Downhill Mountain Biking, White Water Rafting, Climbing, Caving, Off-Road Buggies and More!From downhill mountain biking to rock climbing. From white water rafting to quad bike racing to bungee-jumping, Chiang Mai has more than its fair share of adventure activities. I think if I'd have come to Chiang Mai when I was 18 I would have been in heaven! Now I'm happy with mountain walking (or perhaps it's that I'm more careful with my money now!). There's a stretch of road 15 kilometers north of Chiang Mai that thrill-seekers visiting Chiang Mai might be interested in. See the map below. The X Centre (opens in new window) is probably the most well-known and popular centre. Here you can bungy jump, go paintballing, ride off-road buggies and go zorb-balling (spelt 'sorb' on my map below! - actually the slope wasn't steep or long..)
Another main center is Sport X, (Tel: +66 (0)53 860 435 / Mobile: 08 9191 7696) further north, that has off-road buggies and quad bikes (2,500 baht / 2,000 baht for 3 hour session, 9am to midday, 3pm to 6pm)... Mae Rim Shooting Range (opens in new window) lets you fire guns at targets.
Perhaps the best thing to do is to either look at X Centre's website (opens in new window), phone Sport X (these centers can pick you up from Chiang Mai...) or just head to the area and see what happens. Hire some motorbikes from Chiang Mai (see the 107 road leaving Chiang Mai at the top center of my Chiang Mai map) or get there by tuk tuk or taxi/motorbike taxi. (I didn't see any buses on this stretch of road but you could get a bus to Mae Rim, then get a taxi or tuk tuk). The motorbike dirt track (see map) (Tel: 01 796 5991 / +66 (0)53 287557 Email: kaveelove@hotmail.com) was a good size and looked fun. Prices start at about 800 baht for a one hour ride on a Honda XR100. I think you can also hire and ride ATVs on this track. I don't have details about the smaller quad biking center further along this small road as they were taking a holiday...it might be cheap to do it here...
Downhill Mountain BikingYou can, of course, go downhill mountain biking by yourself. The Samoeng loop (info coming shortly) is a tough 100 kilometers up and down mountains that some cyclists do. It's great because once you're off the main roads, there's very little traffic so you're not breathing in too many traffic fumes.You could cycle up Doi Suthep mountain close to Chiang Mai. This is tough! Try to go early in the morning, not just because it's cooler, but because there's much less traffic then, between 6am and 9am. After then, it can get quite busy, and often the songtheaws and buses are spewing lots of fumes...not nice when you're breathing heavily. An alternative would be to ask a songtheaw driver at the bottom of the mountain if you can put your bike into the songtheaw and get dropped off further up the mountain. You'll probably have to pay at least the same price as you pay yourself.. Or you good join an organized mountain biking trip. Mountain Biking Chiangmai (opens in new window) seems to be the only company in the city that does this, though I may be wrong! Downhill routes include Doi Suthep mountain and Doi Chiang Dao park, further north. Prices start at 1,450 baht for a 6 hour excursion, including lunch. You're provided with a good bike and lots of safety equipment. You can head to their office, inside the central moat, on Sam Lan Road, very close to Wat Phra Singh. See number 113 on this map.
Rock Climbing, White Water Rafting, Caving and MoreThere are 3 caves I know of, relatively close to Chiang Mai that you can visit by yourself - Tak Kar Tan cave, Mae Sap cave and Mueng On Cave and (I'll write more info on these caves soon).If you're in Chiang Mai, you'll more than likely see The Peak Adventure (opens in new window) leaflets in prominent positions in guesthouses. hotels and travel agencies. They advertise well, and offer a lot - from rock climbing, caving, abseiling, white water rafting to off-roading and more. Check out their website (opens in new window) if you're interested. Chiang Mai Rock Climbing Adventures (opens in new window) seems like a very professional company (the kind you want for rock climbing!). They do some of their climbing at a place called Crazy Horse, about 40 kilometers east of Chiang Mai. This area is really beautiful and quiet. See the picture below. Have a look at their detailed website. (opens in new window). Their office is on Ratchapakhinai Road, inside Chiang Mai's central moat. See number 95 on this map.
Siam River Adventures (opens in new window) offer white water rafting and kayaking as well as full moon rafting (intriguing!) and other activities. Their office is on Ratchawithi Rd (sometimes spelt Ratvithi), inside the central moat. The office is opposite number 12 (the UN Irish Pub) on this map. Other Adventure ActivitiesGo Microlight Flying! (opens in new window). Chiang Mai Sky Adventure offer 15 minute tandem rides for 1,900 baht. 30 minutes cost 2,900 baht. But you must be under 110 kgs! Website: www.skyadventures.info (opens in new window). Tel: +66 (0)53 868460 Mobile: 081-9936861 Email: flying@skyadventures.infoChiang Mai Speedway (opens in new window) offers go-karting around a 500 meter track. It's just 10 kilometers from the city, and if you've a group of 3 or more, they'll pick you up from the city. Chiang Mai flying club (opens in new window) offer a one hour flying lesson in a small plane for 5,500 baht. See more info on their website: www.cmflyingclub.com (opens in new window). Raid Adventure (Tour Moto Organisation) offer motorbike tours on dirt bikes. Their address is 18/5 Rachadamnoen Soi 1 Road. (see map). Tel: +66 (0) 53 418 38 Email: tawanorg@hotmail.com
Return from downhill mountain biking and other adventure activities to my page about Chiang Mai
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