Kayaking Archives - 8Adventures

8Adventures: Your Premier Choice for School Trips to Thailand

Liam Davies — Tue, 02 Jan 2024 05:24:12 +0000

8Adventures: Your Premier Choice for School Trips to Thailand

The timeless beauty of Chiang Mai, with its rich cultural tapestry and breathtaking landscapes, calls out to adventurers and learners alike. But to truly unlock the magic and potential of this Thai gem for students, one needs an expert guide. Enter 8Adventures, a specialist in crafting unforgettable and transformative school trip Thailand experiences.

Customized Adventures, Memorable Journeys

With 8Adventures, your school trips are far from the ordinary. Whether it’s a half-day excursion or a multi-week immersive experience, every program is meticulously designed to cater to the group’s interests, comfort, and fitness levels. We seamlessly blend adventure, cultural exposure, and community outreach to create journeys that foster resilience, leadership, teamwork, and confidence among students.

4 Reasons Why 8Adventures Should Be Your School Trip Provider:

Unrivaled Safety Standards

Safety isn’t just a buzzword for us—it’s an uncompromising commitment. We boast of an externally audited and STA Travel approved high level of safety. With risk assessments for each activity and a team that’s First Aid trained, you’re assured of an experience where safety truly is paramount. After all, we are the only company in South East Asia endorsed by the International Rafting Federation!

A Wealth of Experience

Founded by world and Asian champions like Eric Southwick and Kriangsak Boonsom, the pedigree of 8Adventures speaks for itself. Our team’s collective experience in the outdoors ensures that students embark on adventures that are not only exciting but also enriching.

Journeys Beyond the Ordinary

With 8Adventures, students get to experience the authentic charm of South East Asia. Based in Chiang Mai, our journeys venture into some of the most untouched and remote areas, offering genuine encounters that instill self-esteem and broaden horizons.

End-to-End Services for School Residential Programs

Planning a school trip can be daunting. But with 8Adventures, you get an end-to-end service package. From custom tours, pre and post-trip support, certified trip leaders, to world-class adventures, we’ve got you covered. Plus, our extensive range of offerings, from school residential programs to Outward Bound and Corporate Programs, ensures there’s something for every need.

In the vast realm of adventure providers, 8Adventures stands out as a beacon of excellence for school trip Thailand. Our dedication to safety, rich experience, authentic journeys, and comprehensive service set us apart.

So, if you’re looking to provide your students with an unparalleled, growth-oriented, and safe adventure in Thailand, the choice is clear. 8Adventures awaits to craft your perfect journey.

For inquiries and more, reach out to us at i@8adventures.com, or to check out our sample itineraries have a look at our dedicated school trips pages.

The post 8Adventures: Your Premier Choice for School Trips to Thailand appeared first on 8Adventures.

Kayaking for the Environment

admin — Mon, 18 Dec 2017 19:06:51 +0000

At 8Adventure’s we’re passionate about the environment and work hard to keep the river and jungle environment around our camp as clean and free from trash as possible. Often we’re inspired by articles we read in the news and one good example is the story of two brothers who kayaked down the world’s most polluted river, in canoes made of plastic bottles!

They made their crafts by hand from a combination of 300 plastic bottles and a bamboo frame and started their expedition along the Citarum River in Indonesia. Named the #PlasticBottleCitarum expedition, the Frenchmen spent a total of two weeks kayaking down the river, starting from Majalaya to Pantai Bahagia, located at the river’s mouth to the Java Sea. During the expedition, they documented their experiences and local initiatives they encountered throughout the journey. The environmentalists said the idea of kayaking on plastic bottle canoes was to give waste a second life, and draw attention to the shocking levels of trash found in the river.

We take our responsibility to respect the Mae Taeng river seriously and we are active in recycling and litter picking. Next time your at 8Adventures, please remember to bring a reusable bottle!

Further reading at http://makeachange.world/

[vc_video link=’https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rsgZhIPPzqM’]

The post Kayaking for the Environment appeared first on 8Adventures.

