Travelling November to February? That is peak season, so book your date ahead. What to know for November–December →
Full-day ethical elephant sanctuary day trip from Chiang Mai to Big Boy Elephant Sanctuary (Doi Inthanon foothills, Chiang Mai). Activities: Elephant sanctuary visit, Vitamin-ball feeding at the feeding table, Mae Wang bamboo rafting, Pad Thai cooking. Suitable for: Travelers who want elephant care plus a guest bamboo raft.
| Location | Big Boy Elephant Sanctuary, Doi Inthanon foothills, Chiang Mai, Thailand |
|---|---|
| Price | ฿1,800 per adult, ฿1,300 per child (ages 4–8). Prices are in Thai baht (THB). Deposit to book: 25% per guest (฿450 adult, ฿325 child). The rest is paid on the tour day. |
| Hotel pickup | Complimentary pickup and drop-off are available for accommodation within a 5 km radius of Chiang Mai Old City. |
| Pickup time | 7:30–8:00 am |
| Return | Back at your hotel about 5:00 pm |
| Length | Full-day, about 9½ hours hotel to hotel |
| Fits your trip | Takes most of the day: pickup 7:30–8:00 am, back about 5:00 pm. Online booking stays open until 10 hours before pickup (Thailand time), so it can fill a free day at short notice. |
| Included |
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| Elephant welfare | No riding and no shows. Big Boy Elephant Sanctuary welfare policy |
| Cancellation | Cancel at least 24 hours before your scheduled tour start time for a deposit refund. Stripe, our payment processor, keeps its 6.5% processing fee. Full policy |
No. This tour does not include elephant riding, circus-style shows, tricks, or forced performances. The point of the day is to meet elephants in a calmer way, learn from the guides, and join simple care activities only when they make sense for the herd.
No bathing with elephants, no riding, and no walking with elephants are offered, as these activities require controlling the elephants which goes against the sanctuary's principles of respecting their natural behavior and freedom. The bamboo raft on this day is a guest raft, not an elephant bath.
A child aged 4–8 pays ฿1,300. An adult pays ฿1,800. This day is aimed at Travelers who want elephant care plus a guest bamboo raft. Families should review heat and transfer time before booking.
Yes — Chiang Mai tours include round-trip hotel pickup within 5 km of Chiang Mai Old City. Nimman, the Old City, and Riverside guest houses are inside that zone. A small transfer surcharge may apply outside the standard pickup area; message ThaiEleHub before paying the deposit to confirm.
This is a full-day experience. Hotel pickup is 07:30–08:00 Thailand time, and the current itinerary returns around 17:00. The exact return time depends on traffic and weather, and your final pickup details are confirmed before the tour.
Cancel at least 24 hours before your scheduled tour start time for a deposit refund. Stripe, our payment processor, keeps its 6.5% processing fee. This fee is not charged or kept by ThaiEleHub. Cancellations made within 24 hours of scheduled tour start time are non-refundable. Bookings made within 24 hours of tour start are non-refundable once paid. No-shows are charged the full tour price; the deposit is not refunded. To request a date change, contact ThaiEleHub customer service on WhatsApp (+66 98 858 9666) at least 24 hours before your scheduled tour start time; changes are subject to agreement and availability. Full rules are on the cancellation and refund policy page.
Chiang Mai transfer inside the listed area; Elephant welfare and safety briefing; Local guide, drinking water and insurance; Local meal; Hands-on Thai cooking activity; Guided bamboo rafting activity are included. Elephant riding and elephant shows are not included. Remaining balance is settled on the day.
Online booking closes 10 hours before pickup (Asia/Bangkok). A date is held once the deposit payment succeeds. The balance is paid on the tour day. There is no live seat map. Travelling November to February? That is peak season, so book your date ahead.
Hotel pickup is 07:30–08:00 Thailand time. Round-trip pickup is included within 5 km of Chiang Mai Old City, including Nimman, the Old City, and Riverside guest houses. A small transfer surcharge may apply outside the standard pickup area; message ThaiEleHub before paying the deposit to confirm.
