Page 196 - TICA'S MICE GUIDE TO THAILAND 2018-2019

Here are some activities to consider: giants, along with harsh training. Make sure you
do your research thoroughly to pick an ethical
Ziplining Tours venue.
Sailing through the jungle hanging onto
nothing more than a single rope can be one of One of the principled places is the Baan Chang
the most exhilarating experiences, and because Elephant Park in Chiang Mai, where guests are
Thailand is home to acres of lush green forest, allowed to ride the elephant on its bareback as
the options for this particular activity are many. a part of the Mahout Training Course, and also
Top picks include the Flight of the Gibbon near be taught how to bathe and take care of these
Chiang Mai, which features a five-kilometre pachyderms.
course with 30 stations that challenges
participants’ endurance. There is also the Flying Paintball
Hanuman Zipline Adventure in Phuket which One of the best activities for team building
showcases another side to this island paradise, is the colour-splattering sport of paintball.
allowing participants to swing through a rare Relying heavily on teamwork and communica-
part of Phuket’s wilderness. tion, paintball will test your leadership and
strategy-making skills, as you seek to eliminate
Great care has been taken to ensure that both the opposing team. Best places to play in Thai-
these courses are eco-friendly, and do not have land include Pattaya Paintball & Airsoft Park,
a negative impact on the trees and species that X-Centre in Chiang Mai and Phuket Shooting
inhabit the area. Range. Camouflaged clothing, protective gear
and high-powered guns are all for hire.
Rafting
With numerous cascading waterfalls, rafting Flow House Bangkok
has become one of the country’s most sought- You don’t have to venture far outside the cen-
after experiences. The main rafting areas are tre of Bangkok to discover an urban beach club
in the northwestern regions of Thailand, like that offers some unforgettable surfing.
Mae Taeng River in Chiang Mai and the nearby The FlowRider at Flow House Bangkok is a sim-
Pai River in Mae Hong Son, or down south in ulated wave machine imported from the United
Nakhon Si Thammarat and Phatthalung. Most States, which creates a consistent flow of
of these courses can be visited year-round, with waves, perfect for stand-up surfing and body-
the majority of these routes classified as Level boarding. Flow House can cater to groups of
two to four (novice to intermediate). all sizes from 10 to 1,000, and covers 1,500sqm
Safety procedures are put in place to ensure of space over two floors. This exciting venue,
rafters don’t get hurt. It is compulsory to hold a located on Sukhumvit Soi 26, also has a Chang
safety briefing before the activity commences. Surf Bar and Plunge Pool.
Equipment like helmets and lifejackets are
usually all available for rent, so the only require- BOUNCE Inc.
ment is for participants to wear comfortable Another unique activity you can find in the
clothing with covered sports shoes and bring a commercial heart of Bangkok is the free-jump-
spare change of clothes for later. ing revolution that is BOUNCE Inc. Located
at The Street Ratchada, this fun park features
Elephant Riding an adventure challenge course, ideal for team
Although elephant trekking has faced criticism building outings, where groups have to climb,
over the treatment of the animals involved, jump and swing their way through, before
it continues to be one of the most popular taking the final zipline to the finish line.
activities for anyone visiting Thailand. The con- BOUNCE also includes a Clip N’ Climb section,
troversy comes from the use of the wooden with more than 20 unique themed walls that will
bench strapped onto the back of these gentle test agility and physical endurance.

194 MICE GUIDE TO THAILAND