2 Days Chiang Dao Bamboo Rafting Adventure Tour from Chiang Mai

A great way to experience the jungle without trekking is by bamboo rafting. No strenuous walking, you can just take it easy, relax and watch the world go by from your bamboo raft. On this river rafting trip you also learn about Karen hill tribe communities when you spend a night in their village and visit their school. The highlight of the trip is a visit to a local elephant camp where you spend some time with the elephants and go on a trek with them! This is a great family trip.

Day 1

We pick you up in Chiang Mai at 8 AM and start the river rafting trip. Our first stop on this trip is at a local market where we stock up for the next two days.

Then we have a two hour drive to Muang Klong in Chiang Dao, which is our drop off point. It is also the home of the North’s most famous moonshine and very near the Burmese border.
We eat lunch here and then prepare the bamboo rafts and set off down the Mae Taeng on our bamboo rafting adventure. We raft for two to four hours (depends on current water level) to reach our final destination, a hill tribe village where we spend the night. We will spend the night in either Lahu or Karen hill tribe village which depends on river conditions.

Day 2:

After an early breakfast, we go for a visit to a local elephant camp. You first get to know the elephants and mahout (elephant trainers) teach you the basic commands that you need to know for driving your elephant. We ride the elephants for an hour and visit a local Karen village school.

Elephant riding is optional on this tour. If you prefer not to visit the elephant camp, we will explore the hill tribe village and trek instead.
Then it’s time to say goodbye to the villagers and start bamboo rafting again. The last part of this river rafting trip is three hours of peaceful sailing down the river, surrounded by beautiful scenery.

When we disembark, it’s time for a late lunch and then we head back by truck to Chiang Mai which takes approximately two hours.