Elephant Sanctuary - Waterfall Tour

Pon Elephant Thailand is a family-run sanctuary in the Mae Wang district south-west of Chiang Mai. There is no riding and the elephants are not made to do anything; the day is built around feeding, walking and, if the elephants are in the mood, a bath in the river. This morning programme gives you two to three hours with the animals plus lunch and a waterfall, and has you back in town by mid afternoon.

Pickup is early, and the drive out through villages and rice fields takes about 80 to 90 minutes. At the sanctuary your guide introduces the elephants and their stories and explains a little about the species. You help prepare healthy snacks for them, then feed them by hand and walk with them through the surrounding forest while they browse. After that you head down to the river pool to bathe with them. There is a shower to rinse off before a Thai lunch with fresh fruit, and then a short hike to Mae Wang waterfall to cool off before the drive back.

Hotel transfers within Chiang Mai city, an English-speaking guide, lunch, drinking water and the elephants' food are included. Towels and a change of clothes are not, so bring your own. Swimming at the waterfall depends on the water level and may be skipped in heavy rain.