The 6 BEST Ethical Elephant Sanctuaries In Chiang Mai

Check out the best elephant sanctuaries in Chiang Mai worth seeing in Thailand. Find out what makes an ethical experience, the history of elephants in Thailand, the top spots to visit, and more!

There are a lot of elephant sanctuaries in Chiang Mai. Walk down any street, and you will be surrounded by travel agencies showing off their most popular tours.

Though with so many on offer, you don’t want to get swept up and book something you may regret.

I remember looking back at my parents’ photos of them riding elephants in Thailand and cringing. This was back in the early 2000s, when there was a lack of knowledge of responsible tourism.

When I then went on my first backpacking trip to Thailand, I was asked by my mother if I, too, would ride an elephant. I said no and explained my reasons.

Since then, I have visited numerous sanctuaries in Chiang Mai and even brought my mom back with me as well.

Map Of The Top Elephant Sanctuaries Around Chiang Mai

Here is a map of some of the best elephant sanctuaries worth visiting in Chiang Mai.

You will see they all have ticketing offices in the main town, which you can easily walk to.

However, the actual sanctuaries will be at least an hour away from the city out in the countryside.

1. Elephant Nature Park – RECOMMENDED #1 MOST ETHICAL

Elephant Nature Park is no doubt the most popular sanctuary in Chiang Mai.

It is certainly one of the most ethical as well. Having opened in the 1990s by founder Lek Chailert, it has gained popularity due to her conservation work with elephants.

Located 60 kilometers from the center of Chiang Mai, the property sits on a huge 250 acres, giving the elephants plenty of space to live and explore.

How To Visit: I highly recommend booking as far in advance as possible if you are planning to visit. This is because it is widely considered the best of the best. Seriously, I missed out on trying to book 3 weeks in advance!

• Single-day visits for $78.00 / 2,500 THB per person, which includes transportation.
• Overnight stay cost is $180.00 / 5,800 THB per person, and you can wake up to the noises of elephants.
• 7-day volunteer program
• Dog rescue volunteer program as well.

Feeding Elephants: YES

Bathing Elephants: NO

Riding Elephants: NO

Office Location: 1 Ratmakka Road, Phra Sing, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand

Website: View Here

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2. Pon Elephant Thailand – RECOMMENDED FUN DAY TRIP

On my most recent trip to Thailand, I decided to mix it up and book with one of the most booked elephant sanctuaries I could find online. I wanted to see how ethical it actually would be.

Pon Elephant Thailand was set up a lot differently compared with other sanctuaries I have visited.

Usually, we would spend the entire day with one group of elephants. However, here it’s set up so that different elephant herds are placed in different areas for tourists, eg, feeding, playing in the jungle, walking in the river, and bathing.

We had a mixture of disabled elephants, older elephants, and young baby elephants. Though the time actually spent with them overall is a lot less (2 hours max vs 4 or 5 hours).

But, if I am being honest, I wasn’t mad at this at all, as it meant we also had the chance to visit a beautiful waterfall for a refreshing swim, as well as go bamboo rafting!

We kind of got the perfect taste of a bunch of different fun things, and honestly, I would recommend this tour and do it again.

How To Visit: You can do a single-day visit for $56.00 / 1,800 THB, and children are $50.00 / 1,600 THB. Included in your booking are transfers and lunch.

Feeding Elephants: YES

Bathing Elephants: YES

Riding Elephants: NO

Office Location: 77/1 Kotchasarn Rd, Mueang Chiang Mai District, Thailand. 50100

Website: View Here

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3. Elephant Freedom Project

Elephant Freedom Project was the first sanctuary I visited when Elephant Nature Park was all booked out. At the time, this place was run by Elephant Nature Park, but it has now gone solo.

Located in the Mae Wang Area, Elephant Freedom Project is an excellent way to get out of the city and into the countryside. You will get the chance to spend the day with about 6 amazing elephants and see their home.

My personal favorite moment was the jungle hike with the elephants. This was when we could see their personalities shine through, and with that, there were definitely a couple of cheeky ones! 

The younger elephants would climb up the hills of the small valley and slide down, they seemed so happy.

How To Visit: You can do a single-day visit for $78.00 / 2,500 THB, and children are half this price. Included in your booking are transfers and a vegetarian lunch.

Feeding Elephants: YES

Bathing Elephants: YES

Riding Elephants: NO

Office Location: 1 Ratmakka Road, Phra Sing, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand

Website: View Here

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4. Into The Wild Elephant Camp

Into The Wild Elephant Camp is another great option that prioritizes the well-being of the elephants and the Karen Community. They make sure to employ locals and also teach them about ethical tourism.

