Camping in Thailand – 5 Ways to Make Your Camping Trip a Whole Lot Comfortable

Woman camping near campfire

“Away is a place where it’s not about the money you spend. It’s about the moments you share.” 

~Anonymous

The epic natural beauty and vivacious cultural heritage of Thailand attract millions of tourists from all over the world.

Every year, the number of visitors goes up. Tourists flock to the Land of the Free to view its picturesque beaches, exciting landscapes, and many of its National Parks and famous temples.

According to Samujana Villas’ website, almost 6,000,000 tourists visit Thailand every year. Bangkok alone has an influx of 11,000,000 non-resident visitors each year.

Thailand invested a lot to improve accessibility and communication, but that is not the only reason why it became such a popular destination. The welcoming nature of the Thai, their delicious cuisine, and the fact that you are so close to the environment are the topmost attractions which travelers love.

Along with these, one more thing that is gaining popularity nowadays is pitching your own tent at various destinations in Thailand! There is nothing better than exploring a faraway place, set up some fire and your tent, and then lie down under the sky at night, surrounded by nature.

Camping rules stare at fire listen to birds and read
Camping rules. Stare at the fire. Listen to the birds. Jump in the lake. Read. Take a nap. Relax. Watch the sunset. Cook over the fire. Breathe the fresh air. – Source: davestravelpages.com

Camping Norms In Thailand

National Parks are abundant in Thailand. These areas are under the protection of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of the Kingdom. It is a well-known fact that Thailand is home to a plethora of animal species.

About one-tenth of the animal species in the world live there. So, there is a lot of faunas to see along with scenic greenery and waterfalls. That is the reason why nature-loving tourists pitch their tents on the park headquarter campsites.

The best time for camping is the cold and dry season, that is, from November to March. In contrast, July till October is the monsoon season. Still, those who don’t have any problem getting wet can enjoy camping in that season as well.

If you are also planning to go camping in Thailand, you may be wondering about how you will survive the camping life as you haven’t done it before. Don’t worry; we got you covered.

Just follow these tips for a comfortable and enjoyable camping experience:

Rent A Motorbike For Hassle-Free Travelling

Although there are many options for traveling around various cities within Thailand, such as minivans, buses, and tuk-tuks, renting a bike is the most convenient. 

If you have your international driving license, you can travel on the motorbike to the beaches, islands, parks, or anywhere in Thailand without any hassle. The rent for the bike is quite low, around THB 200-300 per day (depending on the size and condition), and you can easily find them in any city. 

The freedom of independent traveling and exploring places on your own is unmatched. You don’t have to wait for public transport, nor need you to pay rent for every time you need to take a short distance journey.

Specifically for campers:

Biking is the best way to explore Thailand’s National parks. If you plan for camping, it means that you will need to travel not only on the road but farther into the woods on trails as well. 

Walking this much with a backpack can be more tiring than you can imagine, and it may take the joy out of some for obvious reasons. Your bike can be handy, and you can take it as far as possible on the trails.

TIP: I would suggest biking for only those who have experience of riding it and can be comfortable with long rides.

Pack Your Essentials

Lessen the impact of travel packaging
Tips to reduce the impact of travel packaging.

When it comes to what you should take along, one piece of advice will sum it up, that is, pack wisely but do not overpack.

It is easy to assume that you would need everything, as there is nothing available in faraway destinations, but that’s not the case. Just a few essentials (that are lightweight as well) would be enough to get you through.

Clothing:

As the weather can be quite cold at night, and the tent material won’t shield you much from the chill, you must pack appropriate clothing essentials, both warm and cool.

One good quality pair of jeans and shorts for hiking will be good enough for the bottoms. Along with that, pack two or three lightweight shirts and a jacket to protect you from the cold. Don’t forget to keep extra undergarments, like pouch underwear or comfortable things.

Your footwear should ideally be sustainable boots or sneakers. For those of you dealing with nerve damage, insoles designed for neuropathy can greatly reduce the strain of long walks.

Edibles:

As a general rule, keeping eatables like cookies, granola bars, and fruits is advisable when traveling. Thailand has plenty of yummy street food to offer, but it may make your stomach upset as you aren’t used to it.  

Notably, while camping, you will be spending a reasonable amount of time without having any restaurants nearby. Therefore, keeping some fulfilling snacks is a must. Along with it, you should also keep enough water with you.  

It will be cool if you take barbeque supplies with you for a fun cooking session surrounded by nature.

Personal Stuff

“Camping: The art of getting closer to nature while getting farther away from the nearest cold beverage, hot shower, and flush toilet.”

~Anonymous

Your phone and camera aren’t the only things you take on a trip. Sunscreen, insect repellent, your sunglasses, flashlights, swiss knife, lighter, masks, sanitizer, and even toilet paper are a few things that you might need while camping. Try to keep the size of these things as compact as possible.

Medicine

Medicine is a sensitive matter. And while it’s a possibility that you will get every kind of medication in Thailand, you should keep your specific prescription and not take a risk. Also, keep a small first aid kit that has basic stuff for treating cuts, bruises, sprains, and general body aches.

What Extras Can Come Handy?

You can keep umbrellas and portable chairs for each person. In addition to these, take some extra batteries for the flashlight, and a repair kit for tenting equipment just in case.

Camping Equipment

All sorts of camping equipment like the tent, sleeping pads, sleeping bags, gas stoves, and kerosene lamps are readily available for rent at almost every National Park. Even the material of tents they have is of good quality, though rent is very minimal. But, if you wish to buy these, they are available in stores throughout the country.

The tents that are available for sale cannot withstand the heavy rain, so if you are visiting in the rainy season, it is suggested to hire tenting equipment from the Parks instead.

Inform The Officials Before You Set Up Your Camp

All camping places require you to pay an entrance fee, and from then onwards, it is mostly a self-guided tour. But before you pitch that tent, I would suggest you have a word with the Park authorities.

Though not all places require a permit, informing the officials will be a good decision to keep you in check by the Park rangers if you need assistance. You will also get information regarding the place, what you can see, and which facilities are available there.

Parting thoughts

In a nutshell, make yourself comfortable by following these tips, and you will have loads of fun exploring the beautiful land of smiles. Though there are many luxury hotels and fancy villas available there, camping is a done thing if you want to have fun by spending less. 

Share your experience in the comment section once you are back from your voyage!

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