Adventure Tourism: How to choose the right activity

admin — Thu, 13 Oct 2016 05:49:38 +0000

Adventure Tourism is an increasingly popular choice for travellers in Asia and in particular the north of Thailand. The mountains and jungles that surround Chiang Mai are the perfect place to explore and enjoy an exciting range of activities, from whitewater rafting to trekking and ATV. Many of these tours last around 3hrs so it’s possible to experience several adventure activities in a single day, perfect for people who want to get as much out of their holiday time as possible.

Firstly, Chiang Mai’s seasonal climate should be taken into consideration. In the summer months (April- June) the heat can be baking hot, and at times unbearable for those accustomed to cooler temperatures. Water based activities can still be enjoyed as fast flowing rivers offer a welcomed relief from the heat, although due to the lack of rain sometimes the water levels can drop too low. For this reason, rafting is most fun during the rainy season (June- September). The most popular time to visit northern Thailand is December- February, as the temperature is much more pleasant. All adventure tourism activities are recommend during this period.

Secondly, consider your groups requirements, age and abilities. If you’re travelling with a family you’ll be pleased to know that many tours can be enjoyed by everyone, including young children. Kids love jungle trekking and rafting! If you’re travelling with a partner, you may wish to experience staying overnight in a hilltribe village. This is a unique and inspiring activity and can be combined with other fun adventures including ATV, Rafting, Trekking and Zipline. Large groups can also be accommodated, although it’s essential to contact the travel operators in advance during peak season.

Lastly, choose a company that has good reviews and safety record. Look for the TAT (Tourism Authority Thailand) number and research tours on popular sites such as TripAdvisor. If the operator receives 5-star reviews consistently then you’ve a good chance of having an amazing time. Be aware of low budget companies who may cut corners as regards to safety, insurance and maintenance of boats and vehicles.

8Adventures are proud to offer an exciting range of highly rated adventure tourism activities close to Chiang Mai, for more information please visit our website www.8Adventures.com and Facebook Page

The post Adventure Tourism: How to choose the right activity appeared first on 8Adventures.

Rain, Glorious Rain!

admin — Wed, 18 May 2016 08:29:30 +0000

This has been Thailand’s driest and hottest summer since the 1960s with temperatures reaching record breaking highs of 44c.

At 8Adventures we’ve had to work extra hard to keep our guests happy under the scorching sun. Rafting in Chiang Mai has been virtually impossible over the last few weeks, even with our inflatable kayaks that are suited to low water.

Last night we experienced the first of the seasons downpours and the water level in the Mae Taeng rose dramatically overnight, to the great relief of all our staff. Not only does this make for more exciting rafting and kayaking, it also means the surrounding jungle and forests are greener and fresher- making our trekking tours even better too.

Make sure to book your white water rafting tour today! Alternatively check out all our other combination tour packages for great value one day trips in Chiang Mai

The post Rain, Glorious Rain! appeared first on 8Adventures.

Unfazed by Water Levels

admin — Mon, 07 Mar 2016 05:56:53 +0000

This time of year brings less rainfall to Northern Thailand, making the days a bit less balmy (thankfully) but also providing us lower water levels. If you’re wondering about whether or not the water levels on the river are sufficient for white water rafting, 8Adventures can assure it’s guests that this time of year doesn’t deter our trips from going out, and maintaining the same fun and safety that we promise year-round. Water levels are checked daily, and when the water’s a bit low, trips go out in our durable inflatable kayaks. These kayaks, just like our large white water rafts, offer a pleasant and exciting rafting experience. Every trip has a ratio of one guest to one guide; the guest is in the front of the kayak, and the guide is behind them. We put a trained guide in the kayak with you, to make sure you’re safe, comfortable, and maximizing the thrill of your descent down the gorgeous Mae Taeng River, in Chiang Mai, Thailand!

You can check out photos of our most recent trips on our Facebook page.

The post Unfazed by Water Levels appeared first on 8Adventures.

