The 7 Best Kayaking Trips near Chiang Mai

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

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

Spend seven to eight hours with Chiang Mai Mountain Biking & Kayaks, exploring Chiang Dao Cave with a local guide, eating lunch beside the cave, and paddling the Mae Ping River. Guides such as Jane, Golf, and Tony provide instruction, headlamps, water, and river support for beginners.

“The day of the trip, my wife got her periods and we asked to reschedule, they called and told me it was fine and there would be an additional 500THB fee, which we agreed to, now on the day of the reschedule no one on their side picked up the call, if you have any issues or emergencies this is not the tour group you wanna go with, very unprofessional,”

Check availability →Read our full review

2.Ping River Night Kayaking into City Center

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

Start with hotel pickup around 5:45 to 6 PM, then paddle from Wat Taa-Luk toward Nawarat Bridge with an English, German, or Thai guide. Expect an easy 6 km trip, gentle current, wildlife, riverside music, and glowing Chiang Mai views. Guides such as Jo Jo, AJ, Aidon, and A have earned warm praise.

“A great, casual trip down a beautiful river. We saw lots of bats and ducks, and even an owl up close. The kids really enjoyed it because the current was very gentle and easy for them to navigate. The tour begins in a natural forested area and then continues into the city where you can see the beautiful city lights on the water.”

Check availability →Read our full review

3.Kayak the Jungle Rivers of Chiang Dao Valley!

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

Set out from Chiang Mai at 8:30 a.m. for a guided kayak trip near Chiang Dao. You’ll learn on hard-shell kayaks, paddle through forest creeks, watch for birds and fish, and stop for riverside lunch. Aidan is one guide named in past bookings. Pickup and support transport are included.

“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.”

Check availability →Read our full review

4.Kayak Under the Stars – 6 km to the Heart of the City

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 53 reviews · from $48

Paddle 6 km along the Ping River from dusk into night with professional guides, safety lights, life jackets, and support from a following truck. Expect calm water, dark tree-lined stretches, glowing bridges, riverside restaurants, and a small group of up to 15 people. Pickup is available.

“Honestly none of it. Was awful. They were rude, disrespectful, and borderline misogynistic. The experience itself was way too long and they were also late in picking us up”

Check availability →Read our full review

5.Chiang Mai Biking & River Kayak : Gentle Thrills in a Lush Valley

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 45 reviews · from $81

You’ll leave Chiang Mai at 8:30 a.m. for Wat Ban Den, a relaxed bike ride through villages and rice fields, and a kayak trip through the Mae Taeng Forest Reserve. Choose a single or double kayak, stop for fruit and snacks, and finish with lunch. Guide A is noted for local stories and calm support.

“Tryed to give an detailed review but they only give you 300 characters so here is the skinny. Unorganized, shoddy Eqipment , tour guide that was 20 min. ahead of us most of the time. Only highlight was the Tempels at the beginning. Supposed river was more like a lake with no current. Yeah to bad....”

Check availability →Read our full review

6.No.1 Chiang Mai: Leisure River Kayaking: Mae Taeng forest Reserve

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 38 reviews · from $74

You’ll learn to steer a single or double kayak on the gentle Mae Ping River with professional guides, then paddle through the Mae Taeng Forest Reserve. Expect water buffalo, birds, fishermen, mountain views, lunch, transport, and a support truck. Guide Twee is among the named team members.

“If you are looking for a serene trip to experience north Thailand nature, this is the tour to go! Kayaking was really beautiful and great view of mountains, definitely recommend in December. Also the Chiang Dao is the perfect cherry on top. Shoutout to Twee and the tour guides 🔥”

Check availability →Read our full review

7.Explore Kayaking Through Mae Ping River on Sunset

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 7 reviews · from $17Best value

Join a small group of up to eight for a gentle 5 to 6-kilometer paddle on Chiang Mai’s Mae Ping River. A guide such as Tono leads you past Warorot Market, bridges, birds, local fishing, and riverside restaurants as daylight fades.

“The guide is really helpful and friendly and the river is flat and easy to navigate. It’s fun to paddle past the locals out fishing, and when it gets dark the riverside restaurants look really cool all lit up. I definitely recommend this easy, chill paddle up and down the Ping River.”

Check availability →Read our full review