Go rafting in northern Thailand

If you are planning an adventure holiday in Thailand then the north of the country has great opportunities for white-water rafting amid extraordinary jungle landscapes.

One of the best places to go is Chiang Mai, 700 kilometres north of Bangkok, which can be reached quickly with an internal flight from the bustling capital.

Several river rafting companies in the northern city will take adventure holidaymakers deep into the countryside to find the wild waters of the Mae Taeng river.

One such company is Siam River Adventures, run by an American rafting enthusiast with lots of experience of North American and Asian rivers.

Jason Younkin of Siam River Adventures said: "[The Mae Taeng] is pretty high quality with good water and good rafting for eight to nine months a year, which is uncommon."

From June to mid-February, the rapids on the Mae Taeng can rank as high as a class four out of a possible class five.

However, the river does not have a large number of rapids, making a typical ten-kilometre rafting trip good for beginners and young people, though less intense for more experienced rafters looking for a more consistently technical trip.

In between negotiating the rapids holidaymakers can enjoy the surroundings, where you can spot kingfishers among the bamboo, banana and jungle foliage. If you are lucky you may also see the occasional elephant in the undergrowth.

Siam River Adventures also offer white-water kayaking and a range of lodgings at a green tea plantation by their river base.

For more information on Siam River Adventures see www.siamrivers.com

Mae Tang Tour's also have white-water rafting as well as other activities available such as elephant riding and trekking in the Mae Taeng River area. For more information email aormaetangtour@yahoo.com

Chiang Mai Adventure and Nature Tours have rafting tours, combined with visits to a nearby elephant camp or jungle trekking options. For more information see www.thailandforvisitors.com

Wayfarers Travel arrange one to three-day treks that include river rafting.
www.wayfarersthailand.com

Return flights from £458.00 per person, departing in June 2007 from London Gatwick to Bangkok with Emirates are available via www.expedia.co.uk

For more information on where to stay see www.tourismthailand.org