Chiang Mai Golf and Zip-Line Adventure Tour Package

Golf & Gibbon Getaway at Chiang Mai Highlands Resort

2-Day Golfing & Flight of the Gibbon™ with Chiang Mai Highlands Villa Stay

Price: 5350 Baht/person (minimum booking 2 people)

Thailand travel just got a whole lot sweeter. Experience luxury and adventure like never before when you sail through the jungle treetops and then descend into the manicured beauty of the Chiang Mai Highlands Resort, one of northern Thailand’s premier locations for relaxation and sport.

Day 1: Flight of the Gibbon Chiang Mai

The highlight of the package is The Flight of the Gibbon – a 3 hour, 2km air trek high up in the rainforest canopy using zip lines and skybridges taking in the glory and majesty of old growth, high altitude pristine rainforest.

Lunch is served on your return, followed by a spectacular trek up beside the beautiful Mae Kompong Falls. Also there is an afternoon snack with locally grown organic Arabica coffee.

Then it is into the VIP minibus and to the spectacular Chiang Mai Highlands Resort.

Day 2: Golf at Chiang Mai Highlands Resort and Spa

Relax and take “an escape to a mountain-side paradise, away from the city, with fun for the entire family”. Chiang Mai Highlands Resort and Spa offers Five Star accommodation and elite golfing on its famous 18 hole course. Here you can enjoy the comforts of home in your elegant five star deluxe villa, and you we’re confident you will find the services and facilities more than adequate to suit your needs.

Start your day with a lavish full breakfast buffet at the clubhouse or stay at the villa (stay in bed) and let the staff come and delight you with an extravagant and delicious breakfast. After breakfast you’ll be escorted to the clubhouse via club car to grab your caddy and head to tee-off. It’s up to you whether or not you’d like your family to join you, golfers and non-golfers alike. Otherwise you can hit the course and they can enjoy the day at the spa or swimming pool. The challenging 18 hole course boasts beautiful and breath-taking views of the mountainous Chiang Mai terrain as well as the surrounding jungle. This course is rated one of the top ten in Asia and is sure to keep you on your toes (or at least put your skills to the test!).

Golf & Gibbon Chiang Mai Highlights

Overnight stay at the prestigious five star villas of Chiang Mai Highlands Golf and Spa Resort.

18 holes of golf at Chiang Mai Highlands- a top 10 Asia course with magnificent mountain views from every hole.

Luxury Spa and Health Club.

Included in this Package:

• Executive VIP minibus transportation
• Lunch on Day 1
• Breakfast on Day 2
• Double Occupancy (contact us for single person occupancy rate)
• Caddie
• Golf Cart
• 18 holes of golf on this superb course

Golf & Gibbon at Siam Country Club

2-Day Golf & Flight of the Gibbon™ with Hotel Stay
Price:
Weekday = 6,700 Baht/person(minimum booking 2 people)
Weekend = 7,100 Baht/person(minimum booking 2 people)

Enjoy lush forests and serene valleys on this fabulous 2 day excursion featuring the best that Thailand travel has to offer. You will be treated to the thrills of our signature rainforest canopy adventure tour, Flight of the Gibbon, the incredible sights and sounds of the one-of-a-kind Khao Kheeo Open Safari and 18 holes of world-class golf at the Saim Country Club.

Day 1: Flight of the Gibbon Bangkok & Open Safari Experience

Just 90 minutes from the center of Bangkok and 1 hour from Pattaya Beach Khao Kheeo Open Safari is Thailand’s only open safari, affording visitors the unique opportunity to get up close and personal with some of nature’s most amazing creatures.

The highlight of the package is Flight of the Gibbon – a 3 hour, 3km air trek high up in the rainforest canopy using zip lines and skybridges taking in the glory and majesty of old growth, pristine rainforest. Lunch is served on your return.

After lunch you will enjoy Khao Kheeo’s Journey to the Jungle, an educational conservation-based experience that enables guests to get up close with and appreciate some of the most endangered species on the planet.

Tiger Show and Monkey Show included.

Then we provide you with a golf cart rental so that you can explore the beauty of the Open Safari on your own. When dusk has come, it is time for Night Safari! This is a great way to discover nocturnal wild animals. And we will finally conclude the day by taking you back for good night’s rest at Karavel House.

Included in Day 1:

Transportation from the city to the Khao Kheeo Open Safari and onto the first stage of your trip – Flight of the Gibbon Bangkok, with qualified guides, safety equipment, lunch and dinner in the Flight of the Gibbon Restaurant at Gaboa.

For Flight of the Gibbon you need to wear trainers, or another type of shoe that will not easily drop off, a pair of pants or long shorts, a change of clothes, money for drinks and a good mental attitude.

