Your full-day trip from Chiang Mai begins with hotel pickup in the morning. En route to the rafting point, you’re driven through a village in Mae Taeng District, with a stop at Sai Nam Phung Orchid Farm. Meander the scenic farm on foot for an hour with your guide and learn about the great array of orchids in bloom. Visit the orchid nursery and gape in awe at the colorful varieties being raised.

(On the way to the Mae Taeng River, take in the beautiful surroundings of the northern Thai countryside, replete with quiet villages nestled in forested mountains. When you arrive at the camp, river guides offer instruction on river safety and basic paddling techniques to prepare you for the upcoming ride.

First, enjoy a Thai lunch, with seasonal fruit and provided bottled water. Then slip on your life jacket and helmet to start your 2-hour whitewater rafting adventure.

The fast-flowing Mae Taeng River provides a thrilling ride with unforgettable views of the jungle blurring past. This powerful river north of Chiang Mai travels through a mountainous landscape that’s home to remote hill-tribe villages and terraced rice fields. The 6-mile (10-km) white-water rafting route winds through gorges and canyons featuring numerous waterfalls.

Expect to get wet as you bump over class 2 to 4 rapids; usually the weather is warm, so you’ll dry out soon, depending on the season and water levels. During the rainy season, from August to October, the fast-flowing river can get wild, guaranteeing an adrenaline-boosting ride over rapids that sometimes reach class 5. (Note: rapid classes run from 1 to 6, with 1 being the easiest and 6 being virtually unnavigable.)

Complete your recreational tour with some time to refresh before you’re driven past traditional villages, orchards, valleys and rice fields back to Chiang Mai, with drop-off at your hotel.