Elephant Jungle Sanctuary Tour from Chiang Mai | Thailand
Interact with rescued elephants at the Elephant Jungle Sanctuary in Chiang Mai. This tour allows you to feed, play with adorable elephants and take pictures while learning about their everyday lives.
- Visit an ethical sanctuary that protects the well-being of its elephants
- Feed elephants from up close and capture the moment in a photo
- Give an elephant a refreshing shower in a local river
- Learn about the local Karen hill tribes and get to wear their traditional attire
Package Options
Sightseeing Tours
| Transportation method | Hotel transfer |
| Tour types | Guided tour |
| Additional service & facility | Photography service |
| Sightseeing type | Natural sights, Eco-tourism |
Product Info
— What You Can Expect —
Visit the spectacular Elephant Jungle Sanctuary, one of Thailand's most popular eco-tourism attractions, and one of the best elephant sanctuaries in Chiang Mai. Interact with members of the Karen hill tribes to learn about the long history of Thailand's elephants and try on traditional Karen attire.
Learn about this elephant sanctuary in Chiang Mai from your English-speaking guide as you walk, surrounded by mountains and giant elephants. Touch, feed, photograph, and bond with elephants of all sizes and ages. Accompany the elephants to a mud pond and apply a natural mud treatment to clean their skin before washing them down in a local river.
Snap a few more photos with the elephants and then change into dry clothes. Be delighted by a selection of seasonal fresh fruit and snacks before waving goodbye to your new big-eared friends and heading back to your accommodation. Reserve your space on this incredible day tour today or choose to spend overnight deep in the jungle.
— Itinerary —
Half Day Visit (The time is Morning Session / Afternoon Session)
- Pick up from your hotel or accommodation (Meeting time: 6:30 am–7:00 am for Morning Visit or 11:30 am–12:00 pm for Afternoon Visit)
- Drive approximately 1.5 hours South of Chiang Mai through rolling hills, forests, and local farming areas.
- 08:30 / 13:30 Arrive at the Elephant Jungle Sanctuary. Learn about the elephants and change into traditional Karen clothing.
- Meet the elephants. Feed, interact, and play with the elephants in a natural environment as you learn about their behavior and history. Take photos with the elephants.
- Mud Spa with the elephants
- Walk with the elephants to a river and bathe them.
- Eat a traditional meal and then say goodbye to the elephants.
- 12:00 / 17:00 Leave the Elephant Jungle Sanctuary and drive approximately 1.5 hours to Chiang Mai.
- 13:30 / 18:30 Drop off at your hotel or accommodation.
Full Day Visit
- 08:00-08:30 AM Pick up from your hotel or accommodation
- 08:30 Drive approximately 1.5 hours South of Chiang Mai through rolling hills, forest, and local farming areas.
- 10:30 Arrive at the Sanctuary. Meet your guide and walk for 10-15 minutes through the Jungle to the Elephant Jungle Sanctuary. Change into traditional Karen clothing. Enjoy an introductory lesson about elephant anatomy, history, and behavior.
- 11:00 Meet the elephants. Feed, interact, and play with the elephants in a natural environment as you learn about their behavior and history. Take photos with the elephants.
- 12:00 Enjoy a lunch of traditional Thai food and fresh fruit.
- 13:00 Learn how to make herbal medicine balls, feed the Elephants and then walk with the elephants to the river. Bathe and brush the elephants.
- 14:00 Join the elephants for a therapeutic mud spa. Swim in the river and take photos with the elephants.
- 15:00 Change clothes and say goodbye to the elephants
- 15:30 Depart from Elephant Jungle Sanctuary and drive approximately 1.5 hours to Chiang Mai.
- 17:00-17:30 Drop off at your hotel or accommodation.
Walk With Elephants Experience
- 6:30-7:00 am Pick up from your hotel or accommodation
- 7:00 Drive approximately 1.5 hours South of Chiang Mai through rolling hills, forest, and local farming areas.
- 8:30 Arrive at the Sanctuary. Meet your guide, change into traditional Karen clothing, and enjoy an introductory lesson about elephant anatomy, history, and behavior.
- 9:00 Meet the elephants. Feed, interact, and play with the elephants in a natural environment as you learn about their individual personalities and history. Take photos with the elephants.
- 9:45 Join the elephants for a therapeutic mud spa. Swim in the river and take photos with the elephants.
- 11:30 Enjoy a lunch of traditional Thai food and fresh fruit.
- 12:00 Walk with the elephants through a lush jungle for approximately 1.5 hours. Observe and photograph them from a respectful distance as they roam at a leisurely pace, foraging as they wander through the forest.
- 13:45 Say goodbye to your new elephant friends and continue walking through the beautiful local countryside to a second Elephant Jungle Sanctuary location.
- 13:45 Meet some more of the majestic elephants we care for. Feed the elephants, or simply relax and observe the way they behave and interact with other members of the herd.
- 15:30 Depart from Elephant Jungle Sanctuary, and return to your place of accommodation in Chiang Mai.
Morning Elephant Bathing Experience & Afternoon Thai Cooking Class at Mama Noi Thai Cookery School
- 6:30-7:00 am Pick up from your hotel or accommodation by Elephant Jungle Sanctuary
- Enjoy a half-day elephant bathing experience (MORNING SESSION).
- Drop off at your hotel.
- 3:30 pm Pick up from your hotel by Mama Noi Thai Cookery School
- Join a half-day Thai cooking class (English or Chinese instruction available).
- Drop off at your hotel.