Day 2

Wake up and indulge in the delicious complimentary breakfast. Eat up , you’ll need your energy on the golf course. After breakfast well take you by van to the spectacular Plantation, Siam Country Club’s newest course. This 18 hole course has magnificent views of the Pattaya landscape and was recently host to the LPGA 2009. Beginners be warned this course can be quite a challenge if you haven’t golfed in a while. After golf if you’re hungry you can grab dinner at the ultra sleek café while enjoying the ocean views.

Plantation Golf Course, at Siam Country Club

• Recent host of the LPGA 2009
• Boasts fine modern Café dining and terrace seating with spectacular ocean views
• Top-design, first-class 18 hole course

Included in Day 2:

• Executive VIP minibus transportation to Plantation and back to your hotel
• Lunch on Day 1
• Breakfast on Day 2
• Double Occupancy room (contact us for single person occupancy rate)
• Caddie
• Golf Cart
• 18 holes of golf on this superb course

Read more about us in our Flight of the Gibbon Magazine

Pricing Policy

While we do work hard to keep our prices down, we won’t engage in a race to the bottom. Saving a few bucks at the expense of safety and experience just isn’t worth it. You may only have 1 chance to do this in your life, and we’re committed to creating the most memorable and exciting adventure for you.

Want to drive yourself?

See the map and get driving directions to our Gibbon Safari tour in Chonburi:
To Chonburi from Bangkok
To Chonburi from Pattaya

Pickup in Pattaya:

We will pick you up from your hotel. Just let us know where.

Pickup in Bangkok:

There are 2 meeting points in Bangkok.

1. Kaosarn Rd. Charkrapong No 45 (in front of Bangkok Tourist Center Tel: 02-2822774)
* Pick up at 6:00 am and 8:00 am ONLY.

2. Sukhumvit soi 1, No. 65 Ariyasom Villa Hotel Tel: 02-2548880, 02-2538800
* Pick up at 6:30 am and 8:30 am ONLY.
** Note that there is no parking for Flight of the Gibbon customers at the Ariyasom Villa Hotel. Please arrive by taxi or BTS (Skytrain to Phloen Chit Station).

I have to admit that I have never been a big fan of shopping. I am a man, you see. My policy has always been “get in, get what you need, get out.” With this policy my first shopping experiences in Thailand were an absolute nightmare and caused great tension with my then wife, who simply loved to shop. She could turn a trip to the supermarket for some milk and bread into a three-hour expedition. Imagine her delight and my horror when we hit the markets and malls in Bangkok. It got to a point where we would make a time to meet, she’d go her way, I’d go mine and both of us would be happy. She could browse, bargain and shop for hours and I could get in, get what I needed (if my patience stretched that far) and get out, hopefully to somewhere very much less crowded that served cold beer that was openly priced on a menu.

What made shopping even more difficult for me here in Thailand was that there was rarely a price tag on anything and I had to enter into frustrating negotiations with well-practiced merchants who could sense my urgency and play me like a fiddle to extract much more money than I needed to pay. This led to even more tension with my then wife who would chastise me for wasting money needlessly by paying well over the odds. She was like a pig in muck negotiating bargains, discounts and deals with the enthusiasm and energy of a Wall Street trader. It has only been over the past few years with more experience traveling and living in Thailand that I have taken the time to reflect upon the differing views of money and transactions between Thais and tourists. These days, knowing what I know, I have no qualms about going out shopping and it has even become an enjoyable and satisfying experience. I still operate with more male-driven efficiency than my former wife, but the difference for me now is that I understand how the game is played and that is the key.

The Thailand shopping experience is a game. That’s right. It is a game. If you know the rules and can play within them with skill and control then you have a great chance of winning. Play outside the rules and you will be penalized both in terms of the money in your pocket and the level of stress you cause yourself when you are supposed to be on vacation relaxing. Before getting a good idea of what the rules are and how to play within them it is crucial that you have an understanding of how the Thais view money and how they view foreigners with money.

One of the things that used to confuse me was how the Thai people seemed to have a very short-term view of life. They have a different philosophy to the concept of saving and planning for the future and it is often said that Thais live in the moment or just live one day at a time. I know one street vendor on Sukhumvit Road where I sometimes stop to buy a few things and have a bit of a chat. I can tell how successful his trading has been by what time he is open until at night. Sometimes he is packing up in the early evening even though he could make more money by trading to the late night foot traffic. He finishes when he has made enough money for him to eat, drink and have sanook (fun) until he sets up again the next day. This is what he does day in, day out without any concerns about the future. In some ways it is baffling and in some ways it is admirable. He is one of the most happy, relaxed, life-loving people I have ever come across.

