One of the most recent crazes to hit Southern Thailand, especially Phuket and Phang Nga, are ATV (All Terrain Vehicle) tours. An ATV tour is part white knuckle ride, part exploration, as you drive these tough little vehicles through the jungle and farm land of Phuket.

There are two types of ATV tours. Firstly there are the very short tours, usually booked for 30 minutes to an hour, and they follow a set track, more akin to go-kart racing than true exploration.

The second type of tour is much longer, and takes in a much wider area. You will visit local attractions including waterfalls, craft villages, farming communities, banana plantations and much more. These longer tours can be booked for one hour up to three hours.

Most reputable ATV tour companies will have a range of ATV available in several sizes, this makes taking teenage children along a breeze, but be warned, they will likely out ride the parents!. ATV rides are quite safe, the tour operators make sure that the route travelled is manageable for beginners.

Most people tend to make a day of it, and book an elephant trek or a visit to the Flying Fox rope bridge as a package. The great thing about this is that the major ATV tour companies are close by, so travelling time between attractions is reduced.

If you are visiting Phuket or Phang Nga, and enjoy a little excitement, then these ATV tours really are a good deal. Not only do you get to thrash about riding a four wheel drive vehicle across challenging terrain, you also get to see a little of the less travelled side of Phuket. Overall, a day out on an ATV tour is an excellent activity which the whole family can enjoy