Welcoming the Thai National Kayaking Team

admin — Wed, 14 Oct 2015 07:10:54 +0000

It’s a lively time for 8Adventures and this week we are proudly hosting the Thai National Slalom Kayaking team at our basecamp. The group of 8 highly talented teenagers have come to train on the Mae Taeng river under the supervision of their head coach Nico Noel: “The support of 8Adventures is really important to the success of our team. Their enthusiasm combined with the food and accommodation they’re providing has been fantastic”. For the young athletes, finding locations to train in their home country can be difficult, as 17 year old Gai explained “Slalam kayaking isn’t very well supported here, there are no artificial courses or good places to train. At a competition in England, I saw the training centre for kayakers in London- it was amazing!”. The Mae Taeng Valley is one of the few suitable places in Thailand, as it benefits from good road access.

The team are training in the river twice a day and also exercising by running through the jungle. “We’re training hard” says coach Nico “the team has to compete with China in the Asian qualifiers. We need to best at our very best”. For team member Dream, from Chiang Mai, this is a big opportunity “I love Mae Taeng, it’s really beautiful and I hope someone in my group will make it to the Olympics one day”

The post Welcoming the Thai National Kayaking Team appeared first on 8Adventures.

8Adventures Photo Gallery

admin — Thu, 08 Oct 2015 17:23:46 +0000

It’s been an exciting season for 8Adventures and we’ve taken hundreds of happy people out for adventure experiences in the Mae Taeng valley. During your time with us we can take photos of you, using our cameras or yours and will upload the images to our new gallery.

As well as our best activity shots, the photo gallery includes guest photos from each day. We upload the photos within a few days of your visit and you’ll have the opportunity to download or share them from social networks.

Please take a moment to look through our new page https://8adventures.com/

The post 8Adventures Photo Gallery appeared first on 8Adventures.

8Adventures: Whitewater River Levels in Mae Taeng, Chiang Mai

admin — Tue, 29 Sep 2015 07:44:35 +0000

“How high is the water right now?”

This is a question we get asked daily by customers! Naturally we believe it’s worth visiting 8Adventures at any time of the year, and as each season provides different conditions we have learnt to adapt our tours to give you the best possible experience.

For example, during northern Thailand’s main rainy season from June- October there is a much greater chance of rain, with August seeing the highest rainfall. At this time the water can be high and fast and we’ll use our biggest and strongest Whitewater Rafts. From November the rain decreases, with December-Feb often being our driest spell. We check the water levels daily and adjust the air levels in the rafts accordingly. When the level is low we use our 2 person Inflatable Kayaks to give you a faster ride.

When the water is high I like my kayak or a big raft, it’s a blast! When the water is low you get an experience that is hard to find anywhere else… Inflatable Kayaks slotting through the drops, it’s really fun.

Eric Southwick

Thailand’s weather patterns significantly effect the height and speed of the Mae Taeng River where we run all our whitewater rafting, kayaking and SUP adventures. From next year we’re planning to record daily water levels to produce our own data.

The post 8Adventures: Whitewater River Levels in Mae Taeng, Chiang Mai appeared first on 8Adventures.

White Water Rafting in Chiang Mai: Do we cancel in the rain?

admin — Thu, 09 Jul 2015 11:38:15 +0000

White Water Rafting in Chiang Mai

Some much need rain reached us yesterday. A perfect time to get out for some white water rafting in Chiang Mai with 8Adventures. A common question I get is “do we cancel when it rains?”. We simply smile and say rafting and kayaking are one of the best things to do in the rain. You’re already wet so a few extra drops don’t hurt. Not to mention that it might be the first time you have been in Thailand and not looked around for an air conditioned room to escape into. The water is warm, the air is warm and it’s nice to have a little sun protection from the clouds. Sometime you might luck out and get a high water day for a little extra white water rafting in Chiang Mai!

10 km Whitewater Rafting Info

The post White Water Rafting in Chiang Mai: Do we cancel in the rain? appeared first on 8Adventures.