1. KONG KAEW • HEO SUWAT
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The
eight kilometre trail starts from the back of the visitor centre.
Cross Lam Ta Khong and follow the red paint markers on the trees.
Gibbons can be observed. A trail off to the right goes to Pha
Kluai Mai, and one on the left to Pong Chang. A guide is needed. |
2. KONH KAEW • PONH CHANG II
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The
six kilometre hike takes four to five hours. Follow Trail 1
to the turnoff for Pong Chang, then follow the blue markers
on the trees. Sometimes the sings can be confusing. A guide
is needed. |
3. ONG KAEW • PHA KLUAI MAI
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The
six kilometer hike takes three to four hours. Follow Trail 1
to the turnoff, then follow the yellow markers on the trees.
If strating from Pha Kluai Mai, the entrance to the trail is
on the left of the road to Heo Suwat, 300 metres from the campsite. |
4. PHA KLUAI MAI • HEO SUWAT
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The
three kilometre trail takes about 90 minutes. From Pha Kluai
Mai, look for the sign to Hao Suwat. From Heo Suwat, the trail
starts near the toilet. |
5. HEAW SUWAT • THUNG YA KHAO LAEM
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Go
upstream along Lam Ta Khong until the bridge and proceed to
Thung Ya Khao Laem. The trail is three kilometress long and
requires at least two hours. This trail should be guided. |
6. PARK OFFICE • NONG PHAK CHI
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Start
opposite the food stalls and follow the signs along the four
kilometre trail to Nong Phak Chi. From here, follow the dirt
road for one kilometre to a paved road and walk two kilometres
back to the park office. This trail is very popular. |
7. PARK OFFICE • WANG CHAM PEE
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Follow
Trail 6 to the first turnoff, go right and then go right again
at the next turn. Continue until you reach the highway at Km
36. It is one kilometre to the park office. The circular route
takes a few hours. |
8. KONG KAEW •GOLF COURSE ROAD
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Start
at the back of the visitor centre and stay parallel to Lam Ta
Khong stream. The easy 1.5 kilometre walk is ideal for early
- morning bird • watching. |
9. PARK OFFICE • MOR SING TOH
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Follow
Trail 6 and turn left at the first crossroads. The trail leads
to an open meadow and a reservoir at Mor Sing Toh. Allow two
hours. |
10. PARK OFFICE • FORMER TAT RESTAYRANT
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Follow
Trail 6 and turn right at the first crossroads. At the second
cross-roads, turn left. This six kilometer trail requires a
guide. |
11. OLD TAT RESTAURANT • TAT TA PHU WATERFALL
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The
trail follows the stream to the waterfall, with the return trip
taking a full day. A guide is required. |
12. DAN CHANG • BUENG PHAI
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Start
at Km 32 and proceed for 1.5 kilometres. |
13. NONG PHAK CHI • KHLONG EE-THAO
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This
four • kilometre hike sets off from the Nong Phak Chi wildlife
observation tower |
Rafting is fast gaining popularity among the young and young at heart.
The mountainous regions of the North are the natural venue for whitewater
rafting, especially after the rains from June to October when the
rivers swell with floodwater. But first-class rafting is also to be
found in the northern reaches of the central region.
TAK
This
mountainous province south of Chiang Mai is an increasingly
popular adventure destination. The hub of activities is Umphang
District on the border with Myanmar which is now accessible
via a winding mountain route from Mae Sot, the centre of border
trade. The forests of Umphang are the source of many rivers,
the most important being the Huai Mae Klong, a popular rafting
route with its many rapids and scenic backdrops of jungle. There’s
also a rafting route from the breathtaking Thi Lo Su Waterfall
which takes three to four hours.
MAE HONG SON
There are five levels of expertise, and all require experienced
guides to lead them. Mae Hong Song’sPai River is perhaps the
most famous venue, as it smashes its angry path towards Myanmar.
A raft trip starts at Ban Nam Kong, 65 km from Pai and continues
through virgin forests, waterfalls and 15 sets of rapids, a
journey time of about five hours. |
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CHIANG RAI
One of the oldest rafting destinations in the country, Chiang Rai
continues to draw adventure seekers from all over the globe. In Chiang
Rai, bamboo rafts and inflatable boats are available for the journey
down the Mae Kok, the province’s major artery.
