Chiang Mai is the largest city in Northern Thailand and a popular spot for travellers seeking to indulge in the wonderful Thai culture, tasting the delicious Thai cuisine and exploring the wonderful markets on offer. However, given its location surrounded by tall rainforest clad mountains, raging rivers and waterfalls, Chiang Mai is also the adventure capital of Thailand. A whole range of excellent adventure activities and tours have become available over the years, making Chiang Mai an excellent destination for adventure seekers. If you’re an adrenaline junkie or just the type of traveller who likes to get out of your comfort zone and enjoy a thrill or two, read on to learn about some of the best action packed activities to do in Chiang Mai.

Jungle Trekking

Photo from Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/iamagenious/4303958635/

The mountains and national parks that surround Chiang Mai make for the perfect spot for some trekking. There are some excellent hikes on offer, ranging from short walks to see a waterfall to multiday treks through the rain forest to meet up with some of the minority hill tribes of the region.

A hill tribe trek is an excellent way to learn about the culture of these minority groups, while exploring the beautiful mountains and rain forest along the way. The longer the trek you do, the more of a unique and untouched experience you will have. Trekking through the forest and staying overnight in the villages is, for many, the highlight of their trip to Chiang Mai.

There are many tour operators who run treks around Chiang Mai and you won’t have any trouble finding one that suits you.

Rafting

Mountains and high rainfall mean fast flowing rivers, and these are perfect for white water rafting. This has become a popular adventure activity in Chiang Mai and can often be combined with a trek. There are some good rapids on offer in rivers such as the Mae Tang that rush through the rainforest and surrounded by mountains.

Photo from Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/discopalace/8033347023/

For something even more unique, why not try a traditional bamboo raft? These rustic looking rafts appear to barely float on the water and the driver steers it by standing up with a long bamboo pole. Surprisingly these rafts work very well and a bamboo raft ride is a lot of fun.

Ziplining

Imagine yourself flying through the rainforest canopy from tree to tree, just like a gibbon. The wonderful Flight of the Gibbon experience in Chiang Mai offers an amazing zip lining experience, where you will explore the canopy of the rainforest via a network of zip lines and bridges.

The Flight of the Gibbon is located near the village of Mae Kampong and most tours are a full day tour which include the zip lining, village tour, lunch and a trek to the beautiful Mae Kampong waterfall. This is a super fun experience that you will never forget.

Photo from Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/miserychick/3260406911/

Mountain Biking

The mountain biking scene in Chiang Mai has really grown over the years and now there are some excellent and fun mountain biking trails on offer. One of the most popular routes is to take the downhill run from the summit of the 1600m high Doi Pui, located just outside of Chiang Mai. On this trail you will be transferred to the summit of the mountain before riding down the challenging downhill trail through the forest, all of the way to the base of the mountain.

Mountain biking tours can easily be booked at travel agencies in Chiang Mai.

ATV Tour

Not keen on pedalling? Why not head out and explore the jungle on four motorised wheels instead? ATV tours have become very popular in Chiang Mai and a fun way to explore the mountains north of the city. Race along muddy tracks through the jungle clad mountains where you can also find some stunning views. Tours last up to 4 hours where you can travel up to 50kms through the jungle paths.

Kayaking

Kayaking is the best way to get out and explore the wonderful waterways around Chiang Mai. There are lots of options here, ranging from short adrenaline packed white water kayaking to a relaxing paddle on Sirilanna Lake. Tours on offer range from a day tour which includes a few hours of kayaking with the option of combining the trip with some mountain biking, to an extended multi day tour where you can explore lots of different waterways and the mountains and jungle that surround them.

Kayaking is a must in Chiang Mai if you love water activities.

 Photo from Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/geoff_leeming/68233940/

Bungy Jumping

Bungy lovers fear not. There is only one bungy jump in Northern Thailand, and it just happens to be in Chiang Mai. It might be the only one, but it is a good one. The Jungle Bungy Jump will have you elevated 50 metres above a lake where you launch yourself off the platform to achieve that adrenaline rush that only bungy jumping can provide. You can opt to stay dry or get wet, where you will drop so low that you splash into the lake below before bouncing back up.

If you love bungy jumping, or want to try it for the first time, don’t miss this one.

As you can see, Chiang Mai really is the adventure capital of Thailand. With so much of offer, adventure seekers will be in heaven in this wonderful city, and you might just find yourself having an extended stay. One thing is for sure, Chiang Mai will leave you wanting to come back time and time again for some more action packed adventure.