A version of this was first seen on What’s on Sukhumvit.

You would think one has to go to the beaches of Koh Tao or the mountains of Chiang Mai to seek adventure but the city of Bangkok isn’t just a destination for food, shopping and nightlife. It has grown to be so much more in the past few years – offering everything from rock climbing and extreme cycling to water sports and diving.

We’re always on the lookout for adventures so whenever we hear of a new extreme sport or adrenaline-filled activity in Bangkok, we make sure to give it a try. So without further ado, here’s the ultimate things to do for all us adrenaline junkies.

Surfing at Flowhouse

Ever wanted to surf but could never find the waves or the time to go out to one of the beaches? You won’t have to with Flowhouse being right in the city of Bangkok. For just over 550 Baht an hour you can enjoy surfing on a man-made inflated ramp that feels like one of those bouncy castles. The waves are artificially generated as pressured water is pushed upwards across the ramp.

Here you’ll find people of all ages and gender laughing as riders fall on their face or cheering as professionals (and some very skilled kids) bust out some cool tricks. It’s all fun though.

Now, having done Parkour and break-dance in the past, I figured how hard could it be?

Oh how wrong was I?!

All excited and confident, I stepped on the board and before I knew it, the fast moving currents threw me off balance as I crashed onto the soft, yet merciless floor and was swept away like a tiny fish.

For beginners, I advise you to check the ego at the door and have a go at body boarding (laying flat, stomach first on the board) or knee boarding before trying the standing surf stance. Baby steps, guys.

Wakeboarding at Lakes

Further satisfy your passion for water sports by going to one of Bangkok’s wake parks for some wakeboarding. Although in Bangkok, you’re pulled by cables and not boats, this is an activity increasing in popularity and is enjoyed by locals, expats and travelers alike.

Photo credit: Thai Wake Park

You can find two main locations. One is at Taco Lake in Bang Na and the other is the Thai Wake Park in Rangsit, Pathumthani. Both are geared well towards extreme sports professionals, beginners and everyone in between.

We recommend going to Taco Lake for a more local experience, cheaper rates – 300 baht for 2 hours or 500 baht for the whole day – and it is also easier to reach whereas the Thai Wake Park is a bit more challenging and pricier as it will set you back 850 baht for 2 hours and 1,350 Baht for a full day.

Indoor Rock Climbing

Rock climbing is usually synonymous with mountain climbing but you can give it a try in Bangkok as well. You won’t find mountains here but instead, you’ll encounter indoor gyms with man-made rock formations that you can climb.

It’s perfect for all levels as each wall is color coded (according to difficulty level) with stepping platforms that one must navigate to get to the top.

This is one of my favorite past times and fellow thrill-seekers can give it a go at Urban Playground in Sukhumvit soi 49. As they are part of the Racquet Club, they share the same pricing scheme where you can purchase a day non-membership pass (525 Baht) or a 1 month, 3 months, 6 months or one year membership.

You can also venture a bit further than Sukhumvit and head over to Rock Domain in Bang Na.

Trampoline Jumping

It might sound like a kiddish sport but it is everything but that. Sure kids enjoy it more than adults but it is an adrenaline-pumping and sweat-breaking activity that we should all try at least once.

You can do so at one of 3 locations – Rockin Jump in Rama 3 (next to Central), Funny Jump in Bang Na and Bounce (which is set to open soon). Whichever venue you choose, expect to burn a lot of calories and feel your muscles activate in places you thought you never had!

You can also take it to the next level and practice some flips and dives in the foam pit.

Tip: Trampoline jumping can be quite dangerous if not performed well, so remember to always bend your knees and to land on both feet. 

Free Running

An urban jungle like Bangkok is probably the best place to do some free running. Although we wouldn’t advise you to jump off rooftops and climb people’s condos but you can go to some of the local parks where locals and expats like Team Farang train. The extreme sport has caught on here over the years and gained a massive following.

Photo credits: Asia Parkour

If you’re a beginner and can’t risk the injuries outside, there are also regular parkour/free running classes run by Asia Parkour. Most of the classes are organized indoors and held at Active Parc located within Amarin Plaza on the 2nd Floor. Sometimes they also do outdoor training as well. Safety, discipline, technique and freedom of movement is the name of the game at these classes so expect that you will be in good hands.

Jab-Jab, Hook, Kick!

Even though I watch a lot of violent films and action movies, I’m not a believer of violence to solve problems. I wouldn’t even dream of getting in a fist fight but sometimes you have to defend yourself. Muay Thai is the best thing to learn in that case.

Apart from learning how to fight, it is one hell of a sweat-breaking workout and the practice is highly spiritual too.

