I wonder if it will be difficult or not but I've heard that safety is a priority on a well-organised ATV tour so I have no serious worries.

We arrive at a clearing with two Thai-style 'salas' or open-sided houses next to a lake. Outside stands a large wooden sign saying 'Welcome to Phuket ATV Park'. It's only after sitting down with a bottle of cold water that we notice that almost every square inch of every surface above ground level is covered by graffiti, even the TV! There are messages in Greek, Russian, Portuguese, French and you-name-it – it's here and all incredibly cheerful. So that's what people do in their downtime here? Cool.

Preparation

Briefing and instructions

Joe, our tour leader, takes us to look at the ATV's lined up in the sunshine. They look just like huge green bugs with their squat lines and knobbly tyres. Then he oversees our getting kitted out with gloves, helmets and clog-like shoes (although I keep my trainers on).

There's a basic class on where the throttle and brakes are, along with a warning not to go too fast too soon. Apparently, if we break the rules and break something on the ATV we also break the bank as we have to pay any damages.

To be frank it doesn't look as if much can go wrong as there sure are strict safety regulations.

Off we go!

"Muddy, messy territory"

Then we ride around for five minutes in an ever-increasing circle for a while to get the feel and that's fun. Next, we head out for the first part of our morning tour – the gravel run. This is fairly simple and a lot of fun but then we're led to the next part, a drive through some muddy, messy territory.

Now this is more like what I was expecting…even though we take it slow and easy. Now it's over tree roots, through ruts, in and out of puddles and round crazy corners through a rubber plantation where we stop while a guide gives us a lesson in how to produce rubber.

There are two rubber presses there with sheets of latex and it all seems so simple, once explained.

Beach life

Beach and mangrove

Minutes later we burst out of the shade into the brilliant morning sunshine of an east coast beach. In the shimmering distance lies Ko Yao Yai, a large island some five kilometres away and just to the north is Cape Yamu.

Even at this time of day the sun is quite strong and I'm glad I put protection on and am also glad of the stiff northeasterly breeze that cools things down. A guide drives up with cold Pepsi and water and we take a break to discuss our experiences and to take some photos.

The tide is way out and Joe explains that when it's in he takes the tour elsewhere in the 300 acre park and then he leads us back into the greenery 'to show us something special'.

Palm pilots

Khun Bow with White Elephant Palms

Joe's something special is a cluster of white elephant palms (palm lang khao in Thai; genus Kerriodoxa) and he explains that the palm originally came from Malaysia some 250 years ago but has since died out there.

Nowadays indigenous to the Phang Nga, Krabi and Phuket coastal regions, elsewhere in the world it grows with the most extreme difficulty and is as rare as hen's teeth.

The paradox is that even though this palm is rare and somewhat difficult to cultivate, you're more than likely to see white elephant palms in your hotel grounds as hoteliers in Phuket love the look of it and buy them half or fully grown. "But what's it for?" one of the girls asks and Joe makes everyone laugh by pretending to use it as a parasol.

The condominium of the jungle

Macaque monkey in the Phuket ATV Park

He also points out a parasitic Banyan tree that has over the years 'grown over' or gradually surrounded and strangled a jackfruit tree.

The unlucky jackfruit is dead – a dried-out branch forlornly juts out from the body of the Banyan. We all find this really interesting and are impressed by the staff's obvious love of nature.

"This is the condominium of the jungle," Joe carries on. "Monkeys, squirrels, birds, snakes – they all use that tree as a home."

Monkeys and foxes

Flying Fox over the lake

Back at base camp some of the more adventurous among us (don't look at me) try out the 'monkey bridge' – a wire and netting arrangement over a lake that looks pretty difficult to do. Fitted out with a safety harness and helmet, Stephan manages to get to the end and then abseils down on the 'flying fox'.

All in all it's been a fascinating morning and any reservations I'd had seem a bit silly in retrospect. This tour places safety first in a big way and Joe explains that any ATV outfit that uses public roads is contravening the law that prohibits this for insurance reasons. Not only that, but Joe's team changes their ATV's brakes and chains every single day to make sure of maximum security. Anyone who thinks of ATV's in terms of thrills and spills doesn't quite get the point: We'd learned a lot about Mother Nature and Phuket and I would go back and do it again at the drop of a hat.

Interested in this tour?

ATV Phuket From 1,300 Baht
	Discover Phuket by ATV. Follow your guide and explore the countryside along natural tracks and paths through Phuket's rubber plantations, forests and unknown beaches. Learn about the environment and discover local plants you never knew existed in this unspoiled environment. Small groups and full instruction and helmet included. Read more...

Photo Gallery of the tour