Ziplining in the Jungle, Chiang Mai

So, back  in Chiang Mai again after a few years away from the place and finally getting round to the ziplining that is on offer in the area, something I have managed to miss with far too much ease on previous visits. 

There are loads of places to do the ziplining and tourist agencies will just tell you to book with the one they get the most commission from so it is best to shop around to find the best deals. The prices and the ziplining on offer are pretty much standard across the board but I went with Skyline Adventure because it was the best value in terms of the amount of platforms and ziplines it offered. 

The package included the usual drill of hotel pick up and then a one and a half to two hour drive to the ziplining site in the hills north of Chiang Mai. There are various pick up times, with the first one at 0630 and the last one at 1230; this is the one we went for. 

Once there, you get decked out in safety garb, have a short safety briefing and then drive for ten minutes before a ten minute walk to the first platform. We got really lucky: it wasn't raining and we were in a small group of only four people with four guides, sometimes there can be as many as 12 people in a group. 

I found the guides to be really professional and they clearly knew their stuff, at no point did you feel unsafe. The whole time I was buzzing from the adrenaline as you jumped off the platforms and flew through the air to the next one. The abseiling was probably scarier than the ziplines as you are at the mercy of the guides who will make sure you have fun doing it; upside down was a real treat. As for the ziplining, for the really long ones you can get hooked up so you can try to go upside down and with the last one of 900m you can basically superman pose the whole way across the valley back to the starting point.

After, you'll be surprised at just how tired you are and how shaky your legs will be, but they provided a great buffet lunch as well so you can fortify yourself for the ride home. All in all it was about a five hour excursion for about 2000 baht and for me well worth the money and something I would do again and recommend to anyone.