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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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