Chiang Mai

Full-Day Chiang Dao Kayaking, Caving, and Jungle Tour from Chiang Mai

Badge of ExcellenceChiang Mai, Thailand

From $72.65

Select Date and Travelers

up to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)

8 hours (approx.)
Pickup offered
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

Overview

Discover the natural wonders of the Chiang Dao Valley on an action-packed full-day adventure from Chiang Mai. Paddle along the Mae Ping River on a kayaking excursion, admire the wild scenery of the Chiang Dao Jungle, then venture underground to explore the Buddhist shrines of Chiang Dao Cave.

Full-day Chiang Dao kayaking, caving, and jungle tour from Chiang Mai
Enjoy a scenic kayaking adventure along the Mae Ping River
Look out for kingfishers, Birds of Paradise, and parakeets in the Chiang Dao Jungle
Tuck into a delicious Thai lunch at a riverside restaurant
Explore the Buddhist shrines and bat caves of the Chiang Dao Cave complex
No experience necessary: full instruction provided
Great-value tour includes hotel pickup, lunch, and all activities

What's Included

Hotel pickup and drop-off
Kayak lesson
Kayak rental and safety equipment
Lunch and water
Local guide
Transportation is provided between the cave and the kayaking put in site, about 15 minutes by Van or Pickup Truck depending on the number of participants

River fee 100 THB
Insurance Fee 50 THB,please provide passport number (no need to bring your passport.)

Meeting and Pickup

Pickup points

Select a pickup point

Start time

08:30 AM

Pickup details

Please contact us if your hotel is outside the radius, so we can make arrangements for you . Please provide your passport number for insurance.

What To Expect

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Not wheelchair accessible
Minimum age is 9 years
Service animals allowed
Children must be accompanied by an adult

Please bring a change of clothes, plus shoes you don't mind getting wet
Please advise any specific dietary requirements when we sit down for lunch.
No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 15 travelers

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.

Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.

Traveler Photos

Featured review

LAURIE_O

Our guide was amazing. I enjoyed seeing more of the country on the way to the river. The kayaking was peaceful, beautiful and we were able to see beautiful birds. The water was calm and not difficult. The cave was wonderful, others mentioned claustrophobic issues however you can see the cave completely and skip the small tunnel if you are worried. I am so happy we participated in this experience.

Reviews

4.5

105 reviews

Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews

Reviews by Viator travelers.

We perform checks on reviews

Showing 1-10 of 105 reviews

Excellent

LAURIE_O, Mar 2024

It was a FULL day ! Prepare yourself!

Chidera_O, Feb 2024

This was such an exhaustive (but good exhaustive) trip! The drive was very long to the location but it was a good sized group and well-organized. The cave was a really good experience and I appreciated the organizers having clothes for those who may not have been dressed correctly. Make sure to wear clothes that cover your shoulders and knees if you’re a woman! The kayaking was a good time, and definitely a lot longer than most kayaking experiences you’ve been on, so prepare yourself ! It ‘‘twas a full day !

Adventurous and pretty experience!

Paul_K, Feb 2024

Really fun time - caves were very fun to explore, and the kayaking was both beautiful and serene. Cool way to explore Chiang Dao!

Fun kayaking down the river in our sixties and seventies

Heng_T, Feb 2024

We were a group of 11 adults in our 50s and 70s. Wenjoyed the kayaking done the river. We have great time splashing water on each other. The guides are professional allowing us to manoeuvre the kayat down the river ourselves while keeping watch on all more than 20 kayaks and are fast to render assistance where needed.

Nice day out in nature

Chris_B, Jan 2024

The cave was interesting and easy to do as long as you don’t have mobility challenges. After a good lunch there, you do the kayaking. The kayaking was generally peaceful and easy. You won’t fall in but wear a swimsuit because a bit of water splashes into the seat at the putting in area, so if you have shorts like me they’ll get wet. Shoes you can wear in the water are ideal because you have to get in and out in shallow water. Bare feet are fine to get in and out but you need to walk to and from the river too. Word of advice to the tour company: don’t assume everyone (especially older customers) likes little jokes like being tickled when looking at a spider in the cave, or being splashed in the kayak. Had to tell them to stop, which of course they did.

