The 15 Bamboo Rafting Trips in Chiang Mai We Would Book Again

1.Elephant Sanctuary, Waterfall & Bamboo Rafting

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 9,160 reviews · 9 hours · from $60 a head Our pick

Travel from Chiang Mai to Pon Elephant Thailand for a full day of feeding, walking with, and bathing rescued elephants. Guides such as Nop, Paul, Yaya, and Sunny explain elephant care and help with photos. The day also includes a waterfall swim, Thai lunch, and bamboo rafting on the Mae Wang River.

“Nop was a phenomenal guide! He was very welcoming, informative, and always put a smile on everyone’s faces! He made our trip unforgettable, thank you!”

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2.Chiang Mai Elephant Sanctuary, Bamboo Rafting and Waterfall Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 870 reviews · from $58 a head Best rated

Spend about eight hours visiting Bua Tong’s climbable Sticky Waterfall, walking near elephants at New Elephant Home, and floating by bamboo raft through forested Mae Tang Valley. Pickup begins at Three Kings Monument, lunch and entrance fees are included, and guides such as Paul, Fluke, and Mr. Poppy are known for helpful service.

“Paul is a 5 star man. Jam-packed tour in the best way. You experience so much in one day. The elephants of course were my favorite part.”

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3.Elephant Sanctuary Bamboo Raft & Padthai Cooking

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 245 reviews · 10 hours · from $54 a head

Travel 1.5 hours from Chiang Mai to Living Green Elephant Sanctuary near Inthanon National Park. Feed and walk with rescued elephants, learn their stories, make vegetarian Pad Thai, and ride a bamboo raft on the Wang River. Guides such as Rainbow, Mark, and Jon lead the day in English. Bring a waterproof phone case.

“Fantastic trip, i had a great time, elephant look so happy and definitely ethical place for them, enjoyed soo much with the elephants, feeding them also bathing with them. Bamboo rafting is enjoyable, beautiful scenery.”

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4.Bamboo Rafting with Hotel Transfers

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 111 reviews · from $46 a head

Ride a traditional bamboo raft through Chiang Mai countryside, watch elephants near the river, and travel by hotel pickup and drop-off. Driver Joy, Joi, or Lek may handle your transfer, while a local raft driver steers the boat. Allow four hours, though the ride itself lasts about 30 to 60 minutes.

“The rafting was a lovely peaceful experience, although it finished abruptly and we had to work out where we were with no instructions. It was a shame to see the elephants nearby in very small enclosures.”

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5.Chiangmai : A Bamboo Raft Safari , Sticky waterfalls,

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 82 reviews · 8 hours · from $69 a head

This small-group day trip combines Dantewada’s photo-friendly gardens, a 35-minute bamboo raft ride on the Mae Taeng River, and a 75-minute visit to Bua Thong Sticky Waterfalls. Guides such as Minty, May, Amy, and Star are warm and attentive, with photos, water, lunch, and air-conditioned transport included.

“What a fantastic day out. Minty and Key were our guides for the day and helped make it really special. The waterfall cafe stop was great for a few photos and the sticky waterfall was lots of fun (some of our group had time to walk up twice). But the highlight of our day was the bamboo rafting where we were lucky enough to be joined in the river by some playful baby elephants from a nearby sanctuary. The scenery was fantastic and seeing the elephants play and appear happy with the ability to roam as they wished was really nice. Minty and Key took our safety on the waterfall…”

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6.Chiang Mai Elephant Sanctuary Observation and Bamboo Rafting

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 44 reviews · from $61 a head

From Chiang Mai, travel to Joy Elephant Sanctuary for a respectful day with free-roaming elephants, food preparation, a forest walk, herbal tea, a waterfall stop, and a Thai souvenir craft. Lunch, drinks, transport, towels, photography, and bamboo rafting on the Wang River are included. Jade is one of the named staff members.

“Super nice people, fantastic experience for a extremely reasonably price! We had an amazing time and the sanctuary seems very ethical. The elephants had loads of time to eat, walk around and swim. We were only there to observe their daily routines.”

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7.Secret Waterfall and Bamboo Rafting from Chiang Mai

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 30 reviews · from $32 a head Cheapest seat

Leave central Chiang Mai for Mae Wang, where you can cool off at a waterfall, enjoy tea and snacks beside the water, then float down the Wang River on a bamboo raft. Guides such as M, May, Pik, Em, Pai, and Win have received warm praise. Lunch, transport, equipment, and insurance are included.

