Listly by Joanna James
Revered as a beach holiday hotspot, few travellers are aware of Thailand's reputation as a thrill seeker's haven. Here are some of the area's top activities for adventurous tourists.
One of the most enjoyable and exciting activity bases for adventurists touring Thailand is the Splashdown Water Park. Not only does the venue provide a wide variety of slides and adrenaline pumping rides but also the highest waterslide on the planet. Obstacle courses are also part of the Splashdown Water Park which also features inflatable balls in red, similar to the popular US game show Wipeout. The activity is not for the faint of heart as the speed of travel and the bumpy ride is strictly for adventurous participants. Located in Amphur Banglamung, don't forget to visit this sprawling adventure land during your beach getaway in Thailand.
As Pattaya's favourite eco-park and adventure hub, the Flight of the Gibbon is a zip lining experience like no other in the beach capital. Spread out across 3 kilometres the venue is home to the highest place for zipline adventures in all of Thailand. Featuring a whopping 24 platforms and two rappel descents as well as two hanging bridges, the zip lining over the forest canopies of Flight of the Gibbon is a challenge even for the most experienced zipliners. The course provides plenty of high-intensity points as well as obstacles but the views are as breathtaking as they are vertigo-inducing.
As one of the more luxurious adventures available to vacationers in Thailand, hiring a private speedboat and heading to a private island of one's own is a great way to spend your time in the beach hub. Available through a variety of private tour operators as well as resort bases, one can spend time simply engaging in fishing activities or snorkelling beneath the azure blue waves to see what marine creatures are lurking about.
For those of you who love to be closer to nature and all things wild during a vacation, staying at Chiang Rai hotels the likes of Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp & Resort would be a great experience since they have a few exciting activities for the guests such as nature walks, and a few to do with the elephants too!
As an unusual retail activity that can be an adventure in and of itself, shopping in Thailand's floating market is a once in a lifetime experience for tourists. Accessible for an admission fee the floating market retail encounter include a boat ride on a traditional vessel to the water-based marketplace. With enough space to accommodate four participants, the floating market boat tours are ideal for group travellers. Not only can one purchase food items the likes of noodles and grilled seafood from the floating vendors occupying the market but also exotic beverages such as coconut and sugarcane extract.
No vacation in Thailand would be complete without experiencing the many water sports activities and adventures available in the area. With idyllic weather and water conditions for a plethora of water-based activities, pushing your boundaries by engaging in water sports is a must for first-time visitors. Whether it is banana boating with your travel companions or hopping on a jet ski and exploring the Thailand coastline, the choices are endless for visitors based in beachside resorts.