5 Viewpoint Tickets in Chiang Mai the North Does Best

1.Chiang Mai Half Day Elephant Sanctuary Observation and Waterfall

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 88 reviews · from $58Our pick

Ride from Chiang Mai to Joy Elephant Sanctuary in Thung Luang to observe elephants outdoors, prepare their food, and walk near them without touching or bathing them. The day also includes a waterfall visit, lunch, and a Thai cultural craft. Guides including Jade and Shay have led the activities; allow for a winding mountain drive and steep, uneven paths.

“This was amazing and so incredible to see the elephants in their real environment. Should be noted that to get down to the sanctuary you sit in the boxes of trucks for 5 mins and go off roading over bumps and down a steep hill. Someone with knee neck and back problems definitely could not do this excursion. You also walk through the jungle for about 35 minutes up steep incline’s massive mud imprints from the elephants. So wear good walking sandals. It’s hot so we wore shorts but then walking through the forest, I got hit with branches and I came back with bruises and it looked like spider…”

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2.Chiang Mai Half-Day River Tubing & Elephant Observation

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 73 reviews · from $64

Travel from Chiang Mai to the Mae Taeng River for about 1.3 hours of tubing, then swim and slide at Saa Gee Falls. Guides lead the outing, with Bang and Jack among the names associated with the team. Round-trip transfers, safety gear, lockers, towels, snacks, and filtered water are included. Elephants may roam near the river, but sightings are not guaranteed.

“Bang picked me up from my hotel in Chiang Mai and drove me an hour and a half north to his village, where he led me to a waterfall, so I could go swimming. Afterwards, he led the tubing excursion down the river and timed everything perfectlRead more”

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3.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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4.Inthanon, Elephant Sanctuary Observation & Waterfall

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 33 reviews · from $81

Leave Chiang Mai around 6:30 a.m. for an 11 to 12-hour outing with Joy Elephant Sanctuary, Doi Inthanon’s summit and Twin Pagodas, and the Pha Dok Siew trail. Prepare elephant food, observe the animals at a respectful distance, then hike to a waterfall and Karen village. Lunch, park tickets, drinks, and pickup are included.

“This tour was great! It was a very long day, we left our hotel at 6:30 and didn't get back until 19:30. Note, there is a LOT of driving, especially on small windy roads towards the sanctuary. What we liked the most was seeing the elephants, being Read more”

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5.Day for Elephant Observation Only Half-day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 12 reviews · from $46Best value

Head from Chiang Mai to Big Boy Elephant Sanctuary near Doi Inthanon for a six-to-seven-hour visit, including transport. You’ll hear about elephant care from guide Su and the sanctuary team, prepare food and vitamin balls, and watch the elephants without riding, touching, or forced interaction. Finish with a hands-on Pad Thai lesson and lunch.

“Big Boy Sanctuary is wonderful! The morning was very well organised with nice tasks of preparing a meal for the elephants and then delivering their meal. You can get close the elephants but the sanctuary is very ethical and you cannot touch them. This was so reassuring. I cannot recommend this trip enough!”

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