Very famous muay thai, Thai boxing
In Thai boxing, you fight with your elbows, your feet, your knees... Boxers are barefoot, and it's not uncommon to see a knockout from a kick. There are usually no fewer than 8 fights per evening, the most eagerly awaited being the fifth, when the show, which has been going on since 9pm, reaches its climax. On the days of the big fights, life grinds to a halt in the working-class neighborhoods. The blows are accompanied by howls of approval or disapproval. It really is THE national sport. It's also a real taboo: never criticize Thai boxing in Thailand!
Soccer... English football!
It's a little known fact, but the Thais are football-mad. All English Premier League matches are broadcast in Thailand, and even the domestic league (albeit of a mediocre standard) attracts large numbers of fans to the country's stadiums. And the Thais don't just watch the games: while fans bet a lot of money on online betting platforms before each English match, the country's big money doesn't hesitate to put its hand in the wallet, sometimes even at the highest level of government. In 2007, for example, former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra became the owner of Manchester City! Although he sold it a year later to the Abu Dhabi sovereign wealth fund, he gave ideas to Chinese-born billionaire Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, founder of King Power (Thailand's duty free ), who bought Leicester in 2010, which was then languishing in the second division. Defying all the odds, he climbed to the Premier League and won the English championship in 2016! Srivaddhanaprabha became a legend in the East Midlands and... in Thailand, of course! Victim of a helicopter accident just after taking off from his stadium pitch, he passed away on October 27, 2018. Since then, his son Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha has presided over the fortunes of the Foxes, Leicester's nickname, who have unfortunately been relegated to the Championship (England's2nd division) in the summer of 2023. Other Thai investments in British soccer include the 2015 purchase of historic club Sheffield Wednesday, which moved up to the Championship in 2023, by Dejphon Chansiri, from the family of giant Thai Union, a multinational fishing and seafood company, and Oxford United (3rd division), which fell into the hands of Sumrith "Tiger" Thanakarnjanasut and the famous local beer brand Chang.
Other traditional disciplines
Sepak takraw. A mixture of volleyball and soccer, takraw (pronounced "sèpake takro") is played with a 12 cm-diameter wicker or rigid plastic ball. The basic rule is to keep the ball in the air without ever using your hands. The game is generally pleasant and always spectacular. There are several variations. The version most often played, and also the one used in international matches in South-East Asia, is played by teams of three with a volleyball net set slightly lower.
Kite fighting. Traditionally held from March to May, at the end of the dry season when winds become stronger. Male" and "female" kites joust under the impassive eyes of a referee. The game consists in making the opponent tumble into his camp. The oval-shaped female, smaller than the male, is fitted with a ring; the star-shaped male has bamboo hooks.
Dugout races. Dugout canoe races can be seen in all the towns where they are held. The spectacle is lively and colorful, and the pirogue boats can sometimes be very impressive, with up to 100 rowers.
Badminton and pétanque... at a very high level!
Badminton. Today, badminton is well on the way to dethroning Thailand's most popular sports. The reputation of Ratchanok Intanon, the youngest-ever world champion at 18 (in 2013), is such that it now rivals that of the great muay Thai boxers. Badminton is an explosive, fast-paced game, where the shuttlecock can reach dizzying speeds of over 300 km/h. In Thailand, it's played everywhere, and there's a fabulous pool of top-level players. Several champions are among the world's top 100 players, both boys and girls.
Pétanque. Yes, you read that right! Petanque is widely played in the land of smiles. It was the Queen Mother herself who imported it to the country after a stay on the Côte d'Azur in the 1950s. Today, the kingdom boasts over two million amateurs and thousands of professionals! Proof of the national craze, the 2023 World Junior and Women's Petanque Championships were held in Bangkok. And the tournaments still feature on sports broadcasts and sometimes even on the news. It has to be said that, in recent years, Thai male and female players have achieved excellent results in international competitions. In short, Thailand really is the other country of pétanque!
