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Umphang Thailand
River Rafting...
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Thailand, Umphang,
Umphang
rafting, Umphang
river, Umphang
waterfall,
Umphang, northern
Thailand, adventure,
trekking, river
rafting caving,
rafting, kayaking,
hotel, river
resort..
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-Traveling from
Mae Sot to Umphang is a roller coaster ride,
up and down
steep valleys and ever winding roads, pictured below is a
Karen refugee village at about half distance from Mae Sot to Umphang.
Um Phang is a perfect place for trekking in the hilly
tropical jungle, heading for the Umphang wildlife sanctuary
and maybe staying at the Umphang hill resort. If you want to
know something about the real situation on Myanmar Karen
refugees in Thailand take a rafting tour, you will find that
practically all people related to tourism are Myanmar Karen
since they got a good education in Myanmar, including to
speak English, almost no Thais in that area speak English
and usually has only rudimentary education.
Thailand, several NGO’s and EU agencies give a
helping hand to the Myanmar Karen, actually most of the
people at the border area are Thai Karen, the Thai
government call them hill tribes. Many of them probably live
better here than many Thai’s elsewhere because of the
foreign help.
Umphang is south of Mae Sot in the mountain jungle
wilderness of the
Thailand Myanmar border area. Probably
one of the best great outdoor destination in Thailand but it
is very difficult to reach since the forestry department of Thailand in
Bangkok refuses to extend the road from Kampheng Phet near
Nakhon Sawan in central Thailand to Umphang. Just to put this into context, this is not what I am
thinking, I simply don't know, I am a foreigner. This is
what the local people told me. That means an almost 500 km detour
via Mae Sot which naturally
most people try to avoid since the road from Mae Sot down to Umphang is simply dangerous.
Very often people mix Umphang up with Doi Inthanon, trekking
Pai, Mae
Hong Son, Mae Sariang,
Mae Sot and
Khao Sok,
but all this has nothing to do with Um |
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Phang, that's at
totally
different
locations
hundreds of
kilometers away
elsewhere.
Unfortunately
the Thai Tourist
Authorities or
TAT in Thailand
will give only
minor
information on
anything except
Bangkok and the
beaches of the
south. This is
one of the major
problems in
Thailand since
Bangkok neglects
the regions of
the north, east
and north west
of the country
almost
completely, most
of the riots we
saw in Bangkok
in the last few
month have this
source of no one
cares about the
other Thai
people.
Umphang town is a small village of maybe 3,000 people,
mainly Karen, Mon, and Thais. There are no banks or
moneychangers in Umphang, that means take enough cash with
you.
The
3 - 5 hour ride from Mae Sot to Umphang leads
through terraced
paddy fields,
banana groves,
fruit
plantations,
remote villages
and Karen
refugee villages
or camp. |
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Karen Refuge Village Between Mae Sot and Umphang |
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At Umphang you could ask yourself,
is this Thailand adventure travel,
the answer is probably yes and the
good news is it is in a peaceful
environment. Don’t
believe this media reports which
constantly telling about fighting at
the Thailand Myanmar border
north of Umphang on
the Myanmar side. There is no
fighting unless some Karen guys attack the
Myanmar military which might respond
to it, the real almost civil war on
the Myanmar side has faded away
already more than 10 years ago.
At
Umphang do an hike through the lush
mountain rain forests, but be
aware don’t do it on your own always
take a guide with you, the guide
almost always are Karen people
either from the Myanmar or Thai side.
There is a great
variety of birds and wildlife. Camp
out with local tribes and see their
lifestyles, their culture, their
food and costumes.
Do a
river rafting and be amazed
by the raw mountain jungle nature of
Umphang and the area around.
There is a wildlife sanctuary south
of Umphang. At Umphang you will find the
reason why adventure travel Thailand
is so popular. You will
experience something real different,
with a different twist as what your
live usually has to offer. This
unique and exciting Thailand travel
destination may not be for
everyone since you need a good
physical condition, but the outdoor
adventure at Umphang can be managed
to a certain extend even for people
who are not so fit or handicapped. There
are a plenty of helping hands
around who are pleased to help you
for a little extra fee, since in
Thailand almost everything is quite
cheap, around $ 10,- can go a long
way. The average income in Thailand
is around $ 7,- per day, sometimes
even less. Also older people can try
that out and having a marvelous
time.
You
too could be the one to head out
on
this Thailand adventure travel
trip, there's nothing stopping you.
The beaches of Thailand are only about a day away; an Umphang
travel adventure trip could easily
be combined with great southern
Thailand
beach vacation.
