Northern Thailand · CHIANG MAI RAFTING TOURS

Top 15 Chiang Mai Rafting Tours

34 tours  ·  from $33 a head

In high season the popular chiang mai rafting tours fill up days ahead. Below: the 15 to book first, what each includes and where they differ.

Chiang Mai: Elephant Sanctuary, Waterfall & Bamboo Rafting - A waterfall stop before the elephants
Chiang Mai Elephant Sanctuaries, Chiang Mai Rafting Tours, Chiang Mai Tours, Chiang Mai Waterfall Tours, Tour Reviews

Chiang Mai: Elephant Sanctuary, Waterfall & Bamboo Rafting

1.Elephant Sanctuary, Waterfall & Bamboo Rafting

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

Spend nine hours outside Chiang Mai with rescued elephants at Pon Elephant Thailand, where you can feed them, walk nearby, and join them in the river. The day also includes a waterfall stop, lunch, and bamboo rafting on the Mae Wang River. Guides such as Nop, Paul, Yaya, and Sunny have led recent trips, though your guide may differ.

“We had a fabulous day, unlike anything we had done before. Our guide was great and she took very good care of us. The elephants have a lovely life and we enjoyed seeing them close up in the beautiful surroundings. The staff looking after them are great. We were transported there and back in a comfortable vehicle with an experienced driver.”

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Chiang Mai Elephant Sanctuary, Bamboo Rafting and Waterfall Tour - Meeting the elephants in Mae Taeng Valley
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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 a day outside Chiang Mai at Bua Tong’s grippy limestone waterfall, an elephant sanctuary in Mae Taeng Valley and a bamboo rafting camp. Lunch and entrance fees are included. Guides such as Paul, Fluke and Mr. Poppy have led past tours, though the guide on your date may differ. Expect a full day, with pickup offered and a return to Three Kings Monument.

“We absolutely loved this trip! Feeding the elephants was a real highlight for us. And Paul was a great guide.”

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Chiang Mai: Elephant Sanctuary Bamboo Raft & Padthai Cooking - Meeting the Elephants at Living Green
Chiang Mai Cooking Classes, Chiang Mai Elephant Sanctuaries, Chiang Mai Rafting Tours, Chiang Mai Tours, Tour Reviews

Chiang Mai: Elephant Sanctuary Bamboo Raft & Padthai Cooking

3.Elephant Sanctuary Bamboo Raft & Padthai Cooking

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 245 reviews · 10 hours · from $54

Travel from Chiang Mai to Living Green Elephant Sanctuary, about 90 minutes away, for a guided visit with rescued elephants, a vegetarian Pad Thai workshop, and bamboo rafting on the Wang River. You’ll learn about elephant care, feed them under staff guidance, and walk with them in the forest. Guides such as Mark, Jon, and Rainbow have led the day, though staffing can vary.

“An amazing experience well worth doing as an unforgettable awesome memory. Transport by minibus was a bit hairy at times (fast driver with late breaking habit!) & not too comfy but otherwise great trip. Guides were amazing, very knowledgeable and passionate about the elephants, Pao & Rainbow are lovely and so friendly. You get so close & hands on with the elephants and interact loads. Making the pad tai was fun and it tasted delicious. The rafting experience was brilliant so much fun and great raftmen who really hype up the splashing and camaraderie with whooping and giggles. Overall a must do experience that i'll never forget”

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Whitewater Rafting Adventure - A gentle start beneath the jungle canopy
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Whitewater Rafting Adventure

4.Whitewater Rafting Adventure

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

Leave Chiang Mai by minivan for a six-hour rafting day on a 10-kilometer jungle river. Guides provide helmets, life jackets, safety instruction, and a route that can be adjusted for ability and water levels. Expect calm stretches, class III and IV rapids, a hot shower, and lunch. Captain Lo is one guide named by past participants, but your crew may differ.

“Amazing tour! The guides were great, you could see safety was of great concern to them. The place is beautiful, the facilities are good. The guides were very friendly and made the experience fun. Lunch was very tasted as well.”

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Whitewater Rafting and ATV Adventure - Rafting the Mae Taeng River
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Whitewater Rafting and ATV Adventure

5.Whitewater Rafting and ATV Adventure

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 181 reviews · from $192

Spend a full day outside Chiang Mai with a three-hour ATV ride through Mae Taeng Valley and a whitewater run on the Mae Taeng River. Guides provide instruction, helmets, and life jackets. The day includes lunch, hot drinks, downtown-area pickup, and showers, so pack dry clothes for the ride home.

