One Day Elephant Lover + Whitewater Rafting + Sticky Waterfall

This is Chang Thai Heritage's elephant day with two extras bolted on: a whitewater rafting run and a stop at the Sticky Waterfall. It suits active travellers who want the elephants but do not want to spend a whole day in one place, and families with older children who can handle a raft. There is no riding at the sanctuary. Hotel pickup, an English speaking guide and lunch are included.

At the sanctuary you chop sugar cane and bananas into snacks and feed the elephants by hand, walk with them to the river and scrub them while they lie in the water. Reviewers describe the sanctuary's combination day as the elephants in the morning, feeding, mud bath and river wash, then lunch and the rafting and waterfall in the afternoon, with guides who speak good English. The Sticky Waterfall gets its name from the rough limestone that lets you walk up the cascade barefoot without slipping. Rafting is on a river in the same countryside, with a guide steering and everyone paddling.

Practicalities: this is a full day out of Chiang Mai. Everything gets wet at some point, so wear quick drying clothes and shoes that can go in the water, and pack a full change for the drive back. The child rate applies from age 3 to 10; our office confirms with the sanctuary whether younger children can join the rafting section.