9 Wildlife and Waterfall Day Trips in Thailand Worth Booking

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

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

Join PON Elephant Thailand for a nine-hour day outside Chiang Mai. Feed and bathe rescued elephants, walk with them through forest, swim at Mae Wang Waterfalls, eat a Thai lunch, and raft the river. Guides such as Nop, Paul, Yaya, and Sunny add useful elephant facts and help with photos.

“We had the best day - everything was perfect from pick up to drop off. Our guide Nop was amazing - so knowledgeable and friendly. The bamboo rafting was brilliant fun and the elephant sanctuary was amazing 🤩”

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2.Chiang Mai: Elephant Sanctuary & Waterfall Group Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 5,780 reviews · 7 hours · from $50Best value

Travel 80 minutes from Chiang Mai to Pon Elephant Thailand, where guides such as Beer, Yaya, and Nop introduce rescued elephants through feeding, walking, and river bathing. After a Thai lunch, hike to Mae Wang Waterfall for a cool swim before returning to the city.

“It was a great day with a lot of wonderful and emotional impressions. The tour was well organized and Dew was a great guide!”

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3.Chiang Mai: Elephant Sanctuary, Long Neck & Sticky Waterfall

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 2,262 reviews · 9 hours · from $63

Leave Chiang Mai for a private elephant sanctuary, where you make herbal treats, feed and bathe elephants, then visit a Karen long-neck village and eat a Thai lunch. Finish at Buatong Sticky Waterfall. Guides such as Fluke, Amy, Tiger, and Paul are known for clear English and careful timing.

“Fluke was an excellent guide. His English is excellent and he was fun. The driver was also great. Very well organized trip and the elephant sanctuary is awesome. The only thing we would change about the trip was the lunch. It was pretty gross and my food had flies in it so we didn’t eat too much. Sticky waterfalls and the long neck village were great also. Highly recommend this trip for everyone, especially at this price point.”

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4.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 Sticky Waterfall, New Elephant Home Sanctuary, and a bamboo rafting camp near Chiang Mai. Guides such as Paul, Fluke, and Mr. Poppy lead the day, which includes lunch, entry fees, hotel-area pickup arrangements, and a return to Three Kings Monument.

“Paul was very good guide, he was funny and helpful. I would specifically ask for him again in the future.”

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5.Bangkok: Elephant Sanctuary & Erawan Waterfall Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 820 reviews · 12 hours · from $181

Leave Bangkok early for ElephantsWorld in Kanchanaburi, where you prepare food, feed elephants, give them a mud bath, and rinse them in the river. After lunch, hike Erawan’s seven waterfall levels. Drivers such as Siri and Krit are often praised for safe, thoughtful service, but no dedicated tour guide is included.

“Elephants are great and our guide Siri was super kind. He gave us a taste of Thailand Long journey to go and come back but worth while Also Erawan waterfall are amazing but watch-out little hungry fishes 😅”

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6.Chiang Mai: Ethical Half Day Elephant Sanctuary & Waterfall

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 450 reviews · 7 hours · from $54

Spend seven hours with Joy Elephant Sanctuary in Mae Wang, including round-trip pickup from Chiang Mai, elephant feeding and observation, a jungle walk, waterfall time, lunch, herbal tea, and a handmade Thai inhaler. Expect respectful rules, no riding, no touching, and no elephant bathing.

“We enjoyed the day, saw the countryside and how well the elephants were well cared for.”

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7.Chiang Mai Half Day Elephant Sanctuary Observation and Waterfall

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 88 reviews · from $58

Travel from Chiang Mai into the northern hills to observe elephants at Joy Elephant Sanctuary. Feed them without touching, walk through forest, swim at a waterfall, enjoy lunch, and make a Thai cultural souvenir. Guides such as Jade and Shay may lead the activities.

“So 45 minutes into the excursion the driver being on his phone the entire and talking loudly is not only annoying but highly distracting from trying to appreciate the views on the ride. Why doesn’t the tour company better train the drivers about the guests’ total experience? Hoping it improves.”

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8.Experience Elephant Sanctuary + Sticky Waterfall

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 84 reviews · from $94

From Chiang Mai, ride in a private air-conditioned vehicle to a sanctuary where guides such as Moon or Cookie introduce you to rescued elephants, food preparation, feeding, and bathing. After lunch, climb the Sticky Waterfall, swim, and return by door-to-door transfer.

“Was a magical experience, the places were amazing and hands on, it was truly a fun and magical experience. Our driver Lee was amazing and explained so much on the way, you can tell that he is truly passionate about his job”

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9.Elephant Sanctuary, Wat Ban Den & Sticky Waterfall

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 66 reviews · from $58

Spend about nine and a half hours with guide Limmy, Pie, or Pai visiting rescued elephants at Pang Maidaeng, Wat Ban Den’s blue-roofed Lanna temple, and Bua Thong’s climbable limestone waterfall. Pickup is offered, groups are capped at nine, and the tour suits most ages.

“Mr Limmy is a great guide. He’s very patient and has great knowledge of the places he takes you too. Our favorite part of the tour was the Elephant Sanctuary. Would definitely book his company again!”

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