Extream Zipline @ Kingkong Smile and Dip in Hot Spring

Kingkong Smile gives you a serious burst of height and speed in Chiang Mai’s mountain jungle. I like the mix of long zip lines and shorter runs, and I like that the afternoon slows down with a private hot-spring tub. The biggest lines reach 2,210 feet and speeds can reach 70 miles per hour.

The main drawback is the long transfer, about one hour each way, plus a full six-hour day. The hot spring is popular with local people and practical rather than polished, so book this for activity and relaxation, not for a quiet luxury spa.

Key points at a glance

• Long jungle cables: The course includes 36 platforms and 14 double cables, with one line stretching 2,210 feet.
• High-speed thrills: Some cables reach 380 feet above the ground and speeds of up to 70 miles per hour.
• A useful afternoon change of pace: Sankampaeng Hot Spring follows the zipline session, giving your body time to relax.
• Private mineral-water soak: You get about 45 minutes in a private bathtub, with the option to soak your feet in the hot stream.
• Local-style hot-spring stop: You can boil eggs in the mineral water, a simple activity that makes the visit feel less like a standard spa stop.
• Easy all-in-one transport: Hotel pickup, private air-conditioned transport, lunch, activity fees, and taxes are included.

Kingkong Smile brings real height to a Chiang Mai day

The morning starts at 8:30 am with pickup from your hotel. From there, it is about a one-hour drive to Kingkong Smile, located in a mountainous jungle area outside Chiang Mai.

The setting matters here. This is not a short zipline tacked onto a city sightseeing day. Kingkong Smile is built around a large canopy course with 36 platforms and 14 double cables. That gives the morning a sense of progression, since you move through many separate sections rather than taking one quick ride and calling it done.

I especially like the range of cable lengths. The longest stretches reach about 2,210 feet, while the shortest are around 110 feet. Heights also vary widely, from roughly 40 feet to 380 feet. That mix should suit you if you want more than one big thrill but still appreciate some shorter sections between the major runs.

The published top speed is about 70 miles per hour. That is a strong figure for anyone who enjoys speed, but it also tells you something important about the tone of the activity. This is aimed at people who are comfortable with height, open platforms, and a more intense zipline experience.

The course uses double cables, and the staff are described as fully trained. Safety equipment and instructions are part of the activity, and the experience is designed so most people can participate. Still, you should be honest with yourself before booking. If heights make you uneasy, 380 feet and high-speed lines may feel like too much rather than a pleasant challenge.

What the 36-platform course feels like

A large zipline course can be tiring in a way that a single ride is not. You will move from platform to platform, take part in repeated cable runs, and spend much of the morning standing, waiting, and getting ready for the next section.

That structure is a strong point for an enthusiastic zipliner. One especially appealing feature is the presence of several long runs that can last roughly 45 to 60 seconds. Those longer flights give you time to look around instead of simply leaving one platform and arriving at the next almost at once.

The shorter cables help break up the biggest runs. They also let the course vary its rhythm, moving from a fast, extended ride to a tighter section closer to the trees. The result should feel more like a full aerial route than a collection of identical rides.

You can expect mountain and jungle views throughout the canopy course. The most dramatic sections are likely to be the high and long cables, where the height and open view become part of the experience. At other points, the trees and platforms create a more enclosed feeling.

The available information does not give a precise breakdown of how long the zipline portion lasts, so you should think of this as the main morning activity rather than a precisely timed set of rides. The complete tour lasts about six hours, including transport, lunch, the zipline visit, and the hot spring.

Safety, comfort, and the practical side of the zipline

The activity includes trained staff and a fully arranged transfer, which removes much of the usual planning work. You do not need to arrange separate transport to a remote mountain site, and the vehicle is air-conditioned.

The course is physically active, even if you are not expected to hike long distances. You should be ready for repeated movement between platforms and for the sensation of launching from elevated points. The tour information says most people can participate, but it does not promise that every physical condition or concern is suitable.

I would choose practical clothing and secure footwear for the morning. That advice is not a special rule stated for this tour, but it makes sense for any course involving platforms, harnesses, and repeated movement. Keep personal spending money separate from the included costs, since personal expenses are not covered.

The tour is private, meaning only your group takes part in the activity and transport arrangement. That can make the day easier to manage than a large mixed group, though the zipline course itself may still have its own operating flow and other people present. The private format is most valuable if you want your day to feel less rigid or are traveling with family or friends.

Lunch keeps the day simple

Local lunch is included. That is a useful part of the package because the tour runs from a morning hotel pickup into the afternoon, and you do not need to find a meal between the two main activities.

The description does not specify the exact dishes, so you should not book this expecting a particular menu. Think of it as a practical local meal included in a busy outdoor day. For many people, that is the right arrangement: eat, rest briefly, and continue to the hot spring without adding another stop.

The meal also helps the value of the $119.39 price. You are paying for a private air-conditioned vehicle, hotel pickup, lunch, taxes and fees, the major zipline activity, and the hot-spring visit. A separate zipline booking plus transport and a second afternoon outing could cost more, though the exact comparison depends on local prices and your group size.

Sankampaeng Hot Spring offers a slower afternoon

After the mountain zipline, the tour continues to Sankampaeng Hot Spring. The hot spring is popular with Thai local people for a quick soak, which gives it a different feel from a resort spa built only for international visitors.