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8.Elephant Sanctuary + Waterfall + Bamboo Rafting One Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 22 reviews · from $59 a head

Spend 8 to 10 hours in Mae Wang with an elephant sanctuary visit, a swim at a 20-meter waterfall, bamboo rafting, lunch, and roundtrip Chiang Mai pickup. Tony is one guide praised for his warmth and care. Expect wet clothes, changing stops, an air-conditioned van, and a full day outdoors.

“Tony was an amazing guide. This was the most memorable experience in Thailand so far! The elephants were so cute. The bamboo rafting was so serene and we could see elephants as we went down the raft. The waterfall was stunning with hidden statues behind the waterfall cliff.”

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9.Chiang Mai 1 Day: Elephant Sanctuary, Waterfall & Bamboo Rafting

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 19 reviews · from $77 a head

Travel from Chiang Mai to a Karen-run elephant sanctuary near Doi Inthanon. Feed rescued elephants, walk with them, and bathe in the river before lunch at Mae Saphok Waterfall and a gentle bamboo-raft trip. The group is limited to 10, with pickup, transport, and vegetarian Thai lunch included.

“Great experience seeing elephants in natural habitat. Looked well looked after and cared for. Waterfall was amazing due to previous rain and bamboo rafting was relaxing”

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10.Chiang Mai Adventure ATV Secret Waterfall and Bamboo Rafting

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 16 reviews · from $64 a head

Spend about 6.5 hours outside Chiang Mai with a trained guide such as Pik, riding an ATV through Mae Wang, swimming at a waterfall, sharing tea and snacks, and floating 30 to 45 minutes down the Wang River. Lunch, transport, safety gear, insurance, and water are included.

“Fun day good group xthanks Pik great staff really enkoyed the experience linch on arrival all good saw elephants too x👍”

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11.Chiang Mai Elephant Village Life: Long Neck & Bamboo Rafting

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 14 reviews · 8 hours · from $70 a head

Travel from Chiang Mai to a mountain village for a gentle elephant-care experience with local mahouts. Feed, walk with, and bathe rescued elephants, eat a local lunch, visit a Karen hill village, trek to Mae Wang Waterfall, and raft along a quiet river. Note that the advertised long neck visit may not take place.

“We loved it, our guides were very welcoming and caring. We really enjoyed the experience it is a must do! The food was very good. perfect day! Happy Thailand”

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12.Jungle Trek, Elephants care & Bamboo Rafting

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 8 reviews · 1 day · from $58 a head

You’ll leave Chiang Mai by van for Mae Wang and Mae Win, stopping at a local market before bamboo rafting and a 2 to 5-hour trek. Expect rice fields, a waterfall, packed lunch, and a visit to a Karen village. The route is active, weather-sensitive, and may not include the elephant care suggested by the title.

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13.Full Day Elephant Bathing and Bamboo Rafting Tour in Chiang Mai

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 8 reviews · from $71 a head

Leave Chiang Mai at 8:30 for Mae Taman, where you can feed elephants, watch them bathe, and join the fun by the river. After lunch, float by bamboo raft when water levels allow, visit an orchid and butterfly farm, and return around 16:30 to 17:00. Hotel transfers, guide, lunch, and water are included.

“Fun time w the elephant. After feeding them, we went in the river to splash them and each other. Then we went to the waterfall for a little spray shower. Finally we went on the river for bamboo rafting. From peaceful floating to fun whitewater turbulence, it was cool and safe. Great day for me. Thank you.”

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14.Bamboo Rafting and Wat Phra That Doi Kham

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3 reviews · 5 hours · from $118 a head

Spend five hours rafting through jungle scenery on the Mae Wang River, then visit Wat Phra That Doi Kham above Chiang Mai. An English-speaking guide, possibly Avi, leads the small group of up to nine. Transport, water, insurance, and rafting fees are included, though meals and personal costs are not.

“We had an amazing time with our guide Avi ! We learnt many things about the temples and the culture and we had a very funny time on the river”

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15.Elephant Sightings , Bamboo Rafting Through The Jungle, Swimming In a Waterfall

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 3 reviews · from $97 a head

Start around 9:00 a.m. for a private, guide-led day near Chiang Mai. You’ll visit Mae Wang National Park for self-guided bamboo rafting, then swim beneath Mae Wang Waterfall. Elephant sightings are part of the experience, while lunch, bottled water, and transfers are included. Guide Phil has led this outing for families and active adults.

“We very much enjoyed this excursion. The guide was nice and knowledgeable and the places we visited were wonderful. My only suggestion, a local boat captain is highly recommended, my husband and I were on a raft together with our kids Read more”

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