You will find that the majority of elephants here are actually retired, having come from the logging or tourism industry. Instead, they can now enjoy life doing what they were meant to, being free.

Compared to other ethical elephant sanctuaries in Chiang Mai, they have quite a different approach, with quite a relaxed and chill tour.

A staff member will show you around the property when you arrive and teach you about the resident elephants.

How To Visit: You can book directly online through their website.

• Half day program, which costs $53.00 / 1700 THB per person, including transfers and lunch
• Full day which costs $74.00 / 2400 THB per person, including transfers and lunch

Feeding Elephants: YES

Bathing Elephants: YES

Riding Elephants: NO

Office Location: 115 3 Room 1 Sri Poom Rd. Office at Hug Hostel, Chiang Mai

Website: View Here

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5. Karen Elephant Retreat

Similar to The Elephant Freedom Project, The Karen Elephant Retreat was run by Elephant Nature Park, as one of their many projects within Northern Thailand.

Located in the Mae Taeng Area, it is less than an hour’s drive to arrive at the sanctuary.

When there, you will get to make some elephant food and go for an awesome jungle walk.

It is a relatively steep climb uphill on this hike to where the bamboo is. However, at the top, you get to watch the elephants throwing dust on themselves and ripping out the bamboo.

Unlike the Elephant Freedom Project, we did 2 feeding sessions at the Karen Elephant Retreat as well.

How To Visit:

For this elephant experience, you will pay $78.00 / 2,500 THB for a one-day visit, and children are half this price. Included in your booking are transportation and a vegetarian lunch.

Feeding Elephants: YES

Bathing Elephants: YES

Riding Elephants: NO

Office Location: 1 Ratmakka Road, Phra Sing, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand

Website: View Here

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6. Happy Elephant Home

Home to rescued elephants, they can now roam freely at Happy Elephant Home. This is another ethical sanctuary worth visiting.

It’s easy to see the team here loves these elephants and really wants the best for them. If you’re lucky, you’ll have the amazing Apple as your tour guide, who has so many stories and is so passionate about the elephants.

Here at Happy Elephant Home, they have 5 elephants, all of whom are rescued from the logging or tourism trade.

This is one of those sanctuaries that isn’t on the general tourist radar, which can mean it will be quiet and have smaller groups.

How To Visit: There are a few different options to choose from when you are at Happy Elephant Home.

• Standard full-day tour, which costs 2400THB.
• Half-day tour, which costs 1800THB.
• Overnight option for those who really want to immerse themselves in the experience at a price of 5000 THB

Feeding Elephants: YES

Bathing Elephants: YES

Riding Elephants: NO

Location: 74/1 Kuet Chang, Mae Taeng District, Chiang Mai 50150

Website: View Here

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7. BEES – Burm & Emily’s Elephant Sanctuary

I have saved the best for last, so if you’re looking for an ethical elephant sanctuary in Chiang Mai, you cannot do better than BEES. Founded in 2011 by Burm and Emily, they have helped shape ethical tourism in the city into what it is today.

Emily’s trip to Thailand inspired her to open it as she saw the conditions of the elephants giving visitors rides and performing tricks. The goal of the sanctuary is to allow elephants to actually be elephants and have natural behaviors.

As a result, there is no bathing or riding of elephants, and there is a complete hands-off policy.

Instead, you will find yourself caring for the elephants by making their food, observing their behaviors from a distance, and appreciating them as their true selves.

How To Visit: They have 3 different options for programs.

• Weekly 7-day program running Monday to Sunday
• Overnight stay
• 3-night stay

They don’t offer day trips because a longer stay lets you get the most out of your experience with the elephants and learn about how BEES operates.

Feeding Elephants: NO

Bathing Elephants: NO

Riding Elephants: NO

Location: 34 M1, Ban Thung Yaw, Tambon Chang Keung Chiang Mai

Website: View Here

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History Of Elephants In Thailand

Before we get to what makes an ethical sanctuary, I think it is important to understand the importance of elephants in Thai history.

This is because it is likely quite different from what you are currently thinking.

Back in the day, these elephants in Thailand were an important part of daily life. Exactly how horses were too many of us.

They were mainly used for transportation and heavy lifting when vehicles and machinery were not an option.

In 1989, the government banned logging in Thailand, an industry that heavily relied on elephants. As a result, over 4000 of these working animals were displaced, and their mahouts were left without any income.

With increased tourism in the ’90s, the locals quickly realized the appeal of elephants to international travelers and thus created elephant tourism.

These tourists were more than happy to pay large amounts to interact with and ride these majestic creatures.

During this time, the must do thing here was watch an elephant perform or ride one.

