Elephant Sanctuary & Sticky Waterfall: Feed & Swim in Thailand
Cut grass for rescued elephants, then swim at a waterfall that flows upward
This six-hour activity in Thailand combines hands-on work at DooDoi Elephant Sanctuary with swimming at Sticky Waterfall. You help mahouts prepare food (cutting Nepia grass, chopping pumpkin, sugarcane and banana), while watching elephants roam freely without chains or hooks, then spend the afternoon climbing and swimming at the waterfall. Private transportation and lunch are included. You'll join a small group of six to nine people at the sanctuary.
What’s included
- Private hotel pickup and return in an air-conditioned vehicle.
- lunch.
- all sanctuary entry fees and taxes.
- the morning spent helping mahouts prepare elephant food.
- afternoon swimming and climbing at Sticky Waterfall.
Times
- Every day 08:00
Before you book
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The experience
The day starts with pickup from your hotel in a private, air-conditioned vehicle heading to DooDoi Elephant Sanctuary. Once there, you join the mahouts to prepare the elephants' meals: cutting grass, chopping pumpkin, sugarcane and banana. The elephants here were rescued from riding camps and timber logging, and they move through their space without chains, hooks or handlers pushing them to perform. You watch them live as they would in nature while doing the physical work that keeps them fed.
After the sanctuary, the route shifts to Sticky Waterfall, where the water flows upward instead of down. A geological quirk that makes climbing and swimming the main event. You can wade, swim and scramble up and down the rocks depending on how deep you want to go. Lunch is included somewhere in the day, and the whole outing runs about six hours from start to finish.
Is this one for you?Book this if you're comfortable in a small group setting at the sanctuary itself while you help prepare food for the elephants alongside other visitors.
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Top questions
Can children come?
Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 6 years). Children under 3 can't be included in the booking.
What happens if it rains?
It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.
What do I actually do with the elephants at the sanctuary?
You work alongside mahouts preparing food for the elephants: cutting Nepia grass and chopping pumpkin, sugarcane and banana. You're not riding or posing for photos. You're watching them move freely in their space while you handle the feeding work.
How many other people will be in my group at the sanctuary?
The sanctuary portion includes six to nine people total, so it's a small group rather than a large tour. The pickup to and from the sanctuary is private, but once you arrive you join the other visitors for the elephant experience.
What is Sticky Waterfall and what can I do there?
Sticky Waterfall is a natural formation where water flows upward instead of downward. You can climb, wade and swim in the pools, moving up and down the rocks at whatever pace suits you.
What's included in the six hours?
Private transportation from your hotel, all entry fees and taxes, lunch, and the use of an air-conditioned vehicle for the full outing are included.
Is this suitable if I'm not very fit?
The activity is suitable for all physical fitness levels. The elephant sanctuary work is mostly standing and light food prep, and at the waterfall you choose how much climbing and swimming you do.
Elephant Sanctuary & Sticky Waterfall: Feed & Swim in Thailand
6h · at your hotel
from US$ 88 per person
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