On the water · HIKING & TREKKING

15 River Treks Worldwide Worth Flying For

16 trips  ·  from $47 a head

Good river treks sell out weeks ahead in season and the famous ones go first. Below: the 15 to book early, what each one includes and how they differ once you are wet.

Chiang Mai: 2-Day Jungle Trek with Elephant Farm & Raft Ride - From Chiang Mai’s old town to the local market
2-Day Experiences, Chiang Mai Rafting Tours, Farms, Hiking & Trekking, Rafting and Elephant Sanctuary Days, Rafting Tours, Thailand Rafting Tours, Tour Reviews

Chiang Mai: 2-Day Jungle Trek with Elephant Farm & Raft Ride

1.2-Day Jungle Trek with Elephant Farm & Raft Ride

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 881 reviews · 2 days · from $97 a head Our pick

Spend two active days in Chiang Mai Province hiking from rice fields into bamboo forest, sleeping in a Karen village, visiting a rescued-elephant sanctuary, swimming at a jungle waterfall, and rafting the Mae Wang River. Guides such as Witoon, Moon, Sammy, and Louis are known for explaining local life and keeping groups moving. Expect basic lodging, shared meals, and some steep uphill walking.

“very good! enjoyed evry second, totally worth the money!”

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Monkey Business 3 days - 2 nights Jungle trekking (including rafting) - Day one: from rainforest edge to jungle camp
3-Day Experiences, Hiking & Trekking, Indonesia Rafting Tours, Medan Rafting Tours, Rafting Tours, Tour Reviews

Monkey Business 3 days – 2 nights Jungle trekking (including rafting)

2.Monkey Business 3 days – 2 nights Jungle trekking (including rafting)

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 294 reviews · from $205 a head Best rated

You spend three days and two nights trekking through Gunung Leuser National Park from Bukit Lawang, with jungle camp nights, meals, river swimming, wildlife spotting, and rafting. Guides such as Nang Nang, Kian, Dedi, Bimbo, and Risky have led groups here. Jungle shoes, water, mosquito repellent, park entry, and private guiding are included.

“Amazing !!! The staff (everyone) made this experience perfect We saw many orangutans and felt always we were it a very professional tour operators. Can’t thank enough Loved every minute of it !!!”

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Bali: Mount Batur Sunrise Trek and White Water Rafting - The 4:00 AM climb up Mount Batur
Bali Rafting Tours, Hiking & Trekking, Indonesia Rafting Tours, Morning, Rafting Tours, Tour Reviews, White Water Rafting, White Water Rafting in Indonesia

Bali: Mount Batur Sunrise Trek and White Water Rafting

3.Mount Batur Sunrise Trek and White Water Rafting

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 193 reviews · 7 - 10 hours · from $47 a head Cheapest seat

Start before dawn with a guided Mount Batur climb, breakfast beside the crater, and sunrise views of Lake Batur and Mount Rinjani. After a shower at Mt. Batur Lounge, raft the Ayung River for about three hours past rice fields, waterfalls, rainforest, and rock carvings. Transport, lunch, and local guides are included.

“It was amazing experience. Our driver Kupit came just in time and guide us for every tour.He was extremely helpful and cheerful. Glad that he drove us to the tours. Both mt batur and rafting was amazing. We spent best of our times in Bali.Highly recommended”

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Monkey Business 2 days - 1 night Jungle Trekking (including rafting) - Dinner by the river and a night of jungle sounds
2-Day Experiences, Evening Experiences, Hiking & Trekking, Indonesia Rafting Tours, Medan Rafting Tours, Rafting Tours, Tour Reviews

Monkey Business 2 days – 1 night Jungle Trekking (including rafting)

4.Monkey Business 2 days – 1 night Jungle Trekking (including rafting)

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 121 reviews · from $144 a head

Spend two days in Gunung Leuser National Park with a private guide and cook, sleeping at a jungle camp near the river. Trek for orangutans and monkeys, visit waterfalls, and add rafting. Guides Dedi, Ian, and Putra are especially noted for their wildlife knowledge and good food.

“Our family experienced an awsome junggle trip in Bukit Lawang. Our guide Dedi was the best, the coolest guide knowing junggle into the deep of its heart.”

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2-Day Jungle Trekking & Rafting in North Sumatra - Rivers, waterfalls, and a night at camp
2-Day Experiences, Hiking & Trekking, Indonesia Rafting Tours, Medan Rafting Tours, Rafting Tours, Tour Reviews

2-Day Jungle Trekking & Rafting in North Sumatra

5.2-Day Jungle Trekking & Rafting in North Sumatra

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 92 reviews · from $157 a head

Spend two days in Gunung Leuser National Park with an HPI-certified guide and assistant. Trek from Bukit Lawang, watch for semiwild orangutans, gibbons, monkeys, and turtles, swim in rivers, shower beneath waterfalls, camp with meals and gear provided, then raft back to town. Pickup is available across North Sumatra, and groups are limited to six.

