Visiting An Ethical Elephant Sanctuary In Thailand

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Thailand – the land of smiles, beautiful beaches and elephants. One of my favorite countries to visit held possibly the most fun experience I’ve ever taken part in. A visit to the excellently well-run ethical elephant sanctuary Elephant Nature Park in Chiang Mai.

Hanging out with elephants for a day is something you won’t quickly forget. While there are a few elephant sanctuaries around Thailand, not all are as good deep down as they appear on the surface.

Elephant Nature Park, however, consistently gets high marks for their approach to conservation and elephant education.

Choosing an ethical elephant sanctuary

I did a LOT of research into finding the best ethical elephant sanctuary to visit on our Thailand adventure. But I’m glad I investigated it so deeply as not only did I find a really great place, but I learned a lot about what separates the bad from the good. I’ll admit I was pretty ignorant before my research as to what I should be looking for.

A few thing you want to look into when choosing an elephant sanctuary to visit:

• No riding of elephants or other forced interactions
• There should be no bull hooks or tools used to hurt the animals
• Also no sign of chains stopping the elephants from moving freely
• Plenty of space for elephants to move around including shady spots
• No bathing with elephants

A lot of these seem pretty obvious, but some aren’t always something you think about. Elephants are from hot countries, why would they not like the sun? Because they need out of the heat as much as we do. Often places have no chains on the elephants but take a look around their enclosures and you might see something different.

Why riding elephants is bad for them

I didn’t really know much about this until I started researching prior to my trip. I, like many, thought that elephants are pretty big, surely they can support a tiny human. But an elephant’s spine was not built for supporting that kind of weight so often.

Think of how many rides an elephant would give in a place that allows it. Many of the elephants at ENP were rescued from riding camps where they were beaten and taught to fear the bull hook to comply with giving rides. That’s why you won’t find any of this at Elephant Nature Park, and that’s why we chose to go there as the best ethical elephant sanctuary.

Please note: In the last few years, since our visit, the good sanctuaries have also removed the option of bathing with elephants. Allowing them the space to bath without forced human interaction is safer for them and for visitors. Conservation involves continuous learning and education.

How much is a visit to Elephant Nature Park?

There are a number of different visitor options you have to choose from. We went with the Care for Elephants full day experience. This involved preparing food for and feeding the elephants, taking a walk with them through the forest and ended with a visit to the main center to learn more about the sanctuary’s conservations efforts.

The Care For Elephants experience costs around 6000 Baht per person (around $165 USD) and requires a deposit to confirm your spot.

A half day or full day tour including a short walk with the elephants starts at around 2500 Baht per person (around $70 USD).

If you’re looking for a longer more immersive experience how about volunteering? For 12,000 Baht per week (~$325 USD) you can stay at Elephant Nature Park and help out with the care of the elephants and the running of the sanctuary.

The Elephant Nature Park experience

You can take part in volunteer work with elephants at Elephant Nature Park but with limited time we opted for the Care For Elephants day visit. When we booked our day with the elephants we weren’t really sure what to expect. We were told to bring sunblock, a hat, bug spray, and good shoes. But don’t forget your camera too!

We didn’t really know how close we’d be getting to the animals or what we’d be doing other than a general guideline. Excitement was an understatement. Our visit included an early morning hotel pickup and a 90 minute journey outside of Chiang Mai.

To really set the scene, you will be given a brief introduction to Elephant Nature Park and what they do here. As well as learning more about why they are such an ethical elephant sanctuary, you’ll be instructed on how to interact with the animals in a safe way for them and you.

Within minutes of arriving we saw our first Asian elephants. They were in a big field behind a wooden chest-high fence. These were the four elephants we would be spending the day with. They ranged from a 4 yea old male full of energy and mischief (Lucky) to a 65 year old female with the sweetest demeanor (Sai Tong).

Our new elephant friends were immediately curious, but what I mistook for excitement at seeing their new human friends turned out to be an appetite for all the food piled up behind us. So it was a good thing our first task was to prepare them breakfast.

