Mae Wang Waterfall, Chiang Mai: Our most recommended tours and activities

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 Sanctuary & Waterfall Group Tour

2. 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.

Chiang Mai: Elephant Sanctuary & Jungle Trek w/ Waterfall

3. Chiang Mai: Elephant Sanctuary & Jungle Trek w/ Waterfall

Begin your exploration into Chiang Mai's heart with our comprehensive day tour, designed to engage your senses, experience authentic Thailand, and enrich your connection to nature. Be prepared for a day immersed in jungle trekking, bathing elephants, and drifting peacefully down a beautiful river, all while supporting local communities and promoting ethical animal care. Upon pickup at your hotel between 8:30-9:00 am, our journey takes us south to the Mae Wang region. Our first destination is the elephant care sanctuary, home to a group of rescued elephants. You'll get to feed, bathe, and learn about these magnificent creatures in a safe, respectful environment. Next, we lace up our hiking boots for a 30-minute trek through the green jungle. Our short trek will guide us towards a hidden gem – a beautiful waterfall. Go for a short swim, take some beautiful photos, or simply relax in the calmness of this beautiful place. A well-deserved lunch awaits at Shan Village. Enjoy a simple but traditional and authentic Thai meal. Post-lunch, we head towards the Mae Wang River, our starting place to a bamboo rafting adventure. Allow the gentle currents to guide your raft for about an hour, during which you can enjoy the rich nature all around you. After a fulfilling day, we will drive you back to your hotel in Chiang Mai, aiming to arrive around between 16.30-17.00 pm. This day is not just a tour, it's a chance to engage in eco-friendly tourism, supporting local communities, and promoting ethical animal care.

Chiang Mai: Mae Wang One day Trekking

4. Chiang Mai: Mae Wang One day Trekking

Explore nature in Chiang Mai, enjoying trekking through waterfalls where you can relax and swimming along the Mae Wang River, then visit the rice fields. Trek through local villages, rain forest and visit three waterfalls along the way. You will even visit a hidden jungle beach for a refreshing bath The friendly and knowledgeable guides of Mae Wang and Family Trekking will make sure that you will enjoy this hike to the fullest. Growing up in this area and as Karen tribal members, these guides are a wealth of information about the forest and tribal culture. The hiking distance is between 12 - 15 kilometers depending on the weather conditions and season. We recommend a medium fitness level for this tour; motivated beginners are welcome.

Other Sightseeing Options in Mae Wang Waterfall, Chiang Mai

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What people are saying about Mae Wang Waterfall, Chiang Mai

Overall rating

4.8 / 5

based on 407 reviews

Most amazing experience, the bamboo rafting was very cool and elephants well taken care of. Detailed itinerary: they picked us up at 8:30 and we drove for about an hour and half to the bamboo rafting, which lasted for 40 minutes, we then drove for another 20 minutes to the sanctuary where we first got my briefing on the elephants and how to act around them, then we got to feed them for about 40 minutes. We then took the elephants on a small walk up the hill and got to take same pictures. After that we ate pad Thai and relaxed for a about an hour, we then walked to the waterfall which was 20 minutes walk, mostly flat and downhill. We didn’t stay at the waterfall for super long, probably around 30 minutes, we then walked back to the car which was 15 minutes. The drive back was an hour and half, we were back at 5pm. We were provided with water through the whole trip which was very nice, our tour guide mosquito was amazing! Oh and I recommend bringing both sneakers and sandals:)

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.

I had a tour with Jackie. Both Jackie and the driver were lovely people. The tour was very engaging, well organised and an amazing experience. 10/10 for me. My friends are now saying they need to come to Thailand because of the footage from this tour

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