Thailand Holidays - Top 10 Adventures

The Flight of the Gibbon Adventure Tour lies just outside Chiang Mai in a 15 centuries old rainforest. There are 18 platforms, sky-bridges and other lowering stations that connect about 2 km of ziplines, which let you access the different rainforest canopy layers. The ziplines are fast, but there are plenty of families and non-adrenalin junkies that aren't scared off. Flight of the Gibbon is doing work in their area to restore damage to the rainforests and help rehabilitate former primate habitats.
Flight of the Gibbon Zipline Canopy Tour in Chiang Mai

Songkran is one of the most celebrated festivals of Thailand. It begins on the 13th of April and lasts for about 3-10 days, depending on which part of Thailand you are in. 'Songkran' is taken from Sanskrit, which means the beginning of the new Solar Year. Water is the main component of celebrating this festival. Given that this festival lies in the hottest time of the year, people have their giant super soakers out and buckets out. It is probably the biggest waterfight in the world. Nobody is safe from getting wet. In recent years revelers have raised the stakes with icewater. Bangkok's festival is big, but Chiang Mai might be the epicenter. You will find waterfights in almost every small village in Thailand. Songkran is also a Public Spring Cleaning Day, which is a refreshing buddhist tradition. They believe that every old and useless thing in the house must be thrown away or else it might be a source of ill luck for the owner.

Thailand has irresistible limestone rock formations, and seasoned climbers have been coming here for years. Adventurous tourists are also attracted to the sport here, and several guiding companies have met that demand. Tonsai and Railay Beach in Krabi are the most famous areas. You can get instruction at several guiding companies. Wee's Climbing School (info AT weesclimbingschool DOT com) has a proven reputation. With fame, however comes crowds. If you want fewer people, cooler weather, great rock, and excellent guides, head north and check out Chiang Mai Rock Climbing Adventures.

This is no bamboo-rafting: although not the biggest in the world, rafting the rivers of Thailand is sure to get your adrenalin pumping. The rivers are of various difficulty levels that suit novices and experts alike. The difficulty of the rapids vary depending on the season. In the rainy season, after April, the rivers fill up and the rapids are much bigger faster than during the dry season. Because of this, rafting companies will often close during the rainy season. Apart from that sumptuous food, friendly people, and the great outdoors, combine for a awesome adventure.

In the Northern Thailand lies the Elephant Nature Park. It was built in the 1990's and the basic aim of this park is to provide a rescue center and a sanctuary for the elephants. It sets itself apart from other elephant camps by promoting elephant tourism based on respect and dignity for the animals. There are no rides or soccer-playing elephants here, but you do get to interact with them and bathe them. This trip is highly educational and moving. The park is located in the province of Chiang Mai, about 60km from the city, and it has provided sanctuary of more than thirty distressed elephants from all over Thailand. It is set in a gorgeous valley that is surrounded by a river and mountains, The entire area offers a good view of Thailand's rural life. www.ElephantNaturePark.org

These shows feature some of the cutest girls you could ever come across, and they are sure to take your heart away! But, they are not girls in the traditional sense. They are boys dressed as girls and they are fabulous entertainers. Bangkok may be the world-capital of lady-boys (known in Thai as Gatoey), but other cities such as Chiang Mai and Phuket are not lacking. Shows are fairly common in the cities. There are big, well-advertised ones, but you might also catch one at dinner or just outside at night in the city center. Definitely an adventure in culture!

How is going to dinner an adventure? Well, when you pull up to your table at one of these fantastic restaurants a big pot of burning coals is set down in front of you. Then you browse the raw meat and seafood selections (some of them quite mysterious), grab basketfuls of vegetables and then go cook it up at your table on something that looks like an upside down bowl. At the bigger venues thousands of guest that show up for dinner each night and in that crowd, you might be the only foreigners. Other prepared dishes and deserts are offered as well. Dinner usually comes with a live band, a Lady-Boy show, or a campy Thai-TV skit that adds to the chaos.

From antiques, to live animals, to motorcycles, to second-hand socks, Chatuchak Market (aka JJ's Market) in Bangkok is the grand-daddy of bizarre Thai bazars. Bartering here is welcome, but always do it with a smile and sincerity. To add to the experience, spread out from your traveling companions and see who can come back with the most funny, bizarre or beautiful find.

Another place you can't afford to miss is Wat Suan Mokkh, a temple where Buddhadassa Bhikku resided for quite a few years. An international medical center forms part of Suan Mokkh. It's a very good place for meditation with numerous halls and other places to meditate. There is artwork by children as a dedication to Buddhadassa Bhikku. Why would this be listed as a Thailand adventure? Spending days exploring only your mind can be a challenging and rewarding experience of your trip. Thai monks, who know this all too well will be there to support you.

Thailand offers unmatched sea kayaking. Explore sea caves and lagoons, snorkel right off your kayak, or just find an uninhabited beach and go swimming. Khao Sok National Park, the Phang Nga Bay, Tarutao Marine National Park and the Islands of Trang, are all great destinations.

Ok, a little beach time in Thailand isn't so bad. There are many options here and many of them are good, but one that stands out for a laid back, funky vibe is the Sanctuary Spa Resort and Detox Center on Koh Phangan. The focal point is a restaurant that is built into granite boulders. You can spend hours lounging in the restaurant, just eating, reading and talking to others. With no roads, the Sanctuary requires a short boat ride to get to, which allows you to get away from the crowds. Complete with a detox center, a meditation hall, daily yoga classes, and of course a beautiful beach, the Sanctuary can be the perfect last stop on your Thailand vacation.