Juliana Roberts
For its utmost peacefulness, you will find it difficult to believe that Chiang Rai is a hub of activities. On the contrary, the province continues to attract visitors with a hive of entertainment activities.
Most forests in Chiang Rai are marked with thick wilderness, waterfalls and winding roads. These natural elements are enough for you to enjoy the trekking experience. Just wander along the forest paths and you will witness the natural splendour to yourself. You can also have an elephant arranged for the trekking. Trekking on an elephant will expose you to a wider scope of Chiang Rai's wilderness. There are mountains such as Mae Fah Luang and Mae Salong in the distance. You can also visit hill-tribe villages and hot springs.
As for waterfalls, most of them can be found in national parks. When you steer your elephant 17 kilometres southwest of the city, you will come across Khun Korn waterfall, which is the tallest in Chiang Rai. Take a while to watch its motion and how the water flows down in a smooth motion. There are other waterfalls such as Huay Mae Sai Waterfall in the same region.
If you have deep fascination for darkness and the unknown, then you should try out caving in Chiang Rai. It is one of the top outdoor activities that promises a good spirit of adventure. One interesting cave is called Fish Cave Temple. It is also known as Monkey Temple. You need to take 200 stone steps to reach its top. On the top, you will be greeted by the limestone walls in the surrounding.
As you enter the cave, you will be engulfed by a jet black environment. The interior is decorated by a Buddha statue. As you leave the cave from the opposite end, you will be greeted by a lush green ambience. Caving could conveniently be scheduled if you stay at a Lanna hotel such as Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp & Resort. The helpdesk will provide you expert guidance and even arrange a caving tour for you. All what you can do is just sit back and get ready for a great caving experience.
Apart from being a good healthy workout, cycling is the best option to enjoy Chiang Rai's rich greenery. There are enough cycles available for rent. Chiang Rai's paths are mostly flat so that you can hardy worry about cycling. Or, you can simply take a ride up the mountains and enjoy the hilly roads.
Mae Kok River journey is something you must not miss. The river is simply blessed with pleasant sightseeing. The river starts in Chiang Mai's northernmost district of Ban Tha Thon and flows across the mountains. As you take a boat ride on this river, you will be greeted by numbers of banana orchards and hill-tribe community dwellings – plus natural hot springs, the most interesting. If you take a long-tail boat, you will enjoy all the four hours of the journey.
You can also enjoy an overnight jungle trekking experience.
