Those who don’t visit Thailand for its beaches or its temples are probably drawn by the great outdoors. With a tropical climate, the country is ideal for all kinds of adventure sports, including zip-lining, white-water rafting, sky-diving and bungee-jumping. However, the most popular are cycling, scuba diving and snorkelling, hiking and rock climbing.

Cycling is a great way to get around, whether it’s exploring a town for a day or riding the length of the country. A helpful resource is bicyclethailand.com.

Scuba diving and snorkelling around some of the world’s most beautiful coral reefs makes for memorable moments. Beginners can start learning to dive at padi.com. The waters off Ko Chang, Ko Lanta and the Andaman Islands all offer some great diving and snorkelling sites.

Hiking is best in the hills of the north, especially during the cool season (November-February). For a customized tour, contact the Trekking Collective in Chiang Mai.

Rock climbing can be practised in many places, though Railay near Krabi is the Mecca for this sport. Find out more at railay.com.