3 Action-Packed Sports for Exploring Thailand's Culture and Nature

The recent increase in sport tourism corresponds with a growing interest in health and fitness. Indeed, combining travel with athletics is a fantastic way to broaden your horizons while staying physically fit.

Sport tourism can take many forms in Thailand, from Muay Thai boxing, which showcases the country’s traditional martial art, to surfing and running marathons, which take participants on a voyage through Thailand’s beautiful forests and coastlines.

Watch Live Muay Thai Fights at Two Legendary Fighting Stadiums

Upon your arrival in Thailand, you will be able to view traditional Thai battles in numerous locations. Nonetheless, two historic boxing stadiums host the country’s largest and most prestigious combat events. This includes both the Rajadamnern Stadium and the Lumpinee Boxing Stadium.

Rajadamnern Stadium

Rajadamnern Stadium is the first boxing venue in Thailand to meet international standards. Numerous Thai and international boxers have entered the ring here. Whoever wins a championship at Rajadamnern is regarded as Thailand’s champion. In addition, the stadium’s 80-year-old building is praised for its striking architecture, which retains elements of the previous era.

Weekly schedule: Fights are held 4 days per week on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday, 18.30 – 22.30. For more information on entrance fees and booking details, please contact their Facebook page https://web.facebook.com/rajadamnern/

How to Get There

Rajadamnern Stadium is located on Rajadamnern Nok Road in Pomprapsattruphai District, Bangkok. This is an area near the Grand Palace and many historical temples. You can take a taxi or public transport from the Grand Palace to the stadium, which takes about seven minutes.

Lumpinee Boxing Stadium

Built in 1956, Lumpinee Boxing Stadium is another prestigious boxing venue in Thailand that hosts both traditional Muay Thai and Western boxing matches. It is customary for the champions of Lumpinee Stadium and Rajadamnern Stadium to compete for the ultimate title in their respective weight classes.

Weekly schedule: fights are held three days per week on Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday, 18.00-23.00. For more information on entrance fees and booking details, please contact their Facebook page https://web.facebook.com/Lumpineeboxingstaduim/

How To Get There

Lumpinee Boxing Stadium is located in Royal Thai Army Sports Center on Ram Inthra Road, Bang Khen, Bangkok. You can take a taxi or public transport from Chatuchak Market to Lumpinee Stadium, which takes no more than 20 minutes.

Put on Muay Thai Shorts and Learn how to Box like a Thai

If you have seen live Muay Thai fights and are eager to learn this traditional martial art, Thailand has a variety of Muay Thai gyms where you can learn self-defense while improving your fitness. Here are our recommendations:

FitFac Muay Thai:

This is a boxing gym that aims to teach fundamentals to beginners while improving the skills and techniques of professional boxers. Boxing classes include Muay Thai for Self-Defense, Western Boxing, and Boxing for Children, among others. FitFac Muay Thai has eleven locations across Bangkok.

For more information, please visit https://www.fitfacmuaythai.com/en/

Khongsittha Muay Thai:

This renowned boxing facility focuses on traditional Muay Thai techniques and offers students the opportunity to train alongside professional Muay Thai boxers. It is also an excellent opportunity to observe how boxing professionals prepare for upcoming matches.

For more information, please visit http://www.kstmuaythai.com/

MTM Muaythai Fitness:

The Muay Thai classes at MTM Muaythai Fitness are structured according to sports science. You can practice boxing while simultaneously learning how to improve your overall fitness thanks to the gym’s real-time assessments. Their list of classes includes Traditional Muay Thai and Personality Development, as examples.

For more information, please visit https://www.mtmmuaythaifitness.com/

MTM Muaythai Fitness

Ride the Waves: Top 3 Surfing Spots in the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand

Long shorelines, consistent peeling waves, and beautiful beaches make a number of Thailand’s beaches suitable for surfing. We recommend three locations that are popular among both professional and amateur surfers because they are both enjoyable and challenging. These beaches are Memories Beach in the province of Phang-Nga, Ao Yai on Koh Payam in the province of Ranong, and Khao Takiab beach in the province of Prachuap Khiri Khan.

Memories Beach, Phang-Nga province

Memories Beach – a hidden beach turned surfers’ paradise – is a hub for water sports like surfing and stand-up paddle boarding (SUP). The waves here originate from oceanic surges that, at times, are as powerful as those in Bali, Indonesia.

