Our 15 Favourite Rafting and Waterfall Days in Chiang Mai

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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3.4 in 1 Elephants Long Neck Rafting and Sticky Waterfall Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 126 reviews · from $88 a head

Spend about 10 hours with guides such as Yoong and Mr. K visiting Sticky Waterfall, an ethical elephant sanctuary, a Karen Long Neck Village, and your choice of white-water or bamboo rafting. Air-conditioned transport, lunch, bottled water, fees, and local travel insurance are included. The group can reach 30 people.

“This was easily the best tour I have taken in more than 10 years travelling through South East Asia. Absolutely fantastic guide (Mr K), a small group and really fun activities. The elephant sanctuary was great and the elephants treated very well. The rafting was a blast, as was the Sticky Waterfall. I would highly recommend this tour, especially with Mr. K. 🙂”

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4.Chiang Mai ATV & White Water Rafting & Trekking to Waterfall

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 84 reviews · 1 day · from $87 a head

Leave Chiang Mai for a full day at the Maetang River, combining a two-hour jungle trek to a waterfall, one hour of white-water rafting, and one hour on a 200cc ATV. English-speaking guides such as Tony and Tata lead the trip. Hotel pickup, equipment, lunch, water, admission, and insurance are included.

“the atv and the rafting was a very amazing experience, the view to the waterfall is breathtaking. we really recommend to do this trip.”

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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.ATV, White Water Raft, & Sticky Waterfall Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 76 reviews · 1 day · from $85 a head

Spend a full day north of Chiang Mai combining Sticky Waterfall, a one-hour ATV ride, and white-water rafting on the Maetang River. An English-speaking guide, minivan transfers, equipment, Thai lunch, drinking water, and entrance fees are included. Expect a busy day, shared transport, and river conditions that can affect the rafting.

“Brilliant day and such lovely and welcoming guide. Well worth it for a full day with 3 activities and he accommodated our big group of 19 people!”

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7.Sticky Waterfall and Rafting Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 61 reviews · 1 day · from $83 a head

Join guides such as Mr Joe or Mr K for a full day from Chiang Mai, combining Bua Thong Sticky Waterfalls, level 3 to 4 white water rafting, and a calm bamboo float on the Mae Taeng River. Hotel pickup, lunch, safety gear, water, and transfers are included. Expect wet clothes, photos, rural scenery, and possible elephant sightings.

“I initially booked the sticky waterfall and rafting day trip, but due to bad weather, my booking was cancelled. The hosts kindly offered to change me to a different day which also included quad biking. It was really fun and the tour guide was very friendly!”

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8.Whitewater Rafting and Waterfall Trekking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 58 reviews · 10 hours · from $112 a head

Leave Chiang Mai by air-conditioned minivan for Mae Taeng District, where guides such as Tin, Sack, Sam, and Tom lead a jungle trek, waterfall swim, and 10-kilometer rafting run. Expect class III and IV rapids, safety gear, lunch, showers, and a full day outdoors. You need to swim and be reasonably fit.

“Very nice experience, worth money spent on it. Trekking offered very nice views and local guide was explaining/sharing a lot of interesting information about plants and animals. Waterfall, worth the effort. Rafting, very exciting experience, staff very professional”

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9.7 Hour Sticky Waterfall and Double Rafting Adventure

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 33 reviews · from $84 a head

You’ll leave Chiang Mai at 9:00 am for a seven-hour outdoor day with guide Joe and a small-to-medium group of up to 30. Walk up mineral-coated limestone at Sticky Waterfall, ride 4 km of Class 3 to 4 whitewater, then float for 50 minutes on a bamboo raft. Lunch, transport, water, fees, and local insurance are included.

“Very good experience. You can enjoy two styles of rafting. And after a perfect lunch, you are going to the sticky waterfall. Really fun experience overall. Thank you to Joe out guide who was perfect.”

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10.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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11.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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12.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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13.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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14.Sticky waterfalls- Elephants- Bamboo or White water rafting.

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 9 reviews · 7h 30m · from $112 a head

Spend a full day outside Chiang Mai climbing Bua Thong Sticky Waterfalls, choosing white-water or bamboo rafting, and meeting elephants at a sanctuary with feeding, vitamin-ball making, walking, and bathing. Guides such as Tu, Tom, and Blue are praised for clear help, local insight, and taking photos. Hotel pickup, lunch, admission, and water are included.

“De activiteiten waren erg leuk om te doen. Bij de olifanten waren er ook mooie activiteiten binnen het natuurgebied, zoals het bereiden van de vitamines van de olifanten en nog wat andere dingentjes. Echter vonden wij het wel jammer dat je de keuze niet kreeg voor het bamboo raften. Het water raften was uiteindelijk leuker dan we hadden verwacht. De gids was echt super lief, gaf een duidelijke uitleg en zorgde goed voor ons. Ook heeft hij bij alle activiteiten foto’s en video’s gemaakt. Deze heeft hij later naar ons doorgestuurd. Al met al hebben wij een hele fijne tijd beleefd!”

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15.Full Day Chiang Mai Zipline Adventure, Rafting, ATV-ing, and Sticky Waterfall

★★★★★★★★★★3.5 · 9 reviews · from $163 a head

Spend about eight hours combining a 22-platform zipline, 45-minute Tang River rafting run, one hour of ATV riding, lunch, and time at Sticky Waterfall. Round-trip Chiang Mai pickup, equipment, drinks, fruit, and insurance are included. The day suits active visitors who want several northern Thai experiences in one outing.

“Superb tour. A lot of stuff packed in one day but we were up to the challenge and had a blast. Everyone was super nice and accommodating and we had the time of our lives on this adventure. Would totally recommend to others!”

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