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Chiang Mai Nature & adventure

Our most recommended Chiang Mai Nature & adventure

Chiang Mai: Waterfall, Elephant Sanctuary and Bamboo Rafting

1. Chiang Mai: Waterfall, Elephant Sanctuary and Bamboo Rafting

Embark on a one-of-a-kind experience and visit an ethical rescued elephant facility in the jungle outside Chiang Mai. Cool off in a waterfall, savor a traditional Thai lunch, and become a caretaker for the day as you interact, feed, and observe the gentle giants in their natural environment.  Begin with a pickup from your hotel or accommodation in downtown Chiang Mai. Take a scenic drive southwest of Chiang Mai and see local farms, hill tribe villages, and rice fields along the way.  Journey to the Mae Wang Waterfalls, where you'll relax and take a dip in the water. Arrive at the Pon Elephant Thailand located deep in the jungle. You'll be welcomed to the sanctuary by a guide who will lead you through the experience. Get dressed into Karen hill tribe clothing like the ones elephant caretakers wear. Next, get a briefing on Asian elephants and the background of the sanctuary. Come and meet the friendly rescued elephants and feed them bananas. Walk up the hill with elephants through the forest and watch the elephants forage for food in the wilderness. Observe elephants interacting between families in their natural environment. Head down to the river and enjoy bathing with the elephants. Walk with the elephants back to the sanatorium and embrace the memories and have time to say goodbye to these marvelous creatures. Finish off with a scenic bamboo rafting trip along the Mae Wang River before you get dropped off at your hotel in Chiang Mai.

Chiang Mai: Elephant Care at Elephant Retirement Park

2. Chiang Mai: Elephant Care at Elephant Retirement Park

Meet and feed elephants on this elephant sanctuary tour from Chiang Mai. Watch these majestic creatures up close and learn about them from specialists. Sit down to an authentic Thai lunch and stay hydrated with complimentary water. Start your journey in the morning with a hotel pickup from Chiang Mai city center. Take the 1-hour ride to the countryside of Mae Tang district. Get changed into the local clothes and be ready for the fun activities. The experienced guide will provide information about the elephants' behavior and how to provide proper care for them. Then, prepare food and healthy treats for the elephants and feed them afterward. After that, you and the elephants will walk to play in the mud and sand spa. During this time, you will have a chance to observe their behavior, in beautiful natural surroundings. After your time with the elephants, change your clothes, shower, and then enjoy a delicious traditional Thai buffet lunch, which is suitable for vegetarians. After lunch, relax on the 1-hour journey back to your hotel in Chiang Mai city center.

Chiang Mai: Elephant Sanctuary & Waterfall Group Tour

3. Chiang Mai: Elephant Sanctuary & Waterfall Group Tour

Take a visit to the Elephant Sanctuary in Chiang Mai. Start with a convenient pick-up from your hotel in the city center of Chiang Mai and take a drive to Pon Elephant Thailand. Learn how to make healthy snacks for elephants and see the rescued animals. Go for a swim at Mae Wang Waterfall. Relax as you are picked up from your city center accommodation in Chiang Mai. Sit back as you are driven southwest of the city on a scenic 1.5-hour drive. Encounter local farms, hill tribe villages, and rice fields. Receive a warm welcome when you arrive at the Pon Elephant Thailand. Put on your traditional Karen Hill tribe clothes to look like an elephant caretaker. Listen to a briefing on Asian elephants and the background of the sanctuary. Gain new knowledge as you are taught how to make healthy snacks for the elephants. Feed the rescued elephants as you walk up a hill in the deep jungle. Watch the elephants foraging for food and see elephant families interacting with one another. Bathe in the river with the elephants and walk them back to the sanctuary, where you will be taught how to make elephant medicine balls. Take a shower and pack up your belongings. Eat a traditional Thai lunch and fresh fruits. Leave Pon Elephant Thailand and stop at the Mae Wang waterfall for a quick swim before transferring back starting point after the tour.