CHIANG MAI
Rafting down the Mae Chaem through Ob Luang George in inflatable boats
is available through Mae Sot Travel. Another challenging route is
the Mae Tuen in Omkoi District, where the river rushes through virgin
forests to end at the Pha Dam Waterfall. No rubber raft is available
at the site, so it’s best to book a trip with a tour agen in Chiang
Mai.
NAN
Nam Wa stream in Nan is recognised as an ultimate rafting adventure.
During rainy season the stream is swollen and rates 3 – 5 on the difficulty
scale. Local rafting operators are offering soft adventure tour for
rafting buffs wanting to test out their skills. The three – day tour
features rafting through a series of rapids, such as Sop Huai Duea
and Phi Pa, on specially – designed rubber rafts. Visitors can also
use the opportunity to explore the cool jungle setting of Doi Phu
Kha and Mae Charim mountains
PRACHINBURI
At Khao Yai National Park, the Kaeng Hin Phoeng in Nadi district of
Prachin Buri is a stretch of river noted for its wild beauty. The
water is very vigorous During the rainy months (June – October), and
some stretches are designated Level 5 , the uppermost limit to whitewater
rafting.
KANCHANABURI
On the western border, Kanchanaburi is a popular adventure destination
thanks to its mountainous terrain, covered with forests and crisscrossed
with a network of rivers. Jungle rafting can be arranged from a mountain
pass to the stunning Lawa Cave, a two-hour journey. Bamboo and inflatable
rafts are also available for a trip down the Songkalia in Sangkhlaburi.
PHETCHABURI
The headwater of Phetchaburi River, the province’s major artery, lies
within Kaeng Krachan National Park. The river offers good rafting;
a trip through its rapids and small tributaries takes about six hours.
NAKHON NAYOK
As a rule, canoeing and kayaking is available at the destinations
that provide rafting. Nakhon Nayok, a small province to the north
of Bangkok, is a new destination for adventure tourism. Its rivers
originate in the Khao Yai range and flow down to meet the arterial
Bang Pakong River, which empties into Gulf of Thailand.
Nakhon Nayok has several waterfalls, the most popular being Wang Takhrai.
Canoeing here is relatively new. The best time to visit is June –
October. Starting point for a canoe journey is the stretch of Wang
Takhrai canal where it flows through a coffee plantation. The waterway
is quite narrow and therefore unsuitable able for larger vessels.
The route has on difficult rapids, but its many twists and turns more
than make up for it.
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Rafting
trip on the NAM KEG River at Phitsanulok
The Khek river has its water source in the Phetchabun Mountain
Range in Khao Kho county. It flows past Thung salaeng Luang
National Park and forms the famous Sri Dit and Kaeng Sopha waterfalls
of Phitsanulok. The water course passing Wang Thong county before
joining the Nan river at Bang Krathum county is also called
the Wang Thong river.
The level of difficulty of the current depends on the volume
of water flow. In the rainy season, the river becomes swifter.
Keg River is the good place for rafting as it provides exciting
routes for tourists for Ban PakYang, Sapraiwan sub-district,
Wang Thong district to Kang Song waterfall which lasts 8 kms.
Altogether. You can travel along this route within 3 hours,
depending on the water level. You will experience the water
speed at level 1-2 and gradually in crease the intensity to
level 4-5 in the end. This allows you to practice your skill
in rafting along the way. |
Some cataracts last hundred meters. Travelling to Keg River is considered
convenients as the river is near the road. After you get off a car
you can get on a raft promptly, and when you get out of a raft you
can get on a car or bus conveniently as well. No need to walk like
going to other places.
Rafting on Kaeng Hin Phoeng
This is another stretch of river in Khao Yai National Park noted for
its wild beauty. The water is especially challenging in the rainy
season months of June to October, and it is a favourite place for
whitewater rafting. The passage along this stretch of the river will
take three hours or more.
River grading
LEVELS OF DIFFICULTY
| Level
1 : |
Simple,
easy rapids. |
| Level
2 : |
Simple
rapids, but requiring some skill in manoeuvring the raft around
obstacles and rocks. |
| Level
3 : |
Moderate
rapids where rafting becomes exciting. It is necessary to hold
on at times to stay in control of the raft. |
| Level
4 : |
Difficult
rapids with continuous need to manoeuvre and control raft al
all times. Very exciting rafting. |
| Level
5 : |
This
level of whitewater is the uppermost limit to rafting. The river
is wild, with a rapid current and difficult rapids, usually
very steep. |
| Level
6 : |
Extremely difficult rapids, dangerous for rafting.
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