Yo.
I've managed to find a fair few decent companies to use or hire from while in various places around the world. Even in Laos I've used a decent company a couple of times, although on one occasion the guide who came with us was nothing like as experienced as he alluded to and we ended up going down some dicey stretches between Vang Vieng and Vientiane and also up near Phonsavan I wouldn't have otherwise bothered with, given the remote surroundings. Really good equipment though, all considering.
I've just bought a sea kayak out here in Oz. I'd not done much sea kayaking 'til I went over to the Perhentians for the first time in about 2002, but since then I've really got into it. Me and another English guy ended up taking groups around the Perhentians in return for lodgings with one of the old resorts on the big island there a few years ago, and it was really good, in lieu of doing some decent river kayaking.
But if it's rivers you want, then New Zealand has got some good spots, but my favourite by far is the Franklin River in Tassie. There's some stretches of Tassie rivers that have never been kayaked, and they're really nasty. Depends what you want, but Tassie has got easily the most diverse offering that I've ever come across. You can do tours over several days, ending in the sea. Coastal kayaking there is great too. And the gear you can hire over there is very good. If you're interested I can send you some links by PM.
Two to get you started:
http://www.forestrytas.com.au/visiting/canoeing
http://www.tas.canoe.org.au/default.asp?Page=6174&MenuID=General_information/497/0/ |