Panda Tour & Trekking (เมืองเชียงใหม่, ไทย) - รีวิว - ThailandAgoda.com
Attractions
6 miles
0.00 miles
0.02 miles
0.02 miles
0.04 miles
0.07 miles
0.09 miles
0.09 miles
0.09 miles
0.11 miles
0.11 miles
Panda Tour & Trekking is perched on a picturesque hilltop overlooking 127/5 Rajchapakinai Rd, T. Sripoom, A.Muang , 50200, Thailand
This one-day trekking to the Mae Taeng district one hour north of Chiang Mai was a treat. Our English-speaking guide (Mr Wit) was helpful and kind, and he paid close attention to safety and individual trekker needs on this sometimes strenuous hike. Perfectly executed! Great day. Value for money!
The trekking part of my tour was amazing, however be warned that a lot of it is brutally uphill and you should therefore have a certain level of physical fitness, also make sure you bring plenty of water. However, the tough hike is rewarded by beautiful views when at the top, and the waterfall on the second day is just amazing (you can jump from the top of you feel like it, it’s awesome). The only downside to this trek for me was that on the first day we were done around 4pm and then our guides just left us alone until dinner time around 8 so we didn’t really know what to do, was hoping for more interaction with the guides, or at least learn more about the jungle.The nightly accommodations were very basic but did not expect any different going in. On the second day I had a bamboo raft journey which was pleasant, followed by a visit to an elephant sanctuary. The elephant sanctuary was just okay, I didn’t get a feeling that the elephants were truly happy but I could be wrong. Overall, I will mostly remember an amazing, incredibly challenging trek which has been a highlight of my visit to Chiang Mai.
Loved the hike! It was really tough though so you do need to be fit ! A lot is uphill and in sun and you hike with all your stuff for the overnight stay. Our guide chai was great and really informative and helpful! It has beautiful views.Accommodation is really rural , I had ants in my bed. The elephant “sanctuary” called Mae Ram elephants rescued sanctuary was the worst part for me. Very cruel , I can’t say enough how terrible it is, the elephants are treated horribly by the trainers. The elephants have ropes around their necks , they are forced to eat and bathe with tourists all day in the hot sun barely any shade… Would t go back just because of the sad state of the elephants.
Did the 2 day 1 night trek and loved it for the most part. The trek was challenging (don’t think I’ve ever sweated more in my life) but that’s what you sign up for. Bamboo rafting was decent. Wasn’t too bothered about the elephant sanctuary before I got there but ended up being great!Highlight was the waterfall 2 hours from camp, in the jungle on the second day. Jumping off the rocks (or sliding down them) was absolutely class!Only negative was that from 3pm till you go to bed there is very little to do and the guides only sat and chatted with us for half an hour before they went to bed
1 day a company oferr ; 1 DAY FACTS-start 8 am. – start 9 a.m ( we’re waiting 1h)-about 1 hour way to the Jungle – we’re about 12 am!. in the place – -trecking in the Jungle all day – just 4h trecking-lunch, dinner – lunch they’ve get us to the hand, – dinner normaly2 day was good, and experience with Elephants and Guides good too.But we payed for 2 days and this 2 days could be in 1 day,we lost a lot of time…
This tour is not for the weak! The first day consists of 3 hours trecking up hill which involved a lot of sweating so make sure you bring plenty of water and sturdy trainers as there are some hairy bits at timee. Once we arrived at the top of the mountain (around 4pm) we were greeted with beautiful views. I would recommend bringing some cards/ games to play. Either that or make your way through chang beers all evening!!The second day involved swimming in a fab waterfall which was definitely one of the highlights. We also did bamboo rafting which was good but we had a lot of spiders and snakes joining us for the ride! The elephant care centre was my personal highlight where we got to feed and wash them. They seemed to be happy. Our tour guide Kin was an absolute legend!! We had such a nice group of people as well which made the experience even better.
