If you like nature but you prefer something a little more mellow than water activities like white water rafting, the River Tubing experience in Chiang Mai might be just your cup of tea. This is a very serious activity – seriously relaxing, that is! In the river tubing adventure, you lounge around in large rubber tubes, letting the river carry you past the scenic landscape while you chat with your friends over a few drinks and munch on snacks. No stress, no pressure, just a lazy day in the sun drifting down the river in good company.

You’ll start the full-day river tubing experience at the beach club before you hit the river. At the beach club, you’ll stock up on food and drinks (alcoholic and non-alcoholic options available) to take with you on your river tubing sojourn. The food and drinks aren’t included in the package, but as Kate, our intrepid country specialist for Thailand tells us, the food and drinks are very reasonably priced, so you won’t have pay an arm and a leg for your food and drinks on the river.

The beach club area also has open-air huts, hammocks, a volleyball net, and other things to keep you entertained. Once you’ve stocked up on food and drinks for your river tubing ride, a truck will take you to the starting point of your ride, about 10km out from the beach club.

When you’ve launched your tubes and you’re soaking up the sunshine on the river, all you have to do is relax while you watch the world go by. The tubes even have headrests and built-in drink coolers! While the tubing ride is mostly a laid-back activity, you may need to work with your friends to manoeuvre your tubes out of little currents. Rest assured, though, that you won’t be in any danger: the tubes are extremely sturdy and the entire ride is very safe.

When the ride is over, you’ll head back to the beach club, where you’ll have plenty of time to relax, play badminton or volleyball, nap in a hammock, or simply enjoy a sundowner and shoot the breeze with your friends as you take in the sunset.

The 8-hour river tubing adventure from BeMyGuest, includes life jackets, cooler tubes and for your drinks, and the use of a locker for your valuables. You’ll also get complimentary use of an underwater camera for the ride, and this includes uploading the pictures to Facebook when you return from the river. Bring sunglasses, sunscreen, a swimsuit or clothes you don’t mind getting wet, and a dry set of clothes for your river tubing ride. Don’t fret if you’re not a strong swimmer – you don’t have to swim to enjoy this experience. Happy river tubing, folks!

Check out other unique things to to in Chiang Mai!