Tong Palace, at the Royal Forest Project. Experience a pleasant and peaceful atmosphere. Watch the herd of sheep, horses and the wildlife breeding station. There is also a nursery for winter plants, which has both Thai and imported species.

Recommendation

The road leading to Pang Ung is windy and narrow with sharp curves, and sometimes fog would become another obstacle. Extreme caution is required. It is highly recommended to travel during the afternoon. You should prepare your batteries as electricity is generated from 6.00-10.00 p.m.

Please

Do not make loud noises, whether it is from musical instruments or any type of sound system.

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Travel Info From Chiang Mai town, take Highway107 and turn left at Mae Malai Market to enter Highway 1095 (Mae Malai Market-Pai). Continue along the road about 13 km. and turn left to Highway1265. The total distance is approximately 160 km.

GPS Location

N19° 7.620’, E098° 17.488’

Contact

Ban Wat Chan Royal Project +66 5331 7606 +668 6181 3388 www.fio.co.th/travel/watchan

Facilities & Services

Guide, rental bicycle, tent camping site, accommodation, restaurant, grocery shop, restroom and parking.

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Cycling across a Pine Forest and Experiencing the Pakakayor Lifestyle Galyani Vadhana District

n this area, you will find the largest pine forest in Thailand. There is a rumour that this forest is as breath-taking and romantic as Pang Ung. So many people call it “Pang Ung 2“. Here we have a reservoir, huge pine trees and the colour of Himalayan cherry that perfectly matches with the cold weather and scenic view making you feel like exploring every point of the Ban Wat Chan pine forest. This place is also known as a new popular ecological attraction in Chiang Mai.

Recommendation

1095

Pai

Mae Hong Son

107

Mae Surin Waterfall 1265

1263

1088

Mae Rim

1096

Doi Inthanon National Park

1269

1192 1009

108

1013

Mae Chaem

Mae Taeng

1095

Ban Wat Chan Royal Project

108

Know Before You Go

Open daily from 8.30 a.m. to 4.30 p.m.

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Don’t miss the Karen’s demonstration garden of vegetables and fruits; such as, Japanese apricots, persimmons, plums and Chinese pears. For Huai Hom Waterfall hiking trail, please book the trip in advance.

Please

Chiang Mai

Support villagers by purchasing local products and dump garbage in the specified area.

Lamphun

Doi Op Luang National Park

Chiang Mai

Ban Wat Chan Royal Project

Doi Khun Tan National Park 11

Lampang

Belief

Pakakayor girls have a strong belief about clothes. So you should try asking them which kind of clothes suit to be a souvenir.

In the early morning, you can see the golden sky, warm sunshine and light mist over the reservoir and the pine forest without having to fly across the world to find a beautiful forest. In the late morning, you can wander and explore the nature around the Ban Wat Chan Royal Project, enjoy the scenic Merkus pine forest and winter flowers. Then you can learn the simple lifestyle of Pakakayor at Huai O village in the afternoon. In the evening, cycling around the Royal Project is a must since the cool air is so perfect for cycling. You can feel the breeze on your face while you are riding through the pine forest to the reservoir. Take a deep breath and work up a sweat against the cold weather. If you want a wilder adventure, you can try hiking through the natural trail of Huai Hom Waterfall, the origin of the Mae Chaem River. However, to take this trail, you must contact the local staff to take you there which is about 1-hour’s driving. 249

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Travel Info 96 km. from Chiang Mai town on Highway 107 (Chiang Mai-Fang), 500 m on your right from Huai Luek Royal Project. From Bangkok, the easiest way is to take VIP bus (Bangkok-Chiang Mai-Tha Ton) departing from Mo Chit bus station at 7.45 p.m. and arriving opposite the farm at 6.00 a.m. next day.

GPS Location

N19° 32.037’, E99° 3.303’

Contact

Dara Dalay Banndin Farm +668 6378 3837 +668 9499 2878 www.daradalay.com

Facilities & Services

Guide, lecturer, accommodation, food, restroom, grocery shop and parking lot.

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Daradalay Banndin Farm

isit and try a new way of adventure at Daradalay, Banndin Farm. The stylish clay house here is very friendly to the environment. Here, you can experience to live like a “real” agriculturist among the beautiful nature. You will learn about organic farming from the farm owner. Other interesting activities include building a “clay house” from fine and cheap natural material, visiting the tribal village, watching demonstrations of clay pavilion and restroom building, enjoying the culture and market of Hmong villagers, donating your unwanted objects to tribal children and doing public services for the tribal community. Before leaving, visit the winter flowers, fruits and vegetables at Huai Luek Royal Project, only 1 km from the farm. To end the day, you will have a fine dinner cooked from fresh vegetables of the farm around the fire camp. At the same time, you will be amazed by the stars in the sky and thousands of fireflies. A relaxing massage is also offered at a warm clay house.

Know Before You Go

The farm is open throughout the year. The package tour programme is about 1-2 nights. The farm is near the Chiang Dao Elephant Camp that offers elephant riding, rafting, etc.

Chiang Mai

Experiencing a Farm Stay & Organic Agriculture

What’s Hot!

The guests of the farm can pick up sweet fresh organic strawberries free and unlimitedly.

Recommendation

Bring insect repellent lotion or spray.

Please

The farm and nearby neighbourhood are quiet and peaceful. Do not disturb other people.

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Travel Info Located in Mae Rim Valley and is a 25 minute drive from the centre of Chiang Mai city. The easiest way is to book an adventure package including free transfer services from your accommodation.

GPS Location

N18° 55.325’, E98° 55.469’

Contact

Chiang Mai X-Centre +66 5329 7700 +668 7833 6655 www.chiangmai-xcentre.com

Facilities & Services

Tour guide, multi adventure activities, restroom and parking lot.

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Chiang Mai

Off-road Buggy Trek through Mae Rim Forest Chiang Mai X-Centre

he speed of a buggy and diversity of the Mae Rim Forest is the charm of adventure on this mini vehicle. There are two offroad tour options. One lasts from one to one and a half hours and takes a route that is suitable for anyone that is competent driving a normal road car. The other trek takes at least two hours and goes over much more demanding terrain but should still be within the ability of most confident road drivers. Both tours start in the X-Centre car park where drivers are briefed and kitted out with jumpsuits and crash helmets. The cars then head off in single file convoy formation following an X-Centre guide in the lead car. At the beginning of the trail, it is a good time for you to get familiar with the wheel, accelerator and brake on the smooth road of Highway No. 1096. After a while, you will go through jungle trails that lead into the hills where Chiang Maiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hill tribe people live. The terrain can be challenging at times and includes some steep inclines, water crossings, bumpy way, and narrow hillside tracks. It is all well within the capabilities of the buggies and experienced road drivers generally handle the conditions with ease but if a particular stretch proves too troublesome, the guides are always ready to lend a helping hand. Another highlight of this trip is the stunning scenery and great views available from the highest points. Because of this, there are plenty of pauses along the way to allow drivers to enjoy it to the full including cool breeze and fresh air.

Know Before You Go

Due to the high replacement cost of these buggies, a deposit of THB 5,000 is required. This will be refunded upon completion of the trip as long as no damage is incurred.

Recommendation

Also try other extreme activities; such as, BB Gun, ATV, Go-Kart, Bungee Jump, etc.

Please

Strictly follow the instruction for your own safety.

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Travel Info From Loei, drive along Highway 201 (Loei-Chiang Khan) for 47 km. From Bangkok, you can take a bus, leaving every day, from Mo Chit Bus Terminal to Chiang Khan which takes around 10 hours; or you can fly with the Solar Air (check daily flights at www.solarair.co.th) to the Loei airport and then take a bus to Chiang Khan.

GPS Location

N17° 53.883’, E101° 40.01’

Contact

TAT Loei Office +66 4281 2812 +66 4281 1405

Facilities & Services

Accommodation, rental bike, souvenir shop and restaurant.

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Cycling to Explore a Traditional Way of Life in a Romantic City Chiang Khan

hiang Khan is a small district located near the Mekong River in Loei. People at Chiang Khan have followed their ancestor’s traditions for over 100 years. The picture of old houses lining the side of the street and the simple life of villagers have attracted Thai and foreign tourists from everywhere. The atmosphere here makes an ideal place for people who want to relax and runaway from chaos to learn a simple life. When you visit Chiang Khan, the first must-do activity is “sticky rice alms giving”. You should get ready before 6.00 a.m. Mostly you can find the sticky rice at your hotel and buy additional goods for alms giving from the morning market.

Recommendation

Loei

Chiang Khan is a small town, so the best way to take a tour around the town is riding a bike through the alley to view old wooden houses between Chai Khong Road and Si Chiang Khan Road. Some houses might have been renovated to the trend at the time, still they are classic. During the cycling trip you will be impressed by the place and the greeting smiles from the locals and tourists around you. There is also a cycling route along the Mekong Riverside leading to a scenic point which is so perfect for photo taking. The absolute highlight at night is to go shopping for local products at the walking street where you can find plenty of food and souvenirs. By purchasing local products, you are helping to promote the locals’ income and thanking for the friendship you have received for the entire day.

