Thailand · RAFTING TRIPS IN CHIANG MAI

15 Rafting Trips in Chiang Mai to Build a Day Around

23 tours  ·  from $33 a head

This is the shortlist you would send a friend: 15 rafting trips in Chiang Mai worth the money, each with its price, its traveller verdict and the one thing to know before you commit.

Chiang Mai: Elephant Sanctuary, Waterfall & Bamboo Rafting - Leaving Chiang Mai for Mae Wang
Bamboo Rafting & White Water, Elephant Sanctuaries in Chiang Mai, Elephant Sanctuary Visits, Rafting Trips in Chiang Mai, Tour Reviews, Tours in Chiang Mai, Waterfall Tours, Waterfall Trips in Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai: Elephant Sanctuary, Waterfall & Bamboo Rafting

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

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

Travel from Chiang Mai to Pon Elephant Thailand for a guided day with rescued elephants. Feed bananas, walk through the forest, bathe with them, swim at Mae Wang Waterfalls, eat a Thai lunch, and float down the Mae Wang River on a bamboo raft. Guides such as Nop, Paul, Yaya, and Sunny add local insight and help with photos.

“Other than my wedding this was one of the best days of my life! Got to cuddle my favourite animal. The sanctuary was so well run. They really care for them and I learnt so many things I didn’t know. Can’t recommend this tour enough ❤️”

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Chiang Mai Elephant Sanctuary, Bamboo Rafting and Waterfall Tour - Climbing Bua Thong Waterfall barefoot
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Chiang Mai Elephant Sanctuary, Bamboo Rafting and Waterfall Tour

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

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 870 reviews · from $58Top rated

Spend about eight hours visiting Bua Thong’s climbable waterfall, New Elephant Home in Mae Tang Valley, and a bamboo rafting camp. The elephant program centers on welfare, forest walks, and no riding. Guides such as Paul, Fluke, and Mr. Poppy are known for clear explanations and hands-on help, though the waterfall needs steady footing.

“Paul was the guide for today's adventure. It started with a trip to the waterfalls, followed by the trip to New Elephant Home, and then the bamboo raft excursion. Paul took care of us, and gave us lots of information and what to expect. He was knowledgeable about the elephants and was always willing to help take pictures for everyone in the group during the entire trip. Paul took care of the admission fees/tickets. The length of time at both waterfall and elephant sanctuary was the right amount of time. By going to the waterfall first, we were able to enjoy more time with the elephants with less people around.…”

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8 hour Sticky waterfall, ATV and White water rafting Adventures - Sticky Waterfall: climbing limestone instead of stairs
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8 hour Sticky waterfall, ATV and White water rafting Adventures

3.8 hour Sticky waterfall, ATV and White water rafting Adventures

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 308 reviews · from $110

Spend about eight hours outside Chiang Mai with guide support, hotel pickup, a limestone Sticky Waterfall, an ATV ride through roads and jungle tracks, and 4 km of level 3 to 4 rafting. Guides such as Joe, Mr. B, and Mr. K are praised for clear instructions and friendly help. Thai lunch, water, transport, fees, and local insurance are included.

“If you want a funpacked adventure squeezed in one day you should definitely try this trip. You can expect about an hour of ATV ride amongst elephants, a beginner friendly but thrill rafting on the nearby river a nice meal for lunch and the stickRead more”

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Whitewater Rafting Adventure - Getting ready at the 8Adventures base
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Whitewater Rafting Adventure

4.Whitewater Rafting Adventure

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 205 reviews · from $97

Travel from Chiang Mai to 8Adventures for a 10-kilometer jungle rafting run, with calm water, class III and IV rapids, safety gear, guides, lunch, showers, and hotel transport. The route can be adjusted for younger or less experienced rafters, and guide Lo has earned praise for his warm, careful leadership.

“Fantastic rafting experience! The day was very well organised, professional and the facilities were great. Had a delicious vegetarian lunch and the venue had hot showers with shampoo and conditioner.”

