Chiang Mai is Thailand's second city, but unquestionably the adventure capital of the country. A much more relaxed ambience fills the warm air of the green hills as the pace of life is significantly slower than that of Bangkok. We stayed in Chiang Mai for 5 days and we didn't fit in nearly half of what we wanted to! There are infinite tours and day trips that operate from Chinag Mai that there is always too much to do and not enough time! From white water rafting and elephant trekking to cooking classes there is a tour to suit everybody.
In the evenings, markets light up the rustic streets where vendors sell food, typical tourist 'tat' as well as some real charming gifts and souvenirs that we are yet to see anywhere else.
C Y C L E T O U R
We opted to take a half day trek followed by an afternoon of cycling. Spend the morning trekking up the mountain to then spend the rest of the trip whizzing back down on mountain bikes. This was one of our favourite trips as we got to pass locals farming and working in the paddy fields. We also stopped at this amazing waterfall where we had a thai green curry for lunch.
D A Y T R E K
This is the first half of the trip we bought with cycling in the afternoon. The trek was not to strenuous but was mostly uphill. We trekked through local villages and woods. You have to get up slightly early to avoid the heat but is definitely worth it. The guide will give you inside knowledge of the plants and vegetation and what the locals use them for. He will also point out birds, animals and bugs!
F L I G H T O F T H E G I B B O N
Want half a day of adrenaline fuelled zip lining through the canopy of a forest then this is for you! It also has the longest zip line in Asia. We didn't take any photos other than this one as we were not brave enough to take our go pro with us.
T H A I C O O K I N G C L A S S
Learn to cook like a local by taking part in one of the many cooking classes. You will be able to impress your friends and family when you go home with your spice knowledge and newly acquired chef skills.
T H A P H A E G A T E
This is not really a tour but a good point of interest with a market nearby. Its the main meeting point for any community events, so you might be lucky as something cool and interesting might just be going down.
E L E P H A N T T O U R
Chaing Mai is one of the main hubs and is the king for elephant day trips, whether you are wanting an eco friendly experience, elephant riding or one on one time to bathe these creatures, you are going to find the trip here.
