The sun is shining, the white water’s raging, it’s White Water Rafting Season in Thailand! So get your life vest on, and grab a paddle as we show you some of the best places to raft in Thailand.
Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned rafter, Thailand offers many sites that will thrill rafters of any level. Rafting is most popular in Chiang Mai, Mae Hong Son, Tak, Petchaburi, Kanchanaburi, and Surat Thani. The rainy season allows the rivers to swell and create perfect conditions for invigorating white water rafting. As a novice, having only rafted a handful of times, I can say rafting in Thailand is especially challenging, fun, and picturesque. I happened to experience the start of the season at Khao Yai National Park.
If you’re visiting Chiang Mai, you need to go white water rafting. Chiang Mai has some of the most beautiful scenery, which makes any trip worthwhile. Even if you get stuck on a rock, or sidelined onto the bank, you can always enjoy the view. Kanchanaburi is also a fantastic place to raft. I challenged myself a bit, by taking a slightly more difficult course, and I can say I conquered it! If you’d rather stay on a beginner course, than look no further than the Petchaburi River in Petchaburi. This river is perfect for beginners, and the scenery is also lovely.
While waiting for the next current, I was amazed at the scenery we passed by; gorgeous mountains, luscious forestry, and some serene waterfalls. There’s no better way to see the untamed beauty of Thailand, than by rafting. On the Pai River in Mae Hong Son, the rafting was very invigorating, and our guides were very helpful and extremely nice. They saw to it that we had a good time. Over in Tak, we got to see some of the beautiful birds of Thailand along the river. They seemed like our secondary guides as they flew over.
Some rafting sites offer additional adventures for you to embark on; visiting hilltribes, camping overnight, or elephant trekking. These would be a great addition to any avid rafter’s trip. Why not see the nature of Thailand by land and water? If you’re looking for a vacation that’s anything but ordinary, book yourself a white water rafting tour and crank up the adventure!