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4 in 1 Elephants Long Neck Rafting and Sticky Waterfall Tour - Visiting the Karen Long Neck Village
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4 in 1 Elephants Long Neck Rafting and Sticky Waterfall Tour

5.4 in 1 Elephants Long Neck Rafting and Sticky Waterfall Tour

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

Spend about 10 hours exploring Mae Taeng with an English-speaking guide. Walk up Bua Thong Sticky Waterfall, feed and bathe elephants at a cruelty-free sanctuary, visit a Karen Long Neck Village, then choose white-water or bamboo rafting. Guides such as Yoong and Mr K have earned strong praise for friendly, well-run days.

“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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Ethical Elephant Visit and White Water Rafting in Chiang Mai - Meeting the elephants at E-Co Adventure Camp
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Ethical Elephant Visit and White Water Rafting in Chiang Mai

6.Ethical Elephant Visit and White Water Rafting in Chiang Mai

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 73 reviews · from $58

Travel from Chiang Mai to Mae Taeng for a no-riding elephant visit at E-Co Adventure Camp. Feed and walk beside rescued elephants, watch them play in the river, enjoy a family-run Thai lunch, then tackle Mae Taeng River rapids with guides. Round-trip pickup, vegetarian food, and groups of up to 12 are included.

“This was an amazing experience! Pickup from our hotel 5 minutes after 8, and made one stop on our way to Eco Adventure camp. It was about 1.5 hours to get there. Once we arrived we changed into the elephant garb. And we fed thRead more”

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Chiang Mai Rafting in Mae Taeng River with Thai Buffet - What the Mae Taeng River feels like
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Chiang Mai Rafting in Mae Taeng River with Thai Buffet

7.Chiang Mai Rafting in Mae Taeng River with Thai Buffet

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 60 reviews · from $75

Spend about eight hours rafting the Mae Taeng River with Oh-Hoo, using safety gear and quality equipment under guides such as Mike, Tomy, and Tom. Pickup, a Thai buffet, waterfall time, and a small group of no more than 15 are included. Water levels affect the rapids, so expect a gentler ride in the dry season.

“If you want a 5-star adventure & I am not talking the cheesy touristy kind, then book this 5-star adventure. I cannot say enough good things about our trip, so I’ll just let you find out for yourself.”

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Chiang Mai: National Elephant Care, Rafting, & Ziplines Trip - The journey south from Chiang Mai
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Chiang Mai: National Elephant Care, Rafting, & Ziplines Trip

8.Chiang Mai: National Elephant Care, Rafting, & Ziplines Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 48 reviews · 6 hours · from $51

Travel south from Chiang Mai to Mae Wang for elephant care, a herbal vitamin ball workshop, lunch by the river, and your choice of 45-minute bamboo rafting or a zipline course with 15 platforms. Small groups, hotel pickup, an English-speaking guide, and a Thai buffet are included.

“I think his name was John he was perfect they all were”

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Chiang Mai Elephant Sanctuary Observation and Bamboo Rafting - The Wang River by bamboo raft
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Chiang Mai Elephant Sanctuary Observation and Bamboo Rafting

9.Chiang Mai Elephant Sanctuary Observation and Bamboo Rafting

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 44 reviews · from $61

Join Joy Elephant Sanctuary for an 8 to 9-hour day from Chiang Mai. Prepare food for rescued elephants, observe them in the forest, visit a waterfall, make a Thai souvenir, and float down the Wang River on a bamboo raft. Jade and the sanctuary team guide the visit, with lunch, transport, towels, drinks, and photos included.

“Wow. We love elephants so much and this place was awesome!!! We got to feed them snacks, walk with them and just spend time watching them be amazing and beautiful animals! This place is truly ethical- NO touching/bathing/riding (excRead more”

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7 Hour Sticky Waterfall and Double Rafting Adventure - Climbing the Sticky Waterfall
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7 Hour Sticky Waterfall and Double Rafting Adventure

10.7 Hour Sticky Waterfall and Double Rafting Adventure

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 33 reviews · from $84

Leave Chiang Mai at 9:00 a.m. for a seven-hour outing combining the climbable Sticky Waterfall, 40 to 50 minutes of Class 3 to 4 whitewater rafting, and a gentle 50-minute bamboo-raft ride. Guide Joe may lead the day, offering local stories, practical help, and photos along the way.

