Chiang Mai Elephant Sanctuary and Rafting

Discover Chiang Mai’s Joy Elephant Sanctuary & Bamboo Rafting: Observe elephants, enjoy a waterfall, and relax on a serene bamboo raft ride.

Duration: 9 hours
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • Thung Luang - Experience our Elephant Sanctuary Observation, Waterfall & Bamboo Rafting adventure, spend a full day relishing rural Chiang Mai close to nature.
    Change into traditional Karen clothing upon arrival at the sanctuary, as you soak in their fascinating culture & involvement with the elephants.
    Engage in hands-on activities, preparing food…
What's Included
  • Free photography
  • Towel
  • Bottled water
  • Lunch
  • In-vehicle air conditioning
  • Elephant’s food and snack
  • Insurance
  • Tea and coffee
What's Not Included
  • Other personal expenses
Additional Information

Perfect for nature enthusiasts! Enjoy a tranquil day with the Joy Elephant Sanctuary & Bamboo Rafting Program: watch elephants in their natural habitat, gain exclusive insights, and relax to the sounds of the river while bamboo rafting on the serene Wang River.
Immerse yourself in our responsible tourism with Elephant Observation programs!
Interactive…

Location
Thung Luang
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.9
(32 Ratings)
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Tejani_w
Jun 19, 2025
Unforgettable Experience at Joy Elephant Sanctuary! - Our day at the Joy Elephant Sanctuary was incredible from start to finish! We were picked up right on time and the drive to the sanctuary was smooth. The location is absolutely stunning – the perfect backdrop for photos and a peaceful atmosphere. The elephants were amazing! We had so much fun feeding and interacting with them. It’s clear that the staff truly cares about these wonderful animals. Their passion for what they do really shows, and it made the experience even more special. After spending time with the elephants, we had a delicious lunch, and then we got to make our own inhalers to take home – such a cool, personal touch! Highly recommend this place if you want an authentic, heartwarming experience with elephants. The staff, the location, and the animals are all top-notch!
Review provided by Viator
Hubertwellington
Jun 19, 2025
Great trip - Excellent, ethical trip. Guides were lovely, the elephants seemed happy and we just observed them. The rafting and waterfall were also good
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Kristina_p
May 17, 2025
Elephant preser - The activity is well organized and informative. It allowed interaction with the elephants in a respectful manner to their environment. Because you go to a location that is not easily accessible, be prepared for some off road transport and walking to the elephant camp. It is all part of the adventure. Lunch was served and very good. There was also an opportunity to splash in a waterfall and/or have tea from an observation platform. The bamboo rafting takes place at another location and is a fabulous experience! It allows you to enjoy more views of elephants and, depending on conditions, a few exciting rapids to enjoy. Anyone interested in preserving ethical practices of elephant care, could in good conscience participate in this tour.
Review provided by Viator
Bbastiaens
May 17, 2025
An unforgettable and ethical experience at Joy Elephant Sanctuary! - The visit to Joy Elephant Sanctuary was impressive and heartwarming. This reserve is different from many other places because it is 100% about the welfare of the elephants. Instead of tourist attractions or rides on the back of these beautiful animals, Joy Elephant Sanctuary offers a safe and free environment in which rescued elephants can finally live their lives as intended. What is immediately striking is the passion, knowledge and love of these guides and caretakers. They took us into the story of the elephants and showed us how an elephant is really supposed to live. During the tour we were allowed to observe the elephants in a way that does not disturb them. This is all about natural behavior, and that's exactly what a reserve is supposed to do. Joy Elephant Sanctuary proves that an ethically responsible shelter is possible and necessary. For anyone looking for an elephant experience that is 100% ethical, this is definitely the best choice!! Highly recommended!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jen_n
Apr 10, 2025
What an amazing... - What an amazing unforgettable day! Bamboo rafting, feeding and walking with elephants, and to top it off the guides were friendly and approachable. Thank you for such a great experience
Review provided by Viator
810matousk
Apr 4, 2025
Finally an ethical elephants experience - Very nice, serene nature preservation of 70 acres and 5 old lady elephants. The visitors get to feed them, accompany them to their walk, make a inhaler spice mix and bath in a waterfall. Without the elephants mind you. You just get to watch them and feed them. The guides are extremely friendly with a bit rough English but a wealth of knowledge. Would recommend
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Thetitlebroker
Mar 27, 2025
5 Stars – An Unforgettable Experience! - Visiting Joy Elephant Sanctuary was one of the highlights of my trip to Chiang Mai. The staff was incredibly kind, knowledgeable, and genuinely cared for the well-being of the elephants. It was amazing to see these beautiful animals in such a natural and ethical environment. We got to feed, walk with, and learn about the elephants — no riding, just respectful interaction. You can tell they prioritize the elephants’ happiness and freedom. Highly recommend this sanctuary to anyone looking for an authentic, ethical, and unforgettable elephant experience!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Btarcea
Mar 27, 2025
Beautiful day out when visiting Chiang Mai - We got picked up from our hotel at 8:20am. Then went to the bamboo rafting. It's a unique experience on the river which takes about 45minutes. Then we went to visit the sanctuary. The elefants are well looked after by some locals from the karen community, who live there. These people are kind, hard working and humble. It was lovely to meet them. The sanctuary is their mirror. Clean, well maintained, fresh tasty food and really well organised. You then feed the elefants, join them in the jungle for a walk and go to a nearby waterfall, where you can swim, or just observe the elefants, while enjoying a local traditional tea. Overall it's a lovely, relaxing experience, and you get to learn about elefants and the local community. Thank you, Joy Sanctuary!🙏🤍
Review provided by Tripadvisor
715josieh
Feb 26, 2025
Truly ethical, fantastic elephant sanctuary - An amazing experience in one of the few truly ethical elephant sanctuary’s. No bathing, no touching, only feeding and observing! We fed them, walked with them through a wooded area and then swan in a waterfall where the elephants were close by. Really tasty lunch and the bamboo rafting was so fun! All the staff were great and it was very clear how well they treated the 4 elephants.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Amberjy4767ab
Apr 7, 2025
Beautiful Trip - Beautiful company, very considerate of the elephants and their wellbeing. Water raft was quite wet on the bottom, recommend to bring swimmers and a towel.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
From $61
up to 15 guests
1 - Adult
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience (local time).