About Paddle Asia guided tours in Thailand

See our Trip Advisor page.

Paddle Asia's small group guided tours have a mission to provide discriminating travelers the opportunity to see the less-visited areas in Thailand's national parks and conservation areas with the most highly trained guides in southern Thailand.

Our philosophy/goal is to show the world that we can have a very successful company with respectable salaries for the local staff without resorting to any mass tourism marketing.

We are the only major kayaking company in Southern Thailand that hasn't sold out to the mass tourism day trip market. We work directly with our guests. We don't work with agents.

Paddle Asia is a Thai company. Paddle Asia is 100% Thai owned.

We are the only ones who do what we do!


Thai guide Walaporn "Moo" Jitprathep, Director

Moo was born and raised in Bangkok. She moved to Phuket over two decade ago. She has a love for life that is beyond words. For some strange reason, she's always happy...

Moo comes from a very poor family. She could only attend formal school for six years... yet she is now fluent in English and reads and writes it as well! She is a very special individual indeed.

Thailand tour guideMoo has been on hundreds of kayaking trips and has a very keen safety sense.

Moo is certified in first aid and CPR through Emergency First Response.

Moo and Dave have been married since 1993. They live outside of Phuket Town with daughter Mook ('Pearl' in Thai), and their pack of very pampered rescued dogs and cats.

Moo is a trip logistics guru, planner, guide, tour leader, and sometimes a cook.

If Moo is on your trip, you'll be taken very good care of.


Dave Williams - Founder and marketing (semi-retired)

Dave Williams. Dave Williams, a lifelong naturalist and animal lover, is an American expat who has lived in Thailand since 1993. Dave is semi-retired now and handles the marketing, training, and destination development for the company.

He started paddling in 1978. He has a great deal of experience in both very serious whitewater and sea kayaking.

Dave is a BCU (British Canoe Union) Level 2 Coach and is Level 3 trained (Level 3 Coach certificate to come shortly). As important as the certification is the fact that Dave has over 39 years of kayaking experience, including many hardcore expeditions.

He is also a BCU Lifeguard.

Dave is an Emergency First Response instructor, a Rescue 3 International rescue technician and is also ITC (outdoor specific) First Aid and CPR certified.

"Dave Williams is a sort of paddling encyclopaedia for Southern Thailand."
Action Asia magazine May/June 2009

Dave was the jungle survival expert (consultant) on two episodes of The Discovery Channel's "Dual Survival" and was featured on a the BBC episode of "The Travel Show" with Henry Golding.


Note: by Thai law only Thai nationals can be guides.

 
Lead Thai guide Jamrat "Run" Rengsamut

Our Mr. Run is the heart and soul of our small operation. As of 2022 Dave is semi-retired. Mr. Run is in charge of the trip as Dave just does marketing.

Mr. Run is licensed through the Tourism Authority of Thailand.

Mr. Run was both born and raised on Ko Yao Noi in Phang Nga Bay.

Besides having a very charming personality, Mr. Run is completely fluent in English and is first aid certified through Emergency First Response.

 

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18/58 Thanon Rasdanusorn, T, Rasada, Ban Kuku, Phuket 83000
Dave's mobile (English): 081 8936558
Moo's mobile (Thai): 081 7974855

Tourism Authority of Thailand License Number 34/00224
Proof of Insurance