See a lovely way to trade of merchants at the Song Kham Market, opening twice a month during 6.00 p.m. - 12.00 p.m. on the 2nd day of the waxing moon and the 2nd day of the waning moon. The market is located next to Chiang Khan Hospital on Highway 211.

Know Before You Go

GSM mobile network users should set the network option to ‘Manual’ in advance to prevent automatic roaming which can cost you an international calling charge.

Please

When you are visiting Chiang Khan, please appreciate it in the way it is, and do not try to change it.

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Travel Info From Sukhothai town, take Highway 101 until you reach the km 18 and then take a left turn crossing the Yom River. Then turn right at the junction to the Historical Park.

GPS Location

N17° 31.051’, E99° 45.357’

Contact

Si Satchanalai Historical Park +66 5567 9211 The Legendha Sukhothai Resort +66 2642 5497 www.LegendhaSukhothai.com

Facilities & Services

Information centre, rental bike, audio tour, restaurant, souvenir shop, restroom and parking.

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Two Wheels Exploring the Wonders of a World Heritage, the Oldest City Si Satchanalai Historical Park

efore entering the city of Si Satchanalai, be sure to visit the Information Centre to learn the historical information and stories, observe a model of the city as well. Next, you can take a pleasant ride on bikes past the Don Laem Gate and ride along the laterite city wall of Chaliang and you would reach Wat Phra Si Rattana Mahathat a royal temple of the Ratchaworawihan class, where some pieces of Lord Buddha’s relics are placed. A distinctive feature is a tall, large and beautiful stupa made of laterite and paved with cement. The walls in the temple’s area are decorated by the beautiful faces of Avalokitesvara. Next stop would be Wat Chom Chuen where you can see human skeletons dating from the 4th and 9th century and some Chaliang ceremic ware originating around the 12th century up to the Sukhothai era. A little further would be Wat Chao Chan, which is an ancient remain believed to be older than the city of Sukhothai itself because the stupa was formed using laterite stones influenced by ancient Khmer art, plus, researchers discovered many historical evidences buried since the 7th-13th century. The next place is Wat Noi, this is where King Vajiravudh (Rama VI) used as a resting place during his travel to Si Satchanalai. What is strange about this temple is that every ancient building in this area is miniaturised; such as, a cone stupa of about 2 m high.

12 Celadon Kiln Site Study and Conservation Centre Yom River

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ng hloe P City wall of m amo 10 Chaliang h P ao hiri 11 9 h 2 K Wat wan K g Lom 7 n u a S eo hao Wat Ch et Tha ya 8 6 K t h Pha oi en5 a4n 3t C N Wa 1 i t d Wa Chu ao Ch atha Che ang Start and Wat Wat N hom Ch Mah Finish Point Wat C Wat attana iR aS r h P Wat

Know Before You Go Open daily from 8.00 a.m. - 4.00 p.m.

Sukhothai

Si Satchanalai Historical Park Bicycle Map

Recommendation

Amphoe si satchanalai is well known for ancient designed golden and silver jewellery. You can buy them at old gold stores or the community’s OTOP shops nearby.

Please

Pay respect during each stop of the journey.

Next, ride your bicycles further to Wat Chedi Chet Thaeo which is a temple where the ashes of Si Satchanalai’s royal family are being kept and is also the most beautiful temple in Sukhothai. Up next, take a look at stucco work from the major craftsmen of Si Satchanalai at Wat Nang Phaya, a 7-roomed temple made out of laterite stones. The interior is beautifully decorated with ceramic and stuccos. Further on, you will reach Wat Chang Lom, the highlights for this temple is a large spherical pagoda with the base surrounded by 39 oversized stucco elephants facing out of the wall, giving a warm greeting to the visitors of the temple. Riding a little further, you would reach Wat Khao Phamom Phloeng. According to the annals, it is believed that this temple was the centre of which built the city of Si Satchanalai. If you take a walk far enough to sweat profusely, then you would probably be in front of a spherical pagoda and mondop formed by laterite stones. The locals call it the Chao mae Laong Samli shrine. Don’t forget to pay respect and ask for a wish to the principal Buddha image created by piling layers of laterite plates and has been located there for more than 100 years. Going further, you will go to the top of Wat Khao Suwan Khiri. If you walk up the stairs and look towards the south, you would see how beautiful the city of Si Satchanalai is. If you still have some energy, it would be recommended to ride for another 4.6 km to go to the “Celadon Kiln Site Study and Conservation Centre” to learn about the evolution of ancient ceremics and the story behind pottery; from the biggest and oldest kilns of Si Satchanalai. 257

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Travel Info From Sukhothai town, take Highway 1195, then turn left and head the same way as going to the airport for 30 km.

GPS Location

N17° 13.717’, E99° 49.489’

Contact

Agriculture Project Sukhothai Airport +66 5564 7290 +66 8620 23757 www.kaohomsukhothai.com

Facilities & Services

Guide, accommodation, souvenir shop, restroom and parking.

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2 Wheels, 4 Legs! Enjoying the Farmer’s Life Agriculture Project Sukhothai Airport

unaway from the busy city life. Slow down your pace. Enjoy riding a bike and inhaling pure air in the natural surroundings. Explore the wide paddy field, vegetable garden and orchards that have various kinds of fruits; such as, bananas, papayas and mangoes. Here you can always hear the melody of birds from common field birds like tailorbirds, long-tailed shrikes, bulbuls, and waterfowls like white-breasted waterhens, little grebes, Chinese pond heron, etc. You can also bring a telescope to watch birds at the rest area. The total path is about 5 km.

Award

The Organic Agriculture Project, Sukhothai Airport won the Thailand Tourism Award in the Agricultural Attraction Category in 2010.

Sukhothai

Moreover, visitors can enjoy learning healthy agricultural activities; such as, ancient farming, cultivating, planting, buffalo riding and duck egg collecting. Get to know the farmerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s way of life with your back against the sky and your face against the soil. Peek at the brown rice species research, visit a brown rice mill and try selecting rice grain by hand. Visit an organic vegetable garden, lotus field and swan swamp. See little ducks conquering the golden apple snails in the paddy field. Be greeted by the clever white buffalo. Try tasty foods ranging from farmerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s noodles, stir-fried organic vegetable, Ban Rai omelet, spicy water cress salad, refreshing chlorophyll smoothie, rice leaf ice cream and santol in syrup.

Know Before You Go

Different activity programmes are offered ranging from halfday, full day and overnight.

Recommendation

You should begin the activity in the early morning when the sun is shining lightly.

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Travel Info From Phetchabun town, take Highway 23 and turn left into Highway 2258 at the Na Ngua Intersection. Drive until the end of the Highway before turning left and continuing for another 1 km.

GPS Location

N16° 33.77’, E100° 53.553’

Contact

Nong Mae Na–Than Tawan Forest Conservation Community +668 7198 6488 Thung Salaeng Luang National Park +66 5526 8019 TAT Phitsanulok Office +66 5525 2742 to 3 +66 5525 9907

Facilities & Services

Guides, boat service, food, restrooms and parking.

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Rafting on the Rapids in the search for Ancient Jellyfish and Rare Butterflies Kaeng Bang Rachan

he freshwater jellyfish at Thung Salaeng Luang National Park is an ancient species that can be found in a few places across the world. These ancient creatures can be seen only during the end of February to May since the stream will be shallow and still unlike the other times of the year. The water may look black, but the locals insist that it is not polluted. Indeed the water will look clear as usual when collected. The changing colour is caused by the fallen leaves, resin and different local plants in the area. These fallen scraps reduce the circulation of the water, darken its colour, and allow “Maeng Yum Wa” or the freshwater jellyfish to appear.

Recommendation

Ask the villagers about the legend of the Grandpa and Grandma Mountains. It is a very interesting story.

Phetchabun

The freshwater jellyfish look like the marine ones except they are as tiny as coins. So you can barely see them. The stream is also a home of different species of butterflies. You can see them flying around the scenic natural view. Nong Mae Na–Than Tawan Forest Conservation Community was established to protect this nature and provide an ecological tour via “Ipong” boat – a local Thai kayak style. Here you can boat through the stream’s course lined with big forest, shady trees, and quaint local plants. There are over 190 bird species confirmed in the park, most significant of which for birdwatchers is the Siamese fireback pheasant.

Know Before You Go

From November to December, the fields bloom with carpets of wild flowers, and the best place to see wildlife is on these meadows and around the ponds and salt licks.

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Travel Info From Nakhon Sawan town, take Highway 3001 (Nakhon Sawan - Tha Tako). Turn left after 20 km following the sign age and continue for another 4 km before reaching the destination.

GPS Location

N15° 41.22’, E100° 15.044’

Contact

Boraphet Swamp Tourist Services +66 5627 4525 www.buengboraphet.com TAT UThai Thani Office +66 5651 4982

Open hours

8.00 a.m. - 6.00 p.m.

Facilities & Services

Boat, accommodation, camp site, restaurant, restroom, aquarium, souvenir shop and parking.