Family and kid friendly!

Erin_V, Jan 2024

This was an excellent tour! Our guides Jen and Jojo were kind, caring, knowledgeable and funny. 1000% recommend for family and anyone who wants to be wowed by nature and amazing tour.

Fun Time

Andre_N, Jan 2024

Very nice, we really enjoyed the kayaking and caving. Everything was handled really nicely. I would recommend going on the trip.

Fun. Interesting. Peaceful.

Brianna_K, Dec 2023

We had a fantastic time. Our tour guide was a jokester and we really enjoyed him. The cave was interesting but the kayaking was fun and peaceful. I highly recommend it.

Great kayaking and Cave Exploring

Ian_W, Dec 2023

One of the cave tour guides named Art was super funny and enjoyable the entire time. The cave is truly an amazing experience.

Cave was highlight of my whole trip!

Amanda_H, Dec 2023

Chiang Dao cave was sooo amazing! Highly recommend. River kayaking was also beautiful with lots of birds, fishermen, and friendly cows. Would definitely recommend this tour, but make sure you’re in good physical health and mobile as there are lots of big steps and slippery surfaces in the cave as well as lots of paddling in the kayaks. Also, allow for more time than is allotted. This is truly a full day trip (back in evening).

Between some rocks and a wet place!

Annette_A, Nov 2023

Travelling solo means meeting people in the back of bus while travelling to the locations. A big plus. Good briefing before we left regarding kayaking and what to expect. Good equipment suitable for recreational users. We had three cheeky playful local guides to oversee our safety and abilities so no worries there. Remember to take a change of clothes though as I was soaked to the skin by these three without getting my feet wet. They are most skilful in scooping up buckets of water on their paddle and accurately drowning you. The kayaking was shallow and tame which suited me. Drive to location in Chiang Doh is about 2 hours each way with the myriad of roadside landscapes and curiosities to take in. Very comfortable transport.

Brilliant Tour

Lizi_P, Nov 2023

Had a great time on this tour. The guides were really friendly, the kayaking was fab and we loved seeing the bats in the cave!

Too little activities and a very sketchy, unsafe car ride which takes up half of the day

Fritz_B, Nov 2023

The kayaking and the cave were nice, however, all in all it was around 1.5 hours of activities (kayaking 1 hour, cave 30 minutes), which is not really enough for the price and the length of the trip. It's a 2 hour drive each way in an open back vehicle without seatbelts or anything, so better pray that the driver doesn't make any mistakes because a crash at even low speeds is probably fatal

Response from Host, Nov 2023

Thanks for sharing your experience. We appreciate your feedback on the activities and the trip duration. We'll take your comments into consideration for future improvements. However may I also sugguest to get a new watch as the numbers are totally off . The Cave walk is 1hr , kayaking 2 hrs and the drive is 1hr 15minutes to Chiang Dao. We are still researching the the real reason that prompted the 1 star review and are sorry we couldnt satisfy. Thank you again for your input, in general we ask our reviewers not carelessly throwing around with numbers as it will confuse possible future participants.

A trip that worth remember

Peter_C, Nov 2023

Very nice and fun tourguides, it definitely a trip that we will remember. Just remember clothes for changing

Just do it. Amazing day.

Charles_R, Oct 2023

It was all amazing!!!! They were funny, and very knowledgeable. Made for an awesome day. I recommend highly.

Not worth

Dayna_L, Aug 2023

Operator picked us up late by 15 mins and didn’t inform. Viator also didn’t reply my text. The van was old and uncomfortable. Lunch was not even in a proper and decent place. It was some local road side store with bad hygiene and flies swarming around us. Food quality was of course low. Operator was however friendly and kind.

