Chiang Mai has more elephant sanctuaries than any other place in Thailand, and almost all of them claim to be ethically sound, as the term isn't legally defined. Animal welfare organizations draw the line in the same place: no riding, no shows, no chains or hooks, no breeding for tourism, and—in the strictest sanctuaries—no bathing or close contact either. So, you observe the elephants instead of touching them.

Based on these criteria, the pure observation stations (ChangChill, Burm and Emily's, and Kindred Spirit) are ranked first, followed by Elephant Nature Park and Big Boy, where food is prepared but the elephants are not bathed, and finally by the stations that still offer bathing. A half-day, including hotel pick-up, costs approximately 1,600–2,500 baht, while a full day at Elephant Nature Park costs 3,500 baht.

Where to stay in Chiang Mai

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My recommendations in every price category in Chiang Mai

  • Shangri-La Chiang MaiLuxury · 5 stars · 4.6 (4,289)
  • U Chiang Mai HotelMid-range · 4 stars · 4.8 (2,000)
  • Cross Chiang Mai Riverside · Budget · 3 stars · 4.8 (994)

    • Key facts

    Look, don't touch it!

    World Animal Protection's rule is: visits are only allowed where you may look at the animals but not touch them. Members of the Elephant Welfare Alliance also prohibit hand-feeding.

    1,600–2,500 Baht per half day

    Hotel pick-up and lunch are included. The day trip to Elephant Nature Park costs 3,500 Baht, and the overnight stay costs 5,800 Baht.

    1.5 hours or more

    Most of the wildlife reserves are located in the hills of Mae Wang, Mae Taeng, or Doi Inthanon. The two strictest reserves are located in Mae Chaem, about a three-hour drive away.

    Book two to four weeks in advance.

    During the peak season from November to February, the best half-days are quickly booked up.

    Children are welcome in most facilities.

    Elephant Nature Park charges half price for children aged 3 to 11. Burm and Emily's does not accept children under 10.

    Booking offices are not places of refuge.

    Many addresses in the old town house booking offices. The elephants are at least an hour away.

    What makes an elephant sanctuary ethical?

    Three independent lists served as the basis for this guidebook, and the similarities outweigh the differences. World Animal Protection publishes a list of elephant-friendly establishments and advises visitors to only visit those where they can see the animals but not touch them. This is because elephants that allow strangers to ride, bathe, or touch them have been trained accordingly. The Elephant Welfare Alliance, which is advised by World Animal Protection, recommends only establishments that refrain from elephant riding, shows, bathing for tourists, direct hand-feeding, or entertainment involving close physical contact. Responsible Travel maintains a list of supported and unsupported sanctuaries and excludes establishments that breed elephants for tourism.

    This results in three levels. In purely observational stations, the elephant herds can forage, bathe, and socialize independently while visitors walk at a distance with a guide. Stations where feeding is the primary focus also offer food preparation and feeding from a platform or over a barrier. These stations are still considered by World Animal Protection to be humane, but not yet elephant-friendly. Stations that allow direct contact with the animals offer bathing, mud baths, and walks right next to the elephants. Riding is not offered at any of these stations, but animal welfare organizations see bathing as the next step towards eliminating elephants – and I share this view.

    My opinion is simple: If you want to focus on the elephants themselves and not just the photo, book a day dedicated solely to observation or a day focused on feeding. If you absolutely must bathe them, please be aware that all the animal welfare organizations I consulted advise against it.

    How I put them in the correct order

    Elephant sanctuaries listed by World Animal Protection and the Elephant Welfare Alliance are given priority. Next come sanctuaries rated as animal-friendly on these lists or supported by Responsible Travel, where elephants are not bathed. Following these are sanctuaries where active interaction with the animals is possible, with Responsible Travel-supported sanctuaries taking precedence over all others. Within each category, the sanctuary with the most independent elephant sightings is listed first, and in case of a tie, the one best suited for a day trip is chosen. All prices are as stated by the respective sanctuaries and can be viewed on their websites.

    The Elephant Jungle Sanctuary pays for sponsored listings on this website. However, this does not affect its ranking here, which follows the same criteria as for all other sanctuaries.

    The ethical elephant sanctuaries in Chiang Mai, in order

    First, there are purely observation stations, then those that feed first, and finally those that also offer bathing.

