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1 / 10Elephant Sanctuary, White Water Rafting & Sticky Waterfall Day Tour
Feed and bathe elephants at a small, no-riding sanctuary in Mae Taeng, raft the Mae Taeng rapids for 45 to 60 minutes, then climb the limestone cascades of Bua Thong Sticky Waterfall. Hotel pickup from Chiang Mai and a Thai lunch included.
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Mae Taeng
Highlights
- Experience three unforgettable adventures in one day, combining ethical elephant encounters, thrilling white water rafting, and the famous Sticky Waterfall in Chiang Mai.
- Visit a small, ethical elephant sanctuary in Mae Taeng for a no-riding elephant experience surrounded by beautiful natural scenery.
- Prepare fresh food, including bananas, grass, and sugar cane, and enjoy feeding the elephants.
- Learn about elephant care, prepare nutritious herbal vitamin balls, or observe elephants enjoying their natural mud spa.
- Walk alongside elephants to the Mae Taeng River and enjoy the opportunity to bathe and brush them under the supervision of sanctuary staff.
- Experience an exciting 5 km white water rafting adventure along the Mae Taeng River, navigating natural rapids surrounded by lush jungle scenery.
- Discover the famous Bua Thong Sticky Waterfall and experience the unique thrill of climbing its naturally grippy limestone cascades.
- Relax and enjoy a delicious traditional Thai lunch surrounded by the beautiful Mae Taeng countryside.
Duration
10 hours
Pickup
Included
More from Elephant in Wild Sanctuary
8 more tours at the same place.
Mountain Activities4
Water Activities2
Wildlife Encounter1
Frequently asked questions
Pickup from city centre hotels is between 08:00 and 08:30, and the drive to the sanctuary takes about an hour and a half. You are dropped back in Chiang Mai at around 18:30.
The sanctuary does not offer riding and says it uses no chains or hooks because its elephants roam free. It is a hands-on visit rather than observation only: you feed the elephants and join them in the mud and the river.
The spring water at Bua Thong carries dissolved calcium, which settles on the rock as a rough, porous limestone. Bare feet grip it well, so you can walk up the falls without slipping in the way you would on a normal wet rock.
The rafting takes 45 to 60 minutes on the Mae Taeng river with the sanctuary's rafting crew; in the rainy season the river runs faster, so it can be quicker. If you are not a confident swimmer, tell the office when you book so the guide knows.
Light clothes that can get wet and muddy, plus sandals or water shoes that stay on your feet. The sanctuary hands out mahout style shirts to wear over your own clothes, and the guides take photos of you during the day. Bring a full change of clothes and a towel for the ride home.
The elephant activities go ahead in light rain; the elephants do not mind and neither will you once you are already wet. Heavy rain can change the river activities, and the guide decides on the day.
A small elephant sanctuary beside the Mae Taeng river, about an hour and a half north of Chiang Mai. There is no riding, and the sanctuary says it uses no chains or hooks because its herd is free to roam. Groups are small, so you get real time with the elephants rather than watching from a crowd. Hotel pickup is included, so you do not need to find it yourself.