You can take lessons at one of many Muay Thai training centers such as:

Elite Fight Club – The Waterford Diamond Tower, 10th Floor, Soi Sukhumvit 30/1. Tel: +66 (0) 2305 6685

RSM Academy – Seen space (3rd floor) 251/1 Soi Thonglor 13, Sukhumvit 55. Tel: +66 2 185 2384 OR Jasmine City (2nd Floor)
Sukhumvit 23. Tel: +66 2 661 6292

Chacrit Muay Thai School –  15/2 Sukhumvit Soi 39. Tel: +66894992052

Muay Thai schools aren’t hard to find. A simple Google search of your area will show at least 2-3 training centers.

Alternatively, if you are in Bangkok for a long time, you can join a fitness center/gym such as True Fitness, Fitness First and Virgin Active where they have kickboxing and Muay Thai lessons. It’s probably not the best and unique experience but if you are doing it just for fitness, it might be an option.

I did mine 1-week training at TUFF Camp in Ekkamai. I think I need a refresher course.

Bobble Football (or Soccer)

Dubbed as one of Bangkok’s most fun things to do, Bangkok Bobble Football truly does sound like it. Here, teams of friends or even strangers can engage in different types of games such as football, races, bowling and sumo wrestling WHILE being inside a zorb-like balloon.

Photo credit: @bangkokbobblefootball

This is one thing I haven’t tried and I have been dying to for over a year. It’s not something I can go to by myself because you need a group of friends (at least 6-8) to play.

This is a sport and adrenaline-thumping activity that is sure to ‘blow up’. See what I did there?

Diving with Sharks

Who said you HAVE to go to the ocean to dive with the marine life? Right in the heart of Bangkok, you can have a go at it at Sea Life Ocean World. It is conveniently located in Siam Paragon Shopping Center, which is directly connected to Siam BTS station, so getting there is easy.

Photo credit: Sea Life Ocean World

Alongside their experienced trainers, you will come across sand tiger sharks, black-tip reef sharks, leopard sharks, round ribbon-tail rays and eagle rays. You’re sure to get an underwater adrenaline rush.

The admission/ticket pricing to Sea Life Ocean World is based on dual prices for Thais and foreigners and there are several packages available. These rates can be seen on the website as well.

But wait hold on a second, those pricing are just for the entry and access to a few attractions (depending on what package you buy). If you’re interested in doing the ‘diving with sharks’, the prices are as follows:

5,300 Baht : Diving License Holders (Regular Divers)
6,000 Baht : Diving License Holders (Those with less than 10 dives or no recorded dives in the previous 1 year)
6,600 Baht : No Diving Experience

Other than diving with sharks, you can also explore other attractions at this aquarium such as the ocean tunnel, Penguin Ice Adventure, shark walk, ride on the Ocean Feeding Boat and much more.

Tip: Make sure you plan and call in advance to get the most out of the experience.

Paintball War

If you and your friends are fans of shooting at each other with paintball or BB, then Combat Zone is the place to be. Located near Srinakarin road (near Seacon Square), this blood-pumping and ultimately, kind of painful/scarring activity will keep you on your feet.

Photo credit: Combatzone62.net

BB gun with full equipment will cost you 500 Baht while the paintball set is 450 Baht (for 100 balls). If getting hit with plastic pellets sounds too painful or scary, don’t worry they provide safety equipment and clothing. If that still doesn’t sound like something you could endure, they also have laser tag.

Bicycling through the Urban Jungle

Some of these adventures will cost you quite a bit, especially if you want to do them every day or even just over weekend. So why not buy a decent bike and navigate through the bustling streets of Bangkok?

Trust me; this would be the ultimate adventure that will raise your heartbeat to the max as you try to avoid potholes, motor vehicles and other obstacles. If you know anything about Bangkok, it’s that the traffic is maddening and it’s not any easier on cyclists.

Watch out for speeding motorcyclists and swerving buses because they won’t care if it is your lane (wherever there is any in Bangkok).

There’s a massive, growing community of bikers in Bangkok and most of them can be seen on Twitter sharing their tales. Get in touch with @BKKGreg if you really want to brave the streets.

Alternatively, if the traffic and motorists scare you, you can venture out to Bang krachao or Thonburi where you can cycle in peace while also having the opportunity to interact with friendly locals and find off-the-beaten paths of Bangkok.

You can even give extreme biking a go at Peppermint Bike Park. I’ve given this a try and it is an awesome experience. Here you’ll find ramps, small jumps and elevated curves that are sure to push your cycling skills.

Did you find this adventure guide helpful? Let us know which activities you have tried, going to try or aren’t on the list. We’d love to try them out and add them here.