Kayaking Klong Root (Mirror Lake)

About this trip

Kayaking at Klong Root is a half day trip to a freshwater lake in Krabi province, inland from Ao Nang and easily reached by road. Klong Root is calm and glassy enough that people call it the Mirror Lake, and on a still morning the limestone and the trees around it come back off the surface almost whole. The trip is built around paddling and swimming in that water, with fish feeding included, and there are add-ons if you want to make more of the day. Hotel transfer is included.

What the day looks like

There are four departures, at 08:30, 10:00, 13:00 and 15:00, so you can fit this around the rest of your day rather than the other way round. The earlier slots tend to be the stillest, which matters at a lake known for its reflections, but all four run the same programme.

You are collected from your hotel and driven inland to the lake. Your guide sorts out the kayaks and the life jackets, hands out the waterproof bag for your phone and camera, and takes you through how the paddling will work. The water here is fresh rather than salt, and it is enclosed, so there is no swell and no current to fight.

The paddling itself is unhurried. You follow the lake around, in and out of the shade at its edges, with the guide pointing out what there is to see. This is a place people come to for the water itself rather than for a list of stops, so the pace is set by how long you want to sit still and look at it.

Swimming is part of the trip and most people get in at some point. The water is clear and calm, and swimming from a kayak in a freshwater lake is a different experience from swimming off a boat in the sea, gentler and quieter.

Fish feeding is included in the standard programme and is usually the part children remember. Drinking water and fresh fruit are provided during the trip.

From there, the add-ons decide how long you stay out. You can add drip coffee, which turns the end of the paddle into a proper sit down rather than a quick change of clothes. You can add an ATV ride, which puts a land based activity alongside the water. Or you can add elephant care, which is a no riding programme. Tell us which of these you want at the time of booking so it can be arranged in advance.

Who this trip suits

This suits anyone who wants calm water rather than open sea. There is no swell, no crossing and no long boat transfer, which makes it a good option for families, for nervous swimmers, and for anyone who has had enough of speedboats. No previous kayaking experience is needed and a guide goes with the group.

It also suits people short on time. With four departure slots and a half day format, it fits into an arrival afternoon or a morning before something else. Photographers do well here too, particularly on the earlier departures when the surface is at its flattest.

If you want limestone cliffs, sea caves and mangrove channels instead, our Ao Thalane paddling trip covers that ground. Klong Root is the quieter, more contained option.

What to bring

Swimwear under your clothes, a towel and a change of clothes. Sunscreen and a hat for the open stretches of the lake, and insect repellent for the shaded edges. A waterproof bag is provided, so your phone and camera can come with you. Sandals or water shoes are more use than trainers.

Good to know

Krabi high season runs roughly from November to April, when the weather is drier and more settled. The monsoon months from May to October bring more rain, and a freshwater lake is a reasonable place to be in light rain, but heavier weather can change how a departure runs. We will tell you where things stand close to the date.

Hotel transfer, a waterproof bag, drinking water, fresh fruit, a tour guide and insurance are included. Give us your hotel name when you book and we will confirm your pickup time for the departure slot you choose.

Booking

Message us on WhatsApp with your dates, the number of adults and children, where you are staying, and which of the four departure times suits you. We will confirm availability, current rates and your pickup. If you want the drip coffee, the ATV or the elephant care add-on, say so in the same message so it is booked in advance rather than arranged on the day.