Half Day Elephant Sanctuary & Bamboo Rafting Tour

Chiang Mai - View on map

(5 reviews)

4 - 5 hours
Max People : 20
Daily
Min Age : 2+
Mobile voucher

Group of travelers enjoying a Chiang Mai tour at an elephant sanctuary, posing with elephants in a lush jungle near a river.

A group of travelers smiles happily while standing on bamboo during a Chiang Mai tour at an elephant sanctuary.

Visitors capture special moments with elephants on a Chiang Mai elephant tour.

A group of visitors prepares elephant food during a Chiang Mai tour at an elephant

A visitor learns to make elephant food with a staff member on a Chiang Mai tour.

Part of an ethical Chiang Mai excursion, tourists cool off while bathing elephants in the river.

Exciting Chiang Mai excursion, as tourists go bamboo rafting with a local guide.

Tourists enjoy feeding elephants as part of an elephant sanctuary experience in Chiang Mai.

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Description

Tour Description

Discover the beauty of Thailand’s wildlife and nature with this half-day elephant care and bamboo rafting experience. Spend time with gentle elephants in their natural environment—feed them, touch them, and join them for a playful mud spa. Afterward, help bathe them in the river, an unforgettable bonding experience that allows you to connect with these amazing animals in a respectful and ethical way.

After your time with the elephants, continue your adventure with a peaceful bamboo rafting ride down a scenic jungle river. Drift along the water, taking in the lush greenery and the tranquil sounds of nature. Whether you’re a wildlife lover or an adventure seeker, this tour offers the perfect balance of fun, relaxation, and ethical animal interaction.

Location of departure & return

Your hotel in Chiang Mai City. Additional charges apply for outside pickup areas.

When is pickup time?

Morning: 07:00 – 07:30
Afternoon: 12:30 – 13:00

What is included in the price?

Round-trip service from your hotel

English-speaking guide

Entrance fees to the elephant sanctuary

Elephant food

Bamboo rafting experience

Drinking water

Insurance

What is not included in the price?

Lunch

Personal expenses

What should you bring?

Comfortable clothes

Swimwear

Sandals or water shoes

Hat and sunglasses

Sunscreen

Insect repellent

Camera or waterproof phone case

Towel & change of clothes

What to Expect

Experience an unforgettable adventure where you’ll interact with friendly elephants in their natural environment. Begin your journey by preparing food and feeding them, watching as they enjoy their favorite treats. Then, get hands-on with a fun mud spa, where you’ll cover the elephants (and yourself!) in cooling mud to protect their skin. Afterward, join them for a refreshing river bath, splashing and scrubbing them clean in a truly magical bonding moment. To complete your adventure, hop on a traditional bamboo raft and glide along a peaceful jungle river, surrounded by lush greenery and the sounds of nature.

Feed and bond with elephants

Enjoy a playful mud spa with them

Bathe and swim with elephants in the river

ORelax on a scenic bamboo rafting ride

Itinerary

07:00 - 07:30 or 12:30 - 13:00 - Hotel Pickup

You’ll be picked up from your hotel and head to the Elephant Jungle Family for an unforgettable experience.

Meet & Feed the Elephants

You’ll arrive at the sanctuary and be welcomed by friendly elephants. Prepare their food and feed them bananas, sugar cane, and watermelon while learning about their habits and behaviors.

Mud Spa with Elephants

You’ll get hands-on with a fun mud spa, covering the elephants in protective mud while enjoying a playful bonding experience. Expect to get muddy too!

River Bathing with Elephants

You’ll follow the elephants to the river and help bathe them, scrubbing and splashing around for a refreshing and heartwarming moment.

Bamboo Rafting Adventure

You’ll hop on a traditional bamboo raft and drift down a scenic jungle river, taking in the peaceful sounds of nature.

Return to Hotel

You’ll dry off, change clothes, and head back to your hotel, bringing home unforgettable memories of your time with the elephants.

Location

Average Reviews

4.6/5

Exceptional

From 5 Reviews

Showing 5 reviews

Austin

February 7, 2025

tour was solid. staff was jokes too
Ivana

April 20, 2025

We booked this tour to mix some outdoor adventure in Chiang Mai with an elephant encounter, and it definitely delivered! The sanctuary staff were friendly and informative, and the elephants seemed happy and relaxed. My kids loved feeding them bananas and splashing around during bath time.

One small hiccup was that pickup was a bit late, but otherwise everything went smoothly. Highly recommend!
Amber

May 3, 2025

met cool ppl, saw cool places
Julia

May 6, 2025

I would’ve loved a bit more time with the elephants, and the rafting was shorter than expected (still scenic though!). If you’re looking for a quick but meaningful ethical elephant sanctuary visit in Chiang Mai, this tour is still very much worth it. Just don’t expect a super slow-paced day.
Aaron

May 7, 2025

I did the half-day elephant sanctuary and bamboo rafting tour in Chiang Mai last week. It was honestly one of the most unique things I’ve done in Thailand. The elephants looked well cared for and weren’t forced to do tricks or anything like that, which was super important to me. We got to feed them, walk with them, and even bathe them in the river — such a wholesome experience.