  • 1. ChangChill, Mae Wang, about 1.5 hours southwest. Ideal for a day trip to see elephants. The former riding camp discontinued its riding program, experimented with a feeding and bathing program, and later closed as a purely observation center. Four elephants roam between two locations, Hillside and View Doi. A visit includes a guided forest walk where you can observe the animals grazing and socializing. You'll also have time to meet the mahouts. It's the only sanctuary near the city that World Animal Protection rates as elephant-friendly at both locations. It's also supported by the Elephant Welfare Alliance and Responsible Travel. If you only have one day and want the strictest guidelines for elephant welfare, this is the place to go. Half-day and full-day trips are offered at both locations, with an afternoon visit to Hillside. Arrival is between 10:00 and 10:30 am. See the booking page for prices. Getting there: Approximately 1.5 hours by car. Ask about a pick-up service when booking. The paths are steep and muddy, so sturdy footwear is essential. ChangChill Elephant Sanctuary 4.8 (641) Daily 9:00 AM–5:00 PM Directions
  • 2. Burm and Emily's Elephant Sanctuary (BEES), Mae Chaem, approximately 3 hours west. Recommended accommodation: A family-run, retired elephant sanctuary spanning over 120 hectares, it is one of the strictest in the country. Bathing, petting, and hand-feeding have been prohibited since 2018. You will walk through the grounds and observe the herd from a distance. Most guests book an all-inclusive stay of 2, 4, or 7 days from 6,000 baht, including transfers, accommodation, and meals. With your own transport, you can join a one-day elephant walk on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays for 2,500 baht. The sanctuary is listed as an elephant-friendly establishment by World Animal Protection and the Elephant Welfare Alliance and is supported by Responsible Travel. Children under 10 are not accepted. Arrival: Pick-up within the Old City moat between 8:30 and 9:00 am for overnight stays. Burm and Emily's Elephant Sanctuary (BEES) 5.0 (182) Directions
  • 3. Kindred Spirit Elephant Sanctuary, Mae Chaem, west of Chiang Mai. Ideal for a stay with a village family. The sanctuary is run by over 200 Karen villagers in the Ban Naklang area. You hike into the forest to find the elephant herd and watch them feeding, then spend the night with a Karen family. The sanctuary is on World Animal Protection's list of elephant-friendly sanctuaries and is a member of the Elephant Welfare Alliance. Day trips are not offered. The 2-day program costs 5,300 baht per person (minimum of two people), the 3-day program 7,500 baht, and the 5-day trip 15,000 baht. Transportation, accommodation with a village family, and meals are included. I would consider it more of a stay than a day trip. Kindred Spirit Elephant Sanctuary: 4.9 (65) Getting there
  • 4. Elephant Nature Park, Mae Taeng, about 60 km north. Most famous day trip. The rescue center, copied by most other sanctuaries, whose name I see mentioned at every elephant capture. Visits focus on observing the herds, learning each elephant's story, and seeing them in the river and mud pits, where they are fed from a platform. No one bathes or rides the elephants. World Animal Protection lists the park as a particularly animal-friendly establishment, and their guidebook states: "Due to an ongoing investigation, this establishment has been temporarily removed from the list of elephant-friendly establishments." I was unable to find out what the investigation entails. Responsible Travel supports the park. The half-day trip costs 2,500 baht, the SkyWalk full-day trip 3,500 baht, and the overnight trip 5,800 baht. Children aged 3 to 11 pay half price, and hotel pick-up is from about 7:30 am. Best time to visit: Morning or afternoon (half-day) or full day (returning around 5:00 PM). Elephant Nature Park, 4.8 (5,131), daily 8:00 AM–5:00 PM. Directions.
  • 5. Big Boy Elephant Sanctuary, near Doi Inthanon, about 1.5 hours. Best value for money during feeding time – first half day. A Karen-run sanctuary with stricter rules than most other facilities that allow direct contact with animals. There is no riding, no guided walks, no mandatory bathing, and no giving commands to the elephants. You prepare their food, make herbal vitamin balls, and help plant habitat, while the elephants graze and take mud baths on their own. Responsible Travel supports this sanctuary. The half-day trip costs 1,600 baht, and 1,100 baht for children aged 4 to 8. Full-day trips including a bamboo raft ride or a visit to the Sticky Waterfall are available from 1,800 baht. Transfers are free within 5 km of the Old City. The booking office is located on Soi Sri Poom. Big Boy Elephant Sanctuary 4.9 (447) Daily 9:00–19:00 Directions
  • 6. Living Green Elephant Sanctuary, booking office on Rachadamnoen Road. Here you can feed the elephants, walk with them, and bathe with them in the river. The sanctuary states that bathing is always at the elephants' discretion. Responsible Travel supports the sanctuary, as riding and forced bathing are not permitted. Half-day tickets cost 1,600 baht, full-day tickets 1,800–2,000 baht, one including a bamboo raft ride and one including a hike up Doi Inthanon. The sanctuary ranks among the above places because bathing is part of every main program. Living Green Elephant Sanctuary (Chiang Mai) 4.8 (709) Daily 8:00–18:00 Getting there
  • 7. Into the Wild Elephant Camp, South Chiang Mai: Participation includes lunch and transfers. Two independent travel portals in Chiang Mai recommend the camp, and Backpackers Wanderlust reports on feeding and bathing the elephants. A half day costs 1,700 baht, a full day 2,400 baht, both including transfers and lunch. The camp is not listed on any of the animal welfare lists I used. Therefore, please check the website for the current program before booking. Into the Wild Elephant Camp, 49 (933), daily 8:00 a.m.–10:00 p.m. Directions.
  • 8. Elephant Jungle Sanctuary, Mae Wang and San Pa Tong, Southwest. Hands-on program with observation option. The Elephant Jungle Sanctuary pays for placement on this website. However, this does not affect the ranking used here, which is assessed according to the same criteria as all other sanctuaries. Horse riding is not available. The half-day experience (six hours from 1,900 ฿) includes feeding, a mud bath, and bathing. The "Overnight" (5,900 ฿) and "Feed and Shower" (1,390 ฿) programs also include bathing. The "Watch Me" program (six hours from 1,900 ฿) is the observation option and my recommendation. The sanctuary ranks last because most programs include bathing, it is not listed by World Animal Protection or the Elephant Welfare Alliance, and Responsible Travel does not endorse it due to reports that elephants may be bred for tourism in Chiang Mai. Pick-up is free within a 5 km radius of the Old City. The booking office is located on Tha Phae Road. Elephant Jungle Sanctuary Chiang Mai, 4,6 (2,560), $$$$, daily 6:30 am–9:00 pm, directions

