Among the tropical Southeast Asian destinations, Thailand has always been a favourite among all genres of travellers. Not just for its beautiful natural scenery and ornate temples, but for being full of life and zeal! Wondering if there is more to Thailand than full-moon parties and Pad Thai on every corner? There is. A lot more, especially if you are someone looking for a heart-pacing adventure or extraordinary experiences. Here are 7 extraordinary experiences to check out on your next Thailand vacation.
Snorkelling With Sharks at Hin Bida
How would voluntarily diving with sharks sound to you? If you get a tinge of excitement rather than a chill running down your spine at the mention of this idea, then visit Hin Bida in Thailand, located near Phuket and Koh Lanta, and about 40 minutes from Rawai Pier. This place is absolutely gorgeous, with the emerald sea showing off its magnificent limestone karsts scattered about the clear waters. The reef swarms with leopard sharks, which is why it is a popular spot for snorkelling among the sharks. If you are up for this dare, go ahead and add this to your Phuket trip package. It can be ranked as one of the most offbeat activities to do in Thailand for adventure seekers.
Take a Scenic Train Journey from Bangkok to Chiang Mai
Perhaps the comfortable way to reach Chiang Mai in northern Thailand from Bangkok is a plane ride, but why not try a slower but more scenic version with a train ride? Take an economical overnight train journey from Bangkok, which offers a stunning change in scenery all the way to Chiang Mai. You can opt for the Special Express trains or elevate your experience with the Blue Jasmine luxury train ride packages. The train glides past scintillating Bangkok city views, pausing for a bit at Ayutthaya, then zips through the countryside, and rice paddies before winding up to Chiang Mai’s verdant landscapes.
A train ride really makes an impact on you, to slow down a bit and enjoy the scenery in this fast-paced life. So, when you look beyond Bangkok, don’t limit yourself to Pattaya tour packages as add-ons. Make your time in Thailand more spectacular with this train journey.
Witness Thailand’s Ghost Festival
If you are looking for something unique related to festivals in Thailand, then taking a detour to Dan Sai in Loei province is a must. Add this to your list of the offbeat places to visit in Thailand. Dan Sai is not on the popularity radar of travellers. It is a much rather unheard-of spot, but come here between March and June, and you might find yourself surrounded by strange, vibrantly-painted masked people all around you. In fact, the place transforms into a vibrant parade of eerie masked performers and parades. The festival ‘Phi Ta Khon’ feels like a medley between a Thai festival and the Western Halloween concept, making it Thailand’s own Halloween Day. Here, it is called the Ghost Festival, which runs for three days. However, it is not as spooky as it sounds, and you will love watching the entire village turning up dressed as if it were a masquerade party.
Stay back to catch the ‘Two Big Ghosts’ performance and try your hand at mask making. Create one for fun and take it back home as a souvenir. Let this be your excuse to visit the scenic beauty of a sleepy Thai village as well.
Watch Bangkok’s City Skyline From the Skywalk at Mahanakhon
Bangkok’s city skyline is one of the most picturesque modern vistas in the world. Many tourists make sure to catch a glimpse of it through rooftop dining or sipping drinks at al fresco bars. If you are visiting Bangkok and feel like adding a bit of adventure to the scenic city view panorama, then head to King Power Mahanakhon. ‘What’s great about it?’ you may ask. This sky-piercing tower has a skywalk adventure fitted on its 74th level, which happens to be Bangkok’s highest observation deck. However, the real adventure starts at the 78th level, where you can find yourself gathering the courage to step onto a completely glass-covered floor known as the ‘Glass Tray.’
Feel your legs buckle, and you yourself shake with excitement as you walk on a transparent floor over 300 metres above ground. You literally get a 360-degree bird’s-eye view of Bangkok’s splendid city skyline in a stomach-flipping experience. It’s one of the experiences you can easily accommodate in Bangkok tour packages, offering a hint of adventure in between temple tours and city vibes.
Go Limestone Karst Climbing in Krabi
Krabi packages are not just for laid-back relaxation on beaches. Of course, water sports are a part of it, but for an extra dose of adventure, try limestone karst climbing. There is some incomprehensibly thrilling about dangling metres high above the Andaman Sea, white-knuckled and heart racing with an adrenaline rush, but somehow you feel more alive! Try it yourself if you do not have a fear of heights in Krabi. Sign yourself up for a limestone karst climbing adventure at Railay or Ton Sai Beach, whose waters are scattered with natural towers rising straight out from the blue-green waters. The dramatic view from the top is sure to make you forget your jitters for some blissful moments.
Another thing you will impressively realise is the silence and wave of calmness that washes over your beating heart – a surreal experience for sure! Krabi offers more than sun, sea, and sand. It offers more than 700 bolted routes on limestone karsts to choose from, and no, you do not need any prior training, just the will and a bit of stamina to climb.
Enjoy ATV Rides in Pattaya’s Wilderness
Pattaya does not usually feature among offbeat places in Thailand, but you can certainly entertain yourself with offbeat activities here. Pattaya is usually depicted as the twin city of Bangkok, known primarily for food and wild nightlife, but the township also has a dense wilderness 20 minutes away from all the city buzz, where you can explore various adventure activities. One such adventure to try out is an ATV ride.
Hop on one giant, rugged, big-tyred bike, and race through jungle pathways, the trees fading into the background as you weave around the uneven tracks made by nature. Your adrenaline spikes as fast as the dirt flying behind a quad bike’s tyres. Who would have thought Pattaya has something this adventurous other than the wild party life! That’s why we insist on going beyond the ordinary to know the real vibe of the destinations you visit.
Take a Thai Cooking Class
Join a Thai cooking class, but keep it towards the last leg of your trip. By now, you might have developed a liking for the aromatic flavours of Thai cuisine and might have wondered how the Thai curry is perfectly seasoned and what goes into mango sticky rice to make it this yummy. If you fancy getting a bit richer in your cooking skills, Thailand’s cities have places where expert cooks are eager to part with their knowledge and cooking secrets to make sure you can whip up some good Thai food back at your home, keeping a piece of Thai culture alive in your hearts.
You can enroll in a Thai cooking class in Bangkok, but for an authentic feel, head to Chiang Mai where you cook amid nature, sourcing the fresh ingredients and learning culinary Thai skills that are straight out of a grandmother’s recipe card. In no time, you would be a master in making Thai curry paste from scratch and know all the ingredients that make Thai cuisine so special and extraordinarily flavourful. Back home, flaunt your newly acquired cooking skills. Make an impressive Pad Thai for friends and watch their eyes widen as they ask, ‘Where did you learn to cook like that?’
Conclusion
Thailand has thousands of spectacular attractions competing for your attention, but years from now, at the mention of Thailand, the off-beat activities to do in Thailand are what you would urge others to do on their holiday. These get etched in your mind, sparking a little wave of excitement as you recall them. If you’re tired of the postcard-perfect sceneries and social-media-hyped spots in Thailand, these adventures are the perfect replacement. The moments will linger on and never fade, that’s Thailand’s promise to you.