The meeting point is your Chiang Mai hotel or accommodation inside the listed pickup area. Final pickup location and time are confirmed one day before your visit. Please be ready 15 minutes before your scheduled pickup window.
Hotel pickup is 07:30–08:00, the drive through the Mae Wang and Doi Inthanon valley is 08:00–09:30, and elephant care (watch from a distance, vitamin balls at the feeding table, and habitat care; guests cannot touch the elephants) is 09:30–11:30. Guests travel on a bamboo raft on the Mae Wang River from 11:30–12:30, then cook and eat Pad Thai from 12:30–14:30, with a return to Chiang Mai around 17:00. No bathing with elephants, no riding, and no walking with elephants are offered, as these activities require controlling the elephants which goes against the sanctuary's principles of respecting their natural behavior and freedom.
Clothes you can wear on the bamboo raft, sandals with grip, sunscreen, and insect repellent. A dry bag keeps a phone dry.
Full-day departing Chiang Mai. Guests cannot touch the elephants; you watch them from a distance. No bathing with elephants, no riding, and no walking with elephants are offered, as these activities require controlling the elephants which goes against the sanctuary's principles of respecting their natural behavior and freedom. Round-trip hotel pickup is included inside the listed city zone. Adult fare ฿1,800. Child fare ฿1,300 for ages 4–8. Infants aged 0–3 visit free of charge. Book on this page with no account. A date is not held until the deposit payment succeeds.
Full day at Big Boy sanctuary with Mae Wang bamboo rafting and Pad Thai cooking. Chiang Mai hotel pickup, no riding. From THB 1,800.
Read moreBig Boy Elephant Sanctuary Chiang Mai Elephants, Bamboo Rafting & Pad Thai Day Tour is a full-day ethical elephant tour of about 9½ hours at Big Boy Elephant Sanctuary Chiang Mai in the Doi Inthanon foothills, with hotel pickup from Chiang Mai. Guests watch the elephants from a distance and feed vitamin balls at the feeding table; guests cannot touch the elephants, and there is no bathing, riding or walking with elephants; Pad Thai cooking and a guest bamboo raft on the Mae Wang River are included. You book it directly on ThaiEleHub.com, the booking hub for this tour.
Independent reviews on TripAdvisor ↗ · Camp on Google Maps ↗ · Book on this page, not on TripAdvisor · Updated
Watch from a distance and feed vitamin balls at the feeding table. Guests cannot touch the elephants.
From ฿1,800 / adult · ฿1,300 / child
Travelling November to February? That is peak season, so book your date ahead. What to know for November–December →
Book your deposit on ThaiEleHub — we confirm pickup and WhatsApp support from this page after payment succeeds.
Adult tour price฿1,800Ages 9+. Full fare per adult.
Child tour price฿1,300Ages 4–8. Full fare per child.
1-minute booking: add your contact, tour date and pickup details, then continue to secure your deposit payment on ThaiEleHub.
Start typing to choose a common Chiang Mai hotel. If yours is not listed, enter the full address for your Airbnb, villa or accommodation.
Deposit due today฿45025% per guest. Balance on the day ฿1,350.
25% per guest, paid securely through ThaiEleHub. The remaining balance is paid locally on tour day.
Booking closes 10 hours before departure (07:30 Thailand time). Dates inside that window cannot be booked online.
Cancel at least 24 hours before your scheduled tour start time for a deposit refund. Stripe, our payment processor, keeps its 6.5% processing fee. This fee is not charged or kept by ThaiEleHub. Within 24 hours, the deposit is non-refundable. Bookings made within 24 hours of tour start are non-refundable once paid. No-shows are charged the full tour price; the deposit is not refunded. To request a date change, contact ThaiEleHub on WhatsApp at least 24 hours before your scheduled tour start time; changes are subject to agreement and availability. Message us on WhatsApp ↗
Reservations email: info@thaielehub.com
Secure Stripe checkout on ThaiEleHub. Instant book with express pay where your device supports it.
No riding · no shows
cancel at least 24 hours before your scheduled tour start time.
