Chiang Mai: Full-Day Jungle Trek, Tubing & Waterfall Adventure
Description
Experience the authentic side of Chiang Mai! Start with a scenic trek to Tard Mok Waterfall, followed by a homemade lunch at our cozy jungle base camp. Then, float down the lifeblood river of a Northern Thai village on the first and only river tubing experience in Chiang Mai. With a local guide who has lived here all his life, observe elephants and water buffalo bathing naturally—an ethical, non-intrusive way to see these animals. Your guide, a former elephant caretaker, shares insider knowledge about these gentle giants. Discover Saa Gee Waterfall, a hidden gem rarely visited by travelers, and soak in the quiet beauty of Chiang Mai’s countryside. End the day with hot tea and snacks before heading back. Note: Wildlife sightings are not guaranteed, as animals roam freely. A true local adventure blending nature, culture, and exploration.
Tour Options
Itinerary
We'll pick you up from your accommodation in Chiang Mai. Enjoy a scenic 1.5-hour drive through the picturesque countryside of Mae Taeng.
Welcome to Tubing Chiang Mai campsite — your jungle retreat for the day! Change into comfortable trekking clothes and store your belongings in a secure locker. Before we begin the trek, you'll receive a brief but important safety orientation.
Begin your guided adventure through a breathtaking jungle trail that follows a tranquil stream. Hike through lush forest, bamboo groves, and hidden jungle paths filled with natural beauty. Along the way, discover secluded jungle pools and enjoy the calming sound of flowing water. Reach the stunning Tard Mok Waterfall — a hidden gem perfect for a refreshing break and unforgettable photos. Take time to relax, soak in the peaceful surroundings, and then trek back to Base Camp.
Return to Base Camp and enjoy a delicious local lunch freshly prepared for you. Take time to rest, rehydrate, and soak in the peaceful jungle atmosphere. After lunch, change into your swimwear and get ready for the next adventure!
Float down the Mae Taeng River and soak in the stunning jungle scenery around you. Drift past a stretch of the river where elephants and water buffalo sometimes come to cool off — if you're lucky, you might see them from the water. Along the way, enjoy views of peaceful riverside villages and lush forest landscapes. Note: Wildlife sightings are not guaranteed, as animals roam freely in their natural habitat.
Your final activity depends on the option you booked: • Option 1 — Waterfall Slide: Take a short 5-minute jungle walk from Base Camp to the hidden Saa Gee Waterfalls. Slide down smooth natural rock into clear, refreshing pools — a fun and energizing way to cool off, then swim and relax before heading back. • Option 2 — Elephant Observation: Visit the elephants to watch them in their natural surroundings (observe-only — no riding or feeding), a calm and respectful way to end your adventure.
Return to Base Camp for a refreshing hot shower and some downtime. Enjoy hot tea and light snacks while relaxing in the peaceful jungle setting. Afterward, begin your journey back to Chiang Mai, with drop-off around 6:30 – 7:00 PM.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
If your accommodation is not listed, please send us your hotel name and location after booking, either by message on this platform or by replying to your confirmation email — So we can help arrange your pick-up.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Reviews(229)
We had a great time with our teenage children. The guides were all very helpful and fun. The trek was a great adventure and floating down the river was then another great way to see the jungle followed by an exciting waterfall slide or for the less adventurous there were smaller slides to enjoy as well! The guides had lots of water and snacks so we didn’t have to take bags on any activity and the lunch was delicious! Definitely recommend this trip
We enjoyed this trip a lot. The trekking was great, amazing views, adventures parcours. Very Nice waterfall. The lunch was great, we loved the chicken. Tuning was relaxing, we saw a lot of elephants which was great. It was raining a lot which made us cold during the tubbing but that is out of their hands. The elegant geding was also nice, very resepctfully for the elegants. We had a great day! And recommend it!
This was a true adventure for me and my Wife. Can’t overemphasize how much fun we had and what a special and authentic experience it was. Our guide “Jack” was extremely attentive, knowledgeable, and fun to be around. It felt like hanging out with an old friend. On the trek, which was gorgeous, we were accompanied by some very friendly local doggie friends all along the walk which was extra special since my wife and I are huge dog lovers. Then on the float we saw so many beautiful elephants. It was like a dream. Since we visited in the off season, we were delightfully surprised (and grateful) to have received a private tour which made the whole experience extra special. If you like boring tours taken from behind glass, don’t go on this tour. If you like getting into nature, having fun and making new friends, this is a good one.
Super lovely people and a very nice tour!
We took a day tour out here from Chiang Mai to hike through the jungle to a waterfall with a private guide, followed by lunch and tubing on the river with a group. It was about an hour drive out of Chiang Mai. When we arrived we started our day with a jungle walk up to the waterfall. It was about a 5 km walk total distance. A bit challenging and a little bit treacherous walking up steep rocky paths going up and down hills while crossing across little streams on improvised bridges, rickety fallen trees and slippery rocks. You probably want to be in pretty reasonable physical shape to do this walk. There are a lot of places you could easily fall and break your ankle or seriously injure yourself. Definitely recommend taking one of the bamboo walking sticks when they offer you one at the beginning of the hike . You’ll need it. It’s also steamy hot being Southeast Asia. Fortunately it was late morning, and it was starting to heat up, but not the peak heat of the afternoon. I’m not sure if I’d want to have done the walk in that. It was a workout! We then went back to their little base camp where lunch awaited us. We consolidated with another group of people for lunch and were then taken on a tubing trip down the river a couple kilometers while drinking beers and listening to reggae music and passing numerous riverside elephant sanctuary along the shore. I thought the beers were complimentary, but they bill you for them when you get back. No problem, though. Only a couple dollars each. Thailand is cheap. ty,. They also have accommodations where you can spend an overnight there on their property, but we didn’t do that. The accommodations looked pretty reasonable though, and they even had a nice little private pool.. It was an enjoyable day.
I had an amazing day with the guide Jack! Everything was amazing, I had plenty of eyes and we also talked and laughed a lot. The lunch was hearty and delicious, they take care of everything, all day I received fresh water and chocolate bars and coffee or tea. I recommend!
We loved the chilling on the tube. We saw a lot of elephants, it was very nice to see them while tubing. The waterfall was also nice. The guides were very fun! We enjoyed this trip so much! Thank you. Kind regards Lies and Daan 😉
The best day! The trek through jungle as amazing but you had to be semi fit to traverse the steep and somewhat difficult terrain. Well worth it! After a lovely lunch at the very tranquil base camp, we enjoyed a leisurely tube float …even with some rain, through the elephant sanctuary where we encountered much elephant activity. Then a short hike to Saa Gee Falls and enjoyed sliding down them…Great experience! Do it!
One of my top 3 favorite outings in Thailand. The Villas you begin at are absolutely stunning. Jack our guide was so funny and wd loved his 80s songs in the jungle. The hike was super fun with balance bridges and ropes and the waterfall was magical. After a delicious lunch we went tubing which was also fun with a big boom box, beer and we saw tons of elephants. Our group of 5 raved about this outing and don't miss out. I hope to return one day and stay in one of the beautiful villas!!
Fantastic day,our tour guide Jack was very funny! Lunch was excellent and everyone was so friendly, The tubing was great fun and relaxing at the same time, we enjoyed seeing the elephants,would definitely book this again when we return to Chiang Mai
