Riding White Water in Chiang Mai

White Water
Yes, that's right. The real white water deal is available in Chiang Mai if you happen to be around during the rainy season.

Mae Tang River
Starting in Burma, the Mae Taeng flows, not surprisingly, through the Mae Tang Valley and into the Ping River (the Ping river is the one that runs through the center of Chiang Mai).

The Mae Taeng is said to be an exciting river to raft for amateurs, and technical too, according to the experts. The dinghy has to be guided through whirlpools, rocks, walls of white water and drops of varying height by skilled navigators.

Rapids are rated in difficulty from one to six, with difficulty 'One' being a Sunday stroll-like meander with just a few slow ripples, and difficulty 'Six' being extremely dangerous and in-navigable; the sort of rapids you might see on TV adventure programs.

Most of the Mae Taeng river ranks at around difficulty three, which means you will experience medium velocity rapids with high irregular waves, narrow passageways and some complex maneuvering necessary.

Tour Operators
A number of white water rafting operators can easily arrange your trip. Contact the travel desk at your hotel or any private tour operator/travel agency in Chiang Mai.

Note: It is also possible to do the Mae Taeng in a kayak. There are organized tours with decent quality vessels and trained guides.