Moderate · comfortable if you handle a full outdoor day
Full-day route that adds bamboo rafting (river crossings) and Pad Thai cooking (standing time)
Longer time on your feet, activity stations (cooking, rafting) that add standing or river work, or a full-day format. Any cell marked Confirm with the sanctuary can be answered in writing before booking — WhatsApp +66 98 858 9666.
Each guest pays a 25% deposit to reserve. The remaining balance is paid locally on tour day. Adult (Ages 9+) 1,800.00 ฿ full · 450.00 ฿ deposit Child (Ages 4-8) 1,300.00 ฿ full · 325.00 ฿ deposit Chiang Mai transfer inside the listed area Elephant welfare and safety briefing Local guide, drinking water and insurance Local meal Hands-on Thai cooking activity Guided bamboo rafting activity
Hotel pickup and drop-off are included within 5 km of Chiang Mai Old City. For accommodation outside the area, ask us to confirm the transfer before booking. Big Boy Elephant Sanctuary Chiang Mai Official map reference · Pickup window Confirmed one day before your tour Open in Google Maps
Best for First-time elephant sanctuary visitors Couples and families who prefer no-riding experiences Travelers who want pickup and a planned itinerary Travelers who want the guest bamboo raft Not the best fit for Anyone looking for elephant riding or performances Guests who prefer to skip the bamboo raft Guests who cannot manage the stated transfer time
Your browser does not support embedded video. Short, camp-specific footage from Big Boy Elephant Sanctuary Chiang Mai. Playback starts only when you tap it.
The Experience
Forget a crowded checklist. Slow down, enter their world, and experience the sanctuary through its most meaningful moments. Watch the herd from a distance, feed vitamin balls at the feeding table, and help with habitat care. Guests cannot touch the elephants; you watch them from a distance. There are no hooks and no punishments here. No bathing with elephants, no riding, and no walking with elephants are offered, as these activities require controlling the elephants which goes against the sanctuary's principles of respecting their natural behavior and freedom. The programme runs at a comfortable pace. Guests travel on a bamboo raft on the Mae Wang River.
Watch the elephants in the habitat. Riding and shows are not part of this visit. Guests cannot touch the elephants; you watch them from a distance.
Place vitamin balls on the feeding table. Guests cannot touch the elephants; you watch them from a distance.
Help with habitat care. The Pad Thai you cook is the guest lunch.
Thoughtfully Included
Everything essential is prepared before you arrive, so you can be fully present for the day. Prepare and enjoy a guest Pad Thai lunch. Accident insurance and chilled drinking water are included. No bathing with elephants, no riding, and no walking with elephants are offered, as these activities require controlling the elephants which goes against the sanctuary's principles of respecting their natural behavior and freedom. The programme runs at a comfortable pace.
Prepare and enjoy a guest Pad Thai lunch.
A guest bamboo raft after the sanctuary visit.
Accident insurance and chilled drinking water are included.
No riding and no shows. Watch the herd from a distance, feed vitamin balls at the feeding table, and help with habitat care. Guests cannot touch the elephants.
Your Itinerary
A clear view of the journey from hotel pickup to your return, with each part of the experience paired with real sanctuary moments. Meet your driver at your accommodation and begin the journey in air-conditioned transport. Travel through a rural landscape of rice fields, corn fields and banana plantations. Arrive at the sanctuary for an introduction and safety briefing. Learn about the elephants, their histories and their natural behavior while watching the herd from the viewing area. Watch the herd from a distance, feed vitamin balls at the feeding table, and help with habitat care. Guests cannot touch the elephants. Enjoy a local meal, say goodbye to the herd and return by road to Chiang Mai. The programme runs at a comfortable pace. Times follow the published schedule. Final pickup details are confirmed before your tour.
11:30 - 12:30Guest bamboo raftGuests travel on a bamboo raft on the Mae Wang River. Bring clothes you can wear on the raft.Complimentary pickup and drop-off are available for accommodation within a 5 km radius of Chiang Mai Old City.