“This Trip has been the best adventure! We walked through the deep green jungle up and down through the rainforest of Sumatra. If you want to experience nature: this is the trip to take! On our 2Days1Night Tour we were lucky to see GibbonsRead more”

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Chiang Mai ATV & White Water Rafting & Trekking to Waterfall - The morning ride from Chiang Mai to Maetang
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Chiang Mai ATV & White Water Rafting & Trekking to Waterfall

6.Chiang Mai ATV & White Water Rafting & Trekking to Waterfall

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 84 reviews · 1 day · from $87 a head

Leave Chiang Mai for a full day at the Maetang River, combining a two-hour jungle trek to a waterfall, one hour of white-water rafting, and one hour on a 200cc ATV. English-speaking guides such as Tony and Tata lead the trip. Hotel pickup, equipment, lunch, water, admission, and insurance are included.

“the atv and the rafting was a very amazing experience, the view to the waterfall is breathtaking. we really recommend to do this trip.”

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Pure Trek Canyoning & White Water Rafting in La Fortuna - Starting at Pure Trek’s rainforest base
Costa Rica Rafting Tours, Hiking & Trekking, La Fortuna Rafting Tours, Rafting and Canyoning Combos, Rafting Tours, Tour Reviews, White Water Rafting

Pure Trek Canyoning & White Water Rafting in La Fortuna

7.Pure Trek Canyoning & White Water Rafting in La Fortuna

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 83 reviews · 8 hours (approx.) · from $204 a head

Start with Pure Trek’s waterfall canyoning, including rappels, rock work, and a forest zipline. Then ride about 45 minutes to the Balsa River for Class II and III rafting, a swimming stop, snacks, drinks, and lunch. Guides such as Byran, Myron, Augusto, and Mario have earned praise for calm, careful instruction.

“There was a little miscommunication on the transportation to the excursion, but the guides were very accommodating and made sure we were taken care of. The rappelling was amazing and maybe the best part of our trip to Fortuna.”

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Chiang Mai: Whitewater Rafting and Waterfall Trekking Tour - The 1.5-hour ride from Chiang Mai
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Chiang Mai: Whitewater Rafting and Waterfall Trekking Tour

8.Whitewater Rafting and Waterfall Trekking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 58 reviews · 10 hours · from $112 a head

Leave Chiang Mai by air-conditioned minivan for Mae Taeng District, where guides such as Tin, Sack, Sam, and Tom lead a jungle trek, waterfall swim, and 10-kilometer rafting run. Expect class III and IV rapids, safety gear, lunch, showers, and a full day outdoors. You need to swim and be reasonably fit.

“Very nice experience, worth money spent on it. Trekking offered very nice views and local guide was explaining/sharing a lot of interesting information about plants and animals. Waterfall, worth the effort. Rafting, very exciting experience, staff very professional”

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Wonderful 2Days 1Night Bukit Lawang Jungle Trekking Free Rafting - The second day: farther into the forest, then back by tube
2-Day Experiences, Hiking & Trekking, Indonesia Rafting Tours, Medan Rafting Tours, Rafting Tours, Tour Reviews

Wonderful 2Days 1Night Bukit Lawang Jungle Trekking Free Rafting

9.Wonderful 2Days 1Night Bukit Lawang Jungle Trekking Free Rafting

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 53 reviews · from $145 a head

Start near Bukit Lawang with certified English-speaking guides, then hike through Gunung Leuser National Park in search of orangutans, gibbons, macaques, birds, and other wildlife. You camp beside a river or waterfall, eat meals in the forest, and return by traditional tubing. Guides such as Marwan, Iman, and Nang Nang are associated with the operation.

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Motta Camastra: Alcantara Gorges Body Rafting and River Trek - Small waterfalls and rapids on the upstream route
Hiking & Trekking, Italy Rafting Tours, Rafting Tours, Tour Reviews

Motta Camastra: Alcantara Gorges Body Rafting and River Trek

10.Motta Camastra: Alcantara Gorges Body Rafting and River Trek

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 51 reviews · 2 hours · from $71 a head

In Motta Camastra, you’ll hike up the Alcantara River through basalt walls, small waterfalls, and rapids before floating back by body raft. A certified English- or Italian-speaking guide provides the equipment and safety support. Bring a swimsuit and towel, arrive 30 minutes early, and note the 150 cm minimum height and age limits.

