Chiang Mai - flying with the gibbons

The unofficial capital of Northern Thailand and more similar to Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia than it is to Southern Thailand. The people are more friendly and the prices much cheaper. We had booked our hotel in advance on the internet and it was so nice that when we arrived we though the tuk tuk driver must have the wrong place! We visited the huge night market and food court on the first night.
The next day after yet ANOTHER early start (can't say I'm getting used to these!) we were on our way to Flight of the Gibbon. This is a zipwire adventure through the canopy of a 1500 year old rainforest, 80-100m high above the forest floor. After an hours drive to our destination we spent 3 hours up in the canopy zipping between trees on wires of various lengths and speeds. We travelled for over 2km via platforms, treehouses, cables, ladders and sky bridges. We met the local gibbons including a mother and baby and could hear them howling throughout the experience.

Mother and her baby

One of the longest zipwires was so fast that it needed a cargo net at the end to stop the user crashing into the tree. There were even some double wires that you could travel down together.

Karen zipping through the trees

John flying like a gibbon

Look mum - no hands!!!

The experience was finished with a 50m rappel off a platform on the side of a Banyan tree. The safety and professionalism of the company were excellent and the sky ranger leaders were fantastic. We would recommend this to anyone who ever visits Chiang mai - it's not to be missed!

It's a long way down!

Don't look down John - I'll distract you. Post-Valentine day kiss at 50m!