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Home > Activities > Trekking
TREKKING
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Trekking
is one of the most popular outdoor activities enjoyed
by visitors of all ages. While trekking you can soothe
your mind and spirit in the fresh air and stunning
scenery of Thailand's undiscovered wilds, and get
a comprehensive aerobic workout at the
same time. Treks can range from a single day's light
excursion to physically challenging adventures of
a week or more.
 Trails
are found in Umphang Wildlife Sanctuary and
the western portion
of Thung Yai Naresuan, which together with
the adjoining Huai Kha Kaeng Wildlife Sanctuary
has been designated a World Heritage
Site by UNESCO. Campsites are provided but
you must bring your own tent and camping gear.
Permits are required for entry into the wildlife
sanctuary. These can be obtained at the Umphang
Eco tourism Club in Umphang. Pack light for
a jungle trek, and bring insect repellent.
Most who visit Mae Sot in Tak are determined
to see the spectacular Ti Lo Su Waterfall.
Tour operators usually offer mountain biking,
elephant-back rides, or rafting for part of
the long trek, but most of it is done on foot.
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Phitsanuloke,
Phetchaboon |
Both
provinces are popular camping and trekking
destinations because they contain several
national parks between them, each featuring
different landscape and flora and fauna.
The rocky hills along the border between
the two provinces were Communist hideaways
in the 1970s. Nowadays an efficient road
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network links the
area with the rest of
the country, and nature lovers flock
there for the waterfalls, the fields
of wildflowers and butterflies, and
the spectacular landscape, which changes
with the seasons. Best time to go
is October- December for the wildflowers,
although any time of the year is suitable
for hiking and camping.
Each of the national parks in the area has its
own distinct character. Thung Salaeng Luang National
Park, 80 kilometres from Phitsanulok on the route
to Lomsak, is marked by its open savanna, which
blazes with colour during the wildflower season
(July-October). Wild animals are often spotted
feeding around these fields.
| Phu
Hin Rong Kla,125 kilometres from Phitsanulok,
got its name from the strange-looking rock
fields eroded by wind and rains. The park
features many hiking trails, most of them
leading to beautiful waterfalls. |
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Nam
Nao National Park on the Lomsak-Chum Pae route
is one of the top camping destinations in the
cool season (November-February), with its picturesque
pine forest, caves of stalactites and stalagmites,
and dry, cool weather. It is a watershed area
and the source of several rivers in the North
and Northeast.
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Cultural
exchange
To understand how other people live and think, to
learn something about their culture and history,
to watch them at work and play satisfies a natural
curiosity that young people have. Their vacations
are about meeting people in the country they are
travelling in, understanding their way of life;
it makes travelling much more enjoyable.
Many of the new wave of eco-tourism tour companies
now offer |
| young
people the chance to intermingle with rural villagers,
enjoy cultural exchange, stay with them, eat with
them, even work in the fields with them. Or visit
and stay with some of the unique ethnic minorities
in northern Thailand, whose cultures and customs
have rarely changed in centuries, and see the vast
differences in ways of life. To make vacations more
exciting, travel agents offer combination soft adventure
and cultural tours. Many
tours provide similar vitality and memorable interest
that young people enjoy. One even suggests joining
the village children at school and taking lessons
to see what it's like. Another adds history elements
with visits to ancient Khmer sanctuaries at Pimai
and Phnom Rung at the same time discovering the
rural way of life in the Northeast of Thailand. |
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Young
people want to have fun, and Thailand offers many
activities to tap youthful energies, plus a warm
and pleasant climate in which to enjoy them. The
islands and waters of southern Thailand offer opportunities
for activities above and below water.
The
Andaman Sea has some world class dive sites, to
discover colourful coral and sea denizens, and
lots of islands to visit on sailing cruises. While
the fascinating rock formations and sea caves
in Phang-nga bay are great places for exploration
by sea canoe.
The
northern hills and forest provide the natural
setting for trekking by foot or elephant, for
watching the numerous bird species and nature
walks, for rafting on moderately gentle rivers,
and for racing around on mountain bikes.
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