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Central Thailand Nature & adventure

Our most recommended Central Thailand Nature & adventure

Chiang Mai: Waterfall, Elephant Sanctuary and Bamboo Rafting

1. Chiang Mai: Waterfall, Elephant Sanctuary and Bamboo Rafting

Embark on a one-of-a-kind experience and visit an ethical rescued elephant facility in the jungle outside Chiang Mai. Cool off in a waterfall, savor a traditional Thai lunch, and become a caretaker for the day as you interact, feed, and observe the gentle giants in their natural environment.  Begin with a pickup from your hotel or accommodation in downtown Chiang Mai. Take a scenic drive southwest of Chiang Mai and see local farms, hill tribe villages, and rice fields along the way.  Journey to the Mae Wang Waterfalls, where you'll relax and take a dip in the water. Arrive at the Pon Elephant Thailand located deep in the jungle. You'll be welcomed to the sanctuary by a guide who will lead you through the experience. Get dressed into Karen hill tribe clothing like the ones elephant caretakers wear. Next, get a briefing on Asian elephants and the background of the sanctuary. Come and meet the friendly rescued elephants and feed them bananas. Walk up the hill with elephants through the forest and watch the elephants forage for food in the wilderness. Observe elephants interacting between families in their natural environment. Head down to the river and enjoy bathing with the elephants. Walk with the elephants back to the sanatorium and embrace the memories and have time to say goodbye to these marvelous creatures. Finish off with a scenic bamboo rafting trip along the Mae Wang River before you get dropped off at your hotel in Chiang Mai.

Chiang Mai: Elephant Sanctuary & Waterfall Group Tour

2. Chiang Mai: Elephant Sanctuary & Waterfall Group Tour

Take a visit to the Elephant Sanctuary in Chiang Mai. Start with a convenient pick-up from your hotel in the city center of Chiang Mai and take a drive to Pon Elephant Thailand. Learn how to make healthy snacks for elephants and see the rescued animals. Go for a swim at Mae Wang Waterfall. Relax as you are picked up from your city center accommodation in Chiang Mai. Sit back as you are driven southwest of the city on a scenic 1.5-hour drive. Encounter local farms, hill tribe villages, and rice fields. Receive a warm welcome when you arrive at the Pon Elephant Thailand. Put on your traditional Karen Hill tribe clothes to look like an elephant caretaker. Listen to a briefing on Asian elephants and the background of the sanctuary. Gain new knowledge as you are taught how to make healthy snacks for the elephants. Feed the rescued elephants as you walk up a hill in the deep jungle. Watch the elephants foraging for food and see elephant families interacting with one another. Bathe in the river with the elephants and walk them back to the sanctuary, where you will be taught how to make elephant medicine balls. Take a shower and pack up your belongings. Eat a traditional Thai lunch and fresh fruits. Leave Pon Elephant Thailand and stop at the Mae Wang waterfall for a quick swim before transferring back starting point after the tour.

Koh Chang: Full-Day Reefs or Wreck Sites Snorkeling Trip

3. Koh Chang: Full-Day Reefs or Wreck Sites Snorkeling Trip

Discover the fascinating underwater world around Koh Chang or Koh Rang National Park on this full-day snorkeling tour. After a comfortable hotel pickup, you will be driven to the Bang Bao Pier where you will receive your snorkel equipment, mask and fins. Hop aboard the boat, put on your life jacket and get ready for a marine adventure. Your boat will depart at 9 AM. Visit the beautiful coral sites around Koh Chang on some days, and head to Koh Rang National Park on other days, depending on weather and sea conditions. Both areas are stunning and offer prime snorkeling spots. The Koh Chang sites include a shipwreck, while the National Park sites include a beach stop. Enjoy a total of 3 diverse snorkeling stops. Feel comfortable in the presence of your expert guide, or explore the reefs by yourself if you're an experienced snorkeler. Indulge in a tasty lunch buffet with delicious non-spicy food, and refresh with fresh fruit in the afternoon. Your boat will return between 4 and 5 PM, after which you will be transferred back to your hotel to enjoy the rest of your evening.