While having a chat with a friend of mine who has been resident in South East Asia for twenty-six years, I finally put my finger on the reason for this deeply ingrained mentality. Some of it comes down to Buddhist philosophies that encourage living in the moment but the key thing in my opinion is the tropical climate and the abundance of food that does not necessarily need careful cultivation. On my first visit to my girlfriend’s house and land near Kabinburi she pointed out dozens of fruit trees that produced coconuts, bananas, half a dozen different varieties of mangoes, sugarcane, limes, durian, lychees and a number of other fruits that I’d never heard of. Her mother tends a small vegetable and herb garden, chickens provide eggs and meat, and they catch fresh fish daily from a small self-sustaining fish farm. There is food all around them, all year around. They only need to buy rice and cooking oils. They are very healthy and contented people. Okay, so not everybody lives like this but over the centuries this has been the way. The difference with Western countries is that seasonal conditions force careful cultivation and storage of foods for tough times ahead. Historically there has always a very real fear of food shortages and planning for the future is often a matter of life and death. Not so in the tropics. Over time this has had a profound influence on the psyches of both cultural groups.

So how does all of this relate to your shopping experience in Bangkok? Click here for Part Two of this Blog where you will learn the rules of the game that result from these two opposed monetary philosophies.

By John Daysh, a published novelist living in Thailand and Flight of the Gibbon Guest Writer

Read more articles in our ongoing education series:
Smiling Will Make Your Thailand Holiday
Giving, Maintaining and Saving Face in The Land of Smiles – Part 1
Giving, Maintaining and Saving Face in The Land of Smiles – Part 2
Thais, Money & Shopping, Part 1

Want to know more about

Flight of the Gibbon Adventure Tours?

Go to our Home Page and discover the adventure of a lifetime

Or Get more details and make your reservation now

• Bangkok

  Zipline Tour, Go Gibbon Jungle Gym, Golf & Gibbon, Gibbon Safari Multi-Day Tour. Includes Admission to the splendid Khao Kheeo Safari.
  from 2300 Baht for a full day tour

  Go to Bangkok

• Chiang Mai

  Zipline Tour, Multi-Day Tours combine Zip-Lines, Homestay &: Climbing, Trekking, White Water Rafting, Mountain Biking. Golf & Gibbon
  from 2080 Baht for a full day tour

  Go to Chiang Mai

• Pattaya

  Zipline Tour, Go Gibbon Jungle Gym, Golf & Gibbon, Gibbon Safari Multi-Day Tour Includes Admission to the splendid Khao Kheeo Open Safari.
  from 2300 Baht for a full day tour

  Go to Pattaya

Last week I was walking down Sukhumvit Soi 11 in Bangkok to meet up with some friends currently backpacking in Thailand. This street is home to a couple of Bangkok’s premier nightclubs, an excellent underground pub with a live band, and a couple of cheap outdoor drinking establishments where you can catch up with friends and watch street life unfold. Street-food vendors catering to hungry locals and tourists line parts of the already crowded sidewalk, tucked hard up against the edge, precariously close to the drop down to the road where cars, tuk-tuks, and motorbikes squeeze their way through. There is one particular vendor who always gives me a big smile and I often stop to purchase some pork balls or a hot-dog on a skewer dipped in sweet-chili sauce; perfect before or after a couple of cold beers. As I made my way towards her she was standing with a patient smile looking at her food cart, which had had one leg knocked off by a passing car and had tipped over onto the road. Scores of skewered pork balls and hot-dogs lay ruined in the street. No snack for me!

The offending car was blocking the road while the driver and street vendor seemed to be having a very calm and amicable discussion with light smiles playing on their lips. They negotiated a settlement, the driver handed over some money and a business card, and then he drove cautiously off into the night. The lady vendor set about cleaning up with a rueful but accepting smile. Her trade was ruined for the night. A few of her friends from neighboring food carts pitched in to help and they were all soon laughing and joking. What struck me was that at no point was any anger or frustration displayed. There was no shouting, finger pointing, or aggressive behavior. They dealt with it with a level of maturity, almost like adults. It made me reflect on a couple of similar incidents I have witnessed in two different Western countries. In both incidents the participants behaved with an adolescent lack of patience as they shouted, accused and almost came to blows. In both cases the Police were required to sort things out before insurance companies got involved to add more paperwork and frustration to the scene.

As I sat on the other side of the road with my backpacker friends, nursing a cold beer, I reflected on what I had just seen. My conclusion was that the calm and dignified interaction, rather than confrontation, had much to do with the Thai concept of giving, maintaining and saving face. The driver made an error of judgment. He was embarrassed. The lady vendor could have jumped up and down, shouted and accused, and expressed her anger at his carelessness. She did not. She remained calm and allowed the driver the opportunity to save face by having a calm and rational conversation at the end of which he paid for the damage and loss of business. They smiled politely throughout and left on friendly terms. Then she had to clean up the mess. Scraping food off the road is not the most fun or dignified thing to be doing. So what happened? Her friends joined her and started having sanook or fun so that she saved face. Of course everyone was watching what was unfolding, especially the foreign tourists who passed by. My friends were expecting something explosive to happen and were even a little disappointed that there wasn’t really much excitement at all. Then the bizarre sight of an elephant trekking along the street cheered them up a bit. Bangkok isn’t boring after all!

