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Home » Destinations » Asia » Thailand

Friday Flashback - Cooking, Tigers, & Trekking in Chiang Mai

Modified: Mar 4, 2020 · Published: Mar 19, 2010 by Dave Lee |

Yours truly with a nice header
Yours truly with a nice header

As I was running low on time before my flight to South Africa, I opted to fly from Luang Prabang to Chiang Mai, rather than take the slow (and noisy) river boat.

Chiang Mai felt like Bangkok transplanted in the north. 

All the tourist-oriented businesses were present: tourist agents ready to book every activity in the region, internet cafes, hostels, and lots of cooking schools.

Plus, I was back in the land of 7-11's.

I spent a week in Chiang Mai, and that included a 3-day, 2-night hill tribe trek which was a mixed bag. 

For me, hanging out with tigers, learning to cook authentic Thai food, and shooting a machine gun were more fun. 

I now recommend that people go on a hill tribe trek in northern Laos for a more authentic, less developed experience.

  • Landing in Chiang Mai
  • Thai Cookery School
  • Dare #15 - Completed - The Art of Muay Thai Boxing
  • Befriending Tigers
  • Soldier of Fortune - shooting my first machine gun
  • Day 1 - Hill Tribe Trek
  • Day 2 - Elephant Rides
  • Day 3 - Whitewater Rafting
  • Thailand - It's a Wrap

Next week, we leave Asia behind for South Africa!

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  • Chiang Dao landscape (photo: creartiva).
    6 Best Places for Trekking Adventures in Northern Thailand
  • The White Temple (photo: Miguel Urieta).
    6 Hidden Gems in Thailand You Must Visit
  • The Grand Palace in Bangkok (photo: Nehal Patel).
    What To See in Bangkok: A First-Timer's Guide
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About Dave Lee

Dave is the Founder and Editor in Chief of Go Backpacking and Feastio. He's been to 68 countries and lived in Colombia and Peru. Read the full story of how he became a travel blogger.

Comments

  1. Doi Inthanon says

    March 21, 2010 at 7:43 pm

    My travel highlight in Chiang Mai was the Doi Inthanon national park. The great waterfalls and the untouged nature make Doi In to a unique place in Chiang Mai Thailand.

  2. jade says

    March 23, 2010 at 3:34 pm

    I loved this story.

  3. johnnyvagabond says

    April 07, 2010 at 12:56 am

    Thanks for the great resources, Dave. I'm trying to make it to Chiang Mai by Song Kran...

    • Dave says

      April 07, 2010 at 8:43 pm

      Wes - I didn't have a lot of time to explore northern Thailand, so I hung out around Chiang Mai, but it wasn't my favorite spot. Friends recommended Pi which is a few hours further north and west, I believe. Same activities, smaller city.

  4. johnnyvagabond says

    April 07, 2010 at 5:56 am

    Thanks for the great resources, Dave. I'm trying to make it to Chiang Mai by Song Kran...

Dave at Ahu Ko Te Riku on Rapa Nui (Easter Island), Chile.

Hi, I'm Dave

Editor in Chief

I've been writing about adventure travel on Go Backpacking since 2007. I've visited 68 countries.

Read more about Dave.

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