Overnight Visit
DAY 1:
- 08:00 - 08:30: Pickup from Chiang Mai accommodation.
- 08:30 - 10:00: Drive to Elephant Jungle Sanctuary, and complete registration.
- 10:00 - 11:00: Educational talk on elephants.
- 11:00 - 12:00: Meet and feed elephants, and learn about them.
- 12:00 - 13:00: Enjoy a Thai lunch while observing elephants.
- 13:00 - 15:00: Prepare supplements, bathe, and spa with elephants.
- 15:30: Travel to resort-style lodgings, check-in, relax, or explore before dinner.
Day 2:
- 07:00 - 08:00: Wake up in the jungle, and have a fresh organic breakfast.
- 08:00 - 10:30: Head to farmland, help cut grass, and feed it to the elephants.
- 10:30 - 13:00: Visit another EJS location, and interact with elephants in a natural setting.
- 13:00 - 15:30: Explore a local waterfall, swim, and enjoy lunch with a scenic view.
- 15:30: Depart from the waterfall, and return to Chiang Mai accommodation.
— Important Info —
- Free pick-up within a 5 km radius of the Old City
- At Elephant Jungle Sanctuary, we will allow you to spend as much time as possible with the elephants.
- There is no formal schedule and aside from pick-up times, the times shown here are approximations.
- Certain activities are dependent on seasonal availability and may be subject to change. Thus, the itinerary above should be used as an illustrative guide only.
— Additional Info —
- Free admission for children under 4 years old; however, they must not occupy a seat. Please notify the number of children in your group in the Note section when booking
- Please notify the number and size of the luggage(s) you are bringing with you, in order for the supplier to arrange a suitable vehicle. The local agency reserves the right to decline service if you fail to do so
Spend time interacting with observing elephants in a peaceful, natural setting
Accomodation for Overnight Visit Package
Important Info
Reminders
Things to bring along: Hat, bathing suit, sunscreen, insect repellent, towel, walking shoes, a change of dry clothes, and camera
The operator will re-confirm your pick-up time in advance. As this is a group tour, please bear with us in case of any unforeseen delays along the pick-up route. If you are awaiting pick-up past the meeting time, kindly contact the operator directly via email or phone
Cancellation Policy
- For cancellations made at least 3 day(s) prior to selected date, a cancellation fee of 10% will apply
- Cancellation is not allowed between 0–2 days from the selected date. Orders cannot be canceled or modified, and refunds will not be granted.
- Due to time zone differences, the confirmed cancellation date is based on the supplier’s local time. Please allow 2–5 business days to process your cancellation request, after which the cancellation fee will be charged according to the product’s cancellation policy. Once the cancellation is confirmed, you will receive your refund within 14 working days.
FAQ
Yes, Elephant Jungle Sanctuary is dedicated to ethical operations, prioritizing the well-being and welfare of its rescued elephants. They provide a safe, natural, and sustainable environment, allowing elephants to roam freely without exploitation. The sanctuary focuses on rehabilitation, fostering respectful interactions like feeding and supervised bathing, and educating visitors on elephant conservation.
Reputable elephant sanctuaries in Chiang Mai prioritize animal welfare by focusing on rescue, rehabilitation, and providing a natural habitat for elephants. Key indicators include prohibiting elephant riding, emphasizing observation and gentle, supervised interactions like feeding and bathing, and offering educational programs. They also support local communities and promote conservation efforts, ensuring a positive impact for both elephants and visitors.
At Elephant Jungle Sanctuary, visitors can engage in unique activities like directly feeding rescued elephants by hand and participating in refreshing mud bath and river showering sessions. The experience also includes learning about the elephants' individual stories and daily lives from knowledgeable guides. Additionally, guests have the opportunity to discover the culture of local Karen hill tribes and wear their traditional attire.
Yes, visiting Elephant Jungle Sanctuary offers a highly rewarding and educational experience. It provides a unique opportunity to interact ethically with magnificent rescued elephants in a natural setting, fostering a deeper connection with these animals. Beyond direct interaction, guests gain valuable insights into elephant conservation and the local Karen hill tribe culture, making it a memorable and meaningful trip.
Elephant Jungle Sanctuary ensures the well-being of its elephants by rescuing them from exploitative situations and providing a safe, natural habitat. They strictly prohibit riding and instead focus on gentle, supervised interactions such as feeding and bathing, promoting positive reinforcement. Their approach prioritizes the elephants' health, freedom, and social structure, creating a stress-free environment for their long-term welfare.
Elephant Jungle Sanctuary typically includes convenient round-trip transfer services from various locations in Chiang Mai city, such as your hotel or guesthouse. This ensures a hassle-free journey to and from the sanctuary, which is located outside the main city area. Guests usually confirm their pick-up details directly with the tour provider upon booking to arrange the most suitable arrangements.
At Elephant Jungle Sanctuary, visitors have the opportunity to learn about the fascinating culture of the local Karen hill tribes. Guides often share insights into their traditions, customs, and way of life, highlighting their connection to the elephants and the surrounding environment. Guests can also try on traditional Karen attire, offering a glimpse into the rich cultural heritage of the region alongside the elephant experience.
Before interacting at Elephant Jungle Sanctuary, it's important to know that respectful and ethical engagement is paramount. All interactions, such as feeding and bathing, are carefully supervised by trained mahouts. Always follow their instructions, maintain a calm demeanor, and avoid sudden movements. The focus is on the elephants' welfare, ensuring a positive and safe experience for both the animals and visitors.
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