Bathing elephants, river crossing on a log-raft, and climbing “sticky” rocks barefoot — this full-day tour was wild (in the best way).

Picked up at 8am, I dozed through the morning van ride while our small group filled up — mostly teachers and remote workers. Great energy. Once we arrived, we changed into comfy clothes (loaned by them), learned about elephant diets, made their food… and yes, got hugged by them while standing waist-deep in the river. 10/10 joy.

🧼 Tip: The showers are in tight combined cubicles. Bring your own towel + soap. I used my IKEA towel poncho (sadly discontinued) — super handy for quick-dry + modesty.

After lunch (I forgot to snap pics — didn’t want to be that person while everyone was starving 🥲), we hit the Sticky Waterfall. I was nervous — I’d recently had a near-drowning experience elsewhere — but this place felt safe, and the textured rocks made scaling the falls surprisingly easy.

🌟 Final Verdict: Worth SGD230?

Yes — it’s pricier than most day trips, but the ethical elephant sanctuary, riverboat experience, and sticky waterfall combo is unlike anything I’ve done. Plus, your fee supports the sanctuary’s work.

👉 Want more practical tips like this? Read the full Chiang Mai breakdown here or check out other slow travel guides on the blog.