Zipline, Tubing & Elephants
Highlights
Fly a 39-platform jungle zipline, float the Mae Taeng, and finish by watching elephants in their natural riverside setting — our biggest adrenaline day, all ethical and observe-only.
The zipline is run by a trusted local partner in our valley: about 1.5–2 hours across 39 platforms, with a full briefing and all safety gear. The partner picks you up in the city in the morning.
Afterwards we bring you to camp for lunch, a calm float down the Mae Taeng with a guide, and elephant observation from a respectful distance at a small riverside camp. No riding, no feeding, no shows.
Two ways to do this tour
- Round-trip hotel pickup in Chiang Mai
- 39-platform zipline
- Thai lunch at base camp
- River tubing on the Mae Taeng
- Elephant observation
- SaGee Waterfall slide — not included on this rate
- Drive yourself to base camp (free parking)
- 39-platform zipline
- Thai lunch at base camp
- River tubing on the Mae Taeng
- Elephant observation
- SaGee Waterfall slide — included
Both rates include the same tour. The transfer group heads straight back to the city at the end, so there is no time for the waterfall slide — self-drive guests can stay on and enjoy it at no extra cost.
See how to book this tour ↓What’s included
- Morning pickup from Chiang Mai by the zipline partner; return transfer arranged with us
- Zipline instructors & full safety gear (partner)
- English-speaking river guide & supervision
- Life jacket & tubing equipment
- Local accident insurance
- 39-platform jungle zipline (about 1.5–2 hours)
- River tubing on the Mae Taeng River
- Elephant observation at the riverside camp (observe only)
- 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
- Ordinary trainers or closed shoes for the morning activity — plus flip-flops or sandals for the river afterwards
- Light rain jacket in rainy season · warm layer in cooler months
- 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. Moderate. The zipline is run by our partner with a full briefing and all safety gear; riders must be aged 4–65 and 120 kg or less. Your river guide takes over in the afternoon.
Footwear. Ordinary trainers or any closed shoes are fine for the morning activity — you do not need special boots. For the river afterwards, flip-flops or sandals are all you need; no water shoes, nothing to buy.
Elephants. You walk into the riverside forest with the elephants and your guide — but it is observe-only: the keepers do all the feeding and care, and there is no riding, no bathing with the elephants and no shows. They are living animals in a natural setting, so where they roam and how they behave varies from day to day. Follow your guide and keep the group calm and quiet around them.
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.
Water & weather. Tubing time and route vary with river level and weather; the trip may be adjusted for safety, especially in rainy season.
Transfers. With Transfer covers selected Chiang Mai service areas only. Self-Drive doesn’t include city transfer; late arrivals may need rescheduling.
Timing. Pickup is usually 07:30 — sometimes 08:00 if yours is the only group that day. On a full-day tour with transfer 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.
Pickup. The zipline partner collects you from the city; we arrange the return. Minimum age 1 with an adult for tubing.
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%.
The elephant camp
The elephants you watch live at Care for Elephants, a small riverside sanctuary in our valley. It was founded in 2015 by Ben, who grew up in a village beside Elephant Nature Park and worked there before opening his own camp for retired elephants.
Its elephants are retired from riding and logging work. They spend their days foraging in the jungle and swimming in the river. No riding, no chains, no performances.
You don’t stand and look from across the water. You walk into the riverside forest where the elephants live and move with them as they browse, dust themselves and wade in the shallows — seeing how elephants actually spend their day.
On our tour you observe only. The camp’s keepers handle all feeding and care, and there is no riding, no bathing with the elephants and no shows. Your guide walks with you and tells their story.
The extra you pay on this tour covers the camp’s care costs and the elephants’ food — which we buy from farmers in our own village. Our guide, kitchen team and river crew live here too; our drivers are from Chiang Mai.
Don’t take our word for it — look into the camp yourself:
More info
Your day, step by step
Zipline in the morning (partner pickup from the city), lunch at camp, then the float finishing with observe-only elephants — no riding, no feeding, no shows.
This combination runs on request — message us on WhatsApp for dates and to reserve. Zipline riders must be aged 4–65 and 120 kg or less.
The zipline partner collects you from your Chiang Mai hotel in the morning and drives out to the course in our valley.
Fly through the jungle canopy across 39 platforms with the partner’s instructors and full safety gear.
We bring you to our Mae Taeng base camp for lunch 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.
About 200 m before the end of the float, step ashore at the elephant camp and walk into the riverside forest with your guide, moving with the elephants as they browse and wade. Observe only — no riding, no feeding by guests, no shows.
Slip back into your tube for the final stretch of river, floating down to the pick-up point at the edge of Mueang Kued village.
Climb out at the end of the float and hop in the pickup truck for the short ride back to base camp.
Warm up under a hot shower and change into fresh clothes before the ride back to Chiang Mai.
Getting there & pickup
With Transfer: we pick you up from your hotel in selected Chiang Mai service areas. Your exact pickup time and point are confirmed by email after you book.
Self-Drive: drive straight to our base camp — about 1 hour 15 minutes – 1 hour 30 minutes north of the old city. Free parking on site. Please arrive about 10 minutes before your start time for check-in and the safety briefing.
Not sure which option fits you? Message us on WhatsApp and we’ll help you choose.
