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Get carried away

At first glance, the Khek River appears like an ordinary river. It is of a modest width, snaking peacefully from its origin on a mountaintop in Phetchabun Province. Then, without warning, the smooth surface of the river becomes agitated like a boiling cauldron. That is when the fun begins.

Khek River is one of the best sites for rafting in Thailand. The waterway is blessed with a number of rapids ranging from level 1 to 5. A typical rafting trip will take you through 8 kilometers of river peppered with 13 rapids. Before you board the rubber dinghy, which can carry about 10 passengers, the crew will brief you on the technique of rowing and what to do when you fall off the craft. Most of the crew members do not speak English, but the tutorial is easily understood through body language.

The first hundred meters are for getting familiar with your oars. You will then start from a very mild rapid to warm up both your rowing and vocal cords. The following six rapids range between level 2 and 3. Between each rapid you will have time to savour the beautiful scenery. The banks are lined with hog plum trees and bamboos and lushly vegetated mountains. Normally the water is green and clear, but in the rainy season it turns brown due to the sediment and mud that comes with strong currents.

The texture of the water at each rapid is also something to behold. The rock formation at some rapids makes the water appear like a giant fluttering piece of cloth glinting with sunlight. At others, the water bubbles fiercely and, despite its boiling look, is refreshingly cool.

The real adventure lies in the last Eve rapids. The highlight is “Kaeng Yao" (“long rapid"), 100 meters of bumpy level 5 rapids that will keep you clinging to your dinghy rope. People do fall off sometimes so you should be extra careful here (the crew told us that some people find falling overboard great fun but not at this particular spot.)

Different resorts and rafting operators might offer slightly different routes or include a different number of rapids, but the experience should be similarly thrilling. The best season for the adventure starts from June and ends in October (this year, we are told, it started late due to the drought.) Children should be older than 12 years old to participate, though some operators might overlook this rule.

How to Get There

The best rafting spot on the Khek River is in Wang Thong district, about 40 kilometers from Philsanumk city There are frequent buses (Phitsanulok - Nakhon Thai) leaving from the bus terminal in the cily center.

Discover

Enjoy one of the best rafting sites in Thailand, This is an almost zero-carbon activity that allows you to enjoy both an adrenalin rush and the beautiful landscape of Wang Thong district.

Feel

A lot of the accommodation (some regrettably sitting right above the river) in the area combine this adventurous outdoor activity with spa and massage. Get yourself pampered while listening to the constant murmur of the river.

Share

Rafting is a sport and adventure that cannot go without solidarity and team spirit. Bring your friends along, but also be open to new encounters and mutual challenges. Once on this very unpredictable river, we are all in the same boat.