How much does an elephant eat anyway?

The answer is A LOT! And four elephants? Even more. We cut up enough watermelon and squash to feed, well a herd of elephants. Just when I thought there was no more chopping to be done, another pile of food was handed over to cut up. There were 8 of us and it was all hands on deck.

After cutting up fruit and squash until my hands hurt we piled it all into about 6 giant tubs, the kind you’d give your dog a bath in. We were instructed on the best way to feed the elephants, to let them take the food in the their trunks and they’d pop it in their mouths. Let them come to you (they will) and don’t force the interactions.

A lot of people were taken with the cute younger elephant, but I felt drawn to Sai Tong and spent some time feeding her. Her big beautiful eyes just staring at me as I fed her melon and squash made my heart melt. Between feeding she nudged my face with her trunk and let me say hello back with a gentle pet.

These elephants are the most amazing creatures close up and I had to keep pinching myself that I was there. When all the watermelon and squash had gone we thought that was it. Did they possibly have room for anything else? The answer was yes.

We created little balls of food with bananas, rice, and some kind of flour like substance. We probably made a couple dozen or more, then got to feed them to the elephants. Breakfast complete, we geared up ready for a walk through the jungle.

A jungle hiking trip with elephants

I was almost sure that the elephants would need no more food, however we were all handed a large cloth shoulder bag that was filled to the brim with bananas. Our food to give the elephants throughout the journey.

We were given instructions on how to safely walk alongside the elephants, giving them plenty of space. If they start to quicken up the pace, fall back. Keep away from their rear, and most importantly watch your toes! That all understood, the elephants were free to roam along the path, with us in tow.

We set off on our walk with four elephants, eight of us visitors, one guide, two dogs and two mahouts (elephant keeper). We walked through the field, and along a sandy trail next to the river. As we strode through the trees the path became narrower and we had to keep single file.

The never ending task was feeding the elephants as we walked along, banana after banana. They worked out pretty quickly that our bag was full of delicious treats.

Grand theft banana

The youngest of the elephants, Lucky, was constantly looking for trouble and took off into the trees, playing with the high up branches. His mahout kept a watchful eye and let him get rid of some energy. He soon came ambling back to the path when he wanted some bananas.

Lucky was the first elephant to realize that he was bigger than us and could just take his own bananas instead of waiting to be fed. He dove into Jeff’s bag of food trunk first and started helping himself, while Jeff was creased over laughing as he was getting playfully robbed by an elephant.

I loved the walk so much, it was the most surreal experience. We were able to get photos and interact with the elephants on their terms. I still smile when I think about it.

Vegetarian lunch buffet in the jungle

We’d spent the last 4 hours feeding elephants, and walking in the heat. I was more than ready for some food of my own. I knew that lunch was included, but as we walked further away from the main sanctuary I couldn’t understand how or where we were going to eat.

Our hands washed we ascended into to a makeshift tree house that was open and looking down on the nearby river. The elephants remained in the shade under the trees guarding the remaining bananas. A magnificent spread of hot and cold food awaited us, buffet style. And it was all vegetarian. For once I didn’t need to ask which things I could eat. Cue happy lunch dance.

There was so much good food that I piled my plate high. Noodle dishes, rice dishes, stir fried veggies, spring rolls, and even dessert (the best dessert on the planet: mango sticky rice). There are cold drinks, water, soda and even beer if you want to pay a few Baht more.

I sat down with my food and a cold drink of water, staring out into the trees and the beautiful views below. Over the other side of the river were more elephants in the main sanctuary. It doesn’t get much better than this.

Getting back to the sanctuary

It was time to start heading back. But first we had a straggler. After a splashing good time in the river, Lucky had decided that he didn’t want to leave the water just yet. He charged back in.

His mahout (this guy needs a pay raise for sure) standing at the river’s edge yelling at him to return. Lucky rolled around in the water and mud, splashing the mahout with water.

Then Lucky made a break for the other side of the river. The mahout rolled his eyes as he realized he was going to have to get in the river too. Chasing after a playful toddler of an elephant he was urging Lucky to return to the correct side of the river. Eventually he complied and we were on our way.