The lesson in this is to remain calm and dignified at all times. Even if you feel that you have been wronged in some way in an interaction with a Thai, there is absolutely no point in showing anger. You will not get anywhere with any other approach than the one described above. If you are dealing with a Thai in Thailand, it is better to do it the Thai way. Alternatively, you could try getting angry and upset by shouting and stomping your feet to get your annoyance across. You will probably discover that expressing anger and annoyance will get you nothing but trouble because this will cause a loss of face for the Thai person. What could be a straightforward situation with a straightforward solution can quickly escalate into something very nasty and as a foreigner it is highly likely that you will not win.

Most conflicts between Thais and foreigners initially come about through a misunderstanding over a service promised or a contentious financial transaction. In many cases they involve both. The first thing to consider is whether it is worth worrying about. Sometimes it is better to just walk away from a conflict situation, especially if you don’t feel you can handle it in a ‘Thai way.’ If it is something you feel strongly about then you need to think about what you have to gain and what you have to lose. If you still want a resolution then proceed with caution – and with a smile!

Read the next article in our education series on how the Thais view money, bargaining and transactions and how you can ensure your shopping experience in Thailand doesn’t turn into a stressful battle over perceived rip-offs.

By John Daysh, a published novelist living in Thailand and Flight of the Gibbon Guest Writer

Read more articles in our ongoing education series:
Smiling Will Make Your Thailand Holiday
Giving, Maintaining and Saving Face in The Land of Smiles – Part 1
Giving, Maintaining and Saving Face in The Land of Smiles – Part 2
Thais, Money & Shopping, Part 1

Want to know more about

Flight of the Gibbon Adventure Tours?

Go to our Home Page and discover the adventure of a lifetime

Or Get more details and make your reservation now

• Bangkok

  Zipline Tour, Go Gibbon Jungle Gym, Golf & Gibbon, Gibbon Safari Multi-Day Tour. Includes Admission to the splendid Khao Kheeo Safari.
  from 2300 Baht for a full day tour

  Go to Bangkok

• Chiang Mai

  Zipline Tour, Multi-Day Tours combine Zip-Lines, Homestay &: Climbing, Trekking, White Water Rafting, Mountain Biking. Golf & Gibbon
  from 2080 Baht for a full day tour

  Go to Chiang Mai

• Pattaya

  Zipline Tour, Go Gibbon Jungle Gym, Golf & Gibbon, Gibbon Safari Multi-Day Tour Includes Admission to the splendid Khao Kheeo Open Safari.
  from 2300 Baht for a full day tour

  Go to Pattaya

On one of our frequent morning bicycle rides in Thailand my girlfriend had what could easily have been a fatal accident. While she learned a valuable lesson on the importance of wearing a protective cycle helmet, I learned a valuable lesson on how the concept of “face” works in everyday situations in Thailand.

In “The Land of Smiles” you will often see street-cleaners in bright orange or yellow vests sweeping the footpaths, gutters and roads. It is not one of the most prestigious jobs in the world and on that particular morning we came across two old ladies who were in their sixties and probably working in that job because they no longer had family supporting them. It is a sad but not uncommon sight. As we rode along, one of these old ladies suddenly stepped out onto the road and pushed her broom out so that it tangled with my girlfriend’s bike, sending her flying over the handle-bars. As her head crashed against the curb I leaped off my bike in panic and was beside her in an instant. Fortunately her cycle helmet took the impact and apart from a grazed knee and bruised elbow and shoulder she was fine. My panic, turned to relief and then to anger. Why anger? I looked up to see that the lady whose careless behavior had caused the accident was standing there with a smile on her face, giggling. My blood hit boiling point in an instant and I roughly barked at her, “What the hell are you laughing at? You think this is funny?” She probably didn’t understand me but my anger was clear. She giggled again. I turned back to my girlfriend who was tight-lipped and giving me that subtle look of disapproval that I’ve come to know so well as I’ve blundered my way through the minefield of Thai cultural sensitivities. She quickly got to her feet, gave the old lady a smile and hiding her pain, got back on her bike and rode off ahead of me.

