Last stop: Chiang Mai

The last stop of our trip to Thailand was Chiang Mai, in the very north of the country. By taxi we drove from the hotel in Phuket to the airport in the morning. After the checked in we first had breakfast, before we went through the security check.

The flight to Chiang Mai went pretty fast. From time to time we had some turbulence due to the bad weather, which I absolutely dislike.

Shortly after 1 pm we landed in Chiang Mai. By taxi we drove directly to the hotel. Arrived there it took a while until we were all checked in. We then only brought our things to our rooms and then met again in the lobby, as we were all quite hungry.

On foot we then went on the way to a Mexican Restaurant, where we ate around half past midday. Afterwards we went back to our hotel and spent the afternoon there. Many of us just needed a break, since we are always so busy the whole day.

In the evening we met again in the lobby at pm and went together for dinner. Since we ate lunch so late, none of us were very hungry, which is why none of us ate much.

Actually, we were planning to go to a bar tonight. But since we were away every night the past nights, none of us had much desire to do so. That’s why we went straight back to the hotel after dinner and went straight to bed there.

Jungle Ziplining

The next morning we were able to sleep in as we were picked up by our taxi at 11 am. On that day we should go to Thailand’s longest ziplining.

But before it started we had breakfast. Breakfast was included in the hotel price this time, but we were very disappointed. A bowl of cornflakes the people there called a breakfast… Luckily, our tour leader bought us some fruit at the market, which we could eat. None of us even touched the cornflakes…

The taxi then picked us up at 11 o’clock and after a 40 minute drive through Chiang Mai we arrived at the Ziplining Park.

Before we started, we all had to sign a form. As soon as everyone signed, the belts and helmets were put on. As soon as everyone wore their gear, we went to the first tree and thus also to the first ziplining. Despite my fear of heights, I really enjoyed it and would do it again at any time just like everyone else.
After an hour we were finally finished. After we had put away all our helmets and belts, we drove with a tiny bimmel train to lunch, which we got in the Ziplining Park. Then we already took the taxi back to the hotel, where most of us spent the afternoon.

Chiang Mai‘s Night Markets

In the evening we ate our dinner at a food market in Chiang Mai. This food market, however, compared to the other markets on which we have been to in the past two weeks were very small. Nevertheless, we were able to get good food there.

After dinner at the food market we went to a night market. After some of us bought it almost empty, we went back to the hotel and slept there, because it should go out early the next morning.

Into the Jungle

The next morning we were all packed with a backpack for the night in the lobby, ready to leave. For the next night we should go to a camp in the jungle. Our taxi then picked us up. After a two hour drive on which we made a few stops at a gas station or a supermarket, we arrived at our first stop: a small village. During the drive our tour guide talked a lot and tried to make some jokes. But he was really nice and we had to laugh at him again and again.

In the village we were then guided by the tour guide for a short time. Afterwards we are back in the taxi (which was actually a 4×4 jeep, because otherwise we would not have come through the woods) and were taken to a small hut. There we got lunch already at 11 am. On the ground we were served Pad Thai wrapped in leaves, which we had to eat with chopsticks.

After lunch we had some time until it went on for us. We used this time and lay down on the floor to take a little nap as we had to get up early in the morning.

Hiking to the camp

Shortly afterwards our tour guide picked us up and showed us a small temple right next to the hut. From this temple we started our big hike to our camp for the night.

The hike in the warm temperatures was really exhausting. In addition, most of the time it went steeply uphill or steeply downhill. Every now and then we took a short break and enjoyed the view over the nature.

After about 45 minutes we arrived at the camp. There we packed our things in a small hut, where we should sleep the next night.

The cottage we slept in was right next to a waterfall. We also had a cottage with a toilet and a sink. There was no shower or mirror in the camp. In another hut we had a dining table and right next to it a fireplace where the food was prepared.

Swimming by the waterfall

After we arrived at the camp, we immediately put on our swimwear and jumped into the water at the waterfall. Afterwards we got homemade fries served by our tour guide. These were, I think, the best fries I’ve ever eaten.

Afterwards, almost all of us laid down in their beds and took a nap. I myself wasn’t tired, but I couldn’t do much in the small camp where we didn’t had any receipt either. So during that time I took photos with my camera and sat by the waterfall and listened to music.

When finally everyone was awake again we already had dinner. We were served Massaman Curry, with which I also helped prepare it.

Playing cards by candlelight

After dinner it also got dark quite quickly. Since we had no lights in the camp, we had to set up candles or use our flashlight from our phone to light the way to the bathroom.

By candlelight we played cards together with many mosquitoes and moths. At 8 pm we all went to sleep. Surprisingly, I actually slept quite well that night.

