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View all Chiang Mai toursChiang Mai: 2-Day Jungle Trek with Elephant Farm & Raft Ride
Trek jungle trails, raft the Mae Wang River, and spend the night in a Karen hill tribe village before an ethical elephant encounter on this 2-day Chiang Mai adventure.
Highlights
- Float down the Mae Wang River on a bamboo raft
- Trek through forest and paddy fields to a hidden waterfall
- Spend the night in an authentic Karen hill tribe village
- Share dinner and a campfire under the stars with villagers
- Feed and bathe elephants at an ethical, no-riding sanctuary
Choose from 2 available options
Hotel Pickup and Drop-off (within Pickup Area)
Meeting Point (Hotel Outside Pickup Area)
Full description
Trade the city streets of Chiang Mai for two days deep in the northern Thai countryside, where jungle trails, rushing rivers, and hill tribe hospitality take center stage. The adventure begins with a browse through a local market for a taste of everyday Thai life, before you climb aboard a bamboo raft for a gentle float down the Mae Wang River, the forest closing in on both banks. From there, the trail turns uphill through paddy fields and mixed forest to a hidden waterfall, where a home-style picnic lunch and a cool swim make the perfect reward for the effort.
The real heart of this trip is the overnight stay. After a further trek through bamboo and evergreen forest, you'll reach a Karen hill tribe village tucked into the hills, where local families share their customs, cook a homemade dinner, and gather with you around a campfire under a sky full of stars. It's a rare chance to unplug and see rural Thai life up close, well beyond the reach of the usual sightseeing routes.
Day two starts with breakfast in the village before one final trek leads to an ethical elephant sanctuary, home to rescued elephants living free from riding or performing. Here you can feed, bathe, and simply spend unhurried time with these gentle giants in a setting built around their welfare rather than entertainment. The trip wraps with an easy drive back to Chiang Mai in the late afternoon, leaving you with two days of genuine jungle immersion, warm hill tribe hospitality, and a meaningful connection with elephants done the right way.
Tour Itinerary
The schedule below is a suggested plan and can be adjusted to suit your preferences.
Hotel pickup and transfer to local market
Day 1. Pickup by van or songthaew from your hotel or the Baan Meesuk meeting point, followed by a short ride to a local market to browse stalls of fresh produce and regional delicacies with your guide.
Bamboo rafting on the Mae Wang River
Board a bamboo raft for a calm, scenic float down the Mae Wang River. Long sleeves and pants are recommended for sun and mosquito protection.
Jungle hike to a hidden waterfall
Trek through mixed forest and paddy fields to a tucked-away jungle waterfall.
Picnic lunch and swim at the waterfall
Enjoy a picnic lunch by the waterfall with time to cool off and swim.
Trek to Karen Hill Tribe Village
Continue uphill through bamboo and evergreen forest toward the Karen Hill Tribe Village.
Village welcome, dinner, and campfire
Arrive at the Karen Hill Tribe Village, learn about local traditions, share a home-cooked dinner made by villagers, and gather around the campfire before an overnight stay in the village.
Breakfast at the hill tribe village
Day 2. Start the morning with breakfast in the Karen Hill Tribe Village before setting off.
Trek to the ethical elephant sanctuary
Trek onward to an ethical elephant sanctuary, home to rescued elephants, where you can feed, bathe, and learn about them in a safe, no-riding environment.
Drive back to Chiang Mai
Transfer back to Chiang Mai, arriving at approximately 4:30pm.
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1 begins with an early pickup from your hotel, or from the Baan Meesuk meeting point if you're staying outside the pickup zone, for a short ride to a local market. Here you'll wander the stalls with your guide, taking in fresh vegetables, tropical fruit, and regional delicacies before heading out toward the river. At the Mae Wang River, you'll climb aboard a bamboo raft for a peaceful 40-minute float, the jungle rising up on either side as you drift downstream. Long sleeves and pants are worth packing, both for sun cover and the occasional mosquito.
From the river, the day shifts into trekking mode. A roughly two-hour hike through mixed forest and open paddy fields leads to a hidden waterfall, where the reward for the walk is a home-style picnic lunch and a refreshing swim in the pool below. Suitably recharged, the group continues uphill for another two hours, this time through denser bamboo and evergreen forest, climbing toward a Karen Hill Tribe Village. Arriving in the late afternoon, you'll be welcomed into the community, learn about Karen traditions and daily life, and sit down to a dinner prepared by the villagers themselves. As night falls, the group gathers around a campfire for stories, music, and conversation under a sky far removed from city light pollution, before settling in for an overnight stay in the village.
Day 2 opens gently with breakfast in the village, giving you a last look at hill tribe life before the trek continues. From the village, a two-hour hike through the surrounding countryside leads to an ethical elephant sanctuary, home to elephants rescued from harsher working conditions. Here, riding and performances are off the table; instead, you'll spend time feeding and bathing the elephants alongside your guide, who explains their individual stories and the sanctuary's approach to their care. It's an unhurried, respectful way to meet these animals up close. With the morning's activities complete, the group boards transport for the roughly one-hour drive back to Chiang Mai, arriving in the city at approximately 4:30pm, tired, a little muddy, and full of stories from two days spent well off the beaten path.
Includes
- Hotel pickup and drop-off (within pickup area) or Baan Meesuk meeting point option
- English-speaking guide throughout
- Lunch on Day 1 (picnic at the waterfall)
- Dinner on Day 1 (Karen Hill Tribe Village)
- Breakfast on Day 2 (Karen Hill Tribe Village)
- Overnight accommodation at the Karen Hill Tribe Village
- Bamboo rafting on the Mae Wang River
- Ethical elephant sanctuary visit
- All park, village, and conservation fees
Excludes
- Gratuities for guide and village hosts
- Personal expenses
- Travel insurance
- Alcoholic drinks
Important information
Meeting point
Hotel pickup within eligible zone, or Baan Meesuk meeting point if outside pickup area (confirmed after booking)
Know before you go
- Free cancellation available up to 24 hours before the activity starts
About this activity
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Traveler Reviews
Absolutely incredible two days. The bamboo rafting on the Mae Wang River was so much fun, and the waterfall hike afterward was stunning — we swam and had a picnic right by the falls. Sleeping in the Karen village was humbling; the campfire dinner with the local family is a memory I'll keep forever.
Our guide Somchai was fantastic — knowledgeable, funny, and made sure everyone felt safe on the trek. The elephant sanctuary on day two was the highlight, feeding and bathing them with no riding involved felt genuinely ethical. Basic accommodation but that's part of the charm.
Great value for the price, all meals included and very filling. The jungle waterfall hike was a bit muddy so wear proper shoes. Village overnight was very basic (as expected) but the campfire and stargazing made up for it. Would recommend to anyone wanting an authentic experience.
The rafting was thrilling and safe, guides were attentive at every step. What stood out most was the elephant sanctuary — watching them bathe in the river with no chains or riding was moving. Two days flew by. Highly recommend the hotel pickup option for convenience.
One of the best experiences of our Thailand trip. The Karen village dinner and campfire felt so genuine, not touristy at all. Our guide taught us so much about hill tribe culture. Waterfall picnic lunch was delicious too.
Solid trek, good mix of activities across the two days. Accommodation is rustic so go in with the right expectations. The elephant feeding session in the morning was peaceful and clearly prioritized the animals' wellbeing over entertainment.
Wonderful balance of adventure and culture. Rafting was gentle enough for beginners, the hike to the waterfall was beautiful, and the overnight stay gave real insight into Karen village life. Guide was patient and spoke great English.