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- Thing To Do (Activities) -
Chiang Mai with its lush mountains,
forested valleys and cooler climate, is an ideal location
for adventure
activities. Whether its Elephant
Trekking , Jungle Treks , Bamboo
Rafting , whitewater rafting , mountain
biking , Moterbike Tours ,
you won't be bored. But if you'd rather travel in more
comfort,
there are 4WD
safaris
which stop at out of the
way places, or if you just want to get close to nature,
there are plenty of opportunities for simple hiking ,
birdwatching , Rock
Climbing
, Camping and Horseback Riding.
It's easy to hire a car and explore by yourself, but
most tour companies offer inexpensive tours, complete
with transport, equipment, guide and often lunch. Both
day and overnight trips are available. See below for
details.
|
 Elephant
Trekking |
 |
-:
At Chiang Dao Elephant Camp in
Chiang Dao district, elephants are trained to perform for
tourists and available for rides in the nearby forest.
Tours include elephant riding, and a demonstration of skills
by these amazing creatures. Full day tours combine a visit
to the Chiang Dao caves, bamboo rafting and trekking to
nearby a Lisu hilltribe villages. |
| Jungle
Treks |
 |
-: Popular
'Jungle Treks', lasting from 2 to 7
days, going through forested mountains, high valleys
and meadows. Longer treks tend to visit more remote high-altitude
hilltribe settlements for overnight stays. The best guides
are hilltribe youths who usually speak English, Thai
and at least three tribal dialects. Most treks involve
a lot of walking but also are often a combination of
bamboo raft, rubber kayak, elephant ride, horse-back
or jeep. Prospective trekkers are advised to shop around
companies offering the best conditions. All treks must
be registered with the Tourist Police for trekkers' protection.
Avoid narcotics, essentially everything from 'soft drugs'
such as marijuana to 'hard drugs' such as opium and heroin,
both during travel and at hilltribe villages. There are
severe penalties for such usage. Valuables, such as passport,
jewelry and money, should be deposited in the safe of
your hotel or guest house while you are trekking upcountry.There
are many tour operators in Chiang Mai specializing in
trekking. Most of the smaller ones have offices along
Tha Pae Road, and along the major tourist routes in the
city. Many adventure tours combine activities like mountain
biking or motorcycling with tribal village tours, so
check what's on offer. Transport, guide, and meals are
usually provided. Treks from Chiang Mai stop at Lisu,
Lahu, and Karen villages. Costs vary from around 1,300
Baht for a 2-day/1-night trip if you join their regular
tour, or 3,900B per person for a private group trip.
A 3-day/2-night trip, which takes you to a greater variety
of villages, costs 4,300B per person for their regular
tour, 5,900B per person for a private group. |
| Bamboo
Rafting |
 |
-: A
very gentle way to see the countryside. These basic bamboo
rafts glide down the river in total peace and quiet.
A popular rafting route starts at Ban Tha Ton in Mae
Ai district and continues down the Mae Kok River. Rafting
in Mae Taeng River is available through the local Elephant
Camp, or offered as an activity on many local tours. |
| Whitewater
Rafting |
 |
-: Rafting
down the Mae Chaem through Ob Luang Gorge in inflatable
boats is available through various travel agencies in
the area. Another challenging route is the Mae Tuen in
Omkoi district, which rushes through virgin forests to
end at the thunderous Pha Dam Waterfall. No rubber raft
is available at the site, so it’s best to book
a trip with a tour agent in chiangmai. |
| Mountain
Biking |
 |
-: A
number of specialist bicycle tour agencies offer 3 and
4 day biking trips through the mountains with all equipment
supplied. If you want to pedal by yourself, there are
several shops in the city where bikes can be bought.
The most scenic route is from Doi Inthanon to Ob Luang
Gorge via Mae Chaem. The first leg, about 20 km. long,
is strictly for experienced mountain-bikers while the
second section, 30 km. long, is less demanding and suitable
for bikers of intermediate skills and higher. There are
also some routes (with not too many hills) around the
city. |
| Moterbike
Tours |
 |
-: Northern
Thailand has great tarmac roads with beautiful mountain
scenery perfect for sightseeing, as well as great accommodation
to clean up and relax in the evening. In the last few
years, motorcycle circuits of northern Thailand lasting
about 7-10 days have become popular. They offer a great
way to experience the great outdoors up close, going
from place to place on excellent roads bringing you closer
to the land, people, and generally life around you. Adventures
down back roads, and even along jungle trails (for off-road
riders), open up worlds unseen to the general tourist.
Several tour operators offer guided motorcycle tours
from Chiang Mai and while its tempting to go it alone
and rent your own bike, it's probably better to go with
a guided tour. The Myanmar (Burma) border is close and
not open to tourists. In addition road conditions change
frequently, and maps of off-road paths are not all that
accurate, even guide books on the subject are generally
not up to date. |
| Birdwatching |
 |
-: Doi
Inthanon, the highest peak in Thailand at 2,565 metres
above sea level, is a mecca for bird-watchers At the
southern edge of the Himalayan range it provides a home
for 364 species of birds, many of them unique to the
area. The best time for birdwatching is from November
to February. |
| Camping
and Horseback Riding |
 |
-: The
Army Pack Division Headquarters on Chotana Rd. in Mae
Rim district offers camping trips and horseback riding
along with basic jungle survival skills training. Contact
(66-53) 297-478 ext. 205. You can camp in the national
park but you must obtain permission first from the Park
Authority. |
| Hiking |
 |
-: The
best trails are found in Doi Inthanon National Park,
where over 360 bird species, spectacular butterflies,
wildlife, orchids and other distinct flora vie for the
hiker’s attention. |
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