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Travel the Swamp and Be Surprised by Various Birds Beung Boraphet

he Boraphet Swamp is the largest fresh water lake in Thailand. Covering an area of about 51,400 acres, it is the habitat of numerous fish including the near-extinct Siamese tiger fish making it a very interesting place to visit. It is also a nesting area for many types of water fowl; such as, the Purple Swamphen, the Bronze-winged Jacana, the Little Grebe, the Great Egret, the Pheasant-tailed Jacana, and many more making it a very popular destination for bird-watching, especially from November to March when many birds migrate here. Early morning is the suitable time to paddle out in a boat and travel through the wide and open swamp because thousands of lotus flowers will be displaying their beauty. Locals will be out with their small boats to gather flowers, as well as Lotus stems close by. This spacious area dotted by the numerous colourful lotus is the perfect place to relax on your boat and catch the breeze while viewing the bright green vegetation and maybe catch a glimpse of birds that may be wandering on clumps of leaves. The summer is the period many people like to visit to be close to the water while enjoying the calm breeze.

Nakhon Sawan

Recommendation

The best times for embarking to go birdwatching is before 10.00 a.m. or again at around 4.00 p.m. Take binoculars with you to better water the cute actions of the water fowl.

Know Before You Go

There are monkey and crocodile shows, coinoperated birdwatching binoculars, Lanna-styled accommodation, and an aquarium that is open from 10.00 a.m. to 6.00 p.m.

Please

Do not disturb the local ecology by making loud noises or paddling too close to where the birds are located.

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Travel Info Located on the East of Sakae Krang River, next to Uthai Thani town. It is easily accessible by foot or bicycle.

GPS Location

N15° 22.077’, E100° 4.178’

Contact

TAT Uthai Thani Office +66 5651 2916

Facilities & Services

Bicycles, map, coffee shop, accommodation, restaurant, shop, restroom and parking.

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Bike Tour to Uthai Thani’s Oasis: Experience the Charm of River Communities Ko Thepho

urrounded by 2 rivers – Sakae Krang River and Chao Phraya River, Ko Tepo is known as the Oasis of Uthai Thani. It is considered as the largest fresh water island in Thailand. Located on the opposite side of the city of Uthai Thani or on the east of the Sakae Krang River, visitors can explore the island by cycling through the provided bike trails to enjoy the peaceful scenery and local lifestyles. This eco-friendly bike tour starts from biking across a small bridge at a municipal market, commonly known as Wat Bot Bridge to visit Wat Ubosotharam, situated by the Sakae Krang River. The most prominent feature of the temple is its octagonal multi-tiered roof, an evidence of early Rattanakosin period’s architecture, which reflects the European and Chinese influence on Thai culture at the time. Then, visitors continue cycling along the temple’s wall, passing a pomelo orchard. It is amazingly pleasant to cycle along the bike trail under the shade of big trees and see various types of butterflies coming out to greet passers-by. Once reaching the Crocodile Farm, you will see a beautiful view of the Sakae Krang River. If you are lucky, you will catch the scene of small fishing boats in the river community greeting each other, making you feel warm at heart.

Wat Taphan Hin

Ban Tha Rak Wai

Watergate (new) Wat Ko Sawan

Ban Tha Din Daeng r Rive na g

Camping Park Viewpoint Wat Khum Sap River Sakae Krang

Pomelo Garden

Know Before You Go

Sak ae Kr

Watergate (old)

N City Hall Historical Museum

Crocodile Farm Wat Bot

Recommendation

Try refreshing iced coffee at Utai Coffee Shop on Si Uthai Road, near the History Museum. They also have a bicycle rental service. Working hours: 7.00 a.m. - 4.00 p.m. (www.facebook.com/ CoffeeUtai)

Uthai Thani

Uthai Thani Bike Tour

The bike trail around Thepho Island is approximately 33 km. A bike map is available at hotels, Utai Coffee Shop, Charoen Bicycle store and Uthai Thani Tourist Information Centre.

Where to Rent a Bicycle

Bicycles are available for rent at many hotels in Uthai Thani city centre and Utai Coffee Shop.

Bicycle Repair

Charoen Bicycle is on Thachang Road.

Start

After passing Wat Khum Sap, you will bike along the Chao Phraya River. Along the way, it is fascinating to see the simple way of life of the local people in the community where some have fish farms in traditional floating baskets, and some are doing basketry. Next you will see the amazing scenery of sugarcane and corn farms, experiencing the true lifestyle of the Uthai Thani locals. When cycling to the corner of the temple almost the end of the trail, turn right towards Ban Tan En and continue to Ban Rong Namkhaeng. Along this route, the scenery of green fields is astoundingly beautiful. You will see storks and pelicans all around the fields, enticing visitors to walk along the ridges. Once arriving at the Ban Rong Namkhaeng, a famous tourist village, cycle further through the village and there you will see a small waterfront pavilion, where you can chill out watching fishermen and boats passing by. Additionally, some locals will show you how to make dried fish, aromatic incense, baskets, etc. 265

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Travel Info From Ubon Ratchathani town, take Highway 2050 (Trakan Phuet Phon- Pho Sai) and drive along for about 120 km keep your eye on the signs “Sam Phan Bok”.

GPS Location

N15° 47.416’, E105° 24.653’’

Contact

TAT Ubon Ratchathani Office +66 4524 3770, +66 4525 0714

Facilities & Services

Guide, boat, food and parking.

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Cruising through the wondrous natural phenomenon Sam Phan Bok

large sandstone rapids at the end of the Phu Phan Mountain Range that stretches along the banks of the Mekong River between Thailand and Lao PDR. It is a winding and narrow part of the river. This area of the Mekong’s River banks are lined with rock formations creating a large 30 square kilometre bar. It is considered to be the largest known natural fish spawning area of the Mekong. The wondrous power of nature is sometimes fantastic beyond description. The swirling rapids sweep sand, gravel, stone, and wood debris to scrub and erode the sandstone bar into a pan containing more than 3,000 large and small holes, culminating in the fine beauty beneath, and creating works of art in the middle of the Mekong. A heart, a star, and various animal shapes can be seen as they emerge from the water with their strangeness and strength during the dry season; from around November until March.

Recommendation

If you bring a sitting-board you can enjoy sliding down the sand dune. Plan to arrive before sunset to see the beauty faint orange-yellow light reflecting off the white sand. Soon you will arrive at Sam Phan Bok. If you are pressed for time it is possible to drive directly to Sam Phan Bok itself.

Ubon Ratchathani

The word “Bok” in Laotian means basin which is why this area is now called “Sam Phan Bok” (sam phan is three thousand in Thai). Also nearby is a place known to the locals as the “Mekong Grand Canyon”. It is a rock cliff that was carved through thousands of years of erosion from streams above it creating the astonishing natural phenomenon. It is a large channel 3-7 m high and 20 m wide. Visiting Sam Phan Bok can be done on a sightseeing boat. You can enjoy the view throughout the route’s distance of around 4 km, starting from “Hat Salueng” where you embark, through “Pak Bong”, a bottleneck caused by the mountain range squeezing the Mekong. The narrowest point is amazingly merely 56 m. In the months of January and February you can experience the Song Khon Villagers’ fishing tradition where they use a giant net hoisted on poles to catch fish swimming through the channel. The route will also take you past “Hua Phaniang Rock” a large rocky rapid that splits the Mekong River into two streams. Next you will see the “Sila Lek” rock cliff, a historic remnant of the French-ruled Indochina. Numeral markings on the cliff face were used to measure the Mekong’s water level for the safety of the steamboats hauling cargo between Lao PDR and Thailand. After that is “Hat Hong” (Swan Beach), created when excess sediment and silt was washed up and be deposited until forming a large sand dune.

Know Before You Go

The best time to travel is during November to April. Exploring the entire area should take about 3 hours.

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Travel Info From Ubon Ratchathani town, drive along Highway 2050 passing Trakan Phuet Phon District and turn right to Pho Sai District (Highway 2337). Then turn right again to Highway 2112 and drive along the road until you see Pha Chan village on the left. The total distance is approximately 140 km.

GPS Location

N15° 45.672’, E105° 24.08’

Contact

Chillout Thailand Travel +668 4475 9559 +66 4531 2696 www.chilloutthailand.com

Facilities & Services Guide, homestay, food, restroom and adventure activities.

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Explore Northeastern Lifestyle along the River Pha Chan Village

his homestay is full of smiles, sincerity and loveliness of Pha Chan villagers who are ready to give you a warm welcome. They will take you on a tour of the village to show their lifestyle on the side of the Mekong River. You will see how they throw the cast net, lay “Mong” (a tool for catching fish), catch shrimp and grow plants. You will also see their old traditions and cultures; such as, alms giving and “Bai Si Su Khwan”. Moreover, there is the trekking trip through the first geo park of Thailand where you can observe Sao Chaliang - the giant stone pillar, Tham Long, Hin Tang pillar and Wang I-raeng dam. You will learn how to survive in the thousand-year forest; such as, finding food from nature, catching frogs and chameleons, and cooking wild rice in a bamboo flask. In the evening, you can boat along the Mekong River, enjoy the scenery on both sides, explore Pha Tua Lek, Pha Ma Wo and Pha Sam Muen Ru, visit Waterfalls in Lao PDR., and take an adventure in a dark cave.

