8Adventures

8Adventures is an outdoor adventure-based activity provider based in Chiang Mai, Thailand. In addition to day tours, 8Adventures offers multi-day activities to groups including schools. We pride ourselves on our standards of safety, and in sharing the culture and beauty of northern Thailand via immersive adventure and outdoor based activities. 

For school groups our programme can be fully tailored to the requirements of the school and demands of the group. We facilitate trips as short as the 2-day Bronze DofE adventurous journey, to 5-day school residentials, to 2-week expedition style adventures. 8Adventures offers a range of activities including whitewater rafting, trekking, orienteering / navigation, mountain biking, kayaking, ziplining and other teambuilding focused activities. For International Schools based in South East Asia we primarily facilitate week long trips that are aimed at developing teamwork, resilience and leadership for the participants by engaging in a variety of activities in a safe and supportive environment. For schools that travel to Chiang Mai from the UK, we offer longer fully inclusive 2-week programmes that can also be tailored to include an educational focus throughout the programme. This video showcases some of the activities that we can facilitate.

8Adventures is owned and managed by Eric Southwick, a two-time world FreeStyle Kayak Champion. Over the past 20 years Eric has led on some of the most remote expeditions across South East Asia. Eric has more than 30 years of white water and adventure sports experience, and has personally worked with and trained all 8Adventures staff. 8Adventures is the only International Rafting Federation certified rafting provider in South East Asia
(https://www.internationalrafting.com/recreation/tour-operators/) and all staff are trained to IRF standards. 8Adventures is proud to operate to BS:8848 standards. BS:8848:2014 is the British Standard for organising and managing visits, fieldwork, expeditions, and adventurous activities outside the UK.

All senior staff hold IRF Class 4 white-water certifications, and all staff in the company are first aid and CPR certified by the Thai Red Cross. All of our guides are local to our community and offer a wealth of experience and local knowledge. In addition to various certifications and qualifications, 8Adventures holds up to date risk assessments for all activities, a safeguarding policy, and has been independently audited for safety by STA Travel in the UK, and Sanderson Phillips (Travel Safety and Sustainability Consultants).

Schools within SEA that have previously worked with/ have ongoing enquiries with 8Adventures include: UWCSEA Singapore, Bloomsbury International School HatYai, Christian German School Chiang Mai, Panyaden International School, SISB Chiang Mai, Hwa Chong Institution Singapore, Nexus International School Singapore, British International School Phuket, International School Phnom Penh and Udon Thani International School (UDIS).

The 8Adventures school programme is coordinated by Iestyn Stops. Iestyn grew up in South East Asia and attended secondary school at one of the British international schools in Bangkok. Since then Iestyn has worked as an outdoor instructor, is a qualified secondary Geography Teacher and has been involved with 8Adventures for the past 6+ years.

Please contact i@8adventures.com for any enquiries regarding the programmes we are able to facilitate.