Thailand is a great place to go hiking. There is an environment that invites you to get out on two feet and explore, from its dripping, virgin jungles to its towering, mist-enveloped mountains.

But it’s just the landscape that makes trekking in Thailand so rewarding; it’s the people, from the lonely hill tribes scarcely touched by the outside world to the local guides whose unabashed passion and excitement will lead you to a greater knowledge of this fascinating nation.

We’ve compiled a list of 5 of our favorite hikes, guided by some of Thailand’s most knowledgeable and enthusiastic tour guides. On your journey to Thailand, put on your hiking boots and start trekking.

1. Chiang Mai to Mae Hong Son

The beautiful woods of Thailand’s northern hinterlands were once bustling with merchants on a historic trading route. Today, only hikers make their way across Mae Hong Son’s forested hills and hazy slopes, exploring some of Thailand’s most inaccessible natural locations.

2. Chiang Rai to Chiang Mai

Slow travel is the greatest way to properly appreciate culture, and this relaxed walk across northern Thailand is no exception. You’ll journey from homestay to homestay, staying with locals and getting a true sense of country life.

3. Sri Phang Nga National Park, Khao Lak

Trekking does not have to imply scrounging. The Sarojin, a luxurious boutique resort in the heart of Khao Lak’s national parks, specializes in local activities. Their Extreme Trekking Adventure, which takes place in Sri Phang Nga National Park, one of Thailand’s largest national parks and established to safeguard one of the country’s last remaining blocks of virgin rainforest, covers 8 kilometers of rough terrain.

4. Khao Pom, Ko Samui

Sure, you might just relax on the beach and enjoy Thailand’s most popular island’s wonderful environment. You could also go to an area where few people go: Khao Pom’s jungle mountain. From the mangroves of the coast to the 635-meter-high mountain at the island’s center, this beautiful environment is crisscrossed with luxuriant pathways.

5. The jungle in Kanchanaburi

The Karen are Thailand’s most well-known tribe, with their long, ringed necks, yet few tourists get to learn anything about their traditional way of life. You’ll be the exception if you join this two-day walk into the forest near Kanchanaburi, where you’ll stay with the Karen tribe in Nong Bang, sleep in a bamboo hut, make supper with the locals, and see a traditional Karen cultural dance.

Source: rough guides-com