The best weather is between November-May.

Recommendation

Please make a booking in advance. You can choose any adventurous activity as you like. We suggest you should stay over to fully experience the living and routine of the Isan people.

Ubon Ratchathani

Know Before You Go

Thai Culture

“Bai Si Su Khwan” is a ceremony based on the belief that everyone is born with an abstract thing called “Khwan”. Khwan is responsible to maintain the life and follow the owner to everywhere. To have a Su Khwan ceremony means to invite Kwan that fled away to come back to the owner. This ceremony is believed to be a way to strengthen the mind, to stay conscious and careful, to be blessed and to live a happy life.

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Travel Info From Ubon Ratchathani town, drive along Highway 217 to Sirindhorn Dam until reaching Ban Nong Chat, Kham Khuean Kaeo Sub-district.

GPS Location

N15° 12.699’, E105° 27.421’

Contact

Native Horse Conservation Club - Sirindhorn District +668 1955 8369 +668 9584 5117 www.ponysirindhorn.com Chillout Thailand Travel +668 4475 9559 +66 4531 2696 www.chilloutthailand.com

Facilities & Services

Guide, accommodation, food, restroom and parking

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Horseback Riding through the Jungles and Learning the Cowboy Way of Life

Native Horse Conservation Club-Sirindhorn

he sanctuary of Thai local horse or which the locals call “Pony”. The ponies have served Ubon people for a long time as rides and carriers. The association is now offering horse riding and keeping lessons, as well as its highlighted activity, the adventure on horseback. There are two options for a horseback adventure. The first option is a 7-km route from the association to Kaeng Tana National Park. The riders will pass through the flower field and the mixed deciduous forest, go down and go up hill, ride through the levee and cross the river to enjoy the scenic point where the Mun River meets the Mekong River at Pha Phueng field including other beautiful nature.

Recommendation

Please make a booking at least 2 days in advance.

Know Before You Go

Open daily from 7.00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m. One pony can carry “only 70 kg” of weight at the maximum. The flowers bloom during OctoberNovember.

Ubon Ratchathani

The second option is a “Cowboy” route combining horse riding and 1-night camping activities. In this option, riders will learn how to live with nature like the locals do; such as, lighting fire and cooking rice in a bamboo flask, finding containers for food and finding food in the forest. The finding food activity will start by catching crab using pickled fish. To do so, you just have to tie the pickled fish or strong-smelling food with a stick, and then use it to lure the crab in the stream which by its nature, the crab will tightly hold on to the fish or food you use. You will also learn how to find mushrooms and catch cicadas with resin or gum. And of course, you will have a chance to wash the horse in the stream in the middle of the forest.

Please

The ponies, the Thai local horses were nearly about to extinct from Ubon Ratchathani, so the association was founded to protect them using tourism activities. The association now successfully breeds 54 ponies. Here, we also train the horse to perform the “Horse Therapy” for children and patients including chiropractic with horse riding.

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Travel Info From Kanchanaburi town, take a local bus (Kanchanaburi – Sangkhla Buri) following Highway 323 for 4 hours. The bus will drop you at Sangkhla Buri town, then you can walk or take a motorcycle service to the Mon Bridge.

GPS Location

N15° 8.767’, E098° 27.014’

Facilities & Services

Long-tailed boat, kayak, coffee shop, toilet, restaurant, accommodation and parking

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Kayaking from the Mon Bridge to Explore a Wonder of Unseen Thailand

isiting Sangkhla Buri you should not miss going to put food offerings in a monk’s alms bowl at the “Mon Bridge” in the morning while enjoying the view of “Sam Prasop” (a connecting area of 3 rivers; Song Kalia, Ranti, and Bikhli Rivers). It is the longest wooden bridge in Thailand constructed to connect the Sangkhla Buri community, Mon, and Karen people. Travellers can either take a long-tailed boat or kayak from the Mon Bridge to explore the sinking city. In 1984 when the “Vajiralongkorn Dam” (also known as the Khao Laem Dam) was completed, the original Sangkhla Buri area, including “Wat Wang Wiwekaram”, was fully submerged by the vast amount of water held by the reservoir. Everything about the riverside invites you to sit back, relax and take time to enjoy your surroundings whilst appreciating a slower way of life that can be enjoyed. Not far from the underwater temple, you can disembark to visit the “Bhutthakhaya or Bodh Gaya Chedi” and pay respect at the site of a Buddhist relic.

gk a

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Myanmar

Recommendation

You can rent a kayak from P. Guesthouse Resort.

Sangkhla Buri iR Rant

Mon Bridge Mon Village Wat Wang Wiwekaram B i k h li Riv e r

iv e

Son

Know Before You Go

The Mon Bridge is also known as the “Uttamanusorn Bridge” as the construction of this Sangkhla Buri’s landmark was led by “Father Uttama”, a well respected Buddhist monk of the local people.

Kanchanaburi

Sangkhla Buri Travel Map

Old Temple Vajiralongkorn Reservoir

Best Time to Travel

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The amount of water in the river depends on the annual rainfall in the area. If you are visiting right before the rainy season, the water level will be low enough for you to walk directly into the temple.

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Travel Info From Kanchanaburi town, take Highway 323 and turn right at the junction to Thong Pha Phum for about 8 km. The resort is on the right, and then it takes about an hour to the waterfall by a resort’s off-road car.

GPS Location

N14° 47.384’, E98° 40.209’ (Ban Huay Ulong Resort)

Contact

Ban Huay Ulong Resort +66 3453 1050 to 1 www.banhuayulong.com

Facilities & Services

Tour guide, transfer, food, restroom and parking

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Hike through Dense Jungle to Explore a Wall of Water Namtok Phu Toei

he Phu Toei Waterfall trail is a trail that was only recently opened to the public. The trail is still quite fresh and the jungle untouched. This activity is not suitable for children, seniors, and overweight people because it involves hiking up and down mountains in dense jungle for 5 hours.

Namtok Phu Toei is a limestone waterfall. Located at Ban Phu Toei in Thong Pha Phum district., it is surrounded by many flowering trees, bamboo forests and jungle. There is a stream that flows year long. 15 levels have already been found of the falls, and it is believed there are more. However only 9 levels are open to tourists where the 9 th level is considered to be the largest and most beautiful at 100 m in height. The water falls powerfully onto the rocks below, spreading a mist of water to the surrounding area. The rainy season is when the falls are at their most beautiful and powerful but it is also when the falls are the most dangerous. Travelling to the falls requires a guide, for the trail is still unclear requiring the use of machetes to clear the path or create steps in some areas.

The meeting point is at Huay Ulong Resort, it takes about 2 hours to the waterfall by a resortâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s off-road car.

Recommendation

Kanchanaburi

Know Before You Go

Hiking boots or shoes with large treads are very necessary for this trip, especially during the rainy season. Making a booking in advance at least 7 days prior to your travel date is highly recommended.

Please

Make minimum impact to the nature during the trip.

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Travel Info Located at the Agriculture and Livestock Division of the Thai Royal Army’s Development Force, Sai Yok, at the 65th km marker of Highway 323

GPS Location

N14° 20.664’, E98° 56.365’

Contact

The Hellfire Pass Museum +66 (34) 531 347

Facilities & Services

Audio tours (Thai, English, Japanese and German), restroom and parking

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The Hellfire Pass Museum

he Hellfire Pass Museum was beautifully designed cooperatively between the Thai and Australian governments in an effort to collect information, photos, and the various items used during the construction of the Death Railway during World War II. The minitheatre shows silent films, in black and white, that were made from the original images taken during the construction. 12,000 Australian, English, Dutch, and American prisoners of war, as well as more than 60,000 Asian workers were forced to cut a 415-km path through rock and mountain, with limited tools, to build the railway. They worked day and night, famished, through physical abuse, as well as pestilence. Working at night required lighting from torches and fires which casted the prisoners’ and their keepers’ shadows upon the rock face. This hellish scene is why this area is known as “Hellfire Pass”. Within the area is a trail leading to a part of the Death Railway where the prisoners of war cut and tunneled through the mountains without any modern equipment. Traces of the railway can still be seen in the present day.

Know Before You Go

Open daily from 9.00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m. and it takes about half an hour to complete the trail by foot. However, there is an audio tour which takes around 2-3 hours to finish.

Kanchanaburi

Soft Adventure on the Historical Path

Please

Donate to help with maintenance. Do not bring food, drinks, pets, or smoke within the Museum.

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Travel Info The resort is located at the Sai Yok district at the 65th km marker on Highway 323. The route is the same as the Hellfire Pass Museum.

