Wondering what to expect from the Elephant Jungle Sanctuary in Chiang Mai, Thailand? Is it ethical? Is it suitable for families? What will you actually do on the day?
In this article, we’ll take you through our experience and answer some common questions so you know what to expect at the Elephant Sanctuary in Chiang Mai.
What is the Elephant Jungle Sanctuary?
The Elephant Jungle Sanctuary is a unique opportunity to interact with these gentle giants in their natural habitat. Home to a growing number of elephants, the residents here have been rescued from the tourism and logging industries, where they were abused and exploited.
The sanctuary provides a safe environment for the elephants. It gives visitors the opportunity to learn about, observe, photograph, feed and have a ‘mud spa’ with these magnificent animals. The money raised from visits and donations contributes to the elephants’ welfare by rescuing, feeding, and providing veterinary care. Not to mention land and infrastructure for them to live on.
You can learn more about the philosophy behind the welfare of the elephants at the Elephant Jungle Sanctuary here.
It should be noted that the Elephant Jungle Sanctuary in Chiang Mai has eight different ‘camps’ in different locations. Each location has at least three elephants. This ensures the elephants get a break when needed and can be adequately looked after. Usually, you don’t know which camp you are heading to until you arrive.
Is the Elephant Sanctuary in Chiang Mai ethical?
Some would argue that any interaction with an animal is not ethical. On the other hand, some would say it’s fine as both their physical and mental health is being maintained. After visiting the elephant sanctuary myself, I felt extremely comfortable with the treatment and care of the elephants and their ability to roam freely.
These elephants are well and truly pampered, and while it may not be like living in the wild, it is absolutely nothing like a zoo. Here they are free to roam, eat, bathe and access shelter, veterinary care, food and water. They do not have to give tourists rides and aren’t used for manual labour.
What can I expect on the day?
Check out our YouTube clip below for what to expect on a morning session at the Elephant Jungle Sanctuary in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Alternatively, keep reading for a run-down of what to expect.
Morning visit at the Elephant Sanctuary in Chiang Mai
On the morning of your visit, you will be picked up somewhere in between 6:30 – 7:00 am from your accommodation in Chiang Mai. Jump in the back of the ute and sit down on the bench seat under the shade of a canopy. The entire trip takes approximately 1.5 hours and this includes a pit stop to use a toilet and grab snacks.
Once you arrive at the Chiang Mai Elephant Jungle Sanctuary (around 8:30 am), meet your English-speaking guide, slip on some traditional Karen clothing over your shirt or bathers, and learn a bit about the elephants.
At around 9 am, you’ll head down to interact with the beautiful giants and will be shown how to feed them bananas and sugar cane. You can touch, feed, photograph and interact with the elephants and will learn their individual stories. A staff member is on hand to take plenty of photographs. These are available to download at no extra charge a few days after your elephant experience at the Chiang Mai Jungle Sanctuary.
You may even get a chance to make elephant medicine balls (it helps them poop) and feed it to them before heading down to the waterhole.
Now for the fun part…
At around 9:45 am, you will walk down to the waterhole to give the elephants a mud spa. This is a really fun experience but don’t wear your good bathers as it’s messy. There are several staff so make sure to follow their advice so that everyone is safe.
The elephants decide when they have had enough of being bathed and will hop out. There is no guarantee of how long the elephants will allow you to give them a mud spa. But generally, at around 11 am, you’ll head back up to shower and change back into clean clothes.
11:30 am should see you chowing down on a fabulous traditional buffet lunch. Sadly, you’ll have to say goodbye to the elephants now. Depart around noon and return to your accommodation at around 1:30 pm.
Afternoon visit to the Elephant Jungle Sanctuary
The afternoon is exactly the same, but you’ll depart your accommodation around 11:30 am and return around 6:30 pm. However, please remember that the elephants control the timing so every time mentioned other than pick up and drop off times are approximate.
Full-day tour of the Chiang Mai Elephant Jungle Sanctuary
The full-day experience is similar to the half-day but with an 8:00 – 8:30 am pick-up time. You’ll get a bit longer to enjoy lunch and on the way home, will stop for a unique cultural handicraft experience. Arrive back at your accommodation at around 5:00 – 5:30 pm.
Overnight visit program
The overnight visit program at the Elephant Jungle Sanctuary allows you to get to know the elephants on an individual level. The first day follows the full-day tour, but instead of heading back to Chiang Mai city, you’ll head to an Eco Lodge surrounded by mountain scenery for the night. Dinner is included.
Day two will see you have breakfast and then head to nearby farmland to assist Elephant Jungle Sanctuary staff in cutting grass. Visit another one or two sanctuary locations before heading to a local waterfall for lunch and a swim. You should arrive back at your accommodation in Chiang Mai around 5:30 pm.
Where can I get tickets?
Book your ticket on the Elephant Jungle Sanctuary Chiang Mai website direct.
The verdict on the Elephant Jungle Sanctuary in Chiang Mai
We enjoyed the experience immensely and were totally comfortable with how the elephants were treated. It’s a privilege to be able to spend a few hours learning about and interacting with these beautiful creatures.
Is it suitable for families?
The Elephant Jungle Sanctuary in Chiang Mai is a wonderful experience that I’m sure the whole family will remember forever. It’s also a great learning opportunity, not just for the kids but for adults as well.
However, families should remember that any experience that involves an animal has the potential for danger. When we visited, one of the baby elephants accidentally knocked Trillian (8 years old) over as it sat down in the water. She was only a couple of metres from Jason, so he quickly pulled her out of the way, but it could have ended badly.
If you have children that will refuse to stay within arms reach or follow safety instructions, I would personally wait until they are a bit older or stand back from the action regarding the mud and water part.
Resources for booking your family holiday to Thailand
Flights
Most international flights will land in either Bangkok or Phuket. Although less common, flights are also available into Chiang Mai. Search Trip.com for a great deal on flights to Thailand.
Accommodation
We recommend the following hotels and resorts in Thailand:
- Bangkok – Ibis Styles Bangkok Sukhumvit 50 or Ibis Bangkok Riverside
- Ko Samui – Villa Labaron
- Chiang Mai – Mercure or Ibis Styles
- Chiang Rai – Na Na Doo Homestay
- Phuket – X10 Seaview Suites at Panwa Beach
- Krabi – Railay Village Resort or Poonsiri Varich Pool Villa Ao Nang
- Kanchanaburi – P.Y. Guest House or Chez Bure Homestay
Activities and tours
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