Chiang Mai: Doi Inthanon National Park & Elephant Sanctuary

4. Chiang Mai: Doi Inthanon National Park & Elephant Sanctuary

Discover the beauty of the Doi Inthanon National Park, see the Wachirathan Waterfall, and feed elephants at an elephant sanctuary. Choose from a tour with a centrally-located meeting point in Chiang Mai or a tour with convenient pickup and drop-off directly at your accommodation in Chiang Mai.  Hop aboard a comfortable van or bus and relax the drive to the southwest of Chiang Mai. Stop at one of the largest and most beautiful waterfalls in the country, Wachirathan Waterfall. This waterfall is more than 80 meters high, creating a refreshing mist that nourishes the surrounding vegetation.  Continue your journey to admire the stunning Twin Royal Pagodas. Take in gorgeous panoramic views with a terraced flower garden and the summit of Doi Inthanon Mountain. Walk on an ancient fern forest trail and have a delicious lunch at at local restaurant. Drive through the mountains and hill tribe village to the Elephant Village. Once you arrive, put on a traditional Karen tribe t-shirt and get ready for your jungle adventure. Pickup some fruits to feed the elephants. Learn about Asian elephants and the village's background. Find out how to approach elephants and the correct ways to feed them. Go on a forest hike with the friendly elephants through the lush vegetation and breathtaking mountains. Observe elephants roaming and foraging for food freely in the wild.  Swim with the elephants at the hidden waterfall where you can take some amazing picture. Have free time for a cool shower, to dry off, and to change back into your own clothes. Leave the Elephant Village and travel about 1.5 hours back to Chiang Mai City. 

From Bangkok: Pattaya Ethical Elephant Sanctuary Day Trip

5. From Bangkok: Pattaya Ethical Elephant Sanctuary Day Trip

Spend the day in the company of Thailand's native gentle giants on a day trip from Bangkok to an ethical elephant sanctuary in Pattaya. Get the chance to feed, bathe, and walk the elephants. Lunch, hotel pickup and drop-off, and fruit are included. Be picked up from your accommodation in Bangkok by an air-conditioned vehicle. Journey approximately 2 hours through scenic agricultural areas, hills, and beach, before arriving at the Sanctuary in Pattaya.  There, meet your English-speaking guide and learn some insights about the elephants you are about to meet. After gathering up some bananas and sugar cane to feed to the elephants, walk with your guide through the sanctuary, discovering free-roaming elephants in safe, sustainable and ethical environments, and hear their individual stories.  Touch, feed, photograph, and interact with the elephants at your leisure while you learn about their lifestyle and behaviors. After you have met all the elephants, accompany them to a nearby mud spa. Get muddy with the elephants as you apply a healthy cosmetic mud treatment to their skin.  Next, walk with the elephants to a nearby river and join them in the water for a refreshing bath. Take a swim and help bathe and brush the elephants while they wade through and play in the water. Once the elephants are clean, you can take some final photos of them, and then it will be time to part ways with your new friends and change into some dry clothes.  Finally, enjoy eating some snacks and seasonal fresh fruits. After you're done at the Sanctuary, drive back to your hotel in Bangkok to enjoy the rest of your stay.

From Bangkok: Erawan National Park & Kanchanaburi Group Tour

6. From Bangkok: Erawan National Park & Kanchanaburi Group Tour

Tour the region of Kanchanaburi in West Thailand and uncover local history on this guided day trip. During this memorable day trip from Bangkok, visit the Death Railway which was put on the map by the 1957 movie, 'Bridge Over the River Kwai.' Begin at one of the country’s best-loved national parks, Erawan National Park. Connect with pristine nature at the Erawan Waterfall which has seven tiers, turquoise pools, and a set of limestone caves at its base.  Continue to the JEATH Museum, dedicated to the Allied Prisoners of War who died building the Burmese railway. This museum is a sad yet important reminder of Thailand’s history. It’s thought that over 100,000 lives were lost during this period.  Finally, visit the historic Bridge over the River Kwai. Have the chance to walk over the bridge, admire the impressive scenery, and take a moment to remember the past, before returning to your accommodations/meeting point in the evening. 