Response from Host, Aug 2023

Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback about your recent tour experience with us. We appreciate your honesty and want to address your concerns regarding the pickup delay and the lunch location. We deeply regret any inconvenience caused by the delay in the pickup time. We understand how important punctuality is, and we are actively working to enhance our communication processes to ensure that such situations are minimized in the future. Regarding the vehicle, we'd like to clarify that our fleet consists of well-maintained and modern vans. We apologize for any impression to the contrary and assure you that we take vehicle quality seriously. Your comfort and safety are our top priorities, and we will continue to ensure that our vehicles meet the highest standards. We also want to clarify the lunch stop location. The restaurant you visited is a renowned and beloved establishment in the vicinity of the cave. It's a favorite among both locals and visitors, known for its authentic flavors and inviting atmosphere. We regret that your experience did not match the positive reputation of the restaurant. We will communicate your concerns to the restaurant management to ensure that the hygiene and dining environment are up to the expected standards. We're heartened to hear that you found our operator to be friendly and kind. We take great pride in our team's dedication to providing exceptional customer service, and your acknowledgment of their efforts means a lot to us. Your feedback is invaluable as it helps us continually refine and improve our services. We genuinely apologize for any disappointment you faced during your tour. Should you decide to give us another opportunity, we are committed to ensuring that your experience surpasses your expectations in every aspect. Thank you for giving us the chance to address your concerns. We look forward to welcoming you back for a more enjoyable and memorable experience in the future. Live life as an adventure Aidan

Highly Recommend

Cynthia_L, Jul 2023

Super fun trip. The guides were very friendly and made sure that I was safe and had the best experience. The water was high so there were stronger rapids in the several turns we made but the guide made it easier by guiding me on how to maneuver my kayak through them. Caving was also fun though if you have fear in tight, as in squeezing through by crawling on your hands and knees and dark places, this may not be for you.

Rough going

Stacey_W, Jun 2023

We were a bit disappointed on this adventure. The kayaking was rough as our guide was unhelpful, and mostly kayaked in front of us, and did not give us good direction to navigate all the rocks. We didn’t have any time in the jungle, and the caves were all a part of a Buddhist temple. And our guide kept talking about his personal life, which did not help or experience. I think if we had better guidance with the kayaks, the trip would’ve been better.

Response from Host, Jul 2023

Dear Reviewer, Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback about your recent adventure with us. We apologize for any disappointment you experienced during your kayaking trip and appreciate your honest comments. We strive to provide exceptional service and ensure our guests have a memorable experience, and we regret that we fell short of your expectations. We understand that the rough kayaking conditions and the lack of helpful guidance from your assigned guide had a negative impact on your overall experience. We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience caused by our guide's behavior, as it is not reflective of our usual standards. Rest assured, we take your comments seriously and will address this matter with our team to ensure it does not happen again in the future. Regarding the itinerary, we apologize if you felt that there wasn't enough time to explore the jungle or if the caves did not meet your expectations. We strive to provide a well-rounded adventure that caters to a variety of interests, and we regret that we missed the mark on this occasion. We will take your feedback into account when reviewing and refining our tour options. Your feedback regarding the guide's personal discussions is duly noted. We understand that this can detract from the overall experience, and we will emphasize the importance of maintaining a professional and focused approach while guiding our guests. We genuinely appreciate your valuable input, as it helps us identify areas where we can improve our services. We would like to make it up to you and restore your faith in our company. Please reach out to our customer service team, and we will be more than happy to discuss suitable options for compensation or provide an alternative adventure that better aligns with your expectations. Once again, we sincerely apologize for any inconvenience caused, and we hope you will give us another opportunity to exceed your expectations in the future. Warm regards, Aidan

Really nice guide staff,Loved the cave!

Sandy_B, May 2023

The guides were really helpful and friendly, they made the trip. The kayaking wasn’t what I’d recommend as the water was really muddy but loved Our guides and the caving experience was fantastic!

Awesome

Deena_M, May 2023

Really fun experience! We had great guides as well. They were so patient and flexible... very knowledgeable and helpful.