Tour 1 of 3

Sylvis Hostel · Chiang Mai Old City

Ethical
Elephant
Care

Meet rescued elephants in their natural habitat. Feed them, bathe them, walk alongside them — no riding, no tricks, no shows.

🐘 No riding 🌿 Sanctuary rescue 🍸 Free cocktail 🚌 Transport included
Book this tour

1,600 ฿per person · half day

Meeting the elephant herd Elephant close-up portrait Guest feeding an elephant

Elephant Care

1,600 ฿

half day

Departures

8:00 & 12:00

morning & afternoon daily

Book at

Sylvis Reception

same or cheaper than any app

Tour 1 · Half day

What's included

A genuine half-day in the jungle with rescued elephants — intimate, ethical, and unlike anything you'll find on a booking app.

  • Round-trip transport from Chiang Mai city (60–90 min scenic drive)
  • Half-day elephant sanctuary experience with a local mahout guide
  • Prepare elephant food — sugar cane, bananas, rice balls
  • Feed, walk alongside, and bathe the elephants in the river
  • Traditional Thai lunch included
  • 1 free cocktail at Add Oil Bar on return

Departure times

Morning pickup8:00 – 8:30
Afternoon pickup12:00 – 12:30

Pickup from Sylvis Hostel or your accommodation in central Chiang Mai.

Reserve your spot

The experience

What to expect

🐘

Meet the herd

Arrive at the sanctuary and meet your elephants alongside a local mahout who knows each one by name.

  • Learn each elephant's backstory
  • Observe them roaming freely
  • No commands, no performances
🍌

Feeding time

Prepare baskets of sugar cane, bananas, and sticky rice balls — then hand-feed them directly. Up close with the trunk.

  • Get right up close
  • Watch them eat at their own pace
  • No barriers, no rush
💦

River bathing

Wade into the river and help bathe the elephants with buckets of water. Joyful, chaotic, and totally memorable.

  • Get properly soaked
  • Bring a change of clothes
  • Photos very much encouraged

Real photos from the sanctuary

Your day in pictures

Group photo with elephants at the river
Guests feeding elephants
Elephant close-up portrait
Meeting the herd by the river
Elephant bathing with guests
Guest feeding elephant
Elephants with mahout in sunlight
↓ Add rafting to your experience

Tour 2 of 3

Everything in Tour 1, plus a river adventure

Elephant Care
+ Rafting

All the elephant care — plus your choice of a peaceful bamboo float or heart-pumping white water rapids.

🐘 Ethical sanctuary 🛶 Bamboo or white water 🍸 Free cocktail
Book this tour — 1,800 ฿

1,800 ฿per person · half day

Elephant bathing in the river Bamboo rafting rapids White water rafting

Elephant Care + Rafting

1,800 ฿

per person · half day

Departures

8:00 & 12:00

morning & afternoon daily

Rafting style

Your choice

bamboo or white water — same price

Tour 2 · Half day

Everything in Tour 1, plus rafting

All of the elephant experience — then straight to the river. Tell us your rafting style when you book at reception.

  • Everything in Tour 1 (elephants, lunch, transport)
  • Your choice: bamboo rafting or white water (30–40 min)
  • Safety gear included for white water
  • 1 free cocktail at Add Oil Bar on return

Departure times

Morning pickup8:00 – 8:30
Afternoon pickup12:00 – 12:30

Tell us bamboo or white water when you book. Same price either way.

Reserve your spot

Choose your adventure

Pick your rafting style

Same price. Tell us when you book. Both run right after the elephant experience.

Bamboo raft guide on jungle river Bamboo rafting calm river
🛶 Bamboo rafting

Peaceful · Scenic · All ages

Traditional bamboo float

Glide down a jungle river on a hand-built bamboo raft steered by a local guide. Calm, beautiful, and perfect for photos.

  • 30–40 minutes on the river
  • Calm water — great for all ages
  • Stunning jungle scenery
  • No experience needed
Book bamboo rafting
White water rafting rapids
🌊 White water rafting

Thrilling · Wet · Adrenaline

White water rapids

Helmet on, paddle ready — hit proper rapids with a professional guide. You will get completely soaked. Guaranteed.

  • 30–40 minutes of rapids
  • Helmet & life jacket provided
  • Certified guides, beginner-safe
  • Best Jun–Oct when rivers are high
Book white water
↓ Add Sticky Waterfall — make it a full day

Tour 3 of 3 · The full day

Best value — three experiences, one day

Elephants +
Rafting +
Sticky Waterfall

Everything in Tours 1 & 2, plus the legendary Bua Thong Sticky Waterfall — a limestone waterfall you can actually walk straight up.

