Thailand

Thailand has thousands of kilometres of coastline with warm, clear waters and a huge variety of marine life and coral reefs making it a haven for divers and snorkellers. Thousands of people learn to dive in Thailand every year and dive shops are located all over the southern peninsula. Between sites in the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand, diving is possible year round. The best conditions are from October to April in the Andaman Sea, and May to September in the gulf.The Phi Phi Islands are one of the most popular diving destinations in the Andaman Sea due to their closeness to prime dive sites within a marine national park. Coral reefs surround the islands making it a paradise for snorkellers too. From Phuket, dive trips leave for prime sites such as Red Rock, Shark Point, Koh Yao, Koh Raya and Koh Yai. Within the Gulf of Thailand, Sail Rock off the island of Samui is one of the most well-known, Pattaya is famous for its wreck dives, and the live coral formations around Koh Pha Ngan are popular with snorkellers. Koh Tao is the heart of diving and snorkelling in Thailand with over 50 diving schools and the ease of access of many of its sites makes it ideal for beginners. Trips depart from Koh Tao to the Mu Koh Ang Throng National Marine Park where divers and snorkellers can enjoy the corals.

Thai-cooking is an art the local people are more than happy to share, with cookery schools and classes springing up countrywide; Bangkok, Phuket, Koh Samui and Chiang Mai are the leading destinations for this appetising endeavour. Many resorts and hotels offer these courses for guests. The lessons are relatively cheap and feature unique highlights, from watching professional hotel chefs at work, to a more hands-on approach with local market shopping trips and a free recipe book. Course schedules vary from introductory classes aimed at providing a basic knowledge of Thai food to 10 days of intense and advanced culinary instruction.Most of the schools or instructors have websites providing course and contact details, and internet bookings are possible. This is a wonderful activity that will stay with travellers long after their tans have faded, ensuring a vacation reminder and skill for life.

Since the early 1970s, northern Thailand near Chiang Mai has been a popular base for hill-tribe trekking in Thailand. Treks into the mountains and forests of the north, inhabited by the hill tribes, are a popular tourist attraction. Presently there are over 100 companies based in Chiang Mai, the centre of tourism for hill-tribe trekking, offering treks into the mountains, and as these treks can be dangerous, tourists are advised only to trek with companies registered with either the Professional Guide Association or the Jungle Tour Club of Northern Thailand.Hill-tribe trekking in Thailand round the Chang Mai and Mae Hong Son regions allows tourists a glimpse into the rich culture of the numerous tribes living in the mountainous regions of the country, who live off the land cultivating crops, hunting and collecting produce. Their fragile existence is easily damaged and due to the rise in tourism over the past couple of decades, many of these tribes have been commercially exploited.It is important that the way of life of these mountain tribes is protected and that they benefit from any profits made from the hill-tribe trekking experience. For this reason, many of the operating tours in the northern region work with the tribes involved by contributing directly to their village life.As the word 'trekking' suggests, there is a lot of walking involved and it is advisable to be relatively fit and prepared for the arduous trails that await. The distance travelled and the amount of villages seen per day depends on the tour company, as many will try to incorporate as much as possible into a day. It is advisable for travellers to check before booking so that their fitness level will match the trek they choose.Bamboo-rafting on the river and elephant rides are usually included as part of the trek by many companies, although other extras can include traditional Thai cooking lessons and traditional singing and dancing with the village people.