“Great fun with very professional staff and controlled risks during the activities (ATV and rafting).”

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Full-Day Guided Tuk Tuk Chiang Mai Adventure and Rafting - Spend time with elephants, without riding
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Full-Day Guided Tuk Tuk Chiang Mai Adventure and Rafting

6.Full-Day Guided Tuk Tuk Chiang Mai Adventure and Rafting

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 140 reviews · from $193

Leave Chiang Mai at 8:00 am for a full day in Mae Wang, driving a Bangkok-style tuk tuk after a short lesson and practice course. Your guide leads you to a remote temple, an elephant home where you can help feed and bathe the animals, and a bamboo rafting trip. Guides have included Oa, Bigg, and Nam. Lunch and city transfers are included.

“This was a really fun day driving through remote areas that I would not have seen otherwise. They give you instruction and you practice driving your TukTuk before you head out on the road. You get to feed and bathe the elephants in the rivRead more”

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4 in 1 Elephants Long Neck Rafting and Sticky Waterfall Tour - An elephant visit with a focus on respectful contact
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4 in 1 Elephants Long Neck Rafting and Sticky Waterfall Tour

7.4 in 1 Elephants Long Neck Rafting and Sticky Waterfall Tour

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

Spend about 10 hours exploring four sides of Chiang Mai: climb the limestone Sticky Waterfall, visit an elephant sanctuary, meet the Karen community, then choose white-water or bamboo rafting. The tour starts at 8:30 am, includes lunch and transport, and has a maximum group size of 30. Guides Yoong and Mr. K have been praised for their friendly, attentive care.

“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 - Rafting on the Mae Taeng River
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Ethical Elephant Visit and White Water Rafting in Chiang Mai

8.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, where you can feed the elephants and walk alongside them. Then raft the Mae Taeng River and stop for a Thai meal at a family-run restaurant, with vegetarian options. Round-trip pickup is offered, and groups are capped at 12.

“Guide was very friendly and helpful, the experience was really fun and informative. Everything provided”

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Safety whitewater rafting in Chiangmai by Khampan Rafting - Elephant views from the raft
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Safety whitewater rafting in Chiangmai by Khampan Rafting

9.Safety whitewater rafting in Chiangmai by Khampan Rafting

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 62 reviews · from $55

Set out at 1:30 pm for a roughly five-hour rafting trip on Chiang Mai’s Mae Taeng River. You’ll paddle 6 km, about an hour on the water, through grade 2 to 4 rapids and past an elephant sanctuary. Pickup is offered, and vegetarian pad thai with fresh fruit is included. A helpful pickup contact named Yu has been noted, but staff may vary.

“This was a lot of fun, got picked up from hotel on time by Yu. He was very informative and helpful. Our first time rafting, but the raft guide was a good instructor. We saw several elephants ao our journey, which was exciting and very wet,lol. TRead more”

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Chiang Mai Rafting in Mae Taeng River with Thai Buffet - On the Mae Taeng: lively water, changing character
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Chiang Mai Rafting in Mae Taeng River with Thai Buffet

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

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 60 reviews · from $75

Set out from Chiang Mai for an eight-hour Mae Taeng River adventure, with hotel pickup, safety gear, expert raft guides, and a Thai buffet. Expect fast rapids, jungle and rice-field views, and a small group capped at 15. Water levels affect the ride, and some outings also include a waterfall visit and slide.

“Nos recogieron puntuales en el hotel, furgoneta cómoda, al llegar nos esperaban con la comida preparada estilo thai, riquísima, los instructores fueron muy amables y simpáticos, no paramos de reirnos, cero riesgos, fue una experiencia divertidísima. El paisaje fue increíble y vimos elefantes. 100% recomendable ;)”

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Chiang Mai: National Elephant Care, Rafting, & Ziplines Trip - Rafting or ziplines: pick your kind of thrill
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Chiang Mai: National Elephant Care, Rafting, & Ziplines Trip

11.National Elephant Care, Rafting, & Ziplines Trip

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

Travel from Chiang Mai to Mae Wang for an elephant-care visit with time to learn about elephant routines, prepare a herbal vitamin ball, and observe riverside bathing or mud spa activities. Then choose bamboo rafting or a ziplining course with 15 platforms. Lunch, drinking water, an English-speaking guide, and hotel transport 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 - Meeting elephants at Joy Elephant Sanctuary
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Chiang Mai Elephant Sanctuary Observation and Bamboo Rafting

12.Chiang Mai Elephant Sanctuary Observation and Bamboo Rafting

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 44 reviews · from $61

This 8 to 9 hour trip pairs observation at Joy Elephant Sanctuary with a one-hour bamboo raft ride on the Wang River. Help prepare elephant food, walk with the animals through the forest, visit a waterfall, and make a Thai souvenir. Pickup, lunch, an air-conditioned vehicle, and a towel are included. You may meet staff member Jade at the sanctuary.