Bangkok: Khao Yai National Park Full-Day Tour

7. Bangkok: Khao Yai National Park Full-Day Tour

Start your adventure with an early pickup before beginning the 3-hour journey north-east. You’ll have a quick stop at the famous The Birder’s Lodge to grab some coffee before arriving at Khao Yai National Park. Khao Yai Naitional Park is one of the largest national parks in Thailand and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You’ll head down one of the many nature trails, admiring the local flora and fauna. As one of the oldest national parks in the country, you’ll find all kinds of animals living in the area, from mammals and reptiles to birds and insects. If you’re really lucky, you may just spot a herd of wild elephants nearby. After lunch, we’ll trek to Haew Suwat Waterfall and Haew Narok Waterfall, two of the park’s most picturesque bodies of water. We’ll marvel at the cool cascades, snap photos of the lush scenery, and take a quick respite before making our way back to Bangkok. For itinerary during April to May (Dry season): After lunch, you’ll follow a nature trail and walk along the winding paths, taking in the lovely natural scenery. Your knowledgeable guide will point out some of the park’s most enchanting features, and if you’re lucky, you’ll even be able to see some friendly creatures. After the hike, you’ll arrive at the Nong Phak Chi Observation Tower. Climb to the top and get a bird’s eye view of the beautiful landscape below.

4-Hour Doi Suthep & Hmong Hill Tribe Village from Chiang Mai

8. 4-Hour Doi Suthep & Hmong Hill Tribe Village from Chiang Mai

Depart Chiang Mai and travel to the temple of Wat Phra That Doi Suthep on Doi Suthep mountain. Follow in the footsteps of the pilgrims who climb up 309 steps to the stupa on the hilltop. Get spectacular views of Chiang Mai city and its surroundings. Then, visit a village and museum of the ethnic Hmong hill tribe, located inside the boundaries of the Doi Suthep-Pui National Park. Learn more about the life of the tribe, known for their colorful costumes and handicraft traditions. Return to Chiang Mai and get dropped off at your hotel.

Bangkok: Bike and Canal Boat Tour with Lunch

9. Bangkok: Bike and Canal Boat Tour with Lunch

Discover Bangkok on a guided small group cycling tour for a maximum of 6 people. Explore alleyways like a local with an experienced guide, see famous landmarks, savor an authentic Thai meal for lunch, and go on a canal boat tour. Begin your adventure on the Thonburi side of the river and cycle along the winding alleys packed with stalls selling local goods. Browse through the bustling food stalls brimming with local produce. Continue the tour and visit interesting temples along the way. Learn about Buddhism and the history of the local communities from your guide. Then, savor a delicious Thai lunch at a canal-side restaurant as you take in fascinating views of the surrounding scenery. Once you’re refreshed, learn more about Bangkok’s history as you cycle along the canal enjoying the greenery of Bangkok. Complete your journey at a canal-side market where the bikes are loaded onto a long tail canal boat. Once on board, witness the canal-side lifestyle with its colorful scenery and the local canal-side communities. If you’re lucky you might get a glimpse of an Asian water monitor, a lizard native to the area, bathing in the banks of the river. The tour concludes at your original departure point.

Elephant Sanctuary & Kanchanaburi Highlights Tour

10. Elephant Sanctuary & Kanchanaburi Highlights Tour

This full-day tour begins when you meet with the group and drive to ElephantsWorld. Learn about this sanctuary for old and rescued elephants, who will spend their remaining years well cared for in a natural environment. Help care for the animals by feeding them, gathering food and bathing them. Around noon, enjoy a buffet lunch before heading out to see the major attractions of Kanchanaburi. Visit the Bridge on the River Kwai, which is part of the infamous Death Railway, built by prisoners during World War II. Continue your tour with a stop at the Kanchanaburi War Cemetery, the final resting place of 6,982 allied prisoners who died during the construction of the railway.

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What people are saying about Central Thailand

Overall rating

4.6 / 5

based on 7 reviews

Absolutely stunning strip! Would definitely recommend. It was so well planned. The taxi driver and tour guide were so lovely and friendly. They stopped enough times for snacks and toilet breaks. Our guide was super helpful sharing knowledge about the sites we were seeing and the culture of Thailand and its people. We really enjoyed this.

Fantastic day trip. You cannot interact more closely with elephants than this tour. Feeding them, washing them with mud and them going in the river with them to rinse them off. Bamboo rafting was a great experience, and then finished off with a swim at the waterfall! Highly recommend this trip!

Our host and guide was Jimmy. We had an awesome day. Fed the elephants, interacted with them, hiked with them and bathed them. Afterwards we had a good lunch of chicken pad thai with pineapple and watermelon. The day finished with spending some time at a small waterfall. Worth it.

Très belle découverte et très bon moment

Small group, fun & friendly tour guide (I had Jackie!) and well planned itinerary :)

The trip was great! The guide knew good English and the arrangement was great.