However, in the early 2010s, international tourist opinions changed as information started to come out about their treatment, and animal rights groups put pressure on.

As a result, many companies had to transition quickly to keep up with new demands, as this experience was the top spot in many travelers Thailand bucket lists.

However, this doesn’t necessarily mean they are ethical, something which I will touch more on below.

Which Elephant Sanctuaries To Avoid In Chiang Mai?

Unfortunately, there are some unethical elephant sanctuaries in Chiang Mai that you should avoid:

• Thai Elephant Home
• Chiang Dao Elephant Camp
• Patara Elephant Farm
• Mae Sa Elephant Camp.

These places are known for providing inadequate care to their elephants, as well as restricting their movements. This is no doubt abuse and causes physical and mental harm.

What Makes An Ethical Elephant Sanctuary?

First of all, there is no law in Southeast Asian countries as to what is considered a “sanctuary”. Therefore, nearly every elephant park you will come across in Chiang Mai will call itself a sanctuary.

That is why you need to research the place you are thinking about before visiting or even look into a few different options before deciding.

The definition of ethical is:

relating to beliefs about what is morally right and wrong – Cambridge Dictionary

So, bringing this back to the elephants, we would want to ensure that the company has their best interests at heart and provides them with the best care.

Balancing what is best for both elephants and tourists is certainly difficult. Especially on a subject matter on which many people have strong opinions.

Training Elephants

I had a friend who visited an elephant sanctuary in Phuket, and he told me about learning commands for the elephants (letting it know when to open its mouth, lift its trunk for you to put bananas in, etc).

This is an experience that was considered ethical and had great reviews online. However, learning about the commands made me question it, as you would’ve needed to train an elephant to do this.

Unfortunately, the process of training is not a nice one. It is called Phajaan, breaking an elephant’s spirit or the crush, and it is exactly as bad as it sounds.

Often involving a young elephant, as they are more submissive, it is a form of torture. The ultimate goal is to scare them so they will never disobey a human.

Luckily, with elephants being ethically bred in captivity, this tradition is being phased out. As a result, many elephants haven’t had to experience the phajaan and instead are learning behaviors from their mother.

Ultimately, the most ethical sanctuary will provide the closest lifestyle as if the elephant were out in the wild. Yes, that may mean you may not physically interact with them.

Is Riding Elephants Ethical?

Simply put, riding elephants for tourism is not ethical.

You should never pay for the experience of riding an elephant. However, you still will find quite a few riding camps operating throughout Southeast Asia.

Western tourists, for the most part, no longer participate in riding. However, in other cultures, they still consider it okay.

The exception for when riding could be ethical is if it’s the mahout. A mahout is basically the elephant’s personal caregiver.

They share a special relationship and have likely grown up together. You will see a mahout sometimes ride the elephant to take back control, or more simply, to catch a lift across a river.

Is Bathing Elephants Ethical?

The question of whether bathing elephants is actually ethical has become a hot topic of debate in the past 10 or so years.

The answer seems simple:

Experts agree that bathing elephants is unacceptable and shouldn’t be offered on tours. This is for both swimming in the river and giving the elephants a mud bath.

However, there doesn’t seem to be much of this passing out within the industry. It is still widely practiced.

For the most part, this is due to demand by tourists. Just like riding, if we change our mindset of what we want in the experience, the industry will respond.

Unfortunately, it is still quite challenging to find an elephant sanctuary in Chiang Mai that does not have bathing on their tour package, but for now, you could always decide to sit out of that activity.

Are Bullhooks Ethical?

This is another hot debate between experts and tourists. Check any TripAdvisor form, and everyone is complaining about the mahout carrying their bullhook.

Looking from only the perspective of a tourist, it can be easy to question this practice. I mean, come on, they are basically carrying around a device whose main purpose is to hurt these gentle giants.

Though many experts claim this is a necessity to keep both the mahouts and guests safe. Now, you do get the overzealous mahout who may just like to have a little bit too much control. This is not okay.

But for the mahout, having this is literally a matter of life and death. No one wants a 4-tonne animal losing control.

By using it on sensitive areas, it allows the mahout to quickly gain control over a situation that could go badly.

Unfortunately, there was a “no hooks” policy implemented at Boon Lott Elephant Sanctuary. This is because they saw that this is what tourists wanted. This resulted in the death of one of the owners when they couldn’t regain control of an elephant.

These deaths are actually common in “no hook” and “no ankus” elephant sanctuaries.

Personally, I think a bit more conversation is needed regarding the pros and cons of bullhooks. I believe a lot of tourists likely just see a torture device rather than a life-saving instrument, which it can be when used correctly