When we got home she said this to me: “Honey, she didn’t think it was funny. She was embarrassed. That was why she was smiling and giggling. That was her way of saving face. You should not get angry. Now you lose face and I am with you, so I lose face too.” We replaced her helmet, which had a big crack in it, and despite her badly grazed knee she insisted on riding again the following morning. She led the way and was on the lookout for the old lady. When she spotted her she stopped, smiled and had a brief conversation to say that she was fine. I forced myself to give my best smile and off we went. The next morning when we saw her again she stopped us and insisted we take a big bag of mangoes, despite the obvious disparity in our wealth. My girlfriend accepted and there were smiles all round. Every time we see her now she gives a wave and a warm smile that I make sure I return with interest.

The concept of “face” in Thailand is fundamental to the way the Thai people interact with each other in a million ways every day. As a foreigner either living and working in Thailand or vacationing here it is vital that you have a basic understanding of how you can give, maintain and save face to ensure you have harmonious relations with the locals. In this context the word “face” refers to the value or standing of someone in the eyes of others. The most appropriate synonyms are probably “status,” “prestige,” or “position.” Thai society places much more emphasis on the collective than the individual so Thais tend not to be overly judgmental or critical of others as it is seen to be harmful to the group as a whole.

No matter how wealthy or poor, educated or ignorant, diligent or lazy, everyone will be offered a degree of dignity by all others. There is an acceptance that life can be economically challenging in a developing nation and that everyone has to make a living one way or another. At least on the surface it is acceptable, for example, for a young Thai woman to be seen on the arm of an older foreign gentleman and it is not an uncommon sight. Some may not necessarily approve but the couple will not be treated with contempt by Thais but with a level of outward respect and dignity. Privately, they may disapprove but they will do nothing that will result in the loss of face. The Thais believe that in making someone else lose face you also lose face yourself. Some people will, in fact, admire the lady’s ability or good fortune to have found a partner with the economic means to provide financial support. In that sense she gains some face.

So, how does this complex business of giving, maintaining and saving face operate in practical terms? By showing an outward appearance of calm and self-dignity; by offering or accepting an “out” that excuses ones’ decision or behavior; and by understanding the use of a smile and offering it appropriately. Sound complicated? No, it isn’t. In many ways it is not dissimilar to how we operate in our social interactions in the Western world. Watch for upcoming articles which will outline these concepts a little more clearly with some examples from East and West.

By John Daysh, a published novelist living in Thailand and Flight of the Gibbon Guest Writer

Read more articles in our ongoing education series:
Smiling Will Make Your Thailand Holiday
Giving, Maintaining and Saving Face in The Land of Smiles – Part 1
Giving, Maintaining and Saving Face in The Land of Smiles – Part 2
Thais, Money & Shopping, Part 1

Want to know more about

Flight of the Gibbon Adventure Tours?

Go to our Home Page and discover the adventure of a lifetime

Or Get more details and make your reservation now

• Bangkok

  Zipline Tour, Go Gibbon Jungle Gym, Golf & Gibbon, Gibbon Safari Multi-Day Tour. Includes Admission to the splendid Khao Kheeo Safari.
  from 2300 Baht for a full day tour

  Go to Bangkok

• Chiang Mai

  Zipline Tour, Multi-Day Tours combine Zip-Lines, Homestay &: Climbing, Trekking, White Water Rafting, Mountain Biking. Golf & Gibbon
  from 2080 Baht for a full day tour

  Go to Chiang Mai

• Pattaya

  Zipline Tour, Go Gibbon Jungle Gym, Golf & Gibbon, Gibbon Safari Multi-Day Tour Includes Admission to the splendid Khao Kheeo Open Safari.
  from 2300 Baht for a full day tour

  Go to Pattaya

Complete your stay in Thailand with a visit to the splendid Khao Kheeo Open Safari, where you can also find our Bangkok and Pattaya tours.

You may have understandably been confused by different spellings for this park. Alternate western spellings are Khao Kaeo, Khao Khieo and Khao Kheo. (Welcome to Thailand!) But rest assured, these all refer to the same place.

Conveniently located in Chonburi province, just 1 hour from Bangkok and 90 minutes from Pattaya, Khao Kheow Open Zoo is ready to unleash your wild-side.

Filled with over 300 species and 8000+ animals, this 2000-acre wildlife sanctuary guarantees fun and entertainment — ideal for the entire family! Whether you want to have an up-close-and-personal encounter with some of the world’s wildest creatures or simply experience the spectacular jungle, Khao Kheeo Open Safari can make these thrilling events come to life—and much more!

Here are some of the must-see highlights of your Khao Kheeo Open Safari tour:

Zoo Tram Rides

Perfect for visitors who want to veer away from driving, tram rides offer a relaxing and convenient way to travel around the zoo’s different facilities. Free and highly recommended, tram rides stop at every station so you can watch the animal shows in the area. You can then catch the next tram to each station as you please.

Journey to the Jungle

Amusing and enriching, Journey to the Jungle is an educational program showcasing various animals and birds in their natural habitats. Feast your eyes and be captivated as you see wild cats climb trees and hop between logs or birds soar high and display their amazing talents.

