Flight of the Gibbon An Adventure Tour in Chiang Mai
|
If you’re a nature lover and maybe a slight thrill seeker, you should definitely try Flight of the Gibbon. The site is less than an hour’s drive from downtown Chiang Mai. Located in a pristine, lush, 1500 year old rainforest consisting of eighteen zip lineplatforms and a couple of sky bridges and lowering stations that you easily zip from tree to tree on a spectacular and gradual downhill course, taking time to linger in your favorite places, soaking up the fresh air and scents of the forest and watching for animal life. The tour price includes transportation, the tour and lunch and equipment.
It’s called Flight of the Gibbon because you “fly” through the rainforest much as a gibbon would. Part of the popular TV show,The Amazing Race, was filmed here. Unfortunately, gibbons are nearly extinct in Thailand. Ten percent of all profits go to gibbon research and other conservation projects. Be sure to bring good walking shoes that won’t easily fall off, a light jacket and your camera. Just about everything else you need will be provided for you.
You can book your adventure for early or late morning. Discounts are offered for non-peak times. The SPICE! team opted to be picked up at our hotel at 11 am. We were back in our rooms before 5pm. We were collected by a van and we introduced ourselves to other members of the tour. A young married, American couple that read about the tour on the Internet were spending a week in Chiang Mai and then heading to Phuket for another week. When we arrived at the site, a couple of friends from Denmark, who are in their thirties, were added to our group.
Safety precautions are strictly adhered to and the experience can be enjoyed by almost everyone, young and old. Before the tour began, we were briefed on the details and all the safety measures. You’re rigged in gear, similar to what mountain climbers wear. You fly along the zip lines strapped into a body harness suspended from a steel cable. Throughout the journey, you’re tethered to a cable on the platform around a tree or when walking across a bridge. We zipped along cables to consecutive platforms, high in the treetops, across two narrow wooden walking bridges and down two lowering lines, always tethered and fitted in our safety gear.
The guides were extremely patient; gave excellent instructions and were always vigilant regarding our safety and comfort.I thought it was going to be more physical and wondered if I would get fatigued, but actually you “sit” in the harness and no strength was needed to hold on and you zipped across from platform to platform and the guides lowered you from an upper to lower position when that time came. When you get to the next platform, one of the guides is waiting for you and helps you to step onto it. When we climbed up to the first tree house platform and observed the line to the next one, it seemed pretty scary. However, with a bit of encouragement from the guides, we all successfully zipped across to the next tree platform. After a couple of “zips,” we were old pros at doing this. Although not particularly physically taxing you will definitely experience an adrenaline rush while flying over the treetops. A couple of people in our group were a bit “portly” and had no problem zipping along.
The guides were experienced, informative and playful. Sometimes, they would shake the cable from side to side to make it seem as if we might hit a tree; but, of course we didn’t. You’re equipped with a small, wooden “brake”, which allows you to slow down if you feel you’re zipping too quickly. The guides will use your camera to take photographs. We ended up with many photos which were priceless. The guides encouraged us to go “hands free” on some of the shorter lines. The guides were quite sensitive to our individual needs and didn’t prod us to do anything we weren’t comfortable with. The rainforest, itself, was breathtakingly beautiful; and we did actually hear a gibbon call during our three hour trip.
At the end of the trip, water and cold drinks were provided. Then, a van took us back to the staging area where we were assisted in removing the harnesses and protective equipment. Next we had an ample Thai food lunch. After lunch, we were taken on a twenty minute ride up and over to the seven tiered Maekampong Waterfalls. We all enjoyed the beauty and serenity of the falls. Climbing up the steep steps alongside the waterfalls actually took more exertion than zipping through the treetops! Near the entrance is a covered pavilion where you can sit and view the beautiful scenery, collect your thoughts or reflect on the day before getting back into the van to head back to civilization and downtown Chiang Mai. The tour is unforgettable and offers excellent value for the money. Everyone in our party thought that it was unique and exhilarating. If you had a good time, it’s appropriate to tip your two guides, who will surely be appreciative.
