Sports and physical adventures are often part of any travel. For those who like to factor them into their travel plans, Thailand is quite possibly one of the best destination for it. There are tons of options for fun and exciting sports activities in Thailand. While some unique to the country there are also ones that popular around the world.

The best part is that you’ll find that in most cases there are opportunities to both watch and/or try them on your own if you’re a more active traveler.

These, in particular, are four sports to factor into your plans on a trip to Thailand.

Muay Thai

For those of you who don’t know, this is the national sport of Thailand and functions similarly to kickboxing. The fights are a little bit more intricate though, given that they involve shins, elbows, knees, and fists (whereas kickboxing only utilizes the hands and feet). This makes Muay Thai a challenging sport to participate in, but a fascinating one to watch.

While in Thailand, you should absolutely try to catch a match. Even if you typically prefer watching sports with less physical contact, Muay Thai has become such an important part of Thai culture that you almost can’t pass it up. And if you’re brave enough, you may even consider signing up for a beginner’s class!

Best Muay Thai has a handy list of locations around the country where you can try some training.

Football

Just like most of the rest of the world, Thailand is obsessed with football. The men’s national team, known as the War Elephants, is vying for qualification to the 2022 World Cup, despite not having had much clout in the past. Even the women’s national team has been a source of pride in the Thai sports scene, having qualified for the past two World Cup tournaments.

If you can’t see either of these teams live during your time in Thailand, you can catch local and league matches around the country. It’s an interesting scene to witness with die-hard fans and occasional gambling (betting on teams).

188bet, for example, runs regular promotions and odds listings that keep fans all the more engaged. So, if the national teams aren’t home, you can also have a lot of fun simply watching a match abroad with local fans, even if you don’t follow a team or have an interest in betting.

Surfing

Surfing is huge in Thailand as well, even though it can be hard to find a professional competition to watch. Nevertheless, you may want to go ahead and give it a try yourself!

Not only are the beaches beautiful in Thailand, but many areas attract great conditions for surfers of all experience levels. Most popular beach areas will have surfboards (or paddleboards) available for rent, and many of them will also offer lessons for those who have never attempted to surf before.

For those who really want to make this activity part of the experience in Thailand, some companies also offer “surf camps” through which you stay near the beach for a few days and really learn how to surf. If you’re looking for a specific destination for any amount of surfing activity, islands such as Phuket and Koh Tao are perfect to find some action. Phuket Surfing is one of many that is a favorite among visitors trying to learn.

Golf

Many people are surprised to find out how common golfing is in Thailand. Although the sport is usually associated with the UK and the U.S., many visitors and locals alike have taken up the sport in Thailand. This is likely in part because of the stunning scenery that can surround the courses.

One of the best places to play golf in the country, for instance, is in Pattaya, a beautiful beach town on the eastern shores. There you will find about 20 courses, with many of them boasting various degrees of international distinction.

For instance, the Siam Country Club Old Course is ranked among the top 75 courses in the entire world, and is sometimes referred to as “Asia’s finest golf course.” Needless to say, playing at a place like that is a treat no matter how good a golfer you may be!

Discover these and more!

Do you like any of these fun activities? Which have you tried or watched? We’d love to know what you think or if you have stories of other things you tried, let us know about them in the comments below.