Chiang Mai provides good opportunities for rafting using bamboo or rubber rafts, as there are many rivers and streams flowing through lush forests and hill tribe settlements in the province.

Mae Taeng River
White water rafting tours on rubber boats was first performed as business in Northern Thailand more than 15 years ago, on the scenic Pai River in Mae Hong Son Province.  As for Chiang Mai, rafting was introduced 10 years ago.  The best time for white water rafting is from July – August.

The Mae Taeng River offers excellent white water rafting opportunities in the 10 km stretch from Ban Mae Sop Kai to Ban Mueang Kuet, which runs to about 2 1/2 hrs of bumping, splashing excitement.  The trip can be separated into three parts:

The first part runs from Ban Sop Kai to Pang Kao.  The distance is about 5 km. It’s difficulty is categorized at Level 2-3.  This section is fun and very safe – suitable for getting familiar with controlling the raft while passing through the canyons.  This part has 6 great canyons which give rafters a lot of fun and excitement, but are not dangerous.

The second part, running from Pang Kao to Ban Huai Masang, covers about 2 km.  At Level 4-5, this is the most difficult section of the Mae Taeng run, consisting of 8 big canyons and waterfalls which require a great deal of lot of teamwork and cooperation to navigate, and which definitely test rafters’ mental and physical strength.

The last part, from Ban Huai Masang to Ban Mueang Kuet, covers about 2km.  Its difficulty is categorized at Level 3-4, and it is exceedingly popular among white water rafting tour companies in Chiang Mai.  This section of the run contains 6 big exciting canyons.  The best part is a 500 m stretch of 3 continuous large canyons, which never fail to impress visitors.  All in all, the Mae Taeng River run is full of splashing, screaming excitement.

Along the road which parallels the Mae Tang, other enjoyable activities may be found, such as elephant riding and mountain biking.  The area is perfect for leisurely walks, as there are gentle trails along the River banks, leading through forests and mountains which are not very steep.  The elephant riding trip winds across streams and up along mountain shoulders and into the forest.

Contacts for Mae Taeng white water rafting: 
• Chiang Mai Adventure, 23/1 Si Phum Road, Tambon Si Phum, Amphoe Mueang. Tel 0 5341 8197, 0 5341 8534, e-mail: cnxadventure@hotmail.com, website: www.chiangmaiadventure.co.th
• Siam River Adventure, 69/1 Ratchaphakhanai Road, Tambon Phra Sing, Amphoe Mueang. Tel 0 5320 6338, e-mail: info@siamrivers.com,
 website: www.siamrivers.com
• Siam Eco Life, 172, 1st floor Downtown Inn Hotel, Loi Khrao Road, Tambon Chang Khlan, Amphoe Mueang. Tel 0 5328 1790, 0 5327 662 ext. 803. Email: siamecolive@yahoo.com, website: www.siamecolifetour.com

Ob Luang
Originating from the Doi Inthanon Mountain Watershed, the Mae Chaem River flows down into Amphoe Mae Chaem in Chiang Mai Province, and continues to Ob Luang National Park.  ‘Ob’ in the northern dialect means a narrow channel through which water flows.  Hence, the gorges there have been called ‘Ob Luang’.

In Ob Luang, the Mae Chaem River flows (and falls) aggressively.  There are 8 big canyons ranging in rafting difficulty from Level 2 to Level 5.  There are impressive canyons in the upper part, such as Kaeng Pratu Tong Ham and Kaeng Rabam (Forbidden Doorway Canyon, and Dancing Canyon, respectively), where the waterfalls are 4 m high and the river flows prodigiously.  This upper part is challenging!  It is suitable for virtuosic rafters only.

The lower part is more suitable for everyday visitors to enjoy.  Rafting through gorges at difficulty Level 1-2, between soaring canyon walls and past scenic deciduous forest landscapes scattered with outcropping rocky sand spits, makes for a truly pleasant and beautiful outing (with a good deal of splashing excitement... !)  As the land flows past near the end of the run, the stream grows wider and therefore calmer, providing enjoyable swimming spots and a perfect cherry on top to cap the trip.  The Ob Luang rafting run takes about 2 hrs.

Getting there:
It is 696 km from Bangkok to Chiang Mai, and then another 105 km to Amphoe Chom Thong and Amphoe Hot.  Turn onto the Amphoe Mae Sariang Route along this good, paved road.  Continue from Hod to Ob Luang.  The road parallels the Mae Chaem River, also called the Salak Hin River, and winds along the mountain shoulders to Ob Luang National Park.

For further information please contact any licensed travel agent or TAT Chiang Mai Office Tel. 0 5324 8604 or 0 5324 8607.