From Chiang Mai: Doi Inthanon National Park Full-Day Tour

4. From Chiang Mai: Doi Inthanon National Park Full-Day Tour

Get picked up from your hotel in Chiang Mai city center for a day to explore one of Thailand’s original national parks and highest mountain, Doi Inthanon. This tour will feature picturesque landscapes, remote villages, and incredible viewpoints. After getting picked up from your hotel in Chiang Mai, head to your first stop, one of the largest and most beautiful waterfalls in the country, Wachirathan Waterfall. Over 80 meters high, the power of this waterfall creates a refreshing mist that feeds the surrounding vegetation.  Next, stop at the stunning 50-meter cascade, Sirithan Waterfall, which is fed by the Mae Klong River.  Then, stop at the famous twin pagodas: the Napamatanee Don and Napaphon Bhumisiri. Built for the Royal King and Queen, they are located at the highest point in Thailand.  Round out the tour with a visit to the Karen Tribe locale. Learn a bit about the hill tribes people’s culture and way of life in their village of Sobhad.

Chiang Mai: Doi Inthanon National Park & Elephant Sanctuary

5. Chiang Mai: Doi Inthanon National Park & Elephant Sanctuary

Discover the beauty of the Doi Inthanon National Park, see the Wachirathan Waterfall, and feed elephants at an elephant sanctuary. Choose from a tour with a centrally-located meeting point in Chiang Mai or a tour with convenient pickup and drop-off directly at your accommodation in Chiang Mai.  Hop aboard a comfortable van or bus and relax the drive to the southwest of Chiang Mai. Stop at one of the largest and most beautiful waterfalls in the country, Wachirathan Waterfall. This waterfall is more than 80 meters high, creating a refreshing mist that nourishes the surrounding vegetation.  Continue your journey to admire the stunning Twin Royal Pagodas. Take in gorgeous panoramic views with a terraced flower garden and the summit of Doi Inthanon Mountain. Walk on an ancient fern forest trail and have a delicious lunch at at local restaurant. Drive through the mountains and hill tribe village to the Elephant Village. Once you arrive, put on a traditional Karen tribe t-shirt and get ready for your jungle adventure. Pickup some fruits to feed the elephants. Learn about Asian elephants and the village's background. Find out how to approach elephants and the correct ways to feed them. Go on a forest hike with the friendly elephants through the lush vegetation and breathtaking mountains. Observe elephants roaming and foraging for food freely in the wild.  Swim with the elephants at the hidden waterfall where you can take some amazing picture. Have free time for a cool shower, to dry off, and to change back into your own clothes. Leave the Elephant Village and travel about 1.5 hours back to Chiang Mai City. 

Chiang Mai: Authentic Thai Cooking Class and Farm Visit

6. Chiang Mai: Authentic Thai Cooking Class and Farm Visit

Learn how to make authentic Thai dishes with this fun, small-group cooking class in Chiang Mai as you prepare classic dishes using ingredients from a local market. Choose between a half-day class during the morning or the evening and cook five dishes, or go for the full-day class to cook an extra two courses! Get picked up at your hotel within Chiang Mai, then meet up with the rest of your group and choose what you want to cook from the menu. Visit a local market and buy the necessary ingredients, and tour an organic farm filled with fresh fruits and vegetables. Once you're done, head to the classroom and prepare your individual cooking stations for the lesson. Follow the instructions of your professional English-speaking guide as you cook a variety of authentic Thai dishes such as mango sticky rice, pad thai, and curry, and make curry paste with your own two hands! Enjoy the fruits of your labor by sharing a meal with your group. Exchange stories as you sample each others' cooking before you head back to your accommodation.

Chiang Mai: Small Group Ethical Elephant Sanctuary Tour

7. Chiang Mai: Small Group Ethical Elephant Sanctuary Tour

Meet elephants on this guided day trip from Chiang Mai to the Lanna Kingdom Elephant Sanctuary, located in the middle of a lush national park. Here the elephants are able to roam freely in a large green space. Keep your clothes clean by wearing local clothes and boots. Feed and interact with rescued elephants before sitting down to a freshly cooked lunch.  Depart Chiang Mai aboard an air-conditioned van and journey into the mountains of northern Thailand to visit the ethical Lanna Kingdom Elephant Sanctuary (approximately 1-hour drive from the city center). Upon arrival, learn about the elephant conservation program and benefit from an introductory talk, and the chance to interact with the rescued animals. Get the chance to give them a hug and discover how to prepare a healthy meal to feed them. Go for a walk around the sanctuary with the elephants and stop to give them a mud bath to keep their body temperature down and protect them from parasites. Feed them before enjoying a homemade lunch at a restaurant inside the sanctuary.