Hiking back to the village

As soon as we were awake the next morning there was breakfast and afterwards we have already packed our things together. As soon as everyone was finished we walked back to the village.

The almost two hour hike this morning was really exhausting. Through the forest we walked along the river. Again and again it was very steep uphill and downhill. It was also very warm.

Exhausted and sweaty we finally arrived at the jeep of our tour guide. During the hike he told us that in his whole life he had never been to a country other than Thailand. Also, he hasn’t seen much inside Thailand yet and that at 46 years old.

After the hike we drove to a small restaurant, from which we had a great view over the jungle. There we had lunch. After we were all fed up, we had to put on our swimwear because we wanted to try Bamboo River Rafting.

Bamboo River Rafting

Four of us sat on homemade bamboo rafts and paddled across the river. We didn’t paddle ourselves, someone else did. During the trip over the water we were able to enjoy the view over the nature. We were even able to see elephants up close. From time to time the trip became a bit adventurous, due to the strong currents or the rocks in the water. Fortunately, no one fell from the raft.

After the trip over the water we made our way back to the hotel in Chiang Mai. There I had to shower thoroughly, because after the night at the camp, the hike and the Bamboo River Rafting I was as dirty as I had not been in a long time.

In the evening we all went to eat together in a pizzeria. The pizza we ate there was actually very good. Afterwards we went to a bar. But after a drink we are already back to the hotel, because it went out early the next morning for us again.

Into the wild

At 7.30 am the next morning we were picked up again by a jeep. Two hours we drove through Chiang Mai to finally arrive at the Into the wild Elephant Sanctuary. The last 15 minutes of the two-hour drive were very adventurous. The path we drove down to the Sanctuary was very steep and we all had to hold on tight to avoid flying through the car.

Arriving at the Elephant Sanctuary, we were greeted directly by five elephants. Since they were already very hungry, they stood impatiently in front of the hut and tried to grab their fruit again and again with their trunks.

Before we were allowed to feed the elephants, our tour guide introduced us to the elephants and told us a little about them and the life at the Sanctuary. Afterwards we were allowed to feed the animals with bananas, melons and mangoes. We were also able to stroke the elephants, which was a really interesting experience.

After the elephants were fed, we walked a path through the forest together with the animals. Our tour guide told us a lot about the elephants and we were able to take great pictures.

Taking a bath with the elephants

After the tour through the forest it was time to clean the elephants. First we went with them into the mud and rubbed them with it. But we’ve become almost as dirty as the elephants.

Then we went with the elephants into the water to clean them there. The water was quite cold and was about a meter deep. In addition, it started to rain, but it was a lot of fun.

After the animals were clean there was lunch for us. We then fed the remaining fruit to the elephants.

Then it was time to leave again. But before we all wanted to take a picture with an elephant, but something disturbed the animals, so that all of a sudden they trampled over all our things. Our tour guide tried to save some backpacks. But nothing went broken, only our things were a bit dirty afterwards.

Stucking in the Mud

Then we sat back in the jeep and made our way back to the hotel. However, we got stuck in the mud on the steep path up the mountain back to the main road. As a result, another car had to be brought, which then pulled the jeep up the mountain.

Arrived at the hotel, we all took a shower. In the evening we met for our last meal, as we would all leave the next morning.

Farewell dinner

The restaurant we were in that evening was very nice as it belonged to a spa hotel. Afterwards we went to a bar. There a girl found out that she had been tested positive for Corona. My room neighbour was not feeling so well, so she took a single room for the coming night. Fortunately, she did, because the next morning she was also positive.

I myself had a cold for a few days. I don’t know if it came from the air conditioning, as I had already so many times, or if it was Corona, because I didn’t want to do a test.

Back to Bangkok

Unfortunately, we were unable to say goodbye properly. The end of our nearly three weeks Thailand trip we had not imagined like this. After saying goodbye to everyone, which was a bit sad, because we all got along so well and then also spent so much time with each other it went for me by plane back to Bangkok.

Actually, I had planned to stay in Bangkok for four nights, to come down a bit from the long trip and then continue to travel to Sri Lanka. However, as soon as I arrived in Bangkok I got the news that my Sri Lanka tour was cancelled. Due to the ongoing economic crisis as well as the protests, it would have been much too unsafe to travel to Sri Lanka.

At first I was totally overwhelmed because I didn’t know what to do next. In the next few days I was able to change my Sri Lanka tour into a Bali tour. Since it started later than the tour in Sri Lanka I had a bit more time. I wanted to use this time to fly from Bangkok to Singapore before going to Bali.

If you would like to know what I experienced during my time in Singapore. Please read my next blog post Exploring Singapore – Singapore Travel Diary.