Half Day Elephant Care & Whitewater Rafting (6km)

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 program pairs the camp's half-day elephant visit with a 6 km white water rafting run. It suits active travellers who want the elephants and a real adrenaline hit in one outing, and it still gets you back by mid afternoon.

Pickup is between 08:00 and 08:30 from your hotel, and the drive north takes about an hour and a half. 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. Then you head to the river for the rafting: about 50 minutes over 6 km with the rafting crew. Lunch with fresh fruit and drinking water is part of the day, and you are dropped back at your hotel around 15:30.

Transport by minibus, insurance, an English-speaking guide and a Karen-style shirt are included. Bring water shoes, swimwear, sunscreen, sunglasses, spare clothes and insect repellent, and leave anything you cannot get wet at the hotel. The tour runs as a shared group.