“The guide was very friendly and patient. Very cool experience!”

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Chiang Mai: ATV Adventure, Jungle Hike & White Water Rafting - The ride north takes about one hour
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Chiang Mai: ATV Adventure, Jungle Hike & White Water Rafting

11.ATV Adventure, Jungle Hike & White Water Rafting

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 28 reviews · 8 hours · from $87 a head

Spend a full day outside Chiang Mai with an English-speaking guide, a two-hour jungle walk to a waterfall, 5 kilometers of rafting, Thai lunch, and a one-hour 200CC ATV ride. Pickup and drop-off are included in downtown areas. Guides such as Tony and Hong are praised for keeping the day friendly and well organized.

“our guide was awesome. his knowledge friendliness and helpfulness really made the trip. nothing to improve it was a brilliant day”

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Kayak,Raft,Hiking,Canyon Exploration in Albania -6 day tour - Day 1: Tirana arrival and Berat’s hilltop castle
6-Day Experiences, Albania Rafting Tours, Hiking & Trekking, Rafting Tours, Tirana Rafting Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Kayak,Raft,Hiking,Canyon Exploration in Albania -6 day tour

12.Kayak,Raft,Hiking,Canyon Exploration in Albania -6 day tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 22 reviews · from $1,173 a head

You’ll travel from Tirana into southern Albania for a busy six-day program of rafting, kayaking, canyon hiking, mule riding, village meals, and cave exploration. Guides from Albania Rafting Group, including Alma, Linkest, Arti, and Renato, are associated with the operating team. Expect changing river conditions, shared transport, and a moderate fitness requirement.

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Chiang Mai: Jungle Trek, Elephants care & Bamboo Rafting - A market stop with a practical purpose
Bamboo Rafting, Bamboo Rafting in Chiang Mai, Bamboo Rafting in Thailand, Chiang Mai Rafting Tours, Hiking & Trekking, Rafting and Elephant Sanctuary Days, Rafting Tours, Thailand Rafting Tours, Tour Reviews

Chiang Mai: Jungle Trek, Elephants care & Bamboo Rafting

13.Jungle Trek, Elephants care & Bamboo Rafting

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 8 reviews · 1 day · from $58 a head

You’ll leave Chiang Mai by van for Mae Wang and Mae Win, stopping at a local market before bamboo rafting and a 2 to 5-hour trek. Expect rice fields, a waterfall, packed lunch, and a visit to a Karen village. The route is active, weather-sensitive, and may not include the elephant care suggested by the title.

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Bukit Lawang: Jungle Trekking and Rafting Day Trip - Lunch in Bukit Lawang before the forest
1-Day Tours, Hiking & Trekking, Indonesia Rafting Tours, Rafting Tours, Tour Reviews

Bukit Lawang: Jungle Trekking and Rafting Day Trip

14.Bukit Lawang: Jungle Trekking and Rafting Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 7 reviews · 12 hours · from $172 a head

Leave Medan early for Bukit Lawang, where an English-speaking local guide leads a hot rainforest trek in Gunung Leuser National Park. Look for orangutans and monkeys, eat nasi goreng with fresh fruit, then ride a car-inner-tube raft down the Bahorok River. Bring water, insect repellent, and dry clothes.

“Our tour guide Henry was amazing, we were just the two of us in our group + everything was on time! We saw 7 orang utans and plenty other monkeys during our one day hike. The food was great - nasi goreng and fresh fruits. Don’t forget to bring a big bottle of water - it’s really hot and humid and most importantly bring a swimming suit or change of clothing. At the end you will have the chance to go swimming in the river and be prepared to get completely wet during the rafting back😂 It is expensive, but worth the money - we had a lot of fun…”

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Khao Sok Jungle Day Trip - Jungle Trekking & Bamboo Rafting - The 7:00 AM pickup and ride to the park
1-Day Tours, Bamboo Rafting, Bamboo Rafting in Thailand, Hiking & Trekking, Khlong Sok Rafting Tours, Rafting Tours, Thailand Rafting Tours, Tour Reviews

Khao Sok Jungle Day Trip – Jungle Trekking & Bamboo Rafting

15.Khao Sok Jungle Day Trip – Jungle Trekking & Bamboo Rafting

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 7 reviews · from $98 a head

Start with a 7:00 AM hotel pickup, then visit Khao Sok Viewpoint, hike through ancient rainforest with a licensed guide, eat Thai lunch by the river, and raft down the Sok River. Juli is one named guide praised for her care and nature expertise. The trek can be adjusted, but heavy rain may cancel rafting.

“Good trip but inexperienced guide, luckily she kept us close to other guides so we still got to see the wildlife!”

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