One of the most memorable experiences of our travels has been visiting the Elephant Jungle Sanctuary in Chiang Mai.
If you’ve never seen elephants up-close before, you’re in for a real treat.
They’re majestic animals. They’re beautiful. They’re gentle. They’re playful.
And it’s so sad to think one of nature’s most magnificent animals is taken advantage of and abused for the sake of tourism.
Whatever you do, do not visit an elephant camp that lets you ride them.
These animals are not meant to carry heavy weights on their backs, and oftentimes they’re mistreated and their spirits are broken to make them complacent.
Make sure you choose an ethical sanctuary like the Elephant Jungle Sanctuary we went to.
There is no riding involved, and they take such good care of their elephants.
We could tell right away that the workers (mahouts) loved what they were doing. One of them was even playing hide-and-seek with the baby elephant.
Cuteness overload.
During your visit you’ll get to feed the gentle giants, give them mud baths, and wash them off in the river.
Plus, you’ll be rewarded with gorgeous views overlooking rice terraces and a river.
Can you think of a better way to spend your day?
Here’s everything you need to know about the Elephant Jungle Sanctuary in Chiang Mai.
Packages & pricing
There are three packages you can choose from at different price levels. Each package includes pickup and drop-off from your accommodation in Chiang Mai.
- Full-day visit:
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- Price: 2,400 baht
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- Duration: 8:00am – 5:30pm
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- Meal: Traditional Thai buffet
- Half-day visit:
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- Price: 1,700 baht
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- Duration: 6:30am – 1:30pm (morning tour) or 11:30am – 6:30pm (afternoon tour)
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- Meal: Traditional Thai buffet
- Overnight stay:
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- Price: 4,900 baht
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- Duration: 8:00am – 5:30pm (next day return)
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- Meals: 2 lunches, 1 dinner, and 1 breakfast
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- Accommodation: Local family home
Activities
The activities differ depending on the package you choose. The full-day and half-day visits are fairly similar, but the overnight stay includes a lot more activities and what seems like a more authentic experience.
Full-day visit: Introductory lesson about elephants. Meet and feed bananas to elephants. Learn how to make herbal medicine balls for elephants. Mud bath with elephants. Bathe with elephants in the river.
Half-day visit: Introductory lesson about elephants. Meet and feed bananas to elephants. Mud bath with elephants. Bathe with elephants in the river.
Overnight stay: Introductory lesson about elephants. Meet and feed bananas to elephants. Learn how to make herbal medicine balls for elephants. Mud bath with elephants. Bathe with elephants in the river. Trek to a nearby waterfall with guide and go swimming. Visit an organic farm. Visit local village houses.
What to bring
Since you’ll be visiting a mountainous region of northern Chiang Mai, you’ll have to bring some essentials along.
- Insect repellent
- Sunscreen
- Bathing suit
- Running shoes or flip-flops
- Phone/camera
- Small towel (or you can just dry under the sun)
If you’re staying overnight, you’ll obviously have to bring extras such as toiletries and a change of clothes.
Final thoughts about the Elephant Jungle Sanctuary
We had such a great time with the elephants and it was worth every penny.
The money goes toward caring for the elephants as well as supporting the workers and the local Karen village.
The villagers also help take care of the elephants at the Elephant Jungle Sanctuary, which is why you’ll be given a traditional Karen outfit to wear.
The elephants are more comfortable around the Karen people, so wearing their frock will put them at ease.
It’s a unique activity you’ll remember for the rest of your life, and I highly recommend it.
If you have any questions or if you end up visiting the Elephant Jungle Sanctuary, leave a comment below.
