Kayaking + Swimming Canal

About this trip

Kayaking and Swimming at the Canal is a half day paddling trip on a freshwater canal in Krabi, away from the beaches and the boat traffic of Ao Nang. It is the simplest and least expensive kayaking trip we run. There is one place, the canal itself, and two things to do there, paddling and swimming, with swimming optional if you would rather stay dry. It suits beginners, and kayak equipment and a guide are included.

What the day looks like

The whole programme takes place at the canal. Start times and how you get there are confirmed when you book rather than fixed in advance, so tell us your dates and where you are staying and we will set that out for you.

At the water your guide sorts out the kayaks and the equipment and runs through how the paddling works. This is a calm freshwater canal rather than open sea, so there is no swell and no crossing to make, and the briefing is short because there is not much that needs saying.

The paddling itself is relaxed. You follow the canal at whatever pace the group settles into, with your guide alongside. Because a canal is narrow and enclosed, you spend the trip close to both banks rather than out in the middle of anything, which makes it a slower and more attentive kind of paddling than a sea trip. Freshwater in Krabi means green banks and shade, and you are usually in and out of it as you go.

Swimming is part of the programme and the water here is well suited to it, but it is optional. Some people get in halfway and swim from the kayak, others stay in the boat the whole way. Neither is a problem, and there is no point in the trip where you are obliged to be in the water.

There is no fixed list of stops on this one. It is a paddle and a swim on a quiet stretch of water, and it does not pretend to be more than that.

Who this trip suits

This suits beginners and anyone who wants an easy few hours on the water without a boat transfer, a sea crossing or a full day commitment. It works well for families, with a child rate applying to ages four to eleven, and for travellers on a budget, since it is the cheapest way we can get you into a kayak.

It is also a sensible choice on a day when the sea is rough. A freshwater canal is unaffected by swell, so it often runs when island trips are having a difficult day.

If you want limestone cliffs and mangrove channels, our Ao Thalane trips cover that. If you want a glassy freshwater lake with fish feeding, look at Klong Root. The canal is the plainest of the three and the closest thing we have to a simple afternoon out.

What to bring

Swimwear under your clothes if you plan to get in, plus a towel and a change of clothes. Sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses. Insect repellent is worth having on inland freshwater. Sandals with a strap or water shoes rather than trainers. Drinking water. If you want to bring a phone or camera, bring something waterproof to keep it in, since it is not listed among the equipment provided on this programme.

Good to know

Krabi high season runs roughly from November to April and is the drier part of the year. The monsoon from May to October brings heavier rain, which affects inland water differently from the sea: the paddling stays sheltered, but the weather on the day still decides how things run.

Kayak equipment and a guide are included on this trip. Other items, including transfer, insurance and refreshments, are not listed among the inclusions here, so ask us when you book and we will tell you exactly what applies rather than guess. It is a short, low cost programme and the inclusions reflect that.

Booking

Message us on WhatsApp with your dates, how many adults and children are coming, and where you are staying. We will confirm availability, current rates, the start time and how to get to the canal. If you are choosing between this, Klong Root and Ao Thalane, describe your group and what you want from the day and we will tell you which one fits.