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The
western &
northern
Thailand is not a
favorite destination for mountain
climbers, if you like climbing in
Thailand there are marvelous places
in
Krabi
province where you can climb the
limestone walls just at the beach or
at Krabi islands. Very popular is
around
Railay beach
at
Ao Nang. |
Many
Thailand
adventure travel
destinations have trails for
mountain bikers of varying skills,
or maybe do a quad tour,
caving
or
scuba diving.
Actually Thailand adventure travel
in this area is very similar to
Myanmar
adventure travel except
the
Myanmar
Himalaya since there are
the real Himalaya giants.
-For rafting and kayaking in
Thailand, Umphang is only one
adventure destination
there
are dozens more, adventurers can
glide along picturesque |
Thai Karen Hill Tribe Village in the Umphang
Area 
Deep Valleys steep hills in the Umphang Area |
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mountain
rivers enjoying great views, far
from the beaten paths. Adventure
travelers at Umphang also could
choose to experience a jungle safari
on the pick up truck. The back of an
elephant could also be the right
place for a safari but at Umphang
they don’t offer
elephant rides.
Elephant rides are offered at many
places in Thailand, including
Phuket,
Chiang Mai,
Khao Lak
and almost everywhere where some
tourists are.
Thailand in general is a perfect
destination for all kind of
travel, vacation and holidays. Aside
of beach holiday in southern
Thailand the real thrill is in
adventure trip into the wilderness
of western and northern Thailand.
Umphang is a real highlight in the
Thailand Myanmar jungle, with
waterfalls, breathtaking scenic
beauty and nice Thai and Karen
people a serene countryside where
every thrill seeker can do plenty of
outdoor adventure activities such as
river rafting and trekking.
Umphang is nestled into the blue
mountain range in this untouched
region, they don’t even have a real
hotel there, only some guesthouses
and that says everything about the
remoteness of the great piece of
land with a great flora and fauna.
Such rich and diverse geographies
should attract lots of adventure
driven tourists but it doesn’t since
its really difficult to access. But
if you do the long way down from Mae
Sot to Umphang a great environ is
the reward und it not expensive at
all, with about Baht 2000,-
including food, guesthouses river
rafting, waterfall exploration,
jungle trekking and a good guide per
day its all yours. If you don’t have
so much to spend and just like to
hang around and have some adventure
trips on your own Baht 500, - will
do.
Brown Water Rafting is done on
Umphang rivers flowing through a
mix of steep limestone gorges,
forest, bamboo jungle along some
pretty villages and friendly people,
mostly Thai and Myanmar Karen. You
should have some physical fitness
but in general the adventure trips
at Umphang are not very demanding in
fitness terms. If there is a problem
there are always enough guides
around to help, there is even an
airstrip for emergency. Just enjoy
yourself at Umphang with some
rafting, trekking and visiting
breathtaking waterfalls, actually
the biggest waterfall of Asia is
there, see the photos.
Umphang is particularly
suited for trekking and hiking,
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are
breathtaking and adventurous trekking routes
for all those who are fascinated by an
almost virgin countryside. Since at
trekking there is always some
possibility to interact with the
local people, see different culture
and traditions.
-Rafting at Umphang
After the
rather flat and hilly green surrounding at
Umphang limestone formations with
spectacular beauty surrounds us, in silence
we glide downstream, the rapids are cutting
the brown fast water after every bend a new
surprises.
The cold brown water full of sediment
drives the raft beside rapids and waves.
Steep limestone walls, sharp bends and a
waterfall from time to time are a challenge
for our guides. Rushing water
catapults us over wave crests, its good
not to sit in a rickety canoe. Incoming
streams and fallen trees provide additional
turbulence, see the
Umphang Video.
Only a few
hundred visitors make the trip down to
Umphang every year over the
ever winding hairpin road. But this
wilderness along the Thailand Myanmar border
is something special. Most locals handling
the tour are Karen from the Myanmar side,
the reason is, they speak English, the Thai
Karen don’t. In Myanmar they teach English
already in the school in Thailand they
don’t.
Thailand
traveling |
Umphang
Rafting, Thailand, Umphang, Umphang,
northern Thailand, river rafting.
River Travel at Umphang, adventure,
trekking, caving, rafting, Karen,
kayaking, hotel, river resort, guesthouse,
hill tribe. |
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Brown water
rafting is a sport nearly anyone can do
and at Umphang its very safe if its done
outside the monsoon time, during monsoon
times river's water level moves up and down
dramatically and flashfloods are frequent
and they bang away everything. Booking a
Umphang rafting trip is also simple almost
every guesthouse at Umphang has its own
rafting crew with a professional experience.