Wild Khao Kheeo

Meet and greet countless species of exotic animals as they teach you about their habitats and lifestyle. You will even learn some interesting tips and tricks about nature conservation and recycling, ensuring the animal kingdom stays healthy for generations to come. Don’t miss the exciting photo shoots after every Wild Khao Kheeo presentation.

Elephant Trek

Enjoy a short ride on the largest land animal on the continent, the Asian Elephant! These domesticated, gentle giants will take you through the zoo’s hilly terrain and take your breath away. You can also stop by the elephant area to simply watch the elephants show off their impressive skills.

Night Safari

As soon as the vanilla sky turns purple, get ready for the exciting Night Safari to observe animals, such as tapirs, elephants, giraffes, llamas, emus and numerous bird species. Fear not the night because you will be boarding a modern and safe service car and escorted by an expert tour guide throughout the expedition.

Flight of the Gibbon™ Zip Line Tours

The latest addition to Khao Kheeo Open Safari, Flight of the Gibbon will satiate your voracious hunger for adventure! Swing a la Tarzan through the vast, picturesque rainforest via wire ziplines, the largest and highest canopy zip-line tour in the world! Built and designed with awesome fun and ultra safety in mind, Flight of the Gibbon is suitable for children and adults alike. Not to forget, Trip Advisor featured Flight of the Gibbon as one of the most recommended things to do in Thailand. Tours include free pick-up and drop-off in Bangkok and Pattaya.

Book your Flight of the Gibbon zipline tour on this site.

Click here if you are coming from Bangkok
Click here if you are coming from Pattaya

After shopping in Bangkok or beach bumming in Pattaya, you know exactly what to do next—visit the enchanting Khao Kheeo Open Safari. Click below for maps and driving directions:

Driving Directions to Khao Kheeo Open Safari in Chonburi

From Bangkok to Chonburi
From Pattaya to Chonburi

Want to know more about

Flight of the Gibbon Adventure Tours?

Go to our Home Page and discover the adventure of a lifetime

Or Get more details and make your reservation now

• Bangkok

  Zipline Tour, Go Gibbon Jungle Gym, Golf & Gibbon, Gibbon Safari Multi-Day Tour. Includes Admission to the splendid Khao Kheeo Safari.
  from 2300 Baht for a full day tour

  Go to Bangkok

• Chiang Mai

  Zipline Tour, Multi-Day Tours combine Zip-Lines, Homestay &: Climbing, Trekking, White Water Rafting, Mountain Biking. Golf & Gibbon
  from 2080 Baht for a full day tour

  Go to Chiang Mai

• Pattaya

  Zipline Tour, Go Gibbon Jungle Gym, Golf & Gibbon, Gibbon Safari Multi-Day Tour Includes Admission to the splendid Khao Kheeo Open Safari.
  from 2300 Baht for a full day tour

  Go to Pattaya

The first time I arrived for a brief stopover holiday in Thailand I had no idea about Thai people and the culture of the smile. The air hosts and hostesses on Thai Airways sure were friendly and I was impressed by their ever-present glowing smiles. By the time I got to my hotel in Bangkok I was certainly not smiling. In fact, I was in a positively foul mood. I hadn’t slept in twenty-four hours, my stomach was unsettled, I had a headache, I was dripping sweat and my heavy backpack was cutting deep, painful grooves into my shoulders. I stumbled into the hotel lobby and slumped on the counter. The lovely receptionist gave me a big smile but I didn’t return it. I couldn’t. I just wanted to lie down in an ice-cold room. I told her I had a reservation and handed over my passport. She clicked away at her computer, looked and smiled at me again and told me they had no record of my reservation. This was all I needed. I gave a growl of annoyance, slammed my fist on the counter and demanded to see the manager. She arrived, smiled at me and told me that I did not have a reservation and that they had no vacancies. I stormed back out onto the street muttering away to myself. Thank goodness I didn’t have a couple of kids to drag along as well.

I badly needed a cold drink while I figured out my next move. It was either that or strangle the next smiling person I saw. I collapsed on a bar stool in a nearby pub and ordered a soda with ice. Lots of ice. A friendly Westerner took a seat next to me and gave me a big smile. My hands twitched. I took a deep breath and explained my predicament. He told me that he knew for a fact that the hotel was not full. “Boy,” he said, “you must have done something to really upset them. Did you try smiling?” I asked him what I had to smile about right now and he roared with laughter. Then he gave me a piece of advice that changed my life. This is what he said: “Smile. Smile a lot. Smile through thick and thin. Smiling will MAKE your Thailand holiday. You can achieve more in Thailand with a smile than you can with cold hard cash.” I was lucky. I learned this lesson on Hour One, Day One of Holiday One in Thailand. I made over a dozen subsequent trips to Thailand and now I live here. I love this place. I smile every day and people smile at me every day and I am happy. Oh, and I checked the reservation receipt in the bottom of my pack and yes, that’s right; I had the wrong hotel.

