Best Zipline in Chiang Mai: Our Kingkong Smile Birthday Adventure

An unforgettable family adventure in Thailand’s mountain jungle

One of the most unexpected joys of living abroad is getting to celebrate birthdays in new countries. This month, my son and I are celebrating our birthdays together in Chiang Mai, Thailand.  On this day we celebrated his birthday, creating the most amazing memories.

Chiang Mai has no shortage of things to do, but for his special day, we wanted something exhilarating. So we spent it ziplining through the mountains with Kingkong Smile Zipline, known for having the longest and highest zipline in Asia.

A driver from Kingkong Smile picked us up, and about 45 minutes later, we arrived in the mountains. The air was fresh, the view was stunning, and the staff greeted us with warm smiles and color-coded lanyards for our group. From that moment, everything flowed seamlessly, from check-in and gear setup, to safety instructions, and a group photo.

This was our first time ziplining. All of us are afraid of heights. None of us wanted to remind one another of our fear out loud, until the moment we were standing at the first platform, harnessed to a tree, watching someone else scoot off into the sky.

I was third to go, right before my son and daughter. In my mind, I had convinced myself I needed to hold myself up or I would fall. That fear quickly vanished the moment I let go, leaned back, with my feet out, and realized: I was flying. By the second zipline, I felt like a pro. The 700M and 1200M lines, were my absolute favorites.

My son took a little longer to warm up. On one line, he zipped in with someone else, turns out it was the cameraman getting incredible footage of him mid-air! My daughter, riding an adrenaline high, said she forgot everything she’d been worrying about before we arrived.

We had booked the Extreme Package, which includes:

• 38 platforms

• 17 ziplines (including 400M, 450M, 500M, 700M, 800M, 1,200M)

• 1 glass bridge

• 1 abseiling point

• 1 climbing net

• 2 sky bridges

• 2 viewpoints

• 2 iron bridges

• 6 nature trail walkways

• 5 spiral staircases

• 1 main staircase

It all takes place high in the mountains of Maetonluang village, surrounded by lush rainforest. Kingkong Smile Zipline is one of the top outdoor adventures in Chiang Mai, offering a thrilling, family-friendly way to see Northern Thailand from the treetops.

The whole experience lasted two hours, and it was two hours of pure thrill, laughter, and connection. We had an incredible group and bonded with both the instructors and fellow guests. After completing the course, we rode in the back of a pickup through a peaceful Thai village, letting the mountain breeze cool us down.

Back at the base, a Thai buffet was waiting for us on the deck, with a view that made us pause and just breathe it all in.

What made this birthday special wasn’t just the adrenaline rush, it was the people. Our guides cheered us on, joked with us, and made us feel completely safe. By mid-way, the photographer was calling me “mama” and my son “handsome boy.” That kind of warmth stays with you.

This birthday was unforgettable.