Big Boy Elephant Observation (No Touch) + Bamboo Rafting
Description
Spend a day of ethical elephant care and serene bamboo rafting at Big Boy Elephant Sanctuary. As a true sanctuary, visitors do not touch, bathe, or feed the elephants directly—you observe them respectfully in their natural environment. Help prepare food for the elephants, join a hands-on vitamin ball workshop, and learn to cook authentic Pad Thai in a local cooking class. After your time at the sanctuary, enjoy a relaxing bamboo raft ride along the Mae Wang River, surrounded by beautiful jungle scenery. This full-day experience focuses on wildlife respect and local culture, perfect for animal lovers and travelers seeking meaningful experiences. Highlights: - Observe elephants in a true ethical sanctuary setting - No touching, no bathing, and no direct feeding of elephants - Participate in a Pad Thai cooking class and enjoy your meal - Relax on a bamboo raft along the scenic Mae Wang River - Includes transportation, meals, and an English-speaking guide
Tour Options
Itinerary
Observe elephants as they roam freely in their natural habitat—no riding, no bathing, just respectful, ethical care. At Big Boy Elephant Sanctuary, you'll prepare their food, craft herbal vitamin balls, and help plant for their future. Then, join a hands-on cooking class to make authentic Pad Thai and enjoy your creation before bidding farewell to the elephants.
Visit the beautiful Mae Wang Waterfall, a serene escape surrounded by lush jungle and mountain scenery. Cool off beneath the cascading water or take a dip in the shallow stream at its base. The area is perfect for relaxing—sit on smooth rocks, listen to the soothing sound of flowing water, and take in the natural beauty around you. With birds calling overhead and greenery all around, it’s an ideal moment to unwind and reconnect with nature before continuing your adventure.
Bamboo Rafting – Float gently along the Mae Wang River in the heart of Mae Wang National Park, a region known for its lush forests and mountain scenery. Surrounded by greenery and birdsong, you’ll drift past bamboo groves and quiet jungle banks, with the chance to spot elephants drinking at the river’s edge. This peaceful ride offers a unique perspective of Northern Thailand’s natural beauty and a relaxing end to your adventure-filled day.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
The pickup time will be given based on your hotel location. Please select a hotel from the provided list, if available. If you need to enter the hotel details manually, please ensure to provide both (1) hotel name, and (2) hotel address or Google Map link. If it is not a hotel, please provide (1) the property name, (2) address, (3) Google Map link, and send us (4) the property photo after your booking.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- The tour will proceed despite the bad weather as long as it is still safe to do the activities.
- What to bring • Extra clothes that you don't mind getting wet and dirty • Towel • Insect spray • Jacket (please expect colder weather than Chiang Mai city)
- As a true sanctuary, visitors do not touch, bathe, or feed the elephants directly—you observe them respectfully in their natural environment.
Reviews(3)
If you are looking for a truly ethical elephant experience in an amazing and quiet environment, this is your tour!
Thank you for your review. We're delighted to hear that you enjoyed your experience. Your support for this ethical elephant sanctuary and the local community means a great deal to us. We truly appreciate it and hope to welcome you again in the future.
Had the best day yesterday at big boy. They treat the elephants respectfully and prioritise their retirement from shows and logging etc. Immersed in the Karen tribe we learned so much about elephants, Thai tribal cultures and how to cook the perfect pad Thai. Amazing value for money, the bamboo rafting was so peaceful with the chance to see elephants along the water aswell. The waterfall was stunning!! Mr su our guide made the day amazing with top jokes and interesting facts, we all love him.
Thank you for your review. We’re pleased to hear that you enjoyed the experience. Your kind words will be passed on to the tour guide. Your support for this ethical elephant sanctuary and the local community is greatly appreciated and very meaningful to us.
This elephant sanctuary we visited was truly amazing from start to finish. The elephants were treated with such care and respect and it was amazing to see them in their natural habitat and to roam freely. We learnt about how to take care of the elephants and what they eat by making them food. We finished the day off by making our own pad Thai as a group and sat and looked out at the elephants while we ate it. A memorable experience that must be done.
Thank you for your review. We are glad to know that you liked the experience. Your support of this ethical elephant sanctuary and local people is so meaningful to us.
