Chiang Mai is the cultural centre of northern Thailand, and home to many natural wonders and famous tourist attractions. These are highly accessible, and are an excellent way to have fun and stay fresh during the rehab and recovery process. That’s why we have offsite excursions every Saturday as part of our treatment programme. You’ll get the chance to experience the best attractions Chiang Mai has to offer, while creating positive and lasting memories of your time with us.
Elephant Sanctuary
The sanctuary is set in a lush hillside jungle, and is home to dozens of elephants. These fascinating creatures each have their own history and personality, which you will learn about from friendly local guides. You will also have the chance to feed, brush and bathe the elephants. Interacting with these majestic animals in their natural habitat is a truly profound experience, and an excellent complement to your therapy.
Temple Tour
Chiang Mai is home to over 300 Buddhist temples, or ‘Wats’ as they are called in Thai. The most iconic of these are Wat Phra Doi Suthep, Wat Chedi Luang, and Wat Umong. Wat Phra Doi Suthep sits atop a verdant mountain, and features beautiful shrines as well as spectacular views of the surrounding hillsides and the city below.
Wat Chedi Luang was built sometime in the late 14th or early 15th century and has a massive, unique pagoda as its centrepiece. Wat Umong is a forest temple at the base of Doi Pui Mountain, which has a network of tunnels that lead to ancient shrines. Regardless of your religious beliefs or lack thereof, the temples of Chiang Mai are awe-inspiring – and visiting them is a deeply moving and authentic cultural experience.
Caving and Jungle Kayaking
This excursion starts with a scenic drive as we head north, out of Chiang Mai and into the Chiang Doa Valley. There, we set out on kayaks to experience the tranquillity of Ping River. As you paddle along, you’ll see bamboo jungle, overhanging trees, and exotic birds whose calls echo over the water. You might even see some fish jumping out of the water.
A packed lunch offers refreshment on the riverbank, or alternatively the group can stop by one of the local restaurants. In the afternoon, we explore the famous Chiang Dao Cave, which is the largest cave system in the region. Chiang Dao is home to hundreds of bats and many spectacular natural features, as well as numerous Buddhist shrines.
Cooking Class
Thai cuisine is world-renowned for its exotic flavours, and our special cooking class will help you learn how to prepare some of the country’s most famous dishes. The day starts with a visit to a local food market to select fresh ingredients for the day’s meals. The expert chef instructor then walks you through the recipe for appetizers, a soup, a main course, and a dessert.
The class is highly interactive and the chef will be happy to answer any questions you may have, while also providing you with helpful tips as you prepare the dishes. Once the food is ready, you’ll dine on your own culinary creations, alongside your fellow classmates.
Flight of the Gibbon Ziplining
Fly through the treetops on one of Asia’s most famous zipline courses. The course is set in a pristine old-growth rainforest near the village of Mae Kampong, and is designed with the utmost care for safety. Riding through the course and rappelling from the treetops is absolutely exhilarating – and if you’re lucky, you might even get to see the wild gibbons that live in the trees.
White Water Rafting
As you paddle along the Mae Taeng River, you will pass by lush jungles and a series of elephant camps. You might even get to see one of these gentle giants up close, if they come to the water’s edge for a drink. The river has numerous white-water sections to give you and your raftmates an exhilarating ride. In the slower, more meandering sections, you can relax and enjoy the natural scenery.