Good to know before you book

Yes — every tour has a with-transfer option, and we pick up from any hotel in Chiang Mai. If yours turns out to be further than our usual pickup area, we’ll message you before your trip to arrange it — occasionally with a small surcharge for spots far off our route. Morning pickups run around 07:30–08:00, afternoon pickups around 11:30.

Absolutely — most tours have a cheaper Self-Drive rate. The base camp is in Mae Taeng, about 1 h 15 to 1 h 30 north of the old city. Self-drive guests arrive at 10:15 for the morning session or 13:15 for the afternoon.

Normal rain doesn’t stop us — the river just runs a little quicker. Only a serious storm can cancel a trip, and our guides make that call on the day, on safety alone.

Morning tubing sessions and all full-day combos include a home-cooked Thai lunch at the base camp. Afternoon-only tubing doesn’t. On the river, drinking water and snacks are free; cold soft drinks are ฿30 and beer or hard seltzer ฿60 — drink first, settle up at the end.

Yes. Everyone wears a life jacket, fitted at the base camp, and the tubes are tied together so the group floats as one. A guide is on the water with you the whole way, and we add an extra assistant when there are non-swimmers in the group.

From 1 year old, depending on the water level that day — in the calmer low-water months even toddlers join. The guides make the final call on the day, and kids always get an extra assistant guide alongside them.

Usually, yes — when the water is calm, grandparents float too. It depends on mobility and the river conditions that day, so tell us who’s coming and we’ll advise honestly.

Between 50 minutes and 1 hour 15, depending on the water level — higher water moves you faster. If the elephants are in the river, we stop and wait for them, which nobody has ever complained about.

Swimwear and a dry change of clothes. Flip-flops or sandals are fine — you do not need water shoes. We lend waterproof phone pouches, glasses straps and life jackets for free. Lockers are free too — bring a small padlock or rent a key for ฿100. There are four hot-water shower rooms with shampoo, conditioner and body wash for afterwards. Full list in our packing guide.

The route drifts past a small riverside elephant camp near the end of the float, so you’ll often see them along the bank. On our elephant observation programs you go ashore and watch quietly from a distance for about 30 minutes while your guide tells their story. They’re animals, not scenery — sightings from the tube can’t be guaranteed.

No. Our policy is observe-only: no riding, no feeding, no bathing with them, no shows. You watch them live their day from a respectful distance. Read why at Our Elephant Policy.

We don’t use that word — it’s unregulated and means whatever the brochure wants it to mean. What we can tell you plainly: the camp is small and locally run, the elephants live free along the riverbank, and visitors observe without touching. Judge it by the policy, not the label.

Huay Kub Kab the Villa is five minutes from where the tours start: one large mountain-view villa, two poolside villas and a 16-bed dorm, from ฿3,490 per night with breakfast for two included. There’s no online booking yet — email us with your dates and we’ll confirm personally.

No — dorm guests use the shared hot-water bathrooms at the base camp, about 30 metres away. Each bed has its own privacy curtain, reading light and power socket, and the room is air-conditioned.