Camping was a popular activity among Thai school students as well as foreign backpackers to Thailand long before the buzz word 'ecotourism' came into existence. That's because it is the cheapest accommodation to be found. Admittedly not as comfortable as staying in a hotel, or a guest house, camping is simple and easy. It gets you much closer to nature than would otherwise be possible. The best places for camping in Thailand are in national parks. Almost all of the 76 national parks have at least one camping site. Notable exceptions are Doi
Suthep and Doi Pui in Chiang Mai, Hat Jao Mai in Trang, Nam Tok Pliew in Chanthaburi, and Thap Lan in Prachinburi, where camping is not permitted.