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TwitterThinking of Trekking in Thailand? Well, we’ve got some tips!!
Are you an adventure junkie? If so you will love what Thailand has to offer. And if you prefer just a stroll in the park? Well, you will STILL love what a Thailand has in store!
If you have already been to any of the national parks in Thailand or planning for your first visit and want to explore their nature a little more closely then this article will give you the information you need to make your next trip. Whether it be a trek through pristine rainforest or up the side of one of Thailand’s misty mountains, you will have an unforgettable adventure.
So, what do you have to prepare for a trek in Thailand?
Firstly there are various levels of trek available; your trek can be anything from a leisurely stroll amongst the trees to a grueling overnighter with tent and cooking utensils in your own pack, it really is up to you! Whatever floats your boat, be it hard core SAS style jungle adventure or something a little tamer there are a still a few things everyone should remember before setting out.
What to remember before trekking?
Make sure wherever you are planning you trek you have paid
appropriate National Park fee’s and informed them of your estimated
return time. Prepare well. Thailand’s climate is likely to be very different to that of your home country and it will most probably be hot, unless you are at the top of a mountain, so prepare the right clothes for the right situation. When trekking you will also work up a sweat and loose valuable water and salts, so remember, drink before you get thirsty. Make sure you take enough water with you for the trek and take some electrolyte sachets; heat exhaustion is a real possibility. Pack a small first aid kit into your bag covering basic usable first aid equipment, for example a triangular bandage, plasters, sterile cleaning fluid, scissors etc and pace your trek to the slowest in the group. Remember you have all the time in the world and you are after all on a holiday….of sorts! Have enough breaks, cool down at waterfalls or streams and take in the beauty. Finally be back before dark, it’s not fun stumbling around the jungle with no clue where to go. Ok, so we are ready to go…or are we? Well we have a few more tips to maximize your fun!
When is best to start? The early bird catches the worm as they say, so be out at sunrise. Most wildlife is active during this time so your best opportunity for spotting animals is early on, it is also much, much cooler when the sun is not directly overhead. Get in a few hours in the morning and take a long lunch, maybe on the banks of a river to cool off and try to refrain from smoking. The smell disturbs wildlife and will lower your chances of seeing any animals.
Remember, stop every now and then, it’s not a race. Take a look around, there are plenty of interesting plants and insects for you to marvel at right under your nose. If you storm ahead looking for that Tiger you heard just over there, you may miss the most interesting part of what’s around.
Take a walking stick, they can actually be a big help when walking and make lighter work of your trek. They also help when and if you slip as some plants can be spiky and or poisonous so don’t just go grabbing at the first thing you see.
Before starting, check Thailandecoportal.com's Eco Codes of Conduct for National Parks and remember to follow local National Park etiquette. Please leave no marks of your visit, stay on the marked path or trail, carry empty water bottles back to civilization, and take only photos with you.
Staying on the path is important for few reasons. Most importantly staying on the path guarantees that the impact of your visit is only limited to the path area and reduces erosion. Staying on the path leaves the animals space to live and protects plant species. That extremely rare miniature orchid could be destroyed by your huge boot print!
But I won’t see any animals on the path…right!? Maybe true but staying on the path is also for your own safety. You don't want to come across a Malaysian Sun Bear which is almost blind and will attack anything they consider to be a threat. Also wild bull Asian elephants in musth (breeding season) and female elephants protecting their young are extremely dangerous and have been reported to kill people in Thailand's forests.
There can also be poisonous and sharp plants outside the path that can be painful and easily spoil the rest of your holiday. In case of an accident on the path someone will eventually find you, if you venture further away from the trails it is possible that no-one will find you and send for help. Park Rangers have also gone to a lot of trouble to build the path for you and clean it from dangerous plants so it is safe for you to trek. Read more of possible dangers and annoyances in Thailand from our previous article
Do I need a guide? For shorter treks it is probably ok to do by yourself but for longer treks we recommend to hire a local guide. Not only for safety but they can be a very good source of information that you wouldn’t get if trekking alone. They will be able to regale you with local tales and inform you of which plants and animals you are likely to, or have just seen. When hiring a local guide please remember to check that the company you use has a Tourism Authority of Thailand endorsed license to operate tours, proper insurance and that the guide has mandatory guide license issued by TAT. All guides operating at National Park headquarters should have all the appropriate licenses and papers.
So, where to trek? Well check out our destinations page to view some fantastic national parks and natural areas. All have trekking options available and will have different levels too. Pick your favorite and go for it. You can also contact us for recommendations on where to go or visit out tours page which has a great selection of tours run by various responsible travel companies with treks incorporated into their itineraries.
Get out there and into nature!