With considerably less bananas than on the way there, and most of us full from a huge lunch, we dragged our feet along through the jungle. The elephants were tired too, but still as lovely and gentle with us as ever.

They let us interact with them, played with each other and us, and every now and again searched us for food. We got back to the field where we first met our four giant companions and said our goodbyes.

Looking at the elephants, I really hope that the saying “an elephant never forgets” was true. Because I wouldn’t forget the incredible experience, and I hoped they had just as much fun with us.

A visit to Elephant Nature Park – ethical elephant sanctuary

Washed up and farewells done, we got on the bus waiting for us and drove around the corner to the center. This is where the volunteers and workers live, where the elephants live, as well as the rescued cats and dogs that also live there.

I was really impressed with the thorough tour of the property. We got to visit more of the elephants who lived there. Some of them had injuries from their previous lives working that meant they couldn’t go out with the visitors like our other four friends.

The elephant rehabilitation center cared for them now. It’s so sad to see that some elephants had been blinded, some had damaged feet and other ailments. Truly heartbreaking to see what people had done to them.

But it was also lovely to see how happy and free they were now. They could wander around in their social groups, had shady areas, walk down to the river and all groups had their own mahouts to look after them. Only the elephants that were more aggressive were kept separate.

We were told stories of the elephants, how they came here, how the sanctuary started, and all it stood for. A wonderful place, and highly recommended to anyone going to Chiang Mai.

Time to leave our elephant friends

We ended our day at this amazing ethical elephant sanctuary by paying the remainder of our balance for the day’s tour. It was nice that you paid at the end. They were in no rush for the money, and we knew that it was all worth it after all we’d done. Remember to bring cash as they aren’t always able to take cards!

We looked around the little gift shop there which also sold snacks, and bought a couple of little souvenirs. One thing they do is wooden carvings of the elephants that you can buy. We had to get one as a reminder of the fantastic day we’d had.

Within minutes of getting back on the bus, everyone was asleep. At one point I woke up and looked around and every single person was out for the count. We were dropped back off at our hotel in Chiang Mai, and waved goodbye to our tour guide.

Exhausted, we flopped onto the bed in our room and just smiled the biggest smiles ever as we reflected on the day.

What else is there to do in Chiang Mai?

If I’d know how much I would love Chiang Mai, I would have perhaps planned my trip a little differently and cut time out of Bangkok. Chiang Mai is a beautiful place with so much to see and do. We stayed at the wonderfully charming and central De Lanna Hotel – I recommend it if you’re searching for accommodation options.

As well as spending an incredible day with our favorite elephant pals, no real trip to Chiang Mai is complete without visiting some of its amazing temples. Wat Phra Singh and Wat Chiang Man were two of my favorites – and walkable from our hotel.

Looking to soak up a bit more Thai culture on your visit? A Thai cooking class is a must do. Not only do you get to make and learn about deliciously aromatic Thai dishes, but you get to eat them all too. Win-win! Top your visit off with a night of Muay Thai boxing – I mean watching it, unless you’re feeling really adventurous. Tickets are quite cheap and it’s an interesting experience that will fill in an evening.

Incredible Elephant Nature Park

I still can’t believe what an amazing day I had at this fantastic Thailand elephant sanctuary. Definitely one of the best experiences of my life, and one I will cherish forever.

Being able to be close to such beautiful creatures, and spend time getting to know them was better than I imagined. The sanctuary takes good care of their herd and is constantly working at educating themselves and visitors. That’s the way all places like this can continue to improve.

Elephant Nature Park has long been regarded highly for its treatment of elephants. I can back it personally as an ethical elephant sanctuary from what I saw. If you do one thing in Chiang Mai, make it this!

If you’ve enjoyed this post leave a comment below or share using the social media buttons. Have you been to Elephant Nature Park or any other ethical elephant sanctuary? Is this on your list? I’d love to know of any other sanctuaries that look after their elephants as well as ENP does.