Thailand Activities and Top Things to do guide
Water Sports :
 With
three coastlines stretching for hundreds of kilometers, and some
of the finest beaches to be found anywhere in Southeast Asia, Thailand
has become a major travel destination for lovers of all kinds of
water sports. A number of excellent resorts offer a full range of
equipment at reasonable rates for anyone interested in exploring
the pleasures of deep-sea fishing, windsurfing, water skiing, parasailing,
scuba diving, or swimming in crystal clear waters.
One of the first and still one of the most popular water sport centers
is Pattaya on the Gulf of Thailand, just two hours drive from Bangkok.
The main beach is located on a scenic bay, but facilities are available
along the coast for several kilometers. There are also more than
30 picturesque offshore islands with a wealth of coral and many
types of tropical fish.
The other major water sport center is the southern island of Phuket
in the Andaman Sea. Here on the west coast there are more than 14
magnificent white sandy beaches, all with warm, clear waters, as
well as a large number of nearby islands that boast diving conditions
to rival the best in the world.
Diving :
 Our
long coastline offers some of the finest diving opportunities not
only in Asia but anywhere in the world. Phuket and Pattaya are both
major dive centres, and there are many training facilities with
internationally qualified instructors.
The majority of diving destinations close to Phuket are located
in nearby Phangnga , where hundreds of limestone islands rise up
from the blue waters. Also popular are the largely uninhabited Similan
Islands, recently listed among the world's ten most beautiful spots
for underwater scenery and the spectacular Phi Phi Islands near
Phuket.
On the other side of the peninsula in the Gulf of Thailand is the
Ang Thong Islands National Marine Park, a group of more than 40
beautiful islands off the west of Surat Thani province and near
Ko Samui.
In Pattaya, scuba divers can organize daily trips from the resort
to the offshore islands of Ko Lan, Ko Sak, and Ko Krok.
Fishing :
The variety of magnificent scenery, coupled with year round warm
weather and an abundance of gamefish make fishing in Thailand's
seas a popular water sport.
The Gulf of Thailand, in contrast to the Andaman Sea, is less saline,
generally warmer and shallower. Sharks, eagle rays, and barracuda
are just a few of the species to be seen here. During the cool season
from November to January, sailfish can be spotted in Pattaya and
the Bang Saray region, as well as in Chumphon and in the waters
around Ko Samui.
In the Gulf itself, Pattaya and Bang Saray are the major centres
for gamefishing, with plenty of charter boats available.
Among the best fishing areas in the Andaman Sea are Racha Yai Islands
near Phuket and the Similan Islands, northwest of Phuket. Sailfish
season runs from mid-May to November, while marlin and tuna bite
during the months of late November to May. The main gamefishing
centre is Chalong Beach, on the east coast of Phuket.
Canoeing :
Increasingly popular among ecological-minded travelers is the sport
of sea canoeing, which offers adventure while also conserving the
environment. Sea Canoe Thailand in Phuket and Sea Canoe Krabi both
offer memorable trips in nearby bays, through spectacular scenery
that includes huge caves only accessible by water.
Kayaking :
Specially constructed inflatable kayaks are now widely available
in southern Thailand, especially in Phangnga Bay, where they are
used in expeditions to discover the many extraordinary scenic features
of the limestone islands and mountains that characterize this region.
A number of tour companies offer a variety of expeditions, some
of which last several days with overnight accommodation in tents
on secluded beaches.
Golf :
 We
have over two hundred golf courses, many of them championship standard.
So for golfers who not only appreciate a challenging course, but
an exotically different one too, Thailand offers an unbelievable
choice.
Some are just a short chip and putt from Bangkok, such as the Navathanee
Golf Course, which was created for the 1975 World Cup and the Ekachai
Golf Club, reckoned to be one of the country's most testing courses.
Outside Bangkok, there are numerous courses offering high quality
facilities, including The Rose Garden in Nakhon Pathom, the Siam
Country Club in Pattaya, the Phuket Golf and Country Club on the
lush island of Phuket, and the Royal Hua Hin Golf Course, probably
the oldest in Thailand.
Mountain Biking :
The north of Thailand is most suitable for this activity because
of its cooler temperatures, especially from November to February.
A number of companies offer well organized biking tours, most include
guides and, on certain tours, back-up vehicles carrying food and
overnight equipment. Bikes are also widely available in major tourists
destinations, where they can be rented at extremely reasonable rates
on a daily basis.
Cliff Climbing :
The most popular area for climbing is the southern province of Phangnga,
where towering limestone cliffs provide the perfect challenge.
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