GPS Location

N14° 14.645’, E99° 1.289’

Contact

Hin Tok River Camp +66 (2) 642 5497 www.hintokrivercamp.com info@HintokRiverCamp.com

Facilities & Services

Accommodation, restaurant, swimming pool, bicycle, tour guide, long-tailed boat and shuttle service

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Unforgettable Camping Experience along the Historical River

Hin Tok River Camp

ild exterior and polished interior of Africa. Hin Tok River Camp @ Hellfire Pass is the safari tented camp nestled on a historical piece of land upon the pinnacle of Hin Tok Mountain, overlooking the River Kwai in Kanchanaburi. Being close to the rhythm of nature along with canvas tents and experience our natural spring pool adjoining to the River Kwai Noi delivering the most relaxation while staying in this River Kwai camp. This resort was also honoured as one of the top ten adventure resorts in 2009 in the Asia Pacific.

Recommendation

Ride the freely provided mountain bikes across the suspension bridge through the morning mist and also see the lifestyle of the local Hat Ngio community. The round-trip distance is about 4 km. You can also ask the resort to provide transportation instead.

Kanchanaburi

During the daytime, mini adventurous activities will acquaint you with close contact to nature; such as, mountain biking, canoeing, bamboo rafting and elephant trekking through the Mon tribal village and many other excursions. Furthermore, owing to the abundance of the forest and also next to the national park reserve, there are numerous colourful birds; such as, Hornbills, Kingfisher, etc.

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Travel Info From Kanchanaburi town, take Highway 3199 for about 65 km and turn left at the Srinagarindra Market.

GPS Location

N14° 22.567’, E99° 8.638’

Contact

Erawan National Park +66 3447 4222 +66 3457 4234

Facilities & Services

Accommodation, tent camping sites, restroom, restaurant and parking.

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Take a Trek, Swim and View the Birds Namtok Erawan

ne of the most beautiful cascades in Kanchanaburi; it is a large 7-level limestone waterfall where the light water that reflects off the water in the natural pool in varies from sapphire blue to emerald green, due to its high level of calcium carbonate. Each level of the waterfall is beautifully shaded by differing varieties of plant life with a motion of the water that splashes onto the rocks and flows into the basins below. Forest birds sing a duet with the sounds of the waterfall, creating a very refreshing atmosphere. When you arrive, do not miss the waterfall’s highest level. The water from the falls takes on an image similar to Erawan (the three-headed elephant of the God Indra) which gives the waterfall its name.

Kanchanaburi

Recommendation

Bring a change of clothing in case you change your mind to swim. Some levels of the waterfall are filled with numerous tiny fish that nibble your feet when you dangle them - A natural fish spa!

Please

Do not bring glass bottles, guitars, pets and alcoholic beverages into the National Park.

Know Before You Go

Any time of year is good, but November to February is especially atmospheric. Open daily from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Take about a 3-hour drive from Bangkok.

There are two trails to take in exploring the waterfall. The normal trail has a total distance of 1 km which takes about one and a half hours to complete without the need of a guide. The alternative 2-km route can be taken by contacting the Erawan National Parkâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s officials beforehand and asking them to prepare a trail for studying the natural wildlife and plant life up to the top of the falls. It takes about 3 hours to complete and more suitable for the tourist that likes adventure and excitement as the trail is quite difficult and steep.

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Travel Info From Bangkok, catch a train from Hua Lamphong Railway Station and get off at Ayutthaya. A rental bike shop is opposite the station. If you drive there, it is easy to find a bike for rent in Ayutthaya town.

GPS Location

N14° 20.992’, E100° 33.58’

Contact

TAT Ayutthaya Office +66 3524 6076 to 7

Facilities & Services

Information centre, audio tour, rental bike, restroom and parking.

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Take a Bicycle Ride Back in Time The Old Capital Ayutthaya

tart your journey at the TAT Tourist Information Centre, following Si Sanphet Rd. (see the map), to reach the first destination. See the way of life of the citizens of the old capital. Then take a stop to ask blessings from “Phra Mongkhon Bophit”, a sacred Buddha image of Ayutthaya at Wat Phra Mongkhon Bophit. Not far away is “Wat Phra Si Sanphet”. It is the most important temple of the old capital Ayutthaya. Inside is the ancient palace of Ayutthaya where the kings of old used to live, as well as where the various ceremonies were performed. Study the history of the 417-year-old palace once full of beauty and glory. Then head eastward to the “Bueng Phra Ram”. This is where King U-Thong used to declare Ayutthaya as the new capital city. Take a relaxing ride pass “Phra Thinang Yen” (which is literally translated as either the Evening Throne or the Cool Throne) where the king used for watching the waterborne entertainment of the Ayothaya people. Continue onward to “Wat Mahathat”, a royal temple built in the time of Boromma Rachathirat I or Khun Luang Pa-ngua for containing the Buddha’s ashes. Before leaving the temple, do not forget to look for the “Buddha image on the roots of the Bodhi tree”, a place chosen by UNESCO to be a World Heritage Site.

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Nang Loeng Jars Village 11 10 Wat Na Phra Merurachikaram Wat Choeng Tha 12 g uean M u Ancient Palace 5 9 Wat Dharmikaraj 8 Wat Ratchaburana

Wat Lokayasutharam 13 Si Suriyothai Park

7 Wat Mahathat Wat Phra Si Sanphetch 4 6 Bueng Phra Ram 3 Wat Phra Mongkhon Bophit 2 Khum Khun Phaen 1 TAT Tourist Information Centre Si Sanphet Rd.

Somdet Phra Srinagarindra Park

Ayutthaya

The Old Capital Ayutthaya Bicycle Map

iver

Chao

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On the opposite side is “Wat Ratchaburana”, the temple that contains all the remaining treasures of the Ayutthaya kings after the capital city was sacked a second time. Part of that treasure is kept at “Chao Sam Phraya National Museum”. Now head northward to “Wat Thamikarat”, a sacred place believed to grant wishes to those that pray piously. In the late afternoon, travel to “Wat Na Phra Merurachikaram”. Refill your energy with sweet, cold drinks while admiring the only remaining building of Ayutthaya’s beautiful architecture. When you hear the monk’s lunch gong, ride along the Khlong Sa Bua. Go to the pottery commune where they produce the “Nang Loeng Jars”, which are very large red uncoated pottery jars. After saying hi to the villagers and taking photos, move onward to “Wat Choeng Tha”. Located on the left of the Lop Buri River, it is where King Thaksin received his education during his youth. By noon you will have reached “Wat Lokayasutharam” or the Temple of the Reclining Buddha. It is known for the 29 m long reclining Buddha image created from bricks connected with mortar. Then have lunch or buy souvenirs. Afterward, ride back to the tourist information centre of the TAT which signals the end of your trip.

Recommendation

Travelling by train is an excellent way to meet the locals. You can truly feel relaxed and have fun. It also reduces your carbon footprint.

Please

Be respectful and considerate when touring the area, especially while visiting temples and the palace.

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Travel Info From Nakhon Nayok city, take Highway 3049 (Nakhon Nayok-Sarika Waterfall) for about 8 km.

GPS Location

N14° 15.36’, E101° 15.56’

Contact

+668 6057 9898 +668 1824 8733 +668 1909 6155 www.sarikaexplorers.com

Open Hour

Daily from 7.00 a.m. - 6.30 p.m.

Facilities & Services

Tour guide, safety gear, bakery and coffee shop, toilet and parking.

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Off-road Trail to Mountains on an ATV Sarika Explorer - Adventure Activity Centre

he latest adventure activity centre in Nakhon Nayok province provides new ATV vehicles with 150 cc and 125 cc engines. Enjoy driving an ATV through the various routes in an area of 100 rai. Trails at the beginning are the straight asphalt roads with little curves for novices to practice their riding skills, including the control of the steering wheel, accelerator and brake. Afterwards, the trails will become harder and start to climb up the hills through the exciting off-road route among the natural mountain area. After passing many curves and an environment of evergreen shade trees and a rocky mountain, you will reach the mountain peak where adventurers can enjoy the spectacular stunning panoramic landscape of Nakhon Nayok province, the giant Ganesha shrine, the whole view of Khun Dan Prakarnchon Dam, and Khao Khiao.

There are 3 ATV routes (5.5, 8 and 11 km) by which the longest route takes approximately 2 hours.

Please

Nakhon Nayok

Know Before You Go

Follow all instructions strictly for your own safety.

Recommendation

Besides the ATV activity, there are other adventure activities; white-water rafting and abseiling from a waterfall.

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Travel Info From Bangkok, take Highway 35 heading towards Samut Songkhram and turn right into Highway 325 at the Mae Klong 3-way junction. Continue straight pass the city following the signs “Amphawa Floating Market”. You can also take an air-conditioned van from Victory Monument.

GPS Location

N13° 25.561’, E99° 57.504’

Contact

Thai Biking Station +668 2777 5999 www.facebook.com/Thaiteeb

Facilities & Services

Rental Bicycles, restrooms, souvenir shop.