They are good organized and know the river,
the inflatable boats (known as rafts) and
the gear. Actually all rafting crews are
Myanmar Karen since they are the only ones
in the region speaking English, they do all
the paddles and steering, the trip also
includes breakfast in the jungle.
Since the rivers around Umphang have
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Umphang jungle river rafting Thailand |
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rough torrents
only during the monsoon time thereare no
rafting trips at that period of the year,
the main reason for this is there are too
many hidden trees and boulders in the river
which brake off every day during monsoon, it
simply becomes to dangerous. The other time
of the year, river rafting and trekking at
Umphang is almost perfect.
Jungle river rafting at Umphang is a
great group, but also singles activity, if
you are only one the crew from the hotel
will do all the work and you can just have a
look around, if you are single it costs
about Baht 1200,- for a extended half day
trip, means from 8 am to about 2 PM
including visiting the probably biggest
waterfall in Asia. |
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Umphang jungle river rafting |
The Myanmar Karen have fled Myanmar a few
years ago because of the guerilla war which almost
died down in resent
years, not to mix this up with the Thai Karen, which
are basically of the same tribe but are lucky enough
to live on the Thai side of the border.
Most people
come to Umphang to do the rafting trip down the Mae Klong River,
passing small rapids and
a incredible mountain - limestone - waterworld. Visit Karen villages, caves,
hot springs, and the greatest waterfall - Thee Lor
Sue Falls- in Thailand and maybe in Asia at all plus
jungle river rafting
Here you can feel the
nature. The noise of the water is a constant
companion through the gorge. Intermediate rocks,
shrubs and trees rustled the River. His bed is a
world made of limestone, from the smallest pebble
until the meter-high boulders.More and more and deeper the Umphang trekking and rafting
tour leads us into the mountain jungle at the
border of Thailand and Myanmar, or Burma. A unknown,
dangerous wilderness and a great nature experience.
We flow with the water, here in the gorge between
limestone boulder you can feel the enormous
power that is developed between the stones. Water
sprays, wet penetrates the body what is hidden
beneath the foamy brown water? At the end of the one hour rafting tour at
Umphang is
breakfast time and then we board the “pick up”
to have a look for the largest
waterfall in Asia,
also waterfall picture below.
The Namtok Pra
Charoen National Park Waterfall, pictured right
below, is another great attraction on the way down
from Mae Sot to Umphang. |
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From river rafting to
jungle trekking, mountain biking, hiking or
river rafting, there's something for everyone. The
real problem is, there is no good hotel around, all
what presently is called river resort, accommodation
and so on is sub standard. Brown water rafting is one of the most unique ways to visit
this mountain jungle area. River rafting is offered by various companies.
There is nothing dangerous |
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on this
trip, its a ride on a splendid
river. There are also hot spring and
mud pots, its a great untouched
area.
Umphang is the right spot for Thailand adventure sports like
river rafting, camping, trekking and
hiking. The rapids are mostly Class
II but they go on class four and
beyond during monsoon times.
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Class II
Umphang river rafting trips
are still considered a basic level, but at
least you'll experience some thrilling
rapids.
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Namtok Pra
Charoen National Park Waterfall |
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Umphang Waterfall,
guesthouse, hill tribe, Karen, waterfall, refugee
village. |
Umphang
rafting trips include wide
channels of rapids that limit the skill
required to safely maneuver through them and
as indicated more early during monsoon time
it goes to class VI and beyond.
Organized river rafting
trips
around Umphang
are a good idea to
get a premier view into the mountain jungle between Thailand and Myanmar.
The river rafting tour operator provide all of the equipment, guidance, and instruction necessary.
The trips usually go over 1 to 3 days. If the trip covers several days, the rafting company provide accommodations as well. Trips are available for rafters of all skill levels, from beginners rafting for the first time, to skilled experts.
River rafting tours
are offered on many major rivers in the
Thailand, not only at Umphang. Trips are
available in many different lengths, varying
from an afternoon to a 3 day adventure.
River rafting trips designed for families as
well as trips that
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Traveling to
Umphang
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cater to experienced rafters are available
almost anywhere. While much river rafting is
done in the North and Northeast of Thailand,
it is by no means the only place for a river
rafting adventure, there are also great
places in southern Thailand.
River rafting trips
in Thailand are a fun way for adventurous travelers to unwind and relax. River rafting adventures are available for rafters of all skill levels,
ensuring that everyone will have a good, safe
fun time.
-Tours at Umphang can last up to three days
and costs about 1500B
per day per head.
