If you have already experienced a beach holiday in the tropical south of Thailand, there are other ways to spend your downtime in this unique nation, which we explore in this short article.
- Wellness & spa resort – If you need to recharge your battery and detox for a couple of weeks, you are spoiled for choice, with many 5-star wellness resorts set in beautiful tropical gardens. Learn about Buddhism and meditation; workshops on wholesome cooking, plus state-of-the-art sauna and fitness facilities. These retreats are very popular, so we advise you to book early to ensure they can accommodate your dates.
- Scuba diving – If you have a couple of months, you could become PADI certified and even train to be a diving instructor; imagine being paid to take tourists to the reefs! There are many diving schools in Phuket, so you should compare courses and content, plus read the online reviews. If you don’t fancy scuba diving, snorkelling gives you a window into the diverse marine life that lives on the reefs. Book a stay at one of the luxury 5-star hotels in Patong Beach, Phuket and be right in the middle of the action.
- Homestay –You might not be aware that there are special tour operators that can arrange for you to spend a week with a northern Thai rice farmer; eat his food, sleep in his house and work alongside the family. You might prefer to live with a fishing family in the south and help out when they set sail to fish. Forget about comfort, a homestay experience can be uncomfortable, yet it is an accurate experience of life from your host’s perspective. Click here for tips on budget travelling.
- Hiking in the north of Thailand – The mountainous northern region of Thailand has its own unique culture and language; book into a guesthouse in Chiang Rai, which can be a good base for hiking the many trails, either guided or self-guided, depending on you. The Golden Triangle must be seen to be fully appreciated, there are very remote regions if you fancy immersing yourself in nature.
- Work as a volunteer – There are many NGOs that work in Thailand and you can volunteer to help on one of their agricultural projects. You would have to pay your own airfares, but food and shelter are free in return for your labour. Start with a Google search to find agencies that send volunteers to Southeast Asia, then browse websites until you find what you’re looking for. This can be an incredibly rewarding experience that gives you an insight into the culture and the people.
Thailand has many attractive forms; you can come back year after year and enjoy something different each time. Whether sunning on a beach, diving on a reef, or hiking in the north, Thailand has it all, and some!
Photo by Sara Dubler on Unsplash
