Canyoning in Pelling: Abseiling, Ziplining & Waterfall Swimming

Rappel down waterfalls, then zip-line back out

Canyoning in Pelling combines abseiling, ziplining and waterfall swimming in a single five-hour activity. You rappel down an 18-meter dry wall to warm up, then descend a 25-meter waterfall, slide down five meters of water, swim in the pool below, and finish with a 100-meter zip-line through the forest. A professional English-speaking guide handles all instruction and safety; hotel pickup, wetsuit, harness, helmet and lunch are included.

The Experience

The day starts with a 20-minute van ride from your hotel to the canyon. Once geared up in a wetsuit, harness, helmet and life vest, your guide teaches you how to abseil on a dry 18-meter wall first — you don't move to the waterfall until the guide is satisfied you've got the technique. That first rappel is the foundation for everything that follows.

After the dry wall, you descend a 25-meter waterfall into a pool where you can swim and recover. Then comes the five-meter water slide down the same waterfall, which feeds straight into the pool below. The guide paces these moments so you have time to breathe between efforts. Picnic lunch — baguette, cheese, fruit, vegetables and water — happens here, at the base of the falls.

The real test comes next: a 14-meter rappel known as The Washing Machine, where the water churns around you as you descend. After that, you clip into the 100-meter zip-line that carries you back through the forest canopy toward the van. The final stretch is a 20-minute trek uphill on foot to meet the vehicle for the ride home. Travel insurance, all permits and a first-aid kit are included; the guide carries souvenir photos and video from the day.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off with a 20-minute van ride each way.
• professional English-speaking guide for the full five hours.
• all canyoning gear including wetsuit, harness, helmet, life vest, carabiners and European ropes.
• picnic lunch with baguette, cheese, fruit and vegetables.
• souvenir photos and video from the day.
• travel insurance.
• all forest and tourist permits.
• first-aid kit.

Good to know

Moderate physical levelNot for pregnant travelers

Operated by Viet Action Tours

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to combine rappelling, swimming, and zip-lining in a single morning—all three activities happen back-to-back with one guide teaching each skill on-site, so there's no downtime between transitions.

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Top questions

What's the difference between the dry wall rappel and the waterfall ones?

The 18-meter dry wall is your training ground — no water, solid rock, and the guide watches your technique before you move to anything harder. The 25-meter waterfall descent is the main event, with water flowing around you as you rappel. The 14-meter Washing Machine is the most technical, where the water churns as you descend and requires the control you learned on the dry wall first.

Do I need to know how to swim?

You don't need to be a strong swimmer, but you should be comfortable in water. You'll spend time in the pool at the base of the waterfall, and the guide is there the whole time. A life vest is part of your gear.

How fit do I need to be for this?

The operator asks for at least a moderate level of physical fitness. You're rappelling, trekking uphill for 20 minutes, and moving through water — it's active work over five hours. Children from age 4 can join, though they'll need to manage the physical demands with guide support.

What happens if I'm not ready to do a rappel?

Your guide won't move you forward until you're confident on the dry wall. If you decide a particular rappel isn't for you, the guide can work with you — this is not a race, and safety comes first.

Is the 100-meter zip-line the last thing before heading back?

Yes. After the zip-line, you trek uphill for about 20 minutes to reach the van, then ride back to your hotel. The zip-line is the final adrenaline moment of the day.

What's included in the picnic lunch?

Lunch is baguette, cheese, fruit, vegetables, jam and water — served at the base of the waterfall between the swimming and the harder rappels. If you have dietary requirements, let the operator know when you book.