“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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Secret Waterfall and Bamboo Rafting from Chiang Mai - The 45-minute bamboo raft ride
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Secret Waterfall and Bamboo Rafting from Chiang Mai

11.Secret Waterfall and Bamboo Rafting from Chiang Mai

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 30 reviews · from $32Best value

Leave central Chiang Mai for Mae Wang, where you can swim beneath a quiet waterfall, enjoy tea and snacks by the water, then float 45 minutes down the Wang River on a bamboo raft. Guides such as M, May, Pik, Em, Pai, and Win have helped make this relaxed six-hour outing friendly and easy to manage.

“Very good tour. Pik our tour guide made sure we were well looked after. The waterfall, rafting and lunch was great. Very helpful having the hotel pick up as well.”

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Family Rafting Adventure - What happens at 8Adventures basecamp
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Family Rafting Adventure

12.Family Rafting Adventure

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 30 reviews · from $81

Start with Chiang Mai pickup at 8:00 a.m., then head to 8Adventures for a four-hour basecamp visit and rafting session designed for families and first-timers. You’ll receive a helmet, lifejacket, bottled water, lunch, and a safety briefing before tackling gradually harder rapids. Showers are available before the ride home.

“Travelling with our two kids age 12 and 13 this was the perfect day out! Highly recommend this very professional company. We were collected promptly and received an excellent safety briefing both on arrival via video and in person bRead more”

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Elephant Habitat Park Feeding Entry & Rafting Van Transfer - Meeting the elephants at the habitat park
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Elephant Habitat Park Feeding Entry & Rafting Van Transfer

13.Elephant Habitat Park Feeding Entry & Rafting Van Transfer

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 28 reviews · from $33

Travel about 1 hour 20 minutes south of Chiang Mai to Mae Wang Elephant Habitat Park. Meet the elephants, feed them, make herbal vitamin balls, and watch their afternoon bath before a peaceful 45-minute bamboo raft ride. English-speaking guides may include John, Lily, Tono, or Nop.

“The tour guide John was great and it was an Overall great experience feeding and looking after the elephants then the rafting would highly recommend to others John Deserves a pay rise what a guy he took photos for me off his phone when my phone was broke”

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Elephant Sanctuary + Waterfall + Bamboo Rafting One Day Trip - At Mae Wang Elephant Camp
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Elephant Sanctuary + Waterfall + Bamboo Rafting One Day Trip

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

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 22 reviews · from $59

Spend 8 to 10 hours in Mae Wang district with hotel pickup in Chiang Mai, lunch, and an air-conditioned van. Feed and interact with elephants, cool off at a 20-meter waterfall, and float down the Mae Wang stream on a bamboo raft. Guides such as Tony add warmth, though van comfort and tour organization can vary.

“The day started with a pickup from our hotel. We went directly to the bamboo river rafting. We were given a chance to change ahead of time, which was nice even though our family was prepared with swimsuits already on. Loved the raftingRead more”

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Chiang Mai 1 Day: Elephant Sanctuary, Waterfall & Bamboo Rafting - Meeting the Karen guides and elephants
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Chiang Mai 1 Day: Elephant Sanctuary, Waterfall & Bamboo Rafting

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

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 19 reviews · from $77

Leave Chiang Mai early for Doi Inthanon Elephant Sanctuary, where Karen guides introduce you to rescued elephants without riding, cages, or chains. Feed them, walk through the jungle, and bathe in the water. Then enjoy vegetarian Thai food at Mae Saphok Waterfall before a bamboo-raft trip through the countryside.

“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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New in Rafting Trips in Chiang Mai

★ 4.5Full Day Elephant Bathing and Bamboo Rafting Tour in Chiang MaiFrom $718 reviews
★ 4.5Chiang Mai ATV White Water Rafting and Elephant Sanctuary Full-Day TripFrom $1388 reviews

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