RAFTING Floating down river on a bamboo raft is a relaxing way to enjoy the scenery. and beauty of Thailand's countryside. Myriad rafts ply the' rivers up and down Kanchanaburi, visiting the bridge over the Kwae river and tracing the railway riverside route. For more active individuals, a combination rafting and trekking trip, possibly even with elephants in the northern mountains wins out over sedate Kanchanaburi. The favourite rivers among the rafters is Mae Taeng, a tributary of the Ping River, and the Pai River extending all the way to Mae Hong Son. Visitors enjoy trekking through hilltribe villages, then catch rafts down-to Pai. In Tak's Umphang district offers even more excitement, where rubber dinghies are used for white-water rafting, taking visitors past the beautiful Ti Lor Su and Ti Lor Jor waterfalls, hot-springs, and caves. The northern provinces of Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai are fhe major destinations for Trekking and Hiking. Here the vast open terrain and steep mountain slopes offer active challenges for travelers, with the ideal time being during the cooler months of November to February.