The Chiang Mai site has been in operation for about a year. A new location about fifty minutes outside of Pattaya and about an hour from Bangkok, at the Khao Kaew Open Zoo in Chonburi, includes a jungle trek and admission to the zoo. There will also be a location in Koh Phangan, near Koh Samui, opening in December. This tour will include a high speed fifteen minute water shuttle.
For more information or to book a tour, log onto: www.treetopasia.com.
Phone: +66 89 9705511 (within Thailand: 089-9705511)
Email: info@treetopasia.com
You can book your adventure for early or late morning. Discounts are offered for non-peak times. The SPICE! team opted to be picked up at our hotel at 11 am. We were back in our rooms before 5pm. We were collected by a van and we introduced ourselves to other members of the tour. A young married, American couple that read about the tour on the Internet were spending a week in Chiang Mai and then heading to Phuket for another week. When we arrived at the site, a couple of friends from Denmark, who are in their thirties, were added to our group.
Safety precautions are strictly adhered to and the experience can be enjoyed by almost everyone, young and old. Before the tour began, we were briefed on the details and all the safety measures. You’re rigged in gear, similar to what mountain climbers wear. You fly along the zip lines strapped into a body harness suspended from a steel cable. Throughout the journey, you’re tethered to a cable on the platform around a tree or when walking across a bridge. We zipped along cables to consecutive platforms, high in the treetops, across two narrow wooden walking bridges and down two lowering lines, always tethered and fitted in our safety gear.
The guides were extremely patient; gave excellent instructions and were always vigilant regarding our safety and comfort.I thought it was going to be more physical and wondered if I would get fatigued, but actually you “sit” in the harness and no strength was needed to hold on and you zipped across from platform to platform and the guides lowered you from an upper to lower position when that time came. When you get to the next platform, one of the guides is waiting for you and helps you to step onto it. When we climbed up to the first tree house platform and observed the line to the next one, it seemed pretty scary. However, with a bit of encouragement from the guides, we all successfully zipped across to the next tree platform. After a couple of “zips,” we were old pros at doing this. Although not particularly physically taxing you will definitely experience an adrenaline rush while flying over the treetops. A couple of people in our group were a bit “portly” and had no problem zipping along.
The guides were experienced, informative and playful. Sometimes, they would shake the cable from side to side to make it seem as if we might hit a tree; but, of course we didn’t. You’re equipped with a small, wooden “brake”, which allows you to slow down if you feel you’re zipping too quickly. The guides will use your camera to take photographs. We ended up with many photos which were priceless. The guides encouraged us to go “hands free” on some of the shorter lines. The guides were quite sensitive to our individual needs and didn’t prod us to do anything we weren’t comfortable with. The rainforest, itself, was breathtakingly beautiful; and we did actually hear a gibbon call during our three hour trip.
At the end of the trip, water and cold drinks were provided. Then, a van took us back to the staging area where we were assisted in removing the harnesses and protective equipment. Next we had an ample Thai food lunch. After lunch, we were taken on a twenty minute ride up and over to the seven tiered Maekampong Waterfalls. We all enjoyed the beauty and serenity of the falls. Climbing up the steep steps alongside the waterfalls actually took more exertion than zipping through the treetops! Near the entrance is a covered pavilion where you can sit and view the beautiful scenery, collect your thoughts or reflect on the day before getting back into the van to head back to civilization and downtown Chiang Mai. The tour is unforgettable and offers excellent value for the money. Everyone in our party thought that it was unique and exhilarating. If you had a good time, it’s appropriate to tip your two guides, who will surely be appreciative.
The Chiang Mai site has been in operation for about a year. A new location about fifty minutes outside of Pattaya and about an hour from Bangkok, at the Khao Kaew Open Zoo in Chonburi, includes a jungle trek and admission to the zoo. There will also be a location in Koh Phangan, near Koh Samui, opening in December. This tour will include a high speed fifteen minute water shuttle.
For more information or to book a tour, log onto: www.treetopasia.com.
Phone: +66 89 9705511 (within Thailand: 089-9705511)
Email: info@treetopasia.com