Final pickup location and time are confirmed by our team one day before your visit. Please be ready 15 minutes before your scheduled pickup window.
The Fine Print
Clear answers, kept quietly out of the way until you need them. Yes. No bathing with elephants, no riding, and no walking with elephants are offered, as these activities require controlling the elephants which goes against the sanctuary's principles of respecting their natural behavior and freedom. Watch the herd from a distance, feed vitamin balls at the feeding table, and help with habitat care. Guests cannot touch the elephants. Yes, hotel pickup is included inside the listed Chiang Mai transfer area. Enter your hotel name or full accommodation address during booking so our team can confirm the exact arrangement. This is a full-day experience. Hotel pickup is 07:30–08:00. Authentic Pad Thai cooking is at 12:00, lunch at 12:30, then Mae Wang Waterfall and bamboo rafting. Hotel return is about 17:00. The programme runs at a comfortable pace, and your final pickup details are confirmed before the tour. Children aged 4–8 receive a reduced rate of ฿1,300. Infants aged 0–3 visit free of charge. Children must stay with a parent at all times. Families should review the itinerary, walking conditions and transfer time before booking. Chiang Mai tours include round-trip air-conditioned hotel transfer within 5 km of the Old City. Chonburi tours include specified central Bangkok and Pattaya zones. We will confirm any small out-of-zone surcharge before your visit. Cancel at least 24 hours before your scheduled tour start time for a deposit refund. Stripe, our payment processor, keeps its 6.5% processing fee. This fee is not charged or kept by ThaiEleHub. Cancellations made within 24 hours of the tour start time are non-refundable. No-shows are charged the full tour price; the deposit is not refunded. To request a date change, contact ThaiEleHub on WhatsApp at least 24 hours before your scheduled tour start time. Date changes are subject to agreement and availability. Please contact us before booking. We can help you choose a gentler itinerary and explain the transfer and habitat-care conditions clearly. Yes. Please add your dietary request during checkout or message us in advance. Vegetarian requirements are easy to accommodate. Bring clothes you can wear on the bamboo raft, sandals with grip, sunscreen, and insect repellent.
Yes. No bathing with elephants, no riding, and no walking with elephants are offered, as these activities require controlling the elephants which goes against the sanctuary's principles of respecting their natural behavior and freedom. Watch the herd from a distance, feed vitamin balls at the feeding table, and help with habitat care. Guests cannot touch the elephants.
Yes, hotel pickup is included inside the listed Chiang Mai transfer area. Enter your hotel name or full accommodation address during booking so our team can confirm the exact arrangement.
This is a full-day experience. Hotel pickup is 07:30–08:00. Authentic Pad Thai cooking is at 12:00, lunch at 12:30, then Mae Wang Waterfall and bamboo rafting. Hotel return is about 17:00. The programme runs at a comfortable pace, and your final pickup details are confirmed before the tour.
Children aged 4–8 receive a reduced rate of ฿1,300. Infants aged 0–3 visit free of charge. Children must stay with a parent at all times. Families should review the itinerary, walking conditions and transfer time before booking.
Chiang Mai tours include round-trip air-conditioned hotel transfer within 5 km of the Old City. Chonburi tours include specified central Bangkok and Pattaya zones. We will confirm any small out-of-zone surcharge before your visit.
Cancel at least 24 hours before your scheduled tour start time for a deposit refund. Stripe, our payment processor, keeps its 6.5% processing fee. This fee is not charged or kept by ThaiEleHub. Cancellations made within 24 hours of the tour start time are non-refundable. No-shows are charged the full tour price; the deposit is not refunded. To request a date change, contact ThaiEleHub on WhatsApp at least 24 hours before your scheduled tour start time. Date changes are subject to agreement and availability.
Please contact us before booking. We can explain the transfer and the time spent standing at the feeding table.
Yes. Please add your dietary request during checkout or message us in advance. Vegetarian requirements are easy to accommodate.
Clothes you can wear on the bamboo raft, sandals with grip, sunscreen, and insect repellent. A dry bag keeps a phone dry.
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