You can spend about 45 minutes in a private bathtub filled with hot mineral water. This is the clearest comfort break in the day. After the height, speed, and physical activity of Kingkong Smile, sitting in hot water gives you a chance to slow down before returning to Chiang Mai.

You can also soak your feet in a hot section of the flowing stream. That choice is useful if you do not want a full-body soak or if you prefer a more open, casual experience. The stream option also makes the visit feel tied to the natural hot-spring setting rather than limited to a private tub.

Another small activity is boiling eggs in the mineral-water stream. It is not a major attraction by itself, but it adds a local, hands-on detail to the stop. You get to see how the heat is used in an everyday way, rather than simply sitting in a pool and leaving.

The hot spring is best understood as a simple public recreation area. Do not expect the quiet atmosphere, polished design, or extensive treatment menu of a high-end spa. Its appeal is the easy soak, the mineral water, the local setting, and the contrast with the morning’s adrenaline.

Why the two-part itinerary works

The zipline and hot spring are a sensible pair because they offer opposite kinds of activity. Kingkong Smile is about height, speed, and repeated movement. Sankampaeng is about sitting, soaking, and cooling down mentally after an active morning.

That contrast also makes the tour more useful than a zipline-only outing. If you love adventure, the morning carries the day. If you enjoy a gentler cultural or local stop as well, the hot spring gives you something different without requiring another long excursion.

There is a tradeoff. The tour spends time on the road, with roughly one hour to reach Kingkong Smile before the activities even begin. You should book it when you want a full half-day outside Chiang Mai, not when you want to stay close to the old city or fit several central sights into the same morning.

The six-hour duration is long enough to feel substantial but short enough to leave part of your evening free. An 8:30 am start means you need to be ready early, but the schedule gives you the cooler part of the day for the outdoor activity. The exact return time is not provided, so keep your evening plans flexible.

Is $119.39 good value?

At $119.39 per person, this is not the cheapest way to visit a hot spring or take a short zipline ride. The value comes from the size of the zipline course and the number of services bundled into one private day.

You are getting hotel pickup, private air-conditioned transport, lunch, all listed activity fees, taxes, the Kingkong Smile course, and a hot-spring stop. The 36-platform course is the main reason to consider the price. A short recreational zipline would not offer the same range of cable lengths, heights, and speeds.

The price becomes easier to justify if you are traveling with people who all want the same adventure. Group discounts are offered, though the exact discount is not stated. Since the tour is private, a group can also share the transport experience without joining a larger sightseeing party.

I would be more cautious if your main goal is only to soak in hot water. Sankampaeng Hot Spring is a short afternoon stop, not the central focus. You would be paying for a major zipline experience even if you only have mild interest in it.

Booking demand also appears fairly strong, with reservations made an average of 56 days ahead. That does not guarantee that every date sells out, but it is a good reason to reserve early if your Chiang Mai schedule is fixed.

Who should book this experience?

You should consider this tour if you meet most of these conditions:

• You enjoy high-speed outdoor activities and are comfortable with significant height.
• You want a large zipline course rather than a single short ride.
• You like having transport, lunch, and admission costs handled together.
• You are traveling with a private group and want an outing built around your group.
• You would enjoy ending an active morning with a hot mineral-water soak.
• You have about six hours available and do not mind an hour-long drive to the mountain site.

I would hesitate if you dislike heights, have limited tolerance for active platform-to-platform activities, or want a quiet spa day. I would also choose another plan if your schedule is too tight for a full morning and afternoon outside Chiang Mai.

The course seems particularly well suited to experienced zipliners. The combination of several 45 to 60-second rides, a 2,210-foot maximum cable, and speeds up to 70 miles per hour gives the morning a stronger edge than a beginner-oriented attraction. Beginners may still participate, but the advertised scale should be taken seriously.

Booking details worth knowing before you pay

Confirmation is provided when you book, and mobile tickets are available. Pickup is offered from your hotel, with the advertised start time at 8:30 am.

The tour requires good weather because the main activity takes place outdoors. If poor weather cancels the experience, you are offered another date or a full refund. For other changes, you can cancel for a full refund if you do so at least 24 hours before the start time. Within 24 hours, refunds and changes are not accepted.

All times follow local time in Thailand. Personal expenses are not included, so plan to pay separately for anything outside the listed activities, lunch, transport, fees, and taxes.

Should you book Kingkong Smile and Sankampaeng?

Book it if you want a strong Chiang Mai adventure with a proper zipline course, not a token ride. The long cables, high platforms, and repeated runs are the reason to choose it, while the hot spring gives you a pleasant change of pace afterward.

The $119.39 cost is fair for the private transport, included lunch, large course, and second activity, especially for a group. Just understand the balance: this is an active, full outing with a long drive, followed by a simple local hot spring rather than a luxury retreat. If that sounds like your kind of day, reserve ahead and leave your evening open.

FAQ

What time does the tour start?

Pickup starts at 8:30 am.

How long does the experience last?

The full experience lasts approximately six hours.

How long is the drive to Kingkong Smile?

The drive from your hotel to Kingkong Smile takes about one hour.

What is included in the price?

The price includes local lunch, an air-conditioned vehicle, private transportation, all fees and taxes, and the activities listed in the program.

How long is the private hot-spring bath?

The private mineral-water bathtub session lasts about 45 minutes.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes. You can receive a full refund if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience starts. Poor-weather cancellations are offered a different date or a full refund.