“Super nice people, fantastic experience for a extremely reasonably price! We had an amazing time and the sanctuary seems very ethical. The elephants had loads of time to eat, walk around and swim. We were only there to observe their daily routines.”

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7 Hour Sticky Waterfall and Double Rafting Adventure - Climbing the sticky tiers at Bua Tong
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7 Hour Sticky Waterfall and Double Rafting Adventure

13.7 Hour Sticky Waterfall and Double Rafting Adventure

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 33 reviews · from $84

Spend about seven hours outside Chiang Mai, climbing the mineral-coated tiers of Sticky Waterfall, rafting 4 km of Class 3–4 whitewater, and taking a 50-minute bamboo-raft ride. Transport, lunch, water, fees, and local travel insurance are included. Guides such as Joe have led the trip, and dietary needs can be shared when booking.

“Really good organisation, the guide was really nice as well to explain the program, some history during the travel to the location etc”

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Khampan Rafting: White Water Rafting Guided Adventure in Chiang Mai - Lunch and a waterfall finish
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Khampan Rafting: White Water Rafting Guided Adventure in Chiang Mai

14.Khampan Rafting: White Water Rafting Guided Adventure in Chiang Mai

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 31 reviews · from $83

Spend about eight hours traveling from Chiang Mai to the Mae Taeng River for a guided 10-kilometer rafting run through more than 14 rapids, followed by a vegetarian lunch and a visit to Phachee waterfall. Round-trip transfers and a safety briefing are included. The crew has included guides named Mike and Tom, though assignments may vary.

“What an amazing day we spent on the river. Our whole family had a blast, from 62 to 13 everyone had fun. Tom and his crew made us feel welcomed and safe from pick up to drop off. The river was beautiful, the rapids were exciting, the food was delicious, and everyone had fun on the water fall hike, especially the kids sliding on the falls.”

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Secret Waterfall and Bamboo Rafting from Chiang Mai - Bamboo rafting on the Wang River
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Secret Waterfall and Bamboo Rafting from Chiang Mai

15.Secret Waterfall and Bamboo Rafting from Chiang Mai

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

Head from Chiang Mai to Mae Wang for time at a scenic waterfall, tea and snacks beside the water, a 45-minute bamboo raft ride on the Wang River, and lunch at a local restaurant. Air-conditioned round-trip transport, a guide, life jacket, bottled water, and a mini towel are included. Guide names vary, with M, May, and Pik among those associated with the tour.

“Brilliant day! Em, Pai and Win were brilliant hosts and did a fantastic job getting us around. Bamboo rafting awesome.”

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New in Chiang Mai Rafting Tours

★ 4.0Chiang Mai Zipline White Water Rafting and Elephant SanctuaryFrom $15411 reviews
★ 5.08KM White Water Rafting and 3HRS Jungle Trekking AdventureFrom $969 reviews
★ 4.5One Day Sticky Waterfall, White Water Rafting,Elephants SanctuaryFrom $954 reviews
★ 5.0Half Day Elephant care and Whitewater Rafting AdventureFrom $586 reviews
★ 5.0Full Day (10km) Whitewater Rafting Adventure (Jun-Feb)From $7712 reviews
★ 4.5Full Day Elephant Bathing and Bamboo Rafting Tour in Chiang MaiFrom $718 reviews
★ 4.5Elephant Sightings , Bamboo Rafting Through The Jungle, Swimming In a WaterfallFrom $973 reviews
★ 3.5Full Day Chiang Mai Zipline Adventure, Rafting, ATV-ing, and Sticky WaterfallFrom $1639 reviews
★ 4.5Chiang Mai ATV White Water Rafting and Elephant Sanctuary Full-Day TripFrom $1388 reviews
★ 5.0Chiang Mai Trekking Tour :Full day (no rafting)From $648 reviews
★ 5.02-3 hrs. ATV Mae Wang Adventure, Feeding, Rafting &Waterfall TourFrom $845 reviews
★ 3.7Chiang Mai Water Rafting Adventure with Optional ATV RideFrom $535 reviews
★ 4.5Jungle Trek, Elephants care & Bamboo RaftingFrom $588 reviews

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