    • Comparison of elephant sanctuaries in Chiang Mai

    None of the sanctuaries listed here offer horseback riding. Prices quoted are for adults and are taken from the respective sanctuary websites, with the exception of "Into the Wild" (Backpackers Wanderlust). WAP stands for World Animal Protection; EWA for Elephant Welfare Alliance. The Elephant Jungle Sanctuary is a paying sponsor of this website and is subject to the same criteria.

    Half-day, full-day or overnight ticket

    A half-day trip is sufficient for most visitors. It includes approximately three hours of elephant watching, transportation, lunch, and hotel pickup, and costs 1,600–2,500 baht. A full day trip is worthwhile, as it allows you to avoid the tourist crowds. Therefore, I would recommend the full-day trip at Elephant Nature Park (3,500 baht) over the half-day or full-day trip at ChangChill.

    The strictest sanctuaries offer stays, not excursions. Burm and Emily's and Kindred Spirit are located three hours or more in the hills of Mae Chaem and offer programs of two days or more, including transport, accommodation, and meals. If you have the time, an overnight stay at one of these sanctuaries is the best way to experience elephants in their natural habitat.

    Volunteering is also possible. Elephant Nature Park offers one-week programs for 15,000 baht, Kindred Spirit takes on interns for one to eight weeks, and Elephant Jungle Sanctuary sells a three-day volunteer program for 7,900 baht.

    The best-rated hotels in Chiang Mai

    Here is my ranking of the 10 best hotels in Chiang Mai. Each button will take you directly to the hotel's page on Booking.com, where you can enter your travel dates.

  • #2 Anantara Chiang Mai Resort 4.7 (2,377 reviews) A luxurious riverside resort in the heart of Chiang Mai, blending colonial elegance with Thai heritage. Check prices
  • #4 Meliá Chiang Mai 4.7 (2,054 reviews) A premium hotel on Charoen Prathet Road with elegant rooms, a spa, and a rooftop bar with city views. Check prices
  • #5 Mad Monkey Chiang Mai 4.8 (1,595 reviews) A sociable party hostel in the center of Chiang Mai with a pool, bar, organized events, and a lively backpacker scene. Check prices

    • Elephant camps to avoid

    Responsible Travel does not endorse Patara Elephant Farm, described as a breeding farm offering elephant rides; Mae Sa Elephant Camp, where there are reports of trickery and possible captive breeding under new management; or Kanta Elephant Sanctuary, known for deep-water baths with large groups and small children. Backpackers Wanderlust also recommends avoiding Thai Elephant Home and Chiang Dao Elephant Camp.