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Explore Another Dimension of Amphawa by Bicycling

njoy the adventure of travelling at Amphawa with the new mode of transport of bicycling! Help lessen pollution and heal climate change. It is also the way to truly experience the local way of life. The bicycle route is about 10 km long with Thai Biking signed to navigate you all the way. Stop by the “Museum of Thai Desserts”. Then bike to “Orchid Farm” to watch the demonstration of the process of making coconut sugar and drink fresh sugarcane juice from the farm before taking your bike across the river on a ferry to “Wat Bang Nang Li”. Then visit “Wat Phummarin Kudi Thong” and the House of Thai Instruments. Afterwards travel to “Wat Bang Khae Yai Nai”. Look at the artwork on the walls, painted during King Rama II’s reign, within the monastic cloister and the Ho Trai (also known as the temple library). Also “Wat Bang Kung”, one of the Unseen Thailand, is miraculously covered by the branches of four large trees, all being attractions, a different species of banyan, including the Bodhi tree. End the trip with a ride across a suspension bridge to experience the Amphawa Floating Market in the evening. You can spend time here shopping for cute souvenirs and taste the delicious food before dropping off your bicycle at the Thai Biking Station.

Know Before You Go

When you rent your bicycle from Thai Biking you will receive a map showing you 2 cycling routes. Throughout the routes there are bicycle parking areas at various points of interest.

Samut Songkhram

Recommendation

Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t forget to get on a boat and go look for fireflies before you leave.

Open Hours

Monday, Thursday, Friday 2.00 p.m. - 6.00 p.m. Saturday, Sunday 8.00 a.m. - 8.00 p.m. (Closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays)

A Deeper Look

You may feel tired after 3 - 4 hours of bicycling, but when you think of all the places visited it is worthwhile because you will get to see another side of Amphawa not just simply the floating market.

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Travel Info From Bangkok, drive along Rama 2 Road and across the Mae Klong River’s bridge, you will find a left turn next to the PTT petrol station at Km 72, turn there and go straight for another 500 m before turning left and drive another 4 km to reach Ban Khlong Khon Pier.

GPS Location

N13° 20.05’, E99° 57.87’

Contact

Khlong Clone Mangrove Conservation Centre +668 6177 7942 +66 3473 1188 www.mangrove-center.com

Facilities & Services

Tour guide, boat, restroom, shower room, accommodation, food and parking lot.

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Boat Riding and Mangrove Planting

Khlong Khlon Mangrove Forest

an Khlong Khlon hosts a the largest mangrove forest in Thailand. With over 2,000 rai of mangrove forest, tourist attractions include boat riding and forest touring on mud, mangrove tree planting, as well as learning about the biodiversity of the forest. Apart from the mangrove forest, the sea and nature of the village are also untainted. The life of the traditional fishermen and the villagers awaits exploration. One can start from visiting the Khlong Khon Conservative Tourism Society to listen to talks of the biodiversity and how to plant mangrove trees, then sit on a long-tailed boat (5 people per boat) to “Kateng” in the sea where local food is served for lunch. The breeze is cool here and the mangrove forest provides a fantastic view. During the boat ride, you will also see the traditional way of fishing, and the local monkeys are tame enough to come and play around the boat.

Recommendation

Bring extra clothes because the activity will make your clothes dirty. Sun block is a must. If you are allergic to seafood, it is better to bring along your own lunch.

Reward

Samut Songkhram

After lunch, a tourist’s favourite activity is either to get down into the knee-high mud and walk to the destined site, or to sit on “Kradan Len” which is a piece of wood where the locals will push you along over the mud. This is a truly fun adventurous, back-to-nature activity where the kids can fully enjoy the natural ecosphere.

Ban Khlong Khlon received a “Most Outstanding Tourismbased Community” prize at the Thailand Tourism Awards in the year 2007.

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Travel Info From Bangkok, take Highway 7 (Motorway). You will see the junction which will lead to Khao Khiao Open Zoo, approximately 7 km from the junction.

GPS Location

N13° 12.905’. E101° 3.366’

Contact

Khao Khiao Open Zoo +66 3831 8444 www.kkopenzoo.com

Facilities & Services

Tram, tour guide, restroom, accommodation, parking lot and souvenir shop.

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Explore Thailand’s Best Open Zoo Khao Khiao Open Zoo

t Khao Khiao Open Zoo, you’ll find over 100 varieties of animals living on 5,000 rai (or around 2,000 acres) of lush tropical rainforest. It is the best place for you to ultimately enjoy and learn, in the real natural environment, about the wild animals; such as, giraffes, emus, zebras, llamas, hippopotamus, Arabian camels, yaks, hyenas, white rhinoceros, Eld’s deers, leopards, bulls, penguins, New Zealand goats, and many more. Some of animals here are listed as the most endangered species, which are very few in numbers and at risk of becoming extinct. These animals have gained international public attention and are currently under legal protection to prevent them from extinction. Additionally, visitors will be impressed by thrilling activities like Ostrich Riding and Elephant Riding. For children, Khao Khiao Open Zoo has Children’s Zoo, a special zone especially for kids, where they’ll be amazed and excited by the learning experience they get from the animal training centre.

What’s Hot!

Since it is an endangered animal which is in a high risk of becoming extinct, seeing these Eld’s Deer live in action at Khao Khiao Open Zoo is an exciting, must-see activity.

Chon Buri

Visitors will also be fascinated by the animals’ intelligence, talents and their ability to communicate with humans, from a variety of Animal Shows, performed daily. For examples, Macaw Show, Falcon Hunting Show, Binturong Show and Otter Show. Another highly recommended activity that visitors shouldn’t miss is the exhilarating After Dark Night Safari. This ultimate night safari experience starts with a delightful dinner under the moonlight in a uniquely beautiful natural setting, followed by a guided tram ride to spot wild animals in action at night.

Know Before You Go

Open daily from 8.00 a.m. to 6.00 p.m. Khao Khiao Open Zoo is the first zoo in Thailand that complies with the international standards, certified by World Association of Zoos and Aquariums. It is also the only zoo in the world with the largest amount of Eld’s Deer, approximately 200 in total.

Recommendation

Try staying overnight, relaxing in the lush green Khao Khiao forest at Es-Ta-Te Camping Resort & Safari.

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Travel Info From Rayong town, take Highway 3 and continue on Highway 3377 for 17 km You will see the sign pointing to the National Park on your right.

GPS Location

N12° 56.178’, E101° 43.791’

Contact

Khao Chamao - Khao Wong National Park +66 3889 4378

Facilities & Services

Accommodation, tent camping sites, food, restroom and parking.

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Travel the Virgin Forests beside the Seaside City Namtok Khao Chamao

he stream originates from the Chamao mountaintop and flows for 3 km down 8 levels, which is moderately physically demanding. Each level has a distinctive beauty depending on its natural surroundings. The trail up the eight tiers of the waterfall cuts through a tropical broad-leaved evergreen forest and mixes exercise with relaxation. The initial part is paved with concrete but the rest you will need to follow a sufficiently well-defined trail and hop from rock to rock. Along the way, you will see colourful butterflies and big dipterocarp trees more than a hundred years old. Carp can be found in all levels of the stream. It takes about two hours to get to the top-most level. First level – Wang Nueng is a stream flowing through rocks, large and small similarly to rapids of a river, with basins in various places. Second level – Wang Matcha It is the highlight of this destination. It is a large and deep basin and home to numerous carp. A waterfall flows down from the northern side of the basin. Tourists can feed the carp and view the scenery from the rope bridge here.

Khao Chamao Minor District

Know

If the water changes colour or flows more quickly, or if you hear the warning signal, leave the water and find a safe area because it may be a signal of an incoming flash flood.

Rayong

Khao Chamao-Khao Wong National Park

Suggestions

Khlong Pla Kang Waterfall Khao Chamao Waterfall National Park Office Khao Wong Cave 3377

3433 3406

Khao Din Market To klaeng

Stop by Heaven Cliff, a scenic area that is 1.5 km to the north of the National Park office. The trail leading to Heaven Cliff goes through bamboo forest and cycad trees. When the sky is clear, you can clearly see the Ko Samet from here.

Kong Din Market To Chanthaburi

Third level – Wang Morakot It is a clear, emerald green basin like a natural swimming pool. At the end of a pool is a large slated rock that you can lay down upon and have the waterfall bathe you. Fourth level – Wang Sai Ngam It is a relatively deep basin surrounded by banyan trees. Fifth level - Pha Kluamai During the early months of the year the various orchids on the cliff will bloom. Sixth level – Chong Khaep The waterway in this area flows in a narrow channel between many layers of rock. Seventh level – Hok Sai This level has a water fall 7 m high. During the dry season the water falls in 6 different paths. You can enter the basin at the bottom and enjoy the cool refreshing water. Eighth level – Pha Sung The final level of the stream. It is the highest point of the waterfall situated 1 km away from level 7. The trail is quite rugged. When you get there, you will see water flowing down from the tall mountain covering the entire area with mist. 293

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Travel Info From Bangkok, take Highway 7 (Motorway) and turn into Ban Bueng - Klaeng. Follow Highway 344 to Ban Bueng district, then turn right into Highway 3 (Sukhumvit). Once reaching Km. 248, turn right to Highway 3320. Then, turn left and continue along Kaset Siri Road Soi 3 and drive further for approximately 3 km.

