SEA AND RIVER CANOEING

As the hull beneath you slices cleanly through the water, you can feel each shock and slap of the waves. As you come to a bend in the stream or a stretch of turbulence, the precision of your craft is itself a trill. Canoeing has not long been popular in Thailand but the Sarika Canoe Club at Nakhon Nayok just north of Bangkok is one of the pioneers. The river there offers several challenging kilometers of whitewater, especially between June to October when the water is high. As the river in any case winds through spectacular country, it is always a good ride.

Or want to try the sea? Ko Chang National Park or Pattaya are the best sea canoe sites in central Thailand. Ko Chang’s many islands, many still uninhabited, in particular offer fantastic adventure. Run your canoe ashore on Ko Mak’s golden beaches or explorer the scenic interwoven bays of Ko Ngam. Ko Rang offers dazzlingly clear waters and spectacular views. Ko Kra, only half a square kilometer of land, has superb shallow water coral. But in the end it’s the boat itself that counts: The way it answers to the paddle, the way it cuts the surface. Whether you shoot Nakhon Nayok’s rapids in style or find yourself slogging through a choppy sea off Pattaya, it’s the sense of closeness to nature that’s the thing! No wonder canoeing is catching on!