An unmissable diving destination
Whether you're an amateur or an enthusiast, you'll be amazed by the beauty of the underwater world in the south of the country and the variety of tropical species, including different kinds of sharks, rays, sea turtles... In the west and east of its territory, southern Thailand offers two privileged diving areas. The Andaman Sea, with 870 km of coastline stretching from the Burmese border and the famous Burma Banks to the shores of Penang in Malaysia. Then the Gulf of Siam, from the Cambodian border south to Narathiwat, with its 1,800 km of coastline and several hundred islands and islets, not all of them inhabited. As these two areas experience different monsoons (south-west for the Andaman Sea, north-west for the Gulf of Siam), it's generally possible to dive in good conditions all year round! The best season for visibility is from December to March on Phuket and between March and May around Koh Samui.
With an average temperature of over 26°C and impressive tropical clarity, Thailand's waters offer a wealth of marine flora and fauna. A spectacle and a variety of colors that never leave you indifferent. Thailand can also be a superb learning ground for beginners, thanks to the quality of its infrastructure, the friendliness of its instructors and the diversity of its dive sites. The Mecca for divers is Koh Tao, one of the places in the world where the most diving diplomas are awarded. For introductory to advanced courses (Advanced Diver), the environment is ideal. The schools issue one or other of the American diplomas: PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructor) or NAUI (National Association of Underwater Instructors). We advise you to make your choice according to your future diving destinations, even if there is not necessarily a clear geographical division.
Around Phuket, the most famous beaches are Shark Point, Koh Racha, Koh Phi Phi and Koh Doh Mai. Offshore, the Similan Islands offer visibility in excess of 35 m. Koh Surin and Burma Banks, further out, are also famous for the spectacle of manta rays, sharks and sometimes even the famous whale shark.
In the Gulf of Siam, Pattaya's proximity to Bangkok makes it a popular diving base, as well as the starting point for excursions to Mu Ko Chang National Marine Park. Further south, the Chumphon region also boasts several renowned dive sites: Hin Lak Ngam, Koh Ngam Noi, Koh Ngam Yai and Hin Pae. Finally, further offshore and around Koh Samui, you can take your flippers for a walk in the Ang Thong Marine Park to the superb spots of Koh Pha Ngan and, above all, Koh Tao.
Snorkeling. The star activity on all the country's islands, especially Koh Tao, Koh Phangan, Koh Phi Phi and the Similan Islands. Accessible to all, it would be a shame not to pack a mask, fins and snorkel. No training is necessary. This extremely popular activity allows you to observe the rich underwater fauna in shallow waters. An absolute must!
Big-game fishing and water sports galore
So, while Thailand is a prime underwater spot, there are also plenty of ways to indulge on the surface. Those who want to tease the fish usually head for Pattaya and Phuket. If you're looking for a "leisurely" fishing trip, just to spend a dream day with friends on a boat, some agencies offer big-game fishing sessions to try and get tuna, swordfish, marlin or sailfish out of the water.
But the large seaside resorts in the south of the country (Pattaya, Phuket, Koh Samui, Koh Phangan...) are also well known for their numerous small water sports agencies, both motorized and non-motorized. And in this paradise of idleness and tourism, the range of possibilities is endless: dinghy sailing, jet-skiing (be careful with swimmers, and also think of the coral reefs, which are often directly affected by this practice), parasailing, windsurfing, paddleboarding, sea kayaking... The latest fashionable activity, flyboarding, is also very popular. In short, on Thailand's beaches, between a massage and a sunbathing session, there's no time to get bored... Everything is possible!
Inland, too, there's plenty to do
Forest trekking and wildlife parks. Thailand offers a great playground for trekking enthusiasts, with no particular difficulties. All in all, it's a very pleasant country to walk in, with absolutely no need for exceptional physical fitness. Forest walks, river trips on a bamboo raft, elephant rides... Because it's also an opportunity to meet some exceptional animals. You can visit a crocodile farm in Bangkok, admire manta rays and leatherback turtles in Khao Lak, and much more. The possibilities are numerous and often unique. Be careful, however, to select only the most serious and animal-friendly parks.
Climbing. More and more agencies are offering rock climbing, especially on Koh Tao and around Khao Sok National Park.
Golf. Like a number of other Southeast Asian countries, Thailand has become a top destination for golfers. What's more, prices here are affordable. Most courses are located close to major tourist areas. If you're traveling with the family, you'll easily find a course close to the beaches.