    The general check is quick and easy. Avoid establishments that offer horseback riding excursions of any length, shows, painting demonstrations, baby elephants, or elephant bathing as their main attraction. Also, be wary of animal welfare organizations whose names don't appear on any animal welfare lists. Several independent companies use nearly identical names, so book directly through the establishment's website.

    Booking, what to wear and when to leave

    Book two to four weeks in advance between November and February, and a few days in advance for the rest of the year. Big Boy and Elephant Jungle Sanctuary offer a free pick-up service within 5 km of the old town; a small fee applies for distances beyond this radius.

    Wear closed shoes that can get dirty, light, long trousers suitable for the forest, and bring insect repellent, sunscreen, and a change of clothes. In the protected areas where the animals are only observed and fed, you don't need swimwear, as you won't be entering the water.

    Every month is suitable, but during the rainy season from about June to September the paths turn into mud, and the smoke from the forest fire season from late February to April makes long walks in the woods less pleasant.

    The welfare recipients, by whom this page is sorted, in their own words.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Frequently asked questions about ethical elephant sanctuaries in Chiang Mai.

    According to animal welfare lists, ChangChill is the best day trip, as it is rated elephant-friendly by World Animal Protection and the Elephant Welfare Alliance, and visitors can only observe the elephants there. For an overnight stay, Burm and Emily's is recommended. The Elephant Nature Park is the most famous and offers elephant viewing and feeding from a platform.

    ChangChill, Burm and Emily's Elephant Sanctuary, and Kindred Spirit are the three elephant sanctuaries in Chiang Mai listed as elephant-friendly by World Animal Protection and the Elephant Welfare Alliance. Elephant Nature Park and Big Boy do not offer bathing, but they do provide feeding and food preparation.

    Animal welfare organizations advise against it. World Animal Protection recommends visiting only places where you are allowed to observe the animals but not touch them, and the Elephant Welfare Alliance prohibits bathing by tourists. However, the elephants still bathe on their own, and in the strictest conservation areas, you can observe them from the riverbank.

    Approximately 1,600–2,500 baht for a half day including hotel pick-up and lunch, 1,800–3,500 baht for a full day, and 5,300–6,000 baht and more for stays at the Kindred Spirit and Burm and Emily's. The Elephant Nature Park charges 2,500 baht for a half day and 3,500 baht for a full day.

    No horseback riding is offered, but most programs include bathing and a mud bath. It is not listed by World Animal Protection or the Elephant Welfare Alliance, and Responsible Travel does not support it due to reports of possible breeding operations at its Chiang Mai location. The "Watch Me" program offers observation only. Elephant Jungle Sanctuary is a paying sponsor of this website, but this does not change this statement.

    It's based on observation; riding and bathing the elephants are not offered, and Responsible Travel supports it. World Animal Protection lists it as animal-friendly but notes that it is temporarily not on its list of elephant-friendly establishments due to an ongoing investigation. I don't know what this investigation is about.

    Yes, provided you choose a tour where the elephants aren't working for you. A morning spent watching a herd of elephants foraging for food, accompanied by a guide who knows the story of each individual animal, would be the best wildlife day trip for me on any Chiang Mai visit.

    Sturdy footwear that can get dirty, lightweight long trousers suitable for the woods, and a hat are recommended. Please bring insect repellent, sunscreen, and a change of clothes. Clothing provided by Karen is included for the day at Big Boy.

    Yes. Elephant Nature Park offers a one-week program for 15,000 baht, Kindred Spirit takes on interns for one to eight weeks, and Burm and Emily's sells stays of up to seven days.

    Yes, in most sanctuaries. Elephant Nature Park charges half price for children aged 3 to 11, and Big Boy offers a child rate for children aged 4 to 8, but Burm and Emily's does not accept children under 10.

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    I lived in Bangkok for four years and traveled throughout the country from there. The guidebooks reflect my personal opinion and are written as I would explain things to a friend planning a trip.

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