Chiang Mai Elephant Sanctuary and Rafting

Discover Chiang Mai’s Joy Elephant Sanctuary & Bamboo Rafting: Observe elephants, enjoy a waterfall, and relax on a serene bamboo raft ride.

Duration: 9 hours
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • Thung Luang - Experience our Elephant Sanctuary Observation, Waterfall & Bamboo Rafting adventure, spend a full day relishing rural Chiang Mai close to nature.
    Change into traditional Karen clothing upon arrival at the sanctuary, as you soak in their fascinating culture & involvement with the elephants.
    Engage in hands-on activities, preparing food…
What's Included
  • Free photography
  • Towel
  • Bottled water
  • Lunch
  • In-vehicle air conditioning
  • Elephant’s food and snack
  • Insurance
  • Tea and coffee
What's Not Included
  • Other personal expenses
Additional Information

Perfect for nature enthusiasts! Enjoy a tranquil day with the Joy Elephant Sanctuary & Bamboo Rafting Program: watch elephants in their natural habitat, gain exclusive insights, and relax to the sounds of the river while bamboo rafting on the serene Wang River.
Immerse yourself in our responsible tourism with Elephant Observation programs!
Interactive…

Location
Thung Luang
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.9
(39 Ratings)
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Z8641zgrachelr
Nov 24, 2025
great day out - Great trip, lovely to see elephants well cared for and in their own environment. Organisers were lovely and knowledgable. Nice simple lunch provided. Bamboo rafting was good fun, but you do get very wet. Walking with the elephants can be quite muddy but there is an area to wash your feet/shoes afterwards. You can also leave bags safely in the trucks when walking and rafting Remember to take insect repellant
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Josephak498hz
Nov 21, 2025
10/10 recommend - I loved the Joy Elephant sanctuary because they had a variety of experiences for the entire group! From feeding the elephants, to walking them on a hike, to swimming by the waterfall, to a yummy pad Thai meal, to creating our own souvenirs, and a FUN water rafting, it was the best experience!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Z6952zdclaireh
Nov 11, 2025
5 star! A superbly organised day out. - Highly recommend Joy Sanctuary to experience an up close & personal interaction with the elephants. Beginning with an informative talk about the elephants, while you are given brightly coloured Karen vests to wear for the day. Walk in the forest with these amazing animals as they roam freely beside you, & watch the younger elephants as they play amongst the tree roots. No chaining or tethering of these wonderful creatures which is just wonderful! No touching is allowed but you're able to feed them at their feeding station. There's plenty of opportunity to take photos & have photos taken with the elephants. Nothing felt rushed throughout the day. Take a refreshing dip in the nearby waterfall before having a delicious lunch. There's time to make your own traditional Thai herb inhaler, which was a fun addition. End the day with a short van drive to the Wang River close by for the Bamboo Rafting experience. It tests your balancing skills & is a fun way to see the surrounding countryside.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Hermina_k
Oct 25, 2025
Amazing jungle elephant experience - An amazing, immersive, respectful way to learn about the wonderful Asian Elephants. A really great day out in nature! Beautiful scenery and everything is done at a relaxed rhythm, allowing us to enjoy the experience to a max!
Review provided by Viator
_l7960oh
Sep 18, 2025
It was the highlight of my trip to Chiang Mai. - The children were overjoyed to spend time with elephants in a rich natural environment. Everything was a great experience. Thank you to the guides and drivers!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Goelem2025
Sep 13, 2025
Top experience! - Thanks to Joy Elephant Sanctuary we had a nice day where everything was well arranged! The organization made sure that everyone felt comfortable and provided various activities. Recommended!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Benjaminbn4562xi
Jul 23, 2025
Full eyes. - Despite the rain, the organization made us have a very good time living elephants in the wild. A real moment of happiness and family fun. Thank you for this experience
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jenna_b
Jul 6, 2025
Must do! - I cannot say enough about this experience. A true once-in-a-lifetime event. You are picked up from your hotel and driven to the sanctuary. First you feed the elephants and then take a walk through the jungle with them, then cool off in the water. They made us Phad Thai for lunch which was delicious served with watermelon and pineapple. Jade was a perfect host and explained everything to us. We ended with a relaxing ride down the river in a bamboo raft. Everything was perfectly executed and timed. This is a must do experience!
Review provided by Viator
Tejani_w
Jun 19, 2025
Unforgettable Experience at Joy Elephant Sanctuary! - Our day at the Joy Elephant Sanctuary was incredible from start to finish! We were picked up right on time and the drive to the sanctuary was smooth. The location is absolutely stunning – the perfect backdrop for photos and a peaceful atmosphere. The elephants were amazing! We had so much fun feeding and interacting with them. It’s clear that the staff truly cares about these wonderful animals. Their passion for what they do really shows, and it made the experience even more special. After spending time with the elephants, we had a delicious lunch, and then we got to make our own inhalers to take home – such a cool, personal touch! Highly recommend this place if you want an authentic, heartwarming experience with elephants. The staff, the location, and the animals are all top-notch!
Review provided by Viator
Hubertwellington
Jun 19, 2025
Great trip - Excellent, ethical trip. Guides were lovely, the elephants seemed happy and we just observed them. The rafting and waterfall were also good
Review provided by Tripadvisor
From $62
up to 15 guests
1 - Adult
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience (local time).