Adventure Playground: The Most Exciting Activities in Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai is a city of culture, but also adventure. There’s plenty to keep your pulse racing in this northern gem. From ziplining to motorbiking badass trails, there’s tons of exciting activities in Chiang Mai to get your blood racing!
The guidebooks are full of praise for the buzzing cafes ornate temples of Chiang Mai, and with good reason, but there’s a lot more to this city than just monk chat and lattes. A trip here can include a wide variety of adrenaline-fueled adventure activities, many of which incorporate seeing the beautiful landscapes of northern Thailand as part of the deal. Here’s our pick of the best.
Ziplining in Chiang Mai
Imagine zooming at high speeds high above the jungle canopy, spotting monkeys and tropical birds as you go. That’s what’s on offer at the Flight of the Gibbon experience just outside town. Some of the zip line sections are nearly 800 meters long and there are 7 kms of wire in all, so you’ll have plenty of chances to see the spectacular views.
Safety standards are high and the project donates 10% of their profits to conservation projects across Asia so you can feel good about yourself as you enjoy this unique experience!
Rock Climbing in Chiang Mai
Most people head to Krabi for their Thai climbing adventure, but Chiang Mai has a lot to offer as well. Check out Crazy Horse Buttress for some crazy good ascents ranging from gentle climbs suitable for beginners all the way up to steep overhangs and crevices.
If you’re feeling really adventurous then you can head underground for some cavern climbs as well…but only with an experienced guide! A lot of the caves have unpredictable rivers running through them and we don’t want any repeats of the Thai cave rescue of July 2018!
Chiang Mai Elephant Sanctuary Tours
This one is more fun and excitement than adrenaline and fear, but it’s one of the best days out you can have in Thailand. Head to an elephant sanctuary to feed, bathe and bond with these incredible animals! Make sure you pick an ethical sanctuary that looks after the elephants properly, and remember that they should NEVER be ridden. Their backs just aren’t made for us to sit on top!
Don’t worry though, the real magic is in the interaction with these cheeky, gentle giants. Each elephant has a unique personality that you will get to know and love while you feed them bananas, lead them through mud baths and wash them in the river. It’s inevitable that you’ll get wet as elephants think it’s hilarious to squirt you with their trunk! Bodega has an awesome tour that will get you up close and personal with the animals at Chiang Mai Elephant Home, click here to find out more.
Motorbiking
You can’t beat the feeling of the sun on your face and the wind in your hair as you cruise the beautiful roads of northern Thailand by motorbike. Don’t turn this into an exciting adventure with risky riding, instead take things slow and get off the beaten track to find some incredible hidden wonders.
Unvisited waterfalls cascade down valley sides and sleepy buffalos doze peacefully by the side of the road. The excitement here comes from meeting the local people as well as encountering spectacular unexpected landscapes like the serrated mountain tops of Chiang Dao National Park. Tackle the multi-day Mae Hong Son loop to experience Thai life at its most traditional.
It’s an adventurer’s playground!
Step outside the old town of Chiang Mai and a host of exciting adventures await. You’ll fall in love with this region as your pulse races and your heart beats faster. It’s a magical place, so what are you waiting for!