🐘 Ethical sanctuary 🛶 Bamboo or white water 💦 Sticky Waterfall 🍸 Free cocktail
Book this tour — 2,200 ฿

2,200 ฿per person · full day · everything included

Sticky Waterfall limestone tiers Elephant portrait Bamboo rafting People walking up sticky waterfall

Full day price

2,200 ฿

per person · everything included

Departure

8:00 AM

return ~5:30 PM

Rafting

Your choice

bamboo or white water

Book at

Sylvis Reception

same or cheaper than any app

Tour 3 · Full day

Everything, all in one day

Three completely different experiences back to back. Elephants in the morning, rafting after, riverside lunch, then the waterfall. The best value day trip from Chiang Mai.

  • Round-trip AC transport from Chiang Mai
  • Half-day ethical elephant sanctuary with mahout guide
  • Feed, walk alongside, and bathe elephants in the river
  • Your choice: bamboo or white water rafting (30–40 min)
  • Traditional Thai riverside lunch
  • Sticky Waterfall (Bua Thong) — swim, climb, explore
  • 1 free cocktail at Add Oil Bar on return

Full day schedule

Departure8:00 AM
Return to Sylvis~5:30 PM

Morning-only departure. Tell us bamboo or white water when you book.

Reserve your spot

Hour by hour

Your full day mapped out

8:00
🚌

Pickup from Sylvis

AC van from the hostel. 60–90 min mountain drive north.

9:30
🐘
Elephant care

Meet the herd

Arrive at the sanctuary. Learn about the rescued elephants with your mahout guide.

10:00
🍌

Feeding & walking

Prepare food, hand-feed the elephants, walk alongside them through open land.

11:00
💦

Elephant river bathing

Wade in and help bathe the elephants. Expect to get soaked — that's the point.

11:30
🛶
Your rafting choice

Bamboo float or white water

30–40 minutes on the river. Peaceful or thrilling — whichever you chose when booking.

12:30
🍽️

Riverside lunch

Traditional Thai meal by the river before the afternoon's highlight.

14:00
🪨
Sticky Waterfall

Bua Thong Waterfall

Walk straight up the limestone tiers while water flows over your feet. Swim, climb to the top, take photos. Give yourself at least an hour.

17:30
🍸

Back at Sylvis

Drop-off at the hostel. Free cocktail at Add Oil Bar. You've earned it.

Sticky Waterfall surrounded by jungle

Everything included

  • AC transport both ways
  • Elephant sanctuary (half day)
  • Bamboo or white water rafting
  • Traditional Thai lunch
  • Sticky Waterfall
  • 1 free cocktail at Add Oil Bar

The afternoon highlight

Sticky Waterfall — Bua Thong

Sticky Waterfall cascade Sticky Waterfall wide view Visitors climbing sticky waterfall
Sticky Waterfall limestone steps

Unlike any normal waterfall — the limestone creates a rough, grippy surface so you can walk straight up it while water flows over your feet.

🪨

Why it sticks

Calcium carbonate deposits in the limestone create natural grip even when soaking wet.

🧗

Walk straight up

Multiple tiers with rope guides on steeper sections. Most people make it to the top — easier than it looks.

📸

Swim & photos

Natural pools at the base for swimming. The jungle canopy lighting makes for incredible shots.

👟

What to wear

Sandals or grip shoes work well — barefoot is also surprisingly effective. You will get wet regardless.

Rescued elephant — close up portrait

Why it matters

What ethical
really means

Many elephants in Thailand were previously used in logging or tourist performance shows. Ethical sanctuaries give them a second chance — your visit makes that possible.

No riding — elephants' spines aren't designed for it, and training for rides involves harmful methods.

No tricks or shows — natural behaviour always, never commanded for entertainment.

Your visit funds the sanctuary: land, food, vets, and the mahouts' livelihoods.

Small groups only — every interaction stays genuine and calm.

Before you go

Good to know

👕

What to bring

Change of clothes (you will get wet — possibly multiple times), sunscreen, insect repellent, sandals with grip, small towel.

🚌

Transport

Fully included both ways. AC van from Sylvis. 60–90 min mountain drive each way.

🛶

Choosing rafting

Bamboo for scenic and relaxed, white water for adrenaline. Both 30–40 min. Same price. Just tell us when you book.

🌤️

Best season

Available year-round. White water peaks June–October. Sticky Waterfall and elephants run all year.

👨‍👩‍👧

Who can join

All ages and fitness levels. Bamboo and Sticky Waterfall are family-friendly. White water is beginner-safe with full safety gear.

📋

How to book

Walk up to Sylvis reception or WhatsApp us. Book the day before. Same or cheaper than any app — plus a free cocktail when you return.

Book at Sylvis reception

Three tours. One hostel.
One free cocktail.

No booking fees. Same price or cheaper than any app. Come to the desk and we'll sort everything.

Book any tour at reception → 1 free cocktail at Add Oil Bar