Thailand is widely known as the “Land of Smiles” and for good reason too. The smile is a very important and complex form of communication and while you are on holiday in Thailand the sight of smiling Thai people will be a very common one. The Thais are fun people. They love nothing more than having fun or Sanook. They want you to have Sanook too and if they can see that you are smiling and happy then they will open up and enjoy with you. If fact, if you behave in an open, friendly and smiley manner they will move mountains for you. I have experienced this time and time again.

You don’t believe me? I challenge you to give your best smile to a Thai person and I guarantee that an even wider one will be returned. Do it ten, twenty times a day and your stay will be an enjoyable one. You may be tired, you may miss your home-cooked meals and your own bed and you may be struggling with the climate. Keep smiling. Practice on the hotel and restaurant staff, on your drivers and tour guides. Let it become a habit. Then try one out on a street-food vendor and then a stranger on the BTS Skytrain. They won’t let you down. The Thai people genuinely want you to enjoy their country and participate in their culture. They take great pride in this and if they can see that you are happy then it makes them feel good about tourists in their country. Attitudes towards foreigners improve, service improves, your travel experiences become richer and happier and you may even make a few Thai friends. They will always be happy to exchange a few words in English or teach you a few words in Thai. It’s a win-win situation and it always starts with a smile.

Unfortunately there are too many tourists who resort to threats and anger and show their annoyance when things don’t go exactly how they want. The best way to smooth things over is to be flexible, accept that some things are done differently than in the West, and keep that smile on your face. As much as I guarantee that smiling works in Thailand, I also guarantee that expressing annoyance or anger does not. You will get nowhere with Thais with a surly, unsmiling and bullish approach. What may work in the West does not work in the Land of Smiles. Slamming your fist on the counter and demanding to see the manager like I did will close more doors than it will open. When you are hot and tired and want to lie down in an ice-cold room, you really need that hotel room door to open. All I had to do when I was told that the hotel did not have my reservation was smile and ask if they had any rooms available. I didn’t, but I’m glad I didn’t because the advice I got from that friendly Westerner in that Bangkok bar was gold. Pure gold.

Keep smiling : )

By John Daysh, a published novelist living in Thailand and Flight of the Gibbon Guest Writer

Read more articles in our ongoing education series:
Smiling Will Make Your Thailand Holiday
Giving, Maintaining and Saving Face in The Land of Smiles – Part 1
Giving, Maintaining and Saving Face in The Land of Smiles – Part 2
Thais, Money & Shopping, Part 1

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• Bangkok

  Zipline Tour, Go Gibbon Jungle Gym, Golf & Gibbon, Gibbon Safari Multi-Day Tour. Includes Admission to the splendid Khao Kheeo Safari.
  from 2300 Baht for a full day tour

  Go to Bangkok

• Chiang Mai

  Zipline Tour, Multi-Day Tours combine Zip-Lines, Homestay &: Climbing, Trekking, White Water Rafting, Mountain Biking. Golf & Gibbon
  from 2080 Baht for a full day tour

  Go to Chiang Mai

• Pattaya

  Zipline Tour, Go Gibbon Jungle Gym, Golf & Gibbon, Gibbon Safari Multi-Day Tour Includes Admission to the splendid Khao Kheeo Open Safari.
  from 2300 Baht for a full day tour

  Go to Pattaya

If you live in Thailand, or you already have transportation, you are welcome to drive to the Khao Kheow Open Zoo in Chonburi for your Zip Line Tours.

View Larger Map & Printable Driving Directions

Driving Directions

Pattaya to Khao Kheow Open Zoo, Chonburi

Start address: Pattaya, Thailand
End address: Khao Kheow Open Zoo Thailand

Start at: Pattaya, Thailand

1. Head east on Phatthaya Klang toward Phatthaya Klang 9 – 1.3 km
2. Turn left at Route 3/Sukhumvit – 19.8 km
3. Take the ramp to Route 7 – 0.2 km
4. Keep right at the fork to continue toward Route 7 – 0.2 km
5. Keep left at the fork to continue toward Route 7 and merge onto Route 7 – 7.6 km
6. Slight left to stay on Route 7 – 10.7 km
7. Exit onto Route 3144 – 0.4 km
8. Make a U-turn – 0.6 km
9. Continue onto Route 4036 – 2.8 km
10. Slight left – 0.9 km
11. Turn right Destination will be on the left – 2.4 km

Arrive at: Khao Kheow Open Zoo, Chonburi, Thailand

You can ask at the gate for a map and directions to Flight of the Gibbon headquarters and parking. From there we will shuttle you to the tour site.

