Day Trip Sticky Waterfall + Whitewater Rafting & Elephant Care

Bamboo Elephant Family Care is a small family-run camp about an hour and a half north of Chiang Mai. It was started in 2016 by Burin Ampai, known as Bank, and his father, after a young elephant called Noi was passed to the family. The camp says it uses no chains or hooks and lets its small herd roam freely. There is strictly no riding. This is the adventure version of the camp's day trip: the Sticky Waterfall, the elephants and a white water rafting run. It suits fit, active travellers who want one big day out rather than several short ones.

Pickup is between 08:00 and 08:30 from your hotel. You drive about an hour and three quarters to Bua Tong, the Sticky Waterfall, where the rough limestone lets you walk up the cascades on foot, and relax by the water. Then it is a 40-minute drive to the camp for lunch. At the camp you change into traditional Karen clothing and hear about the history and behaviour of Asian elephants. Then you meet the elephants: you feed them by hand and spend time close to them, learn about the traditional organic herbal supplements the camp prepares for their diet, and finish by bathing and brushing your elephant in the river. Afterwards you drive 15 minutes to the river for the rafting: about 40 minutes over 4 km with the rafting crew. You are dropped back at your hotel around 18:00.

Transport, lunch, fruit, drinking water, insurance, an English-speaking guide and a Karen-style shirt are included. Bring slippers or strapped sandals, a swimsuit, a towel, walking shoes, sunscreen and mosquito spray, and leave anything you cannot get wet at the hotel. The tour runs as a shared group.