Doi Suthep Temple & Ethical Elephant Sanctuary Day Trip.

8. Doi Suthep Temple & Ethical Elephant Sanctuary Day Trip.

Experience an ethical elephant estate and Wat Phra That Doi Suthep on this outdoor adventure tour from Chiang Mai. Interact with the elephants in the forest and feed them treats, enjoy a Thai meal, and visit a temple on top of the mountain. Begin your trip with hotel pickup and a scenic journey to a private elephant estate where you'll get to be their caretaker for half a day. Upon arrival, walk to the main base camp located up the hill and get changed into an elephant caretaker outfit. Hear about the long history of Asian elephants as you learn to cook healthy herbal treats for them to eat for a snack. Afterward, feed the handmade treats to them and walk along their side through the lush forest. Continue with elephant bathing in the river and say farewell to your new, big friends before taking some time to enjoy an authentic Thai lunch. Taste dishes with rice and a selection of fresh tropical fruits. With a full stomach, visit Wat Phra That Doi Suthep next, a temple situated on the top of a mountain. You can reach the top by walking up or using the elevator. At the top, see a golden chedi and terrace adorned with small shrines, breadfruit trees, rock gardens, and an Emerald Buddha statue. Round off your day on the mountaintop with breathtaking views of the greenery below, followed by drop-off back at your hotel.

Chiang Mai: Ethical Elephant Observation Nature Park Visit

9. Chiang Mai: Ethical Elephant Observation Nature Park Visit

Discover the beauty of these majestic creatures while also supporting their conservation efforts. This half-day tour offers a unique and ethical experience where you can observe the elephants in their natural habitat without riding or hurting them. Upon arrival, you’ll be greeted by an expert guide who will provide you with a brief introduction to the park and the elephants. Then, you’ll have the opportunity to watch the elephants roam freely, play in the mud, and even interact with them from a safe distance. You'll also learn about the park's mission to protect and rehabilitate elephants that have been rescued from harmful situations. The knowledgeable guide will share insights about the elephants’ behaviors, personalities, and history, which will enhance your understanding and appreciation of these magnificent creatures. At the end of the tour, you'll have the chance to feed the elephants and say goodbye to them before being transported back to your hotel. This is an unforgettable experience that will leave you with a newfound respect for these gentle giants and memories that will last a lifetime.

4-Hour Doi Suthep & Hmong Hill Tribe Village from Chiang Mai

10. 4-Hour Doi Suthep & Hmong Hill Tribe Village from Chiang Mai

Depart Chiang Mai and travel to the temple of Wat Phra That Doi Suthep on Doi Suthep mountain. Follow in the footsteps of the pilgrims who climb up 309 steps to the stupa on the hilltop. Get spectacular views of Chiang Mai city and its surroundings. Then, visit a village and museum of the ethnic Hmong hill tribe, located inside the boundaries of the Doi Suthep-Pui National Park. Learn more about the life of the tribe, known for their colorful costumes and handicraft traditions. Return to Chiang Mai and get dropped off at your hotel.

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What people are saying about Chiang Mai

Overall rating

4.8 / 5

based on 785 reviews

Absolutely stunning strip! Would definitely recommend. It was so well planned. The taxi driver and tour guide were so lovely and friendly. They stopped enough times for snacks and toilet breaks. Our guide was super helpful sharing knowledge about the sites we were seeing and the culture of Thailand and its people. We really enjoyed this.

Fantastic day trip. You cannot interact more closely with elephants than this tour. Feeding them, washing them with mud and them going in the river with them to rinse them off. Bamboo rafting was a great experience, and then finished off with a swim at the waterfall! Highly recommend this trip!

Our host and guide was Jimmy. We had an awesome day. Fed the elephants, interacted with them, hiked with them and bathed them. Afterwards we had a good lunch of chicken pad thai with pineapple and watermelon. The day finished with spending some time at a small waterfall. Worth it.

Our guide Young and our driver Shachou were amazing! We had so much fun! Could not imagine a better day. Thank you Young for your excellent work as a guide, but most of all for being such a beautiful person!

The trip was great! The guide knew good English and the arrangement was great.