Have Fun!

Not Yet Booked Your Zip Line Tour?

Read More About Our Pattaya-Based Tours here or if your ready, use the booking form below.

If you live in Thailand, or you already have transportation, you are welcome to drive to the Khao Kheow Open Zoo in Chonburi for your Zip Line Tours.

View Larger Map & Printable Driving Directions

Driving Directions

Bangkok to Khao Kheow Open Zoo, Chonburi

Start address: Bangkok, Thailand
End address: Khao Kheow Open Zoo, Thailand

Start at: Bangkok Thailand

1. Head north on Soi Charan Sanitwong toward Soi Rachan/Soi Ratchadaphisek 19 – 0.2 km
2. Sharp right toward Soi Charan Sanitwong – 33 m
3. Sharp left at Soi Charan Sanitwong – 1.3 km
4. Make a U-turn – 1.6 km
5. Continue onto Ratchadaphisek – 0.7 km
6. Turn left at Thanon Ratchapruk – 1.7 km
7. Continue onto Krung Thonburi – 2.1 km
8. Continue onto Sathon Nuea – 0.7 km
9. Turn left – 0.5 km
10. Take the ramp to 2nd State Expy/Route 3119/Si Rat Expressway Urban Network – 0.3 km
11. Keep right at the fork to continue toward 2nd State Expy/Route 3119/Si Rat Expressway Urban Network – 78 m
12. Keep left at the fork to continue toward 2nd State Expy/Route 3119/Si Rat Expressway Urban Network and merge onto 2nd State Expy/Route 3119/Si Rat Expressway Urban Network Partial toll road – 5.2 km
13. Take the exit toward Route 3119 Toll road – 57 m
14. Keep right at the fork, follow signs for Din Daeng and merge onto Route 3119 Partial toll road – 24.0 km
15. Continue onto Route 7 (signs for Lat Krabang/Chon Buri) Partial toll road – 67.2 km
16. Take the exit toward Route 7 – 0.8 km
17. Keep left at the fork to continue toward Route 7 and merge onto Route 7 – 10.4 km
18. Turn left – 0.1 km
19. Turn left – 1.5 km
20. Turn left – 0.2 km
21. Take the 1st left Destination will be on the left – 4.5 km

Arrive at: Khao Kheow Open Zoo, Chonburi, Thailand

You can ask at the gate for a map and directions to Flight of the Gibbon headquarters and parking. From there we will shuttle you to the tour site.

Have Fun!

Not Yet Booked Your Zip Line Tour?

Read More About Our Bangkok-Based Tours here or if your ready, use the booking form below.

Zipping between trees and howling like a monkey, BigChilli tries out Chonburi’s latest tourist attraction. And it’s a blast

GREAT news for adrenaline junkies looking for their next big fix: ‘Flight of the Gibbon, The Rainforest Adventure’ has now opened in Chonburi offering an extraordinary tree-top ziplining experience.

Similar to the company’s award-winning experience of the same name in Chiang Mai, this new adventure course, located in the heart of Chompoo Nature preserve and next to the Khao Keao Open Safari, gives people the chance to travel 3km through the jungle canopy using an ingenious ultra-safe system of platforms, treehouses, cables and sky bridges, at heights of up to 80 metres.

…Our group, plus two Sky-Rangers, made nine in total – the maximum allowed for safety reasons. Once kitted-out in our safety harnesses we trekked through the jungle with our Sky Rangers for fifteen minutes to the first of 24 platforms. Short and sweet and not too high, the first zip line was the perfect introduction to the course. After that, they got longer, higher, faster and better. The longest zip line was a staggering, Tarzan-yell-inducing 300 metres in length! Zipping between the platforms really got the adrenaline pumping and proved to be great fun.

Want to know more about

Flight of the Gibbon Adventure Tours?

Go to our Home Page and discover the adventure of a lifetime

Or Get more details and make your reservation now

• Bangkok

  Zipline Tour, Go Gibbon Jungle Gym, Golf & Gibbon, Gibbon Safari Multi-Day Tour. Includes Admission to the splendid Khao Kheeo Safari.
  from 2300 Baht for a full day tour

  Go to Bangkok

• Chiang Mai

  Zipline Tour, Multi-Day Tours combine Zip-Lines, Homestay &: Climbing, Trekking, White Water Rafting, Mountain Biking. Golf & Gibbon
  from 2080 Baht for a full day tour

  Go to Chiang Mai

• Pattaya

  Zipline Tour, Go Gibbon Jungle Gym, Golf & Gibbon, Gibbon Safari Multi-Day Tour Includes Admission to the splendid Khao Kheeo Open Safari.
  from 2300 Baht for a full day tour

  Go to Pattaya