Surfing season: May-October

How To Get There:

Take a flight from Don Mueang International Airport to Phuket International Airport. Then drive or take public transport to Memories Beach in Khao Lak, Takua Pa District, Phang-Nga province. The road trip takes no more than two hours.

Ao Yai, Koh Payam, Ranong province

Koh Payam is a serene and pristine island blessed with small and medium-sized waves suitable for surfers of all levels. Depending on your luck, you might come across local islanders called the Moken whose surfing skills are next to none. For those who are brand new to surfing, there are surf schools and surf shops which can provide you with the necessities to help you ride your first wave.

Surfing season: April-May and October-December

How To Get There:

Take a flight from Don Mueang International Airport to Ranong Airport. Then take public transport to Ranong Pier (to Koh Chang and Koh Payam) in Mueang District, Ranong province. The boat ride to Koh Payam takes about 40 minutes. Alternatively, you can drive or take public transport from Phuket to Ranong which takes about five hours.

Khao Takiab Beach, Prachuap Khiri Khan province

Khao Takiab Beach is a popular surfing destination near Bangkok on the Gulf of Thailand. Typically, surfers gather here during Thailand’s harsher season. Khao Takiab’s long coastline and clear water make it suitable for surfers of all skill levels, but beginners will likely appreciate the smaller, more predictable waves compared to other surf destinations. We advise rising early to capture morning waves when the beach is peaceful and quiet.

Surfing season: November-February

How To Get There:

From Bangkok, drive or take public transport to Khao Takiab Beach in Hua Hin District, Prachuap Khiri Khan province. The road trip takes about three hours. On the way to surfing, you can stop at Hua Hin Beach and other tourist attractions in the province.

Run the 2 Most Exhilarating Marathons in Thailand

Due to its varied terrains and cultures, Thailand is host to numerous running competitions. Some courses are designed for runners to explore gorgeous nature trails, while others take place in historic and culturally rich urban areas. We recommend the Amazing Thailand Marathon Bangkok and BANGSAEN 42 as two of the best marathons held annually in Thailand.

Amazing Thailand Marathon Bangkok

Amazing Thailand Marathon Bangkok is the biggest race in Thailand that upholds the World Athletics’ marathon standard. It is held annually in Bangkok, where runners navigate city-centered courses that include numerous city landmarks.

The courses vary from 5 to 42 kilometers, and take you through the city’s historical areas, architectural landmarks, and urban communities such as Rajamangala National Stadium, Victory Monument, The Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall, King Rama V Equestrian Monument, Rama VIII Bridge, Golden Mountain, Wat Ratchanadda and Democracy Monument.

How to Get There

Take a taxi or public transport from either Suvarnabhumi International Airport or Don Mueang International Airport to the center of Bangkok. The commute is about 1 hour. We recommend staying in hotels near Ratchathewi or Phra Nakhon districts, both of which are close to the marathon’s starting point.

For more information, please visit https://amazingthailandmarathon2023.com/ or call the Tourism Authority of Thailand’s call center at 1672.

BANGSAEN 42

BANGSAEN 42 is certified by World Athletics as an Elite Label Race and, since its launch six years ago, has become one of the country’s most renowned running events. The race is enticing due to its challenging course design, which incorporates the varied terrains and landscapes of Bangsaen.

The course: There is only one 42-kilometer course that passes by a number of attractions, including Bangsaen Roundabout, Ang Sila Market (one of the traditional fisherman’s markets in Chonburi), the five-kilometer-long Chonlamakwithi Bridge that runs along the coast, the magnificent Nacha Sa Thai Chue Shrine, Khao Sam Muk, Laem Than, and the beautiful Bangsaen Beach.

How to Get There

From Bangkok, you can drive or take public transport to Bang Saen District in Chonburi province. The road trip takes about one1 hour and 30 minutes. We recommend staying at hotels near the marathon’s starting point.

For more information, please visit https://www.bangsaen42.com/

Photo Credit:

#Activities#Adventure#Bangkok#Beach#Koh Phayam#marathon#Prachuap Khiri Khan#Rajadamnern Stadium#Sport#sport tourism#Thailand#Travel guide

Back