photo from Flickr by: Dana Riza

From the bright lights and seedy underground of Bangkok to the lush rainforests and unspoiled islands of the South, it’s easy to see why so many people each year decide to book flights to Thailand. It’s a difficult country not to have an adventure in.

Let’s start with Bangkok. They say that “one night in Bangkok makes the hard man humble” and after spending some time there you’ll understand why. If you want to have an adventure in Bangkok, you don’t have to look far.

Some companies offer cycling tours: this is a great way to see the city, and also a good way to offset the carbon from your flights to Bangkok. It’s not simply a case of a gentle jaunt around the city, however. Bangkok is a very busy place, so you will have to keep your wits about you.

If you’re feeling very adventurous, you might want to step into Muay Thai ring and learn Thai boxing. Although there are professional companies that offer this as part of your holiday, there are some bars that will let you fight another amateur in exchange for a bucket of booze. You may end up with a few cuts and bruises here and there, but isn’t that what adventuring is all about?

Thai food is a culinary adventure too. Searingly hot, fragrant, and full of flavour; it’s probably best to order your food “mai pet” unless you’re the kind of person who orders vindaloo at home and thinks nothing of it. Bangkok has some excellent restaurants, but true adventurers order their food from street-side stalls. To find the best stalls, look at where the locals are eating and take your chances by pointing at whatever looks good.

An hour outside of Bangkok you’ll find the ‘Flight of the Gibbon’ zipline through the jungle canopy, where you get to spend three hours ziplining and abseiling through the rainforest. 

Once you leave Bangkok, the temptation may be to visit Kho Phi Phi where “The Beach” was filmed. This is a bad idea, as the island is over-run with tourists. The good news is that Thailand’s coast is teeming with islands and wildlife: you can escape the beach goers by taking to the water and either renting a boat, or going snorkelling. The waters around Thailand are teeming with fish.

There is plenty to do in Thailand’s jungles: from trekking to rafting to kayaking to simply sightseeing. The adventure of a lifetime awaits.

James writes for Skyscanner.net, a Scottish flight comparison company. Skyscanner compare cheap flights to hundreds of destinations worldwide. You can now search for flights on Facebook, using the Skyscanner Flight Search app.