Groups are generally
small and a combination of rafting, elephant rides,
caving, trekking and a sightseeing tour to the great
waterfall is on the agenda. Most tours start with
rafting down the Mae Klong River to Thee Lor Sue Falls,
followed by trekking to the Karen villages of Khotha
and Palata, a pickup truck is used in between, all
is very good organized, actually all this could also
be done in a single day, talk with the guesthouse
guy if it is needed. A trekking -
rafting tour through the grandiose area is a must at
Umphang.
Unfortunately there are no good hotels, only very
basic guesthouses.
Since the forestry
department
refuses to build a road into the Umphang area -it |
Umphang Thailand |
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would only
need a small extension out of Kamphaeng
Phet to have a shortcut of a couple of km - not many
people come to this remote place. But this area is
one of the most beautiful in whole Thailand, an
immense nature attraction.
Near the border
between Thailand and Myanmar the thunders of
the biggest
Asian waterfall roars in the mountain
jungle. A real Thailand tourist attraction
and so far spared from Tourism since the
trip down from Mae Sot is a bit long there.
The water masses
fall and spray about 100 meters into the
deep, white smoke hangs over the jungle.
Especially at and shortly after the rainy
season gigantic water masses come together
in the valleys of the Blue
Mountains of this Thailand Myanmar border
region. The
Thee Lor Sue Fall
is not.
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Umphang Thee Lor Sue Water Fall |
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far located from Umphang town, its a short
trip with the pick-up and after a 30 minutes hike.
Actually the falls are a system of several water
fall. Not far from the Myanmar Thailand frontier.
The trek could easily be ,done after a river rafting
tour in the morning after empty the raft
from air put it on the back of the pick-up
and a great trip through the mountain jungle
until close to falls fits into one day trip.
Having lunch on the road before parking the
car at the falls headquarter and hiking
though the magnificent landscape. Passing
smaller waterfalls and it is quite
comfortable since a path has been paved
though the jungle all the way to the
Thee Lor Sue Water Fall.
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The people living here are mainly Thai
Karen and Karen from the Myanmar side. They
try to make some money with the tourists.
Tourists are almost exclusively from
Thailand who take a tour to Umphang on
weekends and public holidays. It is not so
easy to drive down from Mae Sot the last
larger city in the north on the border.
Besides the hike to the waterfall rafting
tours in the jungle rivers are popular.
There are only guest houses of the lower
category in the main village which is
Umphang also the restaurants are on a poor
level which is rather unusual in
Thailand. But this great Waterfall
at Umphang compensates any negative
impressions every second a gigantic
mass of water of the size of about
two Olympic swimming pools thunder
down approximately 100 meters This
Thai waterfall framed by a thick,
deep green rainforest and sometimes
a wide rainbow |
Umphang
rafting |
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painted by the tropical
sun show great colors.
Umphang in Thailand is simply a great
vacation and adventure destination. For everyone,
looking for a vacation with different types of
adventure but still having a civilized surrounding
without mad insurgency and similar its just great. A
stunning rainforest part of Thailand with the
Myanmar Thailand border in the back will give you a
lasting impression and make you come back. Because
it’s a ideal holiday surrounding if you like lush
tropical jungle, rivers, hiking, trekking and
rafting, plus marvelous waterfalls. There are
stunning panoramas, caves, one of the biggest
waterfall in Asia and a rich flora and fauna to
explore. The river waters of the Umphang area is
usually brown with strong currents getting real
tsunami like during the monsoon. |
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You also can do bird watching, wildlife
spotting, canoeing, caving and more Thailand
outdoor activities .
South of Umphang but only accessible via
Kanchanaburi are several lakes and a huge reservoir
with floating villages, means breathtaking views and
nature. In the mountain jungle is still some
wildlife, including elephants, the people say they
have seen leopards and even tigers, actually some of
the tigers can be seen at the tiger monastery west
of Kanchanaburi town where local people bring
wounded tigers from time to time. |
Kanchanaburi
Lakes |
If there is enough
time do a second day hiking on the trail through
the lush tropical jungle and discover plenty of
other hidden waterfalls and rivers, its also a ideal
place for a photo safari. |
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Here is one of our videos on this part of
Thailand
more videos are here,
and in our video channel at youtube |
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The natural extension is
to download our unique e-book on
southern Thailand where you will find much more content and a lot of
exiting full scale pictures. You can have a look on the screen and if
you like you can print all content on any desktop printer, ...more
e-book |
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Thailand,
Umphang, Umphang,
northern Thailand,
adventure,
trekking,
caving,
rafting,
kayaking, hotel,
river resort, guesthouse,
hill tribe,
Karen,
waterfall,
great outdoor. |
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