The 7 Best Chiang Mai Kayaking Tours

1.No.1 Full-Day Chiang Mai Caving & Jungle Kayaking: Chiang Dao

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 206 reviews · from $81Our pick

Spend a full day outside Chiang Mai with guides such as Jane, Golf, Tony, or A. You’ll receive kayak instruction, explore Chiang Dao Cave with headlamps and a local cave guide, eat a simple Thai lunch, then paddle the Mae Ping River through bamboo and forest. Expect a few tight cave passages and a wet kayak ride.

“Jane was amazing!! So knowledgeable and funny, we felt very well taken care of on our excursion! He took care of all our needs and made us feel so special and relaxed!”

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2.Chiang Mai: Ping River Night Kayaking into City Center

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 144 reviews · 2 hours · from $50Best value

Start with hotel pickup around 5:45 to 6 PM, then learn the basics before a two-hour, six-kilometer paddle from Wat Taa-Luk toward Nawarat Bridge. You’ll pass Mai Yai trees, homes, wildlife, glowing bridges, and riverside restaurants. English, German, and Thai guides lead the way, with guides such as Jojo, AJ, and Aidon praised for friendly help.

“The guides were very helpful, very accommodating, and friendly. We recommend this 100%”

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3.Chiang Mai : Kayak the Jungle Rivers of Chiang Dao Valley!

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 89 reviews · from $74Top rated

Leave Chiang Mai for the Chiang Dao area and paddle gentle jungle waterways with a professional guide such as Aidan. You’ll receive kayak instruction, safety support, water, lunch, and hotel transport. The route suits motivated beginners, with birds, fish, bamboo forest, and possible small rapids along the way.

“Great day! We were given some useful tips & advise on using the kayak. The kayaking was really straightforward, pretty gentle all the way. The guides were extremely helpful & made you feel relaxed & safe. Saw some beautiful birds along the way.”

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4.Safety whitewater rafting in Chiangmai by Khampan Rafting

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 62 reviews · from $55

Join Khampan Rafting for a five-hour Maetaeng River outing with pickup, a 6 km rafting run, and vegetarian pad thai with fruit. The roughly one-hour trip suits first-time rafters, families, and children, with grade 2 to 4 rapids and views of elephants resting, eating, and swimming near the river. Driver Yu has been praised for being punctual and helpful.

“This was a lot of fun, got picked up from hotel on time by Yu. He was very informative and helpful. Our first time rafting, but the raft guide was a good instructor. We saw several elephants ao our journey, which was exciting and very wet,lol. TRead more”

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5.Chiang Mai: 25km Leisure Mountain Biking & Jungle Kayaking

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 45 reviews · 4 hours · from $65

Leave Chiang Mai at 8:30 AM for a guided ride through Mae Ngat Valley, a market stop, and a gentle kayak journey through Mae Taeng Forest Reserve. You will visit Wat Ban Den, paddle a hard-shell kayak, and finish with Thai lunch. Guides including Jane and A have been praised for friendly, flexible support.

“We had such a fun day - 2 hours of biking on mainly dirt tracks and quiet roads through the farmland and rice fields and 1.5 hours kayaking down the river through the forest. The guide went at our pace, allowing us to stop for photos and give us information about the area. We stopped for coffee and snacks at a market along the route, and had lunch afterwards. Quite an energetic day, but at a relaxed pace. 100% recommend.”

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6.Chiang Mai: 15 km Leisure River Kayaking at Mae Ngat forest

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 24 reviews · 1 day · from $62

Spend a full day kayaking the quiet Mae Ping River from Chur Lare Bridge through Mae Taeng Forest. You’ll learn in a single or double kayak, watch for birds, fishermen, and water buffaloes, stop for lunch, and finish beneath shady trees. Hotel pickup, safety gear, water, and support are included.

“This is the second time I've used this company and it was great both times. Everything is super organized. Our guide was so kind and helpful and we had a blast. Pick up is prompt from you hotel. You have to do a quick check in at the office. Then you drive in a van to the starting spot and learn how to kayak! We opted for the longer kayaking as we had already done the caves. It was just me, my partner and the guide for this part. Our guide was so patient and friendly. We stopped off for a delicious lunch before heading back to Chiang Mai. Thank…”

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7.Chiang Mai: Kayak the Jungle River of Chiang Dao Valley!

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 8 reviews · 1 day · from $64

Paddle the Ping River through Chiang Dao Valley, where jungle branches, bamboo, farms, and flooded forest crowd the banks. Guides including Aidan provide patient instruction and help beginners handle the current, bends, and two weirs. The day includes transport, safety gear, support storage, water, and a vegetarian-friendly lunch.

“It was a very nice experience to enjoy the river and the nature around with Aidan's expertise. He tailored the trip for us, and guided us through all of our "mistakes". I had little experience kayaking, but you feel you're in good hands with him, and that makes you enjoy better your time in the river. Thanks for your patience!”

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