Unfortunately, there aren't many places in Thailand where you can encounter elephants in captivity, whose well-being is clearly more important than tourists' interests. I try to humbly contribute to the campaign to raise awareness among tourists about elephant living conditions and encourage them to choose carefully where they meet these majestic animals. While there are more and more responsible sanctuaries, and practices like elephant riding or the use of bullhooks are becoming less common, there's still a long way to go! Elephant Valley is one of these respectful parks in Thailand where elephants are simply allowed to be elephants. Here, you can't climb on them, bathe with them, paint them, or make them perform tricks for entertainment, and you can't touch them at all. You can only observe them, follow them, and view them from a safe distance. A distance of at least 10 meters is the most important of the seven rules for visiting the park. Elephant Valley's goal is to minimize contact between elephants and humans so that the six animals (as of December 2017), often rescued from trekking camps and frequently in poor condition, can gradually return to their natural ways and live without human assistance, especially without permanent subjugation. Elephant Valley Thailand is a variant of a similar elephant sanctuary in Cambodia. It opened in 2016 near the White Temple in Chiang Rai but is not yet fully developed and is attempting to expand by purchasing neighboring land. The goal, perhaps somewhat optimistic, is to release the elephants back into the wild within ten years. After all, elephants naturally feel most at home in nature. However, we must care for all animals raised in captivity and support all initiatives that offer them a better life and prevent their extinction. The Elephant Valley project is one such initiative.

Prices (December 2017): A half-day visit costs 1400 THB per person, a full-day visit 1800 THB (including pick-up and meals). The park only allows a limited number of visitors per day (maximum 10 people per half-day, maximum 8 people per group). Therefore, I recommend booking in advance. You can book your visit HERE on the website or at the Elephant Valley Shop in Chiang Rai near Bus Station 1. Please note that overnight accommodation is also available there (all information can be found on the website).

The transport is partly done in a package.

How to get there

How do I get to Elephant Valley, Thailand? Transport is partly by parcel.