GPS Location

N12° 45.458’, E101° 26.989’

Contact

The Park Adventure Land +66 2712 3581 +668 6970 8877 www.theparkadventure.com

Facilities & Services

Mountain bikes, rubber boats, tour guides, accommodation, toilets, restaurants, swimming pool and Internet.

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Agricultural Adventure through Mountain Biking The Park Adventure Land

ver 800 acres, the Park Adventure Land is an agriculture adventure farm hidden in a valley. With abundant land and endless swamp, visitors will have a pleasant eco-adventure by mountain biking along the bike trails. The best way to tour around this agriculture land is by bicycling. The Park Adventure Land’s staff will lead you along the paved bike route, introducing you to big Flame Trees that branch out beautifully into the sky and the birds flying here and there. After cycling for a while, the smell of rubber will greet your nose, confirming that you have reached the rubber farm. The journey continues to fruit farms where you can enjoyably pick various kinds of delicious fruits. Another attraction is the Rusa Deer Farm. Alternatively, you can take another bike route to test your strength. This trail is made especially for mountain bike lovers. Through this trail,

Know Before You Go

Not only the beauty of nature, you will get to enjoy, but exercise and learn more about agriculture, as well as closely experience the lifestyle of the locals here.

Rayong

you will cycle pass palm farms, hearing the sound of a natural water source, appreciating the green scenery from both sides. You can climb up the tree house to enjoy the view in a higher perspective. Next, you will see a weir, aged nearly 50 years old. From natural resources like mountain and rain, water confined here is used in the daily life of the local residents. You can take a break here and refresh yourself with the water from this weir. You might also see kids swimming there as if it is a natural swimming pool in the middle of the peaceful valley. The relationship between human beings and nature here is incredibly charming and leaves wonderful footprints in your hearts.

Recommendation

Try paddling inflatable canoes in the big lake in front of the colonial clubhouse.

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Travel Info Located on the east of Ko Chang. The best way to get there is by a local shuttle service (Song Theow).

GPS Location

N12° 2.259’, E102° 23.749’

Contact

Ta Soam Information Centre +66 3951 6051 to 4 TAT Trat Office +66 3959 7259 to 60

Facilities & Services

Tour guide, local boat, kayak, food, and toilet.

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Watch Fireflies on a Gondola and Experience Way of Life of Fishermen Salak Khok Village

Hidden behind mountains through a narrow channel is a fishermen’s village located on a large bend in the waterway. It is surrounded by a mangrove forest which is a nursery of fish and other marine life, as well as the local fishery. There are no white sandy beaches; however, there are fresh green waters and plant life unique to the mangrove forest. Tourists can experience the old ways of the fishermen preserved by the locals by using a kayak or a traditional Thai boat called “Ruea Mat” or also known as the Ko Chang gondola. If you come in the evening not only do you get to be close to nature, you can also have dinner during the setting sun. Especially beautiful is the opening to the Salak Khok Bay where there is a sand dune.

Know Before You Go

Because Ko Chang is a tourist destination where many capitalists seek to make a profit, the local villagers gathers together to set up “The Salak Khok Village’s Tour Guide and Conservation Group”. Because it is owned by the community, it has served as a mangrove forest conservation network, as well as setting up activities to preserve the local way of life against the aggressive influx of non-local

Trat-Ko Chang

Even though by just looking you can tell that the sand is quite coarse; however, it is the meeting point between the sea and Salak Khok Bay. After the romantic boat trip, wait for the sun to fully set. You will then see a large amount of fireflies slowly appearing before you. Also, the children of the village will put on a show about the local culture for tourists.

Recommendation

You should reserve beforehand if you want to see the fireflies.

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Travel Info From Hua Hin town, take Highway 3219 following the sign “Pa La-u Waterfall” for about 65 km.

GPS Location

N12° 33.153’, E99° 27.753’

Contact

Kaeng Krachan National Park +66 3245 9293

Facilities & Services

Tour guide, toilet and parking lot

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Prachuap Khiri Khan

Explore Namtok Pa La-u

amtok Pa La-u is a great surprise for those who never think that you will be able to experience an adventure holiday in Hua Hin. The waterfall has 15 steps with a massive flow of water throughout the year, making it one of the highest in Thailand and those who make it to the top will be rewarded by implausible views. The third stage itself has a large, deep pool and most visitors will be happy to spend their time here. The water is always cool and refreshing, and plenty of large fish swimming in it are friendly. For hard adventurers, you can continue trekking upward to the 7th stage where is believed to be the most spectacular cascade here. The surrounding forest is over 1,000 years old and there is a good chance of seeing wildlife, particularly gibbons (which will certainly be heard, if not seen) and many rare species of birds and butterflies flying to show their colourful wings around. In the mornings in particular, large numbers of butterflies cling to leaves in order to sunbathe their bodies and wings before leaving the forest to seek food; such as, the Common Crow, Common Yeoman, Zigzag Flat, Common Cruiser and the Black Prince.

Know Before You Go

Open daily from 8.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. From the 8th stage of waterfall upward, a National Park ranger is required to guide you up there.

Recommendation

Numerous butterflies are easily seen during April to July.

Please

Do not try to catch birds, butterflies and fish, as it is forbidden by the National Park.

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Travel Info From Phang-nga town, drive around 4 km. along Highway 4 and continue on Highway 4144 to the Dan Sunlakakon or Customs Pier. Boats usually run until the sunset.

GPS Location

N8° 18.716’, E98° 29.479’

Contact

Ao Phang-nga National Park +66 7648 1188

Facilities & Services

Local guide, boat, homestay, restaurant, souvenir shop and restroom.

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The Remarkable Way of Island Life Ko Panyi

mong other islands, Panyi owns its uniqueness and specific characteristics. This fishery island, with an area of only 1 rai, is located on the endless Andaman Sea. All houses are built above the sea to escape the tide. Traditional culture can be observed here since most of the residents are Muslim. Tourists can experience the charming living of the Panyi community, which is mixed between the Muslim and island culture. You can have a day trip to view a spectacular view of Ao Phang-nga or stay overnight at a homestay to gain more unforgettable experiences.

Phang-nga

After the sunrise, the life of the Panyi community begins. The local fishermen set sail and collect the trapped fish. Some Panyi people will bring the tourists from the mainland to the island while some go to work on the mainland. Most women usually own food shops or souvenir shops. A school has been built to educate children on Panyi Island. At the end of the day, sitting and looking at the sunset over the sea horizon is really a simple happiness. For adventure lovers, 15 climbing courses on the east of the island, at a difficult level of 5 - 6 B, are available. Looking down from the cliff, Panyi Island looks like a â&#x20AC;&#x153;Floating Communityâ&#x20AC;? on the sea. The sunrise and sunset at Panyi Island will be your unforgettable memory.

Think Big

Apart from the simple living and friendliness of the Panyi islanders, the dream of children, who wanted to play football on the island, is a legend. At last, the floating football field was built and the legend of Panyi football team became the great inspiration for others.

Please

Do not bring alcoholic drink on the island, as it is strictly prohibited to preserve the culture and tradition of Panyi community.

Recommendation

Most of the tour programmes offer only two hours for meals and shopping. To gain more experience on Panyi Island, an overnight stay is really recommended.

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Travel Info From Krabi town, take Highway 4 southeast toward Khlong Thom District. Turn left onto Highway 4038. Turn right at the junction and follow the signs to the Emerald Pool.

GPS Location

N7° 55 24.16’, E99° 15 35.99’

Contact

TAT Krabi Office +66 7562 2163 +66 7561 2811-2

Facilities & Services

Convenience store, restroom and parking.

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Immerse Yourself in the Green Sa Morakot

f you reach Krabi, one of the places where you must pay a visit for an eco and adventure tour would be the “Emerald Pool” or “Sa Morakot” (in Thai). The wonders of nature has made warm water streams create 4 ponds with water as green as emerald in the middle of the woods located in the alluvial plains. There are two paths you can take: the first one is to study the nature of the area with the path being a length of 1.4 km. This path might be longer, but it is easier to take since there is a bridge leading you through the pleasant woods surrounded by its greenery. There are also signs that would provide you with some interesting information about the plants along the way. The second path is only 800 m before reaching the Emerald Pool.

Blue Pool

Sa Kaeo

Don’t drink water from the pools due to its chemical compositions. It is open daily from 8.30 a.m. 5.00 p.m.

Please

An Ascetic Pool

Start

Bring a change of clothes and a towel.

Know Before You Go

Finish

Recommendation

Krabi

Emerald Pool Nature Trails

Emerald Pool

Wear a swimsuit when you get into the pool.

Parking Area

“Sa Kaeo” is the starting point for you to visit. It is a large pool with water clear enough for you to see the fish swimming. Walk a little bit further and you will discover the “Emerald Pool” (a 25 m in diametre and 2 m deep hot spring). Since the water in this terrain comes seeping from under the ground and is heated by magma, the temperature of the water is approximately 31-32°C. The water contains a large amount of limestone or calcium carbonate which helps speed up the precipitation of the minerals from the water underneath the rocks. So when the water is touched by the sunlight, it reflects the colour of emerald green. And then you can follow the 500 m elevated wooden trail cutting through the tropical rain forest and primary forest to the Blue Pool, the spot where the crystal clear water originates from. A Bird Watcher’s Paradise This is also an ideal source for watching rare wild birds; such as, the Rufous Collared Kingfishers, Black Hornbills and, a bird you should not miss; the Gurney’s Pitta, which was once recorded to be extinct for more than 100 years. 303

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Travel Info From Phatthalung town, take Highway 41 to Khuan Khanun District. Then turn right to Highway 4048 and drive along around 32 km to Thale Noi Lake.

