Flight of the Gibbon

The absolute highlight of our time spent in Chiang Mai was soaring through the treetops of the Thai jungle.  Flight of the Gibbon is a fantastic organization (with great staff) who operate a zip-line through the forest canopy some 1300m above sea level. Nearly 2km of wire with 18 staging platforms follow the ridge-line and mimic the branch-to-branch route a gibbon might take down the mountain. You can also tack on mountain biking, rock climbing, rafting, or hiking over two days, which includes an overnight at a homestay in Mae Kampong.

We opted for the basic package, which included a shuttle to and from our hotel, a day of zip-lining with very friendly and very funny guides (hi Cash!), a local lunch, a visit with the resident gibbons (living wild, not caged), and a trek to a nearby waterfall.

If this is not your cup of tea, this city still has a lot to offer!  Check out some of these other incredible Chiang Mai attractions:

Night Bazaar

This extensive market sprawls along several blocks. Roofed concession areas, regular shops and street vendors offer a huge variety of Thai goods at bargain prices. Designer goods – real and fake – are also on offer. The Night Bazaar attracts foreign importers, impressed by the discounts given to bulk purchases.  If you go, remember to barter!

Muay Thai Boxing

Lanna Muay Thai Boxing Camp
Offers muay thai instruction to foreigners and Thais. Several Lanna students have won stadium bouts, including the famous transvestite boxer Parinya Kiatbusaba. The camp is difficult to find; get a ride on a túk-túk.

Kalare Boxing Stadium
Stop by this stadium (behind the Night Bazaar) to see real Muay Thai fights every Tuesday, Friday and Saturday starting at 9:30pm and lasting about 4 hours.  400-600 Baht ($13-20CDN).

Loi Kroh Boxing Stadium
Fights are held 3-4 nights per week.  Look for flyers posted up all over the old city.  They usually have about 8 fights and feature Thai fighters as well as a few matches with foreign fighters.  This may not be the best location to go with family, as it is surrounded by “girlie bars” and during breaks between fights a group of ladyboys will put on a dance and occasionally strip.  Admission is 400–600 Baht ($13-20CDN).

Tha Phae Boxing Stadium
Hosts around 8 fights per show, including a few with foreign fighters.  This is the largest stadium and has food and beverages served.  Gambling is prominently featured and can make for a very interesting night!

Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep

Wat Suthep is seen clearly from Chiang Mai, majestically perched atop Doi Suthep’s summit. It is one of the North’s most sacred temples, and Thai pilgrims flock here to make merit to the Buddhist relic enshrined in the golden chedi. The temple offers spectacular city views when the clouds and smoke-dust haze (March-June) permit, and also has an interesting collection of Lanna art and architecture.

The temple is reached by a strenuous staircase of 306 steps (for the less fit, there is a tram available). You’ll first reach an open terrace filled with important statues and shrines documenting the history of the temple. Follow the walkway around in a clockwise direction to reach a viewpoint and a small sanctuary dedicated to the king who established the temple.  A second set of stairs leads to the main cloister and the temple’s famously photographed gold-plated chedi, topped by a five-tiered umbrella erected in honour of the city’s independence from Burma and its union with Thailand.

Chiang Mai Zoo & Night Safari

The Zoo is open during the day, when you can visit the facility and wander down Jaguar Trail encircling Swan Lake, a 1.2km walk where over 50 species (ranging from rabbits to cranes) are generally not in cages.

But the real action happens at night. During the ‘Predator Prowl’ and ‘Savannah Safari’ an open-sided tram transports visitors through the parkland. The English-language tram leaves at 7:45pm and 9:30pm, and the tour takes about two hours. The night safari differs from the Chiang Mai Zoo in that some animals – like wildebeests, giraffes, white rhinoceroses and zebras – are allowed to roam and often come right up to the bus. In the ‘Predator Prowl’ section, the tigers, lions, Asiatic black bears and crocodiles are kept at a safe distance by deep trenches.

The Night Safari is about 12km from central Chiang Mai – a túk-túk should cost about 100 Baht ($3.30CDN).