Discover Thailand beyond Bangkok and tuk-tuks by discovering national parks through bamboo rafting excursions or experiencing authentic village experiences.
Discover Thailand beyond the cliches! Experience everything from serene forest temples to extravagant palaces fit for a king in Thailand. Step off the banana pancake trail and get ready for some adventure travel in this fascinating country!
Thailand offers some of the best adventure travel in Southeast Asia and you can easily make your experience a lot better with these simple tips:
1. Keep your wits about you
Though Thailand is generally safe for tourists, it’s always wise to remain alert. Be wary of your surroundings and ensure valuables don’t remain unattended while learning the local language well in order to avoid getting taken advantage of.
Note that local drivers can be unpredictable. Be mindful when driving around town and always wear your helmet if riding a scooter.
An invaluable travel tip when visiting Thailand is to buy a tourist SIM card upon your arrival. These will allow you to access data throughout your stay at much lower costs than roaming on your phone – they’re available from any Big-C supermarket, 7-Eleven store or mall; just read carefully the fine print!
2. Don’t be a wastrel
Even though Thai culture differs greatly from many Western ones, it has earned itself a solid reputation for being one of the easiest countries to travel through. Language does not pose a barrier and people are extremely accommodating and welcoming.
Avoid placing your feet up on chairs and armrests when traveling by bus, train or plane – no one may say anything directly but doing so may result in being “passenger shamed” online and through local press coverage.
Due to an active armed conflict and low-level insurgent activity in Yala, Pattani, and Narathiwat in southern Thailand, traveling now may be unsafe. Be wary of robberies or drink spiking during tourist visits – traveler’s insurance is highly advised.
3. Don’t drink tap water
Most water in Thailand is treated according to urban standards; however, in rural areas this process may vary significantly, and thus it’s wise to refrain from drinking tap water until you can confirm its safety.
Bottled water is widely available and affordable across cities and large hotels alike, so if this is your preferred method of purchasing water it is wise to stick with reliable brands known by you from home.
Village and rural area dwellers typically boil tap water before drinking it to kill any bacteria or microorganisms and make it safe to drink, yet may leave behind chemical pollutants or sediments. If traveling in this part of the country, consider investing in a portable water filter as it will allow you to filter any sediments.
4. Don’t ride an elephant
Every traveler has his or her own moral compass; however, with increasing awareness surrounding animal cruelty becoming apparent it has become harder and harder to justify visiting elephant riding camps.
Elephants were not designed to carry humans on their backs and doing so puts their spines at risk of serious injury. Riding an elephant is inhumane.
Animal welfare organizations have put pressure on tour operators to remove elephant riding experiences from their trips, hoping over time Thailand’s elephant industry will change to provide gentler interactions; until that happens however, travellers should avoid riding elephants entirely and instead find ethical elephant sanctuaries where you can watch these magnificent creatures without participating in harmful activities – this way not only are you doing the animals a favour, but you’re helping promote responsible tourism practices here.
5. Don’t be ripped off
Thailand may conjure up visions of idyllic beaches beckoning you with sparkling blue waters and soft white sand, yet there’s more than meets the eye when visiting. Explore its off-the-beaten track experiences including lush rice paddies and mountainous terrain, idyllic islands, ancient temple-monasteries and vibrant cultural festivals that celebrate exotic culinary traditions and ancient cultural celebrations.
However, it is essential that visitors remain wary and vigilant to avoid being duped or exploited in Thailand. This could involve simple measures like not taking a tuk-tuk on Khao San Road, or more complex techniques like keeping an eye out for children wearing traditional hill tribe attire at Wat Doi Suthep who sit at the bottom of stairs charging tourists for pictures with their pet lizard, snake or gibbon.