GPS Location

N7° 47.531’, E100° 6.242’

Contact

Thale Noi Non-hunting Area, Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation +66 7468 5230 TAT Hat Yai +66 7423 1055

Facilities & Services

A restaurant, parking space, restrooms, and boats for rent.

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Boating on the Bird Watcher’s Paradise Thale Noi

ide lagoons interconnect to make up Songkhla Lake. The ecosystem here is so healthy, it has been announced as a Ramsar Site by the International Union for Conservation of Nature or IUCN. The Thale Noi Non-hunting Area or what locals call “The Thale Noi Waterfowl Park” is filled with about 178 species of birds. Local birds that stay here all year round, as well as migrating birds will all be on display in the cold season. Another attraction of this area is the many types of beautiful lotus that bloom during the summer. Some of the types of lotus that can be found here are the Scarlet Rose Mallow, White Water Lily, and the Sacred Lotus. As you cruise here not only will you float among the beautiful lotus and the cute birds, but you will also get to see the locals at their daily activities; such as, fishing or gathering lotus edible stems. It is a glimpse into a way of life among nature that is difficult to see in this modern world. If you have time, you can take a walk on the wooden bridge that surrounds the district office and watch the easy-going life of the locals.

Thale Noi is at its most beautiful from January to March because the lotus will be in full bloom. The “Birdwatching Cruise Festival” is also during this time as well.

Phatthalung

Know Before You Go

Recommendation

Fermented Catfish is a musttry delicacy of this area, as well as the fresh prawns and perch that can either be grilled or fried.

Please

Do not disturb the ecosystem by making loud noises or paddling too close to the birds’ habitats.

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â&#x20AC;&#x153;Each person can make a difference because one small positive act multiplied millions of times produces immense benefits.â&#x20AC;?

Patrick Gonzalez Climate Change Scientist

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Ayutthaya 89 The Old Capital Ayutthaya (Others) 282-283 Chanthaburi 12 Khlong Pong Nam Ron (White-water Rafting) 56-57 66 Hat Khung Wiman (Sky Adventure) 232-233 Chiang Mai 2 Mae Taeng River (White-water Rafting) 28-29 28 Patara Elephant Camp 116-117 37 Crazy Horse Cliff (Rock Climbing) 146-147 60 Thong Kwao Airfield (Sky Adventure) 220-221 61 Flight of the Gibbon, Mae Kampong (Canopy Adventure) 222-223 70 Doi Pha Hom Pok (Others) 244-245 72 Galyani Vadhana District (Others) 248-249 73 Daradalay Banndin Farm (Others) 250-251 74 Chiang Mai X-Centre (Others) 252-253 Chon Buri 18 Pattaya Dive Sites (Diving) 82-83 64 Flight of the Gibbon, Chon Buri (Canopy Adventure) 228-229 93 Khao Khiao Open Zoo (Others) 290-291 Chumphon 13 Phato (White-water Rafting) 58-59 20 Mu Ko Chumphon (Diving) 86-87 Kanchanaburi 31 Ranti River (Elephant Trekking) 122-123 52 Tham Than Lot (Cave Exploring) 198-199 53 Tham Nok Nang Aen (Cave Exploring) 200-201 54 Tham Sao Hin (Cave Exploring) 202-203 55 Tham Thi Phu Che (Cave Exploring) 204-205 56 Tham Lawa (Cave Exploring) 206-207 63 The Nature Club Resort (Canopy Adventure) 226-227 84 Mon Bridge (Others) 272-273 85 Namtok Phu Toei (Others) 274-275 86 The Hellfire Pass Museum (Others) 276-277 87 Hin Tok River Camp (Others) 278-279 88 Namtok Erawan (Others) 280-281

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Krabi 24 Mu Ko Phi Phi (Diving) 96-99 41 Railay Bay (Rock Climbing) 154-155 47 Mu Ko Hong (Kayaking/Canoeing) 180-181 48 Ban Bo Tho (Kayaking/Canoeing) 182-183 49 Ao Tha Len (Kayaking/Canoeing) 184-185 99 Sa Morakot (Others) 302-303 Lampang 29 Thai Elephant Conservation Centre

(Elephant Trekking) 118-119

38 Kio Lom Dam (Rock Climbing) 148-149 Loei 4 San River (White-water Rafting) 34-35 42 Kaeng Khutkhu, Mekong River (Kayaking/Canoeing) 168-169 75 Chiang Khan (Others) 254-255 Mae Hong Son 1 Pai River (White-water Rafting) 24-25 36 Spirit Well Cave (Rock Climbing) 144-145 50 Tham Nam Lot (Cave Exploring) 194-195 71 Pang Ung (Others) 246-247 Nakhon Nayok 10 Nakhon Nayok River (White-water Rafting) 52-53 40 Namtok Than Rattana (Rock Climbing) 152-153 90 Sarika Explorer - Adventure Activity Centre (Others) 284-285 Nakhon Sawan 8 Mae Rewa Creek (White-water Rafting) 48-49 79 Beung Boraphet (Others) 262-263 Nakhon Si Thammarat 15 Khlong Klai (White-water Rafting) 62-63 46 Hat Khanom - Mu Ko Thale Tai (Kayaking/Canoeing) 178-179 Nan 3 Nam Wa River (White-water Rafting) 30-33 Phang-nga 14 Ton Pariwat (White-water Rafting) 60-61 22 Mu Ko Surin (Diving) 90-91 23 Mu Ko Similan (Diving) 92-95 98 Ko Panyi (Others) 300-301

Surat Thani 21 Ko Tao (Diving) 88-89 34 Khao Sok (Elephant Trekking) 128-129 44 Mu Ko Ang Thong (Kayaking/Canoeing) 172-173 45 Rajjaprabha Dam (Kayaking/Canoeing) 174-177 Surin 30 Ban Ta Klang Elephant Study Centre (Elephant Trekking) 120-121 Tak 6 Umphang Khi & Namtok Thi Lo Su (White-water Rafting) 40-43 7 Namtok Thi Lo Re (White-water Rafting) 44-47 Trang 26 Ko Kradan (Diving) 102-103 57 Tham Le Khao Kop (Cave Exploring) 208-209 58 Tham Morakot (Cave Exploring) 210-211 69 The Peninsular Botanic Garden (Canopy Adventure) 238-239 Trat Ko Chang 19 Ko Wai (Diving) 84-85 32 Namtok Khlong Phlu (Elephant Trekking) 124-125 43 Ko Kut (Kayaking/Canoeing) 170-171 67 Tree Top Adventure Park, Ko Chang (Canopy Adventure) 234-235 96 Salak Khok Village (Others) 296-297 Ubon Ratchathani 81 Sam Phan Bok (Others) 266-267 82 Pha Chan Village (Others) 268-269 83 Native Horse Conservation Club Sirindhorn District (Others) 270-271 Uthai Thani 51 Hup Pa Tat (Cave Exploring) 196-197 80 Ko Thepho (Others) 264-265

Index

Phatthalung 16 Nan Mot Daeng (White-water Rafting) 64-65 100 Thale Noi (Others) 304-305 Phetchabun 39 Namtok Wang Tum (Rock Climbing) 150-151 78 Kaeng Bang Rachan (Others) 260-261 Phitsanulok 5 Khek River (White-water Rafting) 36-39 Phuket 25 Ko Hay and Mu Ko Racha (Diving) 100-101 35 Amazing Bukit Safari (Elephant Trekking) 130-131 68 Xtrem Adventure Phuket (Canopy Adventure) 236-237 Prachin Buri 11 Kaeng Hin Phoeng (White-water Rafting) 54-55 Prachuap Khiri Khan 33 Hua Hin Hills Vineyard (Elephant Trekking) 126-127 97 Namtok Pa La-u (Others) 298-299 Rayong 65 Thung Prong Thong (Canopy Adventure) 230-231 94 Namtok Khao Chamao (Others) 292-293 95 The Park Adventure Land (Others) 294-295 Sakon Nakhon 62 Birdâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Paradise Extreme Resort (Sky Adventure) 224-225 Samut Songkhram 91 Amphawa (Others) 286-287 92 Khlong Khlon Mangrove Forest (Others) 288-289 Saraburi 9 Phu Ko (White-water Rafting) 50-51 Satun 17 Khlong Lam Lon Wang Sai Thong (White-water Rafting) 68-69 27 Ko Tarutao & Ko Adang - Rawi (Diving) 106-107 59 Tham Chet Khot (Cave Exploring) 214-215 Sukhothai 76 Si Satchanalai Historical Park (Others) 256-257 77 Agriculture Project Sukhothai Airport (Others) 258-259

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