Guest comments PaddleAsia kayak tours

Seakayaking guest comments for our Thailand with PaddleAsia

Julie Gieseke, Khao Sok May 2010

"We had an AMAZING adventure and Tom was EXCEPTIONAL!. I can't believe all the wildlife we saw, it far exceeded our expectations and was definitely a highlight of our three weeks in Thailand. Please let Tom know how much we enjoyed his expertise and leadership and hospitality."

Walter Davison, Khao Sok, December 2009

"Our guide, Tom,was an excellent wildlife spotter, and it seemed to me that he took pride in showing us the environment and
that he enjoyed just being there. There was only one time that I spotted a bird before he did! "

Rodney and Rosemary Bates on Phang Nga Bay

We would like to tell you how much we enjoyed our trip with Paddleasia. It was a wonderful experience and certainly very different, everything seemed to be exceptional but one thing that stood out was our guide Tom who helped to make the trip so special. A big thank you to everyone.

Toni Chaplin family on Khao Sok National Park

No doubt you receive lots of positive feedback about the Khao Sok trip and we can only add our praise of this fantastic experience. It is an amazing place -worth the extra time needed to get there which I guess in the end is what stops it from being overrun. We didn't see another tourist and there aren't many places in the world where one can enjoy that experience.

The lodgings were special - everyone was prepared and felt it all added to the experience.

The food was fantastic - but spoilt us for all future meals in Phuket.

Tom was a great tour guide and was particularly good at tailoring everything to our preferences.

I liked being able to show my 17 year old that you don't need an ipod and a computer to enjoy yourself and I am pleased that for that short time he was convinced.

So thank you to you and to your team.

Josh Lew on Khao Sok National Park

Just got back from the trip in Khao Sok. Unfortunately, I had one problem with it: on the last morning Tom told me that we'd see elephants at 8:59. However, we did not actually see the elephants until well after 10. Indeed, they didn't even make their presence known to us until some point long after the scheduled time. And then we had to track them in the kayaks as they foraged in the forest before they deigned to appear some time later. Tom blames me for the delay since I was playing with Dik-Duk and Samsee before leaving, but still, you call that service? Even granting that it was a trifle unrealistic to expect to see a Kingfisher riding the elephant, as Tom and I had discussed on an earlier day, a late elephant appearance is still a late elephant appearance.

The trip was absolutely phenomenal. I'll write more singing Tom's praises later, but for now here's a link to photos of the elephants, which we did indeed see on our last morning. Everything was absolutely fantastic during the four days except for the fact that it had to end, though if I had more books with me I might just have taken up permanent residence in bungalow #2...

Thanks for your help, and of course thanks to Moo, and to Tom and everybody at the bungalows who made it such a warm, friendly and tremendous experience.

Stephen Darley (Australian living in Bangkok) on Khao Sok National Park

"...your [Dave's] enthusiasm for thailand and its natural heritage and particularly your interest in life sciences was enlightening."

Mark Strickland: professional underwater photographer & author
(American living in Thailand) on Khao Sok National Park

I can't say enough about our fantastic trip to Thailand's Khao Sok National Park with PaddleAsia. It was a great experience from start to finish - well organized but flexible itinerary, with just the right combination of paddling adventures and relaxation. The scenery is absolutely spectacular - we explored miles of pristine shoreline, bordered by towering, limestone mountains and verdant tropical jungle. The accommodations were a special treat - floating bamboo bungalows, snuggled into a remote corner of an immense lake. Food was simple but delicious, and our hosts certainly lived up to the tradition of Thai hospitality. And, amazing at it may seem, surrounded as we were by tropical fresh water, there were no mosquitoes! Starting each day waking up to the sounds of gibbons and other jungle dwellers was an experience not to be forgotten. What really made the trip unique, however, was the wildlife viewing. Thanks to Dave's expertise, we paddled to just the right places to see a wide range of creatures - primates like dusky langurs, pig-tailed macaques and white-faced gibbons, and lots of bird life, including several types of eagles, hawks, and 3 different species of hornbills. We even saw wild pigs feeding at water's edge. It would have been enough just to see these creatures, but Dave made it all the more interesting by identifying each animal and educating us about their habits. On top of all this, we also spent part of one day doing a very scenic hike that led to an amazing cave system. Our Thai guide led us along a subterranean stream bed through an incredible maze of underground grottos and passages, complete with stalactites, bats and blind catfish. It was icing on the cake! All in all a thoroughly enjoyable trip that we would love to do again - keep up the good work guys!

Mark's Photo Gallery: http://www.oceanic-impressions.com

Dr. Bill Rolfe and Dr. Moon Kerson (American) on Rivers of Vientiane

"For many years, I was determined that I would never travel with a guide or in a group. Then I met Dave Williams. Now I am determined that I will never travel with a guide or in a group: unless it is led by Dave Williams.

