Our visit to Chiang Mai would not be complete without some gibbons and ziplining. I’ve only been zipling once before, on Catalina Island, while it was an amazing experience it didn’t compare to the scenery and thrill of Flight of the Gibbon’s zipline. This company is one of the top rated, people from all over the world recommend it, so we couldn’t wait to try it out.
We were picked up promptly at 6am from our hotel, and we drove for about an hour in a nice air conditioned van. On the way up to the headquarters, you pass small Thai communities and start to see parts of the jungle. Once you get to HQ, you can use the bathroom (no bathroom breaks while ziplining), sign a waiver and then get a locker to stow away your belongings. After that, you put on your safety harness and helmet, and as a souvenir, they give you a free branded bandana to keep!
Once we were all suited up to go, we drove for about 5 minutes to the first line. Our guide, Jason, spoke great English, and was very helpful in explaining the rules of ziplining. They genuinely care about everyone’s safety, so they made sure to thoroughly demonstrate the proper way to zip line.
Now off to the first line, my heart was racing, even if I’ve done this before, it still got that feeling in my gut. Jason hooked me up to the line and reassured me that I was here to have fun! After I leaped off that first line, it felt amazing. Flying through the lush green jungle of Thailand was incredible. We hiked for about 10 minutes to see the gibbons hanging out in a tree, then it was off to the longest line.
For those who love variety, this is the perfect activity. We finished in a couple of hours and got to experience lines from different lengths, we got to glide like superman (facing the ground and catching on to a net at the end), cross suspension bridges made of planks of wood and wire, and belay down a super tall tree! They also had a zipline where you can go down as a couple, being the only couple in the group they made us do the honeymoon pose, kissing while flying like a monkey haha.
15 lines later, we were all done. We were offered some refreshing herbal iced tea at the bottom and then it was time to head back to HQ. After you return your gear, you can purchase your photos (they have a photographer) and then head over to lunch. Included in the ticket is a Thai lunch that is served family style with the people in your group, it was super satisfying after an action packed morning. They also had live music playing in the background. One our way back to the hotel, we got to stop at a temple and small waterfall.
If you want to experience ziplining through Chiang Mai, I highly recommend booking with Flight of the Gibbon. Tickets are 4,199 baht and they include transportation, ziplining, a meal and fun memories. Experiencing the jungle in Thailand is definitely something you don’t want to miss, it was one of the highlights of my trip! Don’t forget bug spray and sunscreen!
Thank you Flight of the Gibbon for having us!
