Mae Wang valley
Elephant sanctuary, waterfall and bamboo rafting
- Feeding and river bath, no riding
- Bamboo raft down the Mae Wang
- Best for
- A full day with elephants and water, no riding
- Skip if
- You want a short morning, or uneven ground is a problem
Full day, mountain and valley
Monk's Trail, Doi Suthep and an elephant visit in Mae Wang, in one day
On foot through the forest to Wat Pha Lat, up to the temple on the mountain, then down to the valley for the second part of the day, with elephants. Two subjects, one long day.
Duration
Full day
Stops
3 on the route
Starts in
Doi Suthep and Mae Wang
Price
At booking
The experience
- Best for
- The trail, the temple and elephants, when you have one day for all three
- Not for you if
- You want either subject at your own pace, or a first elephant visit on a shorter day: see the half-day feeding programme
This tour puts into one day two outings you could otherwise book separately. It begins with a guided walk on the Monk's Trail, the forest path from the edge of the city to Wat Pha Lat, about forty minutes according to the listing. A vehicle then takes you to Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, where you spend about an hour and a half. After that, the tour leaves the mountain for Pon Elephant Thailand in the Mae Wang district, where the elephant part lasts about three and a half hours. Lunch, drinking water, city-centre transfers, an English-speaking guide and travel accident insurance are listed as included. The listing gives no start time: check availability for the day you want.
Of the three Doi Suthep tours on this site, it is the only one that puts you on the trail, as far as Wat Pha Lat. The steeper path that continues beyond it, towards the main temple, is replaced by the drive. One point is unclear. The listing says "all entry tickets" are included but does not say whether that covers the national park fee for the Monk's Trail, introduced in October 2025 and set at 100 baht for foreign adults at the time of writing. Carry the cash in case.
Read the rest
The elephant venue is the same Pon operation as the half-day feeding programme already on this site. The listing describes feeding the elephants, walking alongside them, bathing them and making medicine balls, and states that riding is prohibited. The listing presents this as an elephant sanctuary experience and says the tour supports ethical elephant tourism. Those are the listing's claims, not ours: the label itself does not tell you how the elephants are managed. Our elephant guide sets out what to ask any venue instead, including why bathing with visitors is debated. If the elephants are the main reason for your day, compare this with the half-day programme. If the mountain is, the two half-day temple tours cover it without the drive to Mae Wang.
The mountain first, the valley after: two days out, folded into one.
The route
-
Monk's Trail
A guided walk from the edge of the city through the forest, about forty minutes according to the listing, ending at Wat Pha Lat, the small temple built over a stream on sloping rock.
-
Wat Phra That Doi Suthep
By vehicle from Wat Pha Lat, for about an hour and a half on the mountain. The naga staircase, the relic chedi on the upper terrace and the view back over the plain.
-
Pon Elephant Thailand, Mae Wang
A drive off the mountain to the Mae Wang district, then about three and a half hours with the elephants, on the programme the listing describes.
Why this one
01
On foot to Wat Pha Lat
A guided walk on the Monk's Trail, about forty minutes by the listing's count, through the forest to the temple built around a stream.
02
Wat Phra That Doi Suthep
About an hour and a half at the temple: the staircase, the gilded chedi and the terrace facing the city.
03
Elephants in Mae Wang
About three and a half hours with the elephants at Pon Elephant Thailand, after the mountain.
04
Lunch and water included
With city-centre transfers, an English-speaking guide and travel accident insurance, according to the listing.
05
One long day, two subjects
Worth it if you want both and have one day for them. With two days, each can have an outing of its own.
What is included
Included
- A guided walk on the Monk's Trail to Wat Pha Lat
- Transport by vehicle to Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, then on to Mae Wang
- The elephant programme at Pon Elephant Thailand, as the listing describes it
- Lunch and drinking water
- An English-speaking guide
- Transfers from and to the city centre
- Travel accident insurance
- "All entry tickets", in the listing's words
Not included
- Elephant riding, which the listing states is prohibited
Practical detail
- Duration
- A full day. The listing gives the length of each part, not a return time
- Start time
- Not stated on the listing. Check availability for your date
- Transfers
- From and to the city centre
- Language
- English-speaking guide
- The walk
- About 40 minutes on the Monk's Trail, per the listing. Uphill forest path, marked with orange cloth. Proper shoes
- Trail fee
- 100 baht for foreign adults at the time of writing, charged by the national park. Whether "all entry tickets" covers it is not stated; carry the cash
- Dress
- Shoulders and knees covered for the temples; shoes off on the inner terrace at Wat Phra That Doi Suthep
- Elephants
- About 3.5 hours: feeding, walking alongside, bathing and making medicine balls, per the listing, which also states that riding is prohibited
- Dry season
- In recent dry seasons the national park has closed parts of its forest to reduce fire risk. The listing does not say what happens to the walk if the trail is closed
Common questions
Does "all entry tickets" include the Monk's Trail fee?
The listing does not say. Since October 2025, Doi Suthep-Pui National Park has charged foreign adults 100 baht to use the trail (the rate at the time of writing), and nothing on the listing says whether "all entry tickets" includes it. If it matters to you, ask before you book; otherwise, carry the cash.
How demanding is the trail walk?
It covers the Monk's Trail as far as Wat Pha Lat: about forty minutes according to the listing, uphill through forest. The steeper path that continues above Wat Pha Lat is not walked; a vehicle takes over for the rest of the way to Wat Phra That Doi Suthep. Wear proper shoes and bring water.
The listing presents this as an elephant sanctuary experience and says it supports ethical elephant tourism. What does that mean?
Those are the listing's claims. What the listing also states is that riding is prohibited and that the programme includes feeding, walking alongside the elephants, bathing them and making medicine balls. The label itself is not a guarantee of how a venue operates, so our elephant guide focuses instead on the practices worth checking before you book.
Is this the same place as your half-day elephant programme?
Yes, it is the same Pon operation. The half-day programme is the shorter way to visit, with no temples. Here the elephant part lasts about three and a half hours according to the listing, and comes after the mountain.
What time does it start?
The listing does not give a fixed start time and asks you to check availability for your date.
What should I bring?
Walking shoes for the trail, clothes that cover shoulders and knees for the temple, and a change of clothes for after the bathing. Add a sealed bag for your phone, and cash in case the trail fee is not covered.
Book it
Ready when you are
Dates, times and live prices come up at the next step. Booking takes two minutes, and the cancellation terms are shown before you pay.
Other tours in this category
Mae Wang district
Half-day elephant sanctuary feeding programme
- Shortest option, back by lunch
- Feeding and river bath, no riding
- Best for
- A first morning with elephants, back in town for lunch
- Skip if
- You want a waterfall and a raft attached
Near Chiang Mai
Elephant sanctuary and Thai cooking workshop
- Two experiences in one day
- Cook what you learn, then eat it
- Best for
- An elephant sanctuary and a cooking class in one day
- Skip if
- You would rather linger over either one
Mae Wang valley
ATV, elephant feeding, waterfall and rafting with lunch
- The fullest day
- Lunch and transfers included
- Best for
- Elephants, ATV riding and a full day outdoors
- Skip if
- You want a slow, quiet day in the valley