We did the 2 day/1night trekking – elephants – rafting. The route is very laid back and off the beaten track, and yes, not a stroll in the park… but we weren’t looking for that. Lunches were lighter, a good thing since you must walk or go with the elephants afterwards but dinner anc breakfast were abundant and very good with veggies and fruit… the timing of all the activities was good and so were our breaks. But what really made the difference was our super nice guide, Chiay. He was able to be entertaining and friendly but not intrusive, he managed to engage the whole group in an easy going way (in our group were a family of 5, 2 friends of 20ish, and us), and made the whole day amazing.The following day the group split and we went with another guide… we could feel the difference, although it was ok anyway, I also enjoyed the rafting, nice way to end the day. I would recommend it. Worth staying out for the night.
We did the 1 day trekking through the jungle, stopping to swim in a waterfall & for lunch. They arrived on time exactly to pick us up from our accommodation, and from there we went to their office to get water, food, etc. After a 1.5 hour stop, we got to the starting point of the trek – there were toilets (5 baht to use) and a little shop to buy water. You need at least 2 bottles of water to take with you – there’s nowhere else to get it on the mountain! Our guide was fab, immediately upon starting he was showing us the different plants/insects that live in the jungle (that he could see). We stopped after about 1 hour to go for a refreshing waterfall swim. It was SO cold but invigorating! Just be warned that there are no changing rooms. So wear your swimming costume under your clothes and take a towel!After the swim we went up and ate lunch – there was a fab view. Inside someone’s house looking out over the jungle. Lunch was delicious (and included in the total price).After lunch the real trekking started. Our guide did warn us that it would be quite a tricky climb & he wasn’t wrong. This trek isn’t for the faint-hearted! I don’t know how high up we went, but it was far! This is why you need at least 2 bottles of water!! Once at the top though, the hard climb was so worth it. The views were amazing and you can see for miles. You get to wander through farms, with all different fruits and veggies growing. It was amazing. We also got to stop off at a bat cave which was awesome!!The day was finished off with being dropped back off at the accommodation. Well worth it, only gave 4 stars due to maybe being a little rushed at the waterfall & because it was harder trek than we were warned before leaving.
I can’t recommend this company more for friendliness, ethical practice, care and off the tourist paths.Everything is included and if more than two will discount to 1800baht per person plus additional 25% off for under 10s. But remember to book direct with them or via your hotel who usually have same rate. Don’t buy on the street shops or those who approach you or particularly on arrival at airport taxi drivers rail try pressure you to buy the cheap cheap package which it won’t be. Panda tours pick you up at 8;30 from your hotel in nice van with others, you drive 1.5 hours up to mountains. A one hour ish walk with making hats and spins from bamboo / leaves. Bubble blowing from a soap bush and aeroplane flying from a leaf – kids loved it. Then You go to a quiet waterfall – no one else around and enjoy the very cold water for an hour. If adventurous this includes showing the rock slide which is fun with kids and safe. Be warned it’s all uphill so you need to be relatively fit and have good shoes and take extra water. On our way down my daughter slipped and hurt herself but panda guides on hand with Idione and first aid kit to patch up – and help down – fantastic… Saw a python on way down which was thrilling. The. Lunch checks. Rice and fruit. Take small change for drinks as you leave it in the locked fridge on leaving. In van 40 minutes to rafting. His is a nice slow raft journey about an hour. To be honest 30 minutes would have been enough as becomes uncomfortable. Then a good hours drive to elephant sanctuary they run. This is best bit – note no riding it’s an ethical place.,First prepare food for elephants. The. Go meet them and feed them getting up close, elephants live strokes, scratches and will even hug you if you give them plenty sugar cane. Then off to river to wash them down and play. I have never seen an elephant jump in and roll on back with legs whiggling in air whilst you use pots to wash them. We found with the youngest one if stoped pouring he would splash you with waterTo tell you to do more. One of the oldest elephants did not want go in and they did not force them and after 10 minutes just let her return to the fields to do whatever pleased. This was very encouraging to see. The staff at sanctuary really care about there elephants. Good way support them rather than a tour operator who takes all the money.Return journey home about 1.5 hours and arrived after 18:30. Highly recommended even though expensive trip really worth it. Keep going panda tours it’s brilliant family run business.
The two-day trek is actually more like two half-days of hiking, since there are a lot of breaks along the way and it ends early each day. As the description says, there’s plenty of time for relaxing. It’s good if you want just hiking, but could be more interesting to combine together with another activity such as bamboo rafting or elephant visit.