Full-Day Jungle Kayak Mae Wang Rock Hopper Trip from Chiang Mai

Full-Day Jungle Kayak Mae Wang Rock Hopper Trip from Chiang Mai

Go kayaking on the Mae Wang River and pass by elephant camps in the jungle during this full-day excursion from Chiang Mai. Travel to the Mae Wang Valley and enter the river where it begins as a small creek, ideal for beginners. Sit-on-top kayaks are highly maneuverable and equipped with a backrest, while white-water kayaks include a spray skirt for navigating Class III and IV rapids for more experienced paddlers in the river's lower section.

After hotel pickup, start your day trip with a 45-minute drive south of Chiang Mai into the Mae Wang Valley, which flows with its namesake river. At the start of the rainy season it starts to fill and kayakers can get a taste of jungle kayaking. After snapping on your life jacket and practicing basic paddling skills, follow your guide into a dense jungle landscape.

The 3- to 4-hour excursion is ideal for motivated beginners or any sports-minded kayakers. You'll set out in a sit-on-top or white-water kayak and start by navigating the easier Class I and II rapids. Pass by several elephant camps along the way, and spot the animals that come to the water to bathe and drink.

The lower part of the river is reserved for advanced kayakers who can play between boulders and paddle into the white-water rapids of Lost Canyon at the mouth of the valley, which features more challenging Class II and IV rapids.

Your day trip includes a riverside lunch and return transport to your hotel.