My wife and I just completed our third adventure in Dave's competent and envelope-pushing hands. The first two were in Thailand, this last one was in Laos.

I loved our Laos adventure. It is great to not to have to worry about anything except having a good time, and a good time was had by all. It is important to be with cool people when you are with them in in a raft for six days, especially in the rainforests of Southeast Asia. I enjoyed the pervasive spirit of camaraderie in our group, which included my wife and I, our personable Laotian guide and driver, a fun and adventurous British couple, and our fearless leader Dave.

Laos is a most beautiful land. On our way to the remote rivers that Dave & Co. had previously scouted and run, we passed umpteen waterfalls set in the verdant green mountains. River travel in Laos is like time travel. Each day we would float with the current past rice paddies and the ever-waving farmers who were living off the land exactly as their ancestors had for centuries. Villagers in the remote highlands gawked at us like we were from outer space when we landed and pulled our boats out of the water. They were initially friendly, but reserved. Then my wife pulled out her Polaroid camera and took instant pictures. The villagers' aloofness instantly melted.

Everyone young and old wanted to be in on the action. Instead of taking pictures, she left pictures with the local people. What a great idea.

Dave is committed to leaving a good impression with the local people. He would always makes sure to make friendly contact with those he passed on the rivers and in the villages. He has a surprising level of fluency speaking Lao. I'm sure the local people feel respected and acknowledged, not exploited. Dave is also a dedicated naturalist with a vast knowledge of the local flora and fauna. He named every bird that flew overhead (although he could have just made up the names since none of us would have known the difference anyway), but I doubt if he did. He is deeply, almost religiously, committed to honoring and preserving the environment.

After our daily river adventures we would return to our digs for the night. Each night was a dinner party. We ate great food (no one got sick!) played some card games which our new friends, the Brits, taught us, and enjoyed the local libations.

Since none in our party were early risers, Dave made sure that we had enough time to sleep in... yet still leave in a timely manner each morning. (Clearly, had we been early risers, Dave would have had us out at the crack of dawn).

Dave Williams customizes each trip based on the temperament and experience level of his charges. Because Dave tunes in to the peculiar needs of his group so well, the adventures are always exciting, but not stressful. Dave is clearly not in this for the money. He designs trips that are exciting to him so that he is personally enlivened and excited. It is a sound principle. Dave's passion for what he does is indeed contagious. Each of us was infected with the spirit of adventure, fun, and respect for the wonders of nature. I feel lucky that I have so many amazing stories to tell of the kind of adventures that most people will only dream about.

Sincerely, Bill Rolfe, PhD, Los Angeles, CA"

Steve Bragg (British) on Khao Sok National Park

"Khao Sok, absolutely amazing, I can't think of a nicer or more tranquil way to experience the jungle than by Kayak. It was good for my son [8 years old] as well, although he was a little freaked when he realized he was actually doing it, rather than seeing it on TV, but that soon passed. Kids are quick learners. What a bonus, before we left he was imitating the gibbon calls around the bungalows and it seemed very much that they was replying to him, who knows?"

Rick Herpel (American from Palm Beach, Fla.) on snorkeling in Tarutao Marine Park

"One of the most outstanding days I've had diving. I've been diving for 20 years and it was as good as anything I've seen."

Bob Brodersen (Californian University Professor) on birding in Khao Sok

"It was a great trip. Dave's a fantastic birder. I got 28 new species!"

John Furman (American) on Phang Nga

We had an incredible trip, exceeded our expectations, and are eager to do it again. Dave was always good natured, engaging, and knowledgeable...and didn't put any pressure on us to achieve great paddling feats! This made it a lot more relaxing. Thanks again.

Wolfgang & Hannelore Viertel (BC, Canada) on our Rental program

We were very happy to find paddleasia in South Thailand and could rent sea kayaks from them. The kayaks as well as the additional equipment which paddleasia provided were excellent. We used the kayaks in the Krabi area. It's an area with no transportation and accommodation problems. There are daily ferry service between Phuket, Phi Phi Island, Krabi and Ko Lanta. After the monsoon (December) the ocean was calm and we did day trips and a long distance crossing to Phi Phi Island. We kayaked from island to island and enjoyed the excellent food in the lodges, the warm water from the Andaman Sea, the beautiful islands and we had trouble free holidays.

Line Hansen (Norwegian) on Laos

"We enjoyed ourselves immensely in Laos. Also enjoyed the company. The trip turned out to be everything we hoped it would be and more."

Lisa Priestley (American) on Phang Nga Bay

"We had a GREAT time! Dave was terrific and we really appreciated how he was able to arrange no other tourists or even fishing boats our first day out --- we had the islands completely to ourselves!!!!"

Ralph Stephanelli (American living in Hong Kong) on Laos

"...whenever I look at them [referring to photos] its a great reminder of what a good time we had, you can almost relive being on the river."

Jane Betts (British) on Khao Sok National Park

"...it was all great fun and extremely interesting - the bird life and the monkeys were amazing. All in all the experience was one I wouldn't have missed for the world. The days were spent paddling gently around this vast (165 sq mile) reservoir in a National Park of 650 sq mls. The scenery was also amazing."

Tabitha Bond and Rebecca Bond [sisters]--(British - living in Bangkok) on the paddle training

"We both had a great time and just want to learn more."

Peter Bond (British - living in Bangkok)

"Rebecca and Tabitha [Peter's daughters] have just returned to Bkk [Bangkok] full of praises for your outfit. Well done, they are not the easiest people to please so you deserve full marks...."

Edward Persse (British) on Khao Sok National Park

"My head and my heart are however full of the sounds, smells and images of the Khao Sok National Park. I will always remember sitting back in my kayak and gazing at whole troops of gibbon and monkey sharing a tree and gorging themselves on fruit, of the call of gibbon, all the hornbills, kingfishers and eagles. Thank you both so much for taking so much trouble to ensure this part of our honeymoon was perfect. Thank you particularly for waiting for a whole morning for us to cross from Ko Racha Yai when the sea was rough, your patience in teaching us how to paddle, your humour and genuine knowledge and respect for the flora and fauna of the park."

Clas Hagelstam (Finnish - 72 years young!) on Khao Sok National Park

"Please accept Markku's and my warm thanks for an excellent week of paddling in Thailand. We had a great time - good value for money."

Suvimon Kanchanasthira (Finnish/Thai international school student) on Khao Sok National Park

"I truly enjoyed the trip and would go back at any time. Oh, if I just would have the chance to. I learned a lot from you. It was an educational experience to go and look for the animals."

Sinthu Satawiriya (Thai international school student) on Khao Sok National Park

"Thank you very much for teaching us how to kayak. I thought it was a really fun learning experience and I'm sure I'll be trying it sometime again in future, maybe next time I will be able to do the Eskimo roll. Thanks to you, the trip was both fun and educational!"

Andy You (Japanese/Taiwanese international school student) on Khao Sok National Park

"Without you I would never find out the side of me that I found out in Khao Sok. I can still remember that initial moment we first that we arrived that traquil, serene, secluded inlet of the rainforest where the bungalows buoyed. Absolutely sensational and tremendous! Since "you guys", I have been really into Kayaking/Paddling, I am starting my own Kayaking Club in ISB, so I will be needing you very soon again! I was truly inspired by the energy and life in your spirit when we paddled, I think that is really what I like about being that one-person, muscle-powered boat."

Jennifer & Darren Kraker (Americans) on Khao Sok National Park

"We would like to send our regards and to let you know that the Khao Sok trip with you was one of the best experiences in our lives. Especially now that we are back in the States, we are only beginning to realize how truly special that place is. You two do an amazing job of seeing everything the way it ought to be seen. The pictures don't seem to do the place justice, but they will serve to forever remind us of the trip. Thanks for taking us into Khao Sok - what a remarkable journey."

Jennifer and Darren even posted a trip report on dejanews.com. Here is what it says:

"Paddle in Khao Sok: My husband and I recently took a trip to Thailand and the highlight was a four day kayak trip we did in Khao Sok National Park. PaddleAsia is the company we chose to guide us through this gorgeous part of the world. The accomodations were remote and peaceful - the goal of PaddleAsia is to view nature respectfully . We saw Gibbon, Macques, Dusty Langar, wild pigs and many, many birds. The guides are especially knowledgeable about the birds and orchids you will encounter. Because you approach quietly on water, you are able to see so much wildlife. PaddleAsia is the only tour company that I know of that takes you into the park for this amount of time. They are professional, fun and place a high value on retaining the pristine nature of this Park. I would highly recommend visiting Khao Sok during your visit to Thailand and would maintain that in order to really get the full experience, go with PaddleAsia. We plan to go back next year!"

Joycelin Cheah (Malaysian living in Hong Kong) on Phang Nga

"We had a great time Kayaking in Phang Nga Bay. For a beginner like us you sure have a lot of patience and always on a lookout for wildlife to show us. It was very peaceful to paddle in the 'Hongs' said Rick."[said Rick --, Joycelin's companion] "As a result of this little trip mother nature has taught us a lot about herself now we tend to look and notice birds around us more often than we used to. We appreciate your warm reception, experience and knowledge that make us comfortable throughout the trip."

Contact us

We concentrate on honing our safety sense, outdoor skills and getting certified to international standards.

Dave is a BCU Level 2 Coach

Dave is a EFR Instructor

Guides certified

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Tourism Authority of Thailand License Number 31/0204
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