Into the wild
Where to get the best out of the green season
After three months of an abusively hot summer, the monsoon rains have finally arrived and while the weather is still on the warm side, the cooling downpours are scheduled to continue through October.
The rainy season is also good news for nature lovers as Thailand’s countryside bursts into colour and the waterfalls once more flow freely, making their pools ideal for isolated swims on the wild side.
From now through August, the Siam tulips, or dok krachiao as they are known in Thai, form a pink carpet in two national parks while from next month, thrill-seekers can rough it up on the rapids.
Here are the five destinations across Thailand to soak up in the rain in style.
SIAM TULIPS IN FULL BLOOM
Where: Pa Hin Ngam National Park, Chaiyaphum Province
Best time: June-August
Chaiyaphum province welcomes the rain by rolling out a welcome mat of colourful wild flowers. From early June to late August, pink Siam tulips carpet the fields as far as the eye can see. Pa Hin Ngam National Park, about 300 kilometres from Bangkok, is the best place to see the flowers. The park is popular with weekenders for the blooms as well as for its strange-looking rock-formations. The endless meadows stretch out before visitors like a dreamscape – foggy and silent in the morning. On a bluff above the deepening valley, the green canopy of rainforest stretches out to the distant mountain range. This outlook is known as “sud phaen din” – or the edge of the earth. As its name suggests, you’re overwhelmed by the great sense of isolation. You can pitch your tent in the national park. Those who don’t want to rough it under canvas can bed down in ranger cottages.
Call Pa Hin Ngam National Park at (044) 890 105.
RUNNING THE RAPIDS IN MAE TAENG RIVER
Where: Chiang Mai province
Best Time: July-November
The Sob Kai Rapids, where the Mae Taeng River boils and churns its way over 10 kilometres of cascades, offers Chiang Mai’s most thrilling rafting experience through the rainforest. The tricky turns and Class III and IV rapids demand fast action by rafters and thrill-seekers alike. Fast as it’s furious, rafting down Mae Taeng River from Baan Sob Koi to the Elephant Cam, takes about three hours. Baan Anatta Resort offers rustic cottages on the river and arranges the rafting trips.
Call Tourism Authority of Thailand (Chiang Mai Office) at (053) 248 604-5.
WHITE WATER RAFTING ON THE THAILAND-LAOS FRONTIER
Where: Nan province
Best Time: October-January
When it comes to epic white-water adventures, little can match the wild Wah River in Nan province. Adrenaline junkies and private groups typically take three days to move through the water in the wildest section of the Wah River, with the journey kicking off in the remote rainforest near the Thai-Laotian border. Whether you prefer water that can flip your boat in a blink of eye or the lower levels found in January, rapids with such odd names as Jungle Ghost and Pepsi will pose a problem for even the best skippers. Camping along the river is part of the unique experience, which also includes outdoor swimming. The water is crystal clear, and you won’t be sorry to flip again and again.
Call Tourism Authority of Thailand (Phrae Office) at (054) 521 118.
WILD IN SAI THONG
Where: Sai Thong National Park, Chaiyaphum
Best Time: June-August
If Christopher McCandless from “Into the Wild” is your idol and inspiration for turning your back on urban life, Sai Thong National Park is a great place to learn how to live in the wild. Far from any communities, the national park offers a great escape for anyone seeking isolation. Like Pa Hin Ngam National Park – its sister park just 50 kilometres away – Sai Thong National Park is noted for its Siam Tulips. Unlike its charming sister though, Sai Thong National Park retains a low profile and is home to the unique ivory white Siam tulip. Less known to casual weekenders, the park offers a strong sense of isolation and a few magnificent waterfalls. If Christopher McCandless could pitch his tent here, he would enjoy a walk through the meadows and standing right on the edge. The sheer cliffs of Sai Thong National Park carry odd names, such as “Pha Ham Hod” or Shrunken Balls Cliff. The trail, designed for an easy walk, covers three kilometres through four fields of Siam tulips and other wildflowers. Bring your tent, basic cooking gear and food.
Call Sai Thong National Park at (044) 738 428 or email [email protected].
PHU WUA WILDLIFE SANCTUARY
Where: Bueng Kan Province
When: June-October
Phu Wua, along with majestic Chanaen and Tham Phra waterfalls, is one of country’s best places for wild swimming. There are idyllic rocky pools in the large stream plus rapids upstream where you can enjoy a dip. In the rainy season, the park is famous for endless grassy trails and fields of wild flowers. This month and next are best for the swimming. October is a good time for the blooms.
Call Phu Wua Wildlife Sanctuary at (081) 260 1845 and (042) 429 362.
