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A family in striped woven tops poses beside an elephant as a boy reaches out to touch it.
A young elephant lies in a patch of mud while an adult elephant stands beside it on the grass.
A mahout walks ahead of an elephant raising its trunk on a muddy track through the forest.
Adult elephants and a calf graze side by side on a green meadow at the sanctuary.
Two visitors in woven tops laugh as a baby elephant sprays water at them in the river.
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One Day Elephant Lover + Whitewater Rafting + Sticky Waterfall

Elephants, whitewater rafting and the Sticky Waterfall in one day from Chiang Mai. Feed and bathe the elephants at Chang Thai Heritage, then raft and climb the limestone falls.

From฿2,000per person
5.0(1)
5.0Facebook (1)
Mae Taeng, Chiang Mai

Highlights

  • Feed the elephants by hand and scrub them in the river
  • Whitewater rafting run with a guide steering the raft
  • Walk up the limestone cascade at the Sticky Waterfall
  • Lunch included between the activities
  • Hotel pickup from Chiang Mai city, no riding

Duration

10 Hours

Pickup

Included

This is Chang Thai Heritage's elephant day with two extras bolted on: a whitewater rafting run and a stop at the Sticky Waterfall. It suits active travellers who want the elephants but do not want to spend a whole day in one place, and families with older children who can handle a raft. There is no riding at the sanctuary. Hotel pickup, an English speaking guide and lunch are included.

At the sanctuary you chop sugar cane and bananas into snacks and feed the elephants by hand, walk with them to the river and scrub them while they lie in the water. Reviewers describe the sanctuary's combination day as the elephants in the morning, feeding, mud bath and river wash, then lunch and the rafting and waterfall in the afternoon, with guides who speak good English. The Sticky Waterfall gets its name from the rough limestone that lets you walk up the cascade barefoot without slipping. Rafting is on a river in the same countryside, with a guide steering and everyone paddling.

Practicalities: this is a full day out of Chiang Mai. Everything gets wet at some point, so wear quick drying clothes and shoes that can go in the water, and pack a full change for the drive back. The child rate applies from age 3 to 10; our office confirms with the sanctuary whether younger children can join the rafting section.

Bookings open up to 180 days ahead; the latest date you can book is Wed 21 Apr 2027.

Checking dates...
  • Free cancellation up to 48 hours before
  • Secure payment via Stripe
  • Instant email receipt

From

฿2,000

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