Probably the three most frequent questions a foreigner is asked by a Thai person are: Do you like somtam? (Khun chop kin somtam mai?), Do you have a Thai girlfriend? (Khun me fan pen khon Thai mai?), and Have you been to Chiang Mai? (Khun khoei pai Chiang Mai mai?). All three questions are justified as most foreigners living in Thailand do like not-so-spicy somtam, do have a Thai partner, and consider Chiang Mai a top destination in the Kingdom.
For those in the teaching business it is common knowledge that securing a job at a school in Chiang Mai can be quite difficult as demand is relatively low and the competition is fierce. Chiang Mai is a favourite not only to foreigners, but also to Thais who enjoy escaping the mad rush of the capital to explore the natural beauties and temples of the north.
In the past few years, Chiang Mai has emerged as a destination catering not only for those looking for a relaxed holiday, but also for the more adventurous kind who find zip lining, bungee jumping, hot air balloon flying, and off-road driving more to their liking.
One such off-road activity perfectly suited for the adrenaline junkies is driving a buggy in the jungle-covered hills and mountains of Chiang Mai. X-Center is a company specialized in extreme entertainment activities that offers, among others, exactly that: off-road buggy treks. X-Center is ran by Ian Rauner, a businessman from New Zealand who has been involved in developing and running tourist attractions in Thailand since 1992.
Now in his early 50s, Ian grew up on a farm in New Zealand. It was there where, as a young lad, he first sat at the wheel of an off-road vehicle and, years later, he brought his love for outdoor driving to Thailand. After spending several years in Phuket, he moved to Chiang Mai where he has been organizing off-road activities since 2006. He believes that Ching Mai is the best place to raise a family and is also proud that X-Center has become one of the area’s most popular stops for adventure travelers.
For those who are not afraid of a bit of mud and dust on their clothes, then the off-road buggy treks organized by Ian’s company can be great fun. The riding takes place in the mountains surrounding Mae Rim and through the jungle and old logging trails of the Mae Sa Valley in Chiang Mai. Imagine how much fun it can be driving a buggy with the wind blowing in your face and being surrounded by some of the most beautiful countryside vistas northern Thailand has to offer.
There are two tour options, one for first-timers and the other for more confident drivers. The first option takes a route that is suitable for anyone who has passed a driver’s license test and can last anywhere between an hour and an hour and a half, depending on the driver’s speed and the number of breaks. In comparison, the second trek takes at least two hours and goes over more demanding terrain and is suitable for advanced drivers.
There is also an advanced off-road tour which takes the drivers through jungle trails that lead to the villages of Chiang Mai’s hill tribe people. The trek takes a good two hours and requires the driver to show some nerve and skill as the terrain can be quite challenging, with steep inclines, water crossing spots, and narrow hillside tracks. But don’t worry, if you get stuck, accompanying guides will be there to lend you a helping hand. Since all driving and no play makes the driving part boring, there are plenty of stops along the way, where drivers and their passengers can enjoy breathtaking panoramic scenery from some of the highest points in the area.
If rugged adventure driving is not for you but you still want to give off-road buggy driving a try, then you can choose the shorter tours which will take you through banana plantations and the lower parts of the forested hills of Chiang Mai. These tours are one to one and a half hours long and can easily accommodate non-drivers in the two-seater buggies. Thus, the tours offered by X-Center can be a great family adventure, with everyone taking part and enjoying the surrounding nature at the same time.
All tours start in the X-Center car park where drivers are briefed on their itinerary and are fitted with the necessary safety accessories, such as jumpsuits, safety glasses and crash helmets. You’ll be driving on roads less travelled, as parts of the treks are inaccessible by public transportation. Of course, such a journey requires extra safety measures and Ian is making everything possible to avoid accidents. As such, the buggies have full roll cages, racing seats, and full four-point harness seat belts; even in the eventuality that a driver rolls the buggy over, there will be no major human harm.
These safety precautions are possible because the buggies at X-Center are built to order and have Daihatsu and Toyota engines with powers from 250cc to 1500cc for the “supper buggies.” The costs involved are quite high, but having in mind the high safety measures set in place and the high cost of spare parts, they are worth it. A one-hour trip in a two-seater buggy costs 4500 baht, an option preferred by most beginners or people on holiday who just want to go for a leisure drive.
Experienced drivers would most likely enjoy a two-hour trip on a 1000cc or 1500cc super buggy. This would cost them 7000 baht with the possibility of having a “co-driver” in the passenger seat. The supper buggies are reserved for licensed drivers and a 5000 baht deposit is required before the start of the trek (which will be refunded as long as no damaged is incurred on the buggies).
X-Center has a big fleet of buggies, so it can accommodate large groups, which will be taken on their off-road adventure with a guide in the lead car and another one in the trailing car. Their clients are 60% foreigners and 40% Thai, most of them on vacation, but there are a few local aficionados who have become regular customers.
“Anyone who can drive can enjoy our trips as they are not a race,” emphasized Ian Rauner. “Although quite challenging, you can drive at your own pace and it is pretty easy. You can stop at anytime and ask to be assisted by our guides if required.”
The X-Center is located just off the main road in Mae Rim on the Maerim-Samoeng Road, a 25-minute drive from the center of Chiang Mai city. To take advantage of their free pick-up service, contact them in advance via email at [email protected] or by phone at 087 833 6655. While booking is not essential, visit their website to find out more information and make an initial contact.
A shorter version was initially published in Mango Metro (August 2013, Vol. 7, No.9)
Browse our collection of “off road adventure driving” photographs:
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