Sticky Waterfall & River Tubing
Highlights
Climb the famous Bua Tong “Sticky” Waterfall — where the mineral rock grips your feet so you can walk straight up the falls — then spend the afternoon floating the Mae Taeng and sliding the natural rock slide.
The morning is at Bua Tong, a national-park waterfall about an hour from base camp. You explore it at your own pace; because the water comes from an underground spring it stays clear and climbable even in heavy rain.
Back at camp you have a Thai lunch at base camp, then tube down a calm stretch of the Mae Taeng with a guide and finish on the SaGee Waterfall slide. Non-swimmers are welcome with life jackets and supervision throughout.
One way to do this tour
- Sticky Waterfall + river tubing + slide
- Round-trip hotel pickup in Chiang Mai
- Bua Tong (Sticky) Waterfall
- Thai lunch at base camp
- River tubing on the Mae Taeng
- SaGee Waterfall slide — included
This tour runs with transfer only — Sticky Waterfall is well off our route, so we drive you there and back ourselves. There is no self-drive rate.
Check dates & availability ↓What’s included
- Round-trip hotel transfer from Chiang Mai (this tour is offered With Transfer only)
- English-speaking local guide (on the river)
- Full safety briefing & supervision
- Life jacket & tubing equipment
- Local accident insurance
- Visit to Bua Tong (Sticky) Waterfall
- River tubing on the Mae Taeng River
- SaGee Waterfall slide
- Thai lunch at base camp
- Drinking water & light snacks
- Hot showers & changing rooms at base camp
- Waterproof phone pouch (free to borrow)
- Personal expenses & extra drinks
- Tips & gratuities
- Comprehensive travel insurance
What to bring
- Swimwear (worn under your clothes)
- A change of clothes
- Flip-flops or sandals are fine — you do not need water shoes
- Light rain jacket in rainy season · warm layer in cooler months
- Your own towel for after Sticky Waterfall — we give you a fresh one at base camp later
- Sunscreen & insect repellent
- Reusable water bottle
- Waterproof phone case or small dry bag
- Any required medication · small cash for extras
- A towel for the hot showers
- Waterproof phone pouch, goggle strap & hat
- Lockers (free with your own lock, or rent a padlock for ฿100)
- Valuables, large amounts of cash or jewelry
- Non-waterproof cameras · drones (without prior approval)
Good to know
Activity level. Easy to moderate. At Bua Tong you climb the falls at your own pace — the rock is grippy underfoot, and there are handrails. It is a national park with rangers, first aid, lockers and shops. You explore it independently; your guide joins for the river.
Footwear. You do not need water shoes for this tour — ordinary flip-flops or sandals are all you need, and there is nothing to buy or rent. Guests ask us this all the time: no special shoes are required.
Health & safety. Non-swimmers welcome with a life jacket and briefing. Pregnant guests up to 6 months only. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Minimum age 1 with an adult.
Water & weather. Tubing time and route vary with river level and weather; the trip may be adjusted for safety, especially in rainy season.
Transfers. This tour runs with transfer only — transport is included both ways from selected Chiang Mai service areas. There is no self-drive rate, because Sticky Waterfall is well off our valley route.
Towels. Bring your own towel for Sticky Waterfall — you will want to dry off before the drive to camp. At base camp we give you a fresh towel for the hot showers after the river.
Rain. Bua Tong is fed by an underground spring, so it stays clear and climbable even in heavy rain — this tour runs in any weather.
Timing. Pickup is usually 07:30 — sometimes 08:00 if yours is the only group that day. You leave the waterfall at 11:15 for lunch at base camp, and you are normally back in the city around 6:30 pm: earlier with a small group and clear roads, later if traffic is heavy. Times on this page are a guide, not a guarantee.
Cancellation policy
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before your start time for a full refund. Cancellations within 24 hours (1 day or less) are charged 100%.
More info
Your day, step by step
Bua Tong is a national park; your driver takes you there and you explore at your own pace among the facilities and rangers — then meet your driver back at the vehicle at 11:15 for the drive to camp. Bring your own towel for the waterfall — we give you a fresh one at base camp. Your guide joins you for the river in the afternoon; lunch is included at camp.
Sticky Waterfall stays clear and climbable even in heavy rain. Float time on the river varies with the water level, typically 50 minutes to just over an hour.
We collect you from your Chiang Mai hotel and drive out towards Mae Taeng — this tour runs with transfer included.
Climb the mineral falls where the rock grips your feet, among national-park rangers and facilities. You explore at your own pace — your driver waits, and you head back to the vehicle at 11:15.
Head to our Mae Taeng base camp for a Thai lunch at base camp and your river briefing.
Meet the team at our riverside camp and change. Safety briefing, life jacket and tube fitted — and a free waterproof phone pouch to borrow.
Drift downstream with your guide alongside, tubes roped together as one group, through quiet jungle towards the elephant camp and Elephant Nature Park.
Ride back to camp, then a five-minute walk to SaGee Waterfall for the natural rock slide.
Warm up under a hot shower and change into fresh clothes before the ride back to Chiang Mai.
Getting there & pickup
This tour runs with transfer only. We pick you up from your hotel in selected Chiang Mai service areas in the morning and bring you back at the end of the day. Your exact pickup time and point are confirmed by email after you book.
The morning is at Bua Tong (Sticky) Waterfall, well off our valley route, so we drive you there and back ourselves — there is no self-drive rate for this tour. You leave the waterfall at 11:15; from there it is about a 50-minute drive to our base camp for lunch and the river.
Not sure whether your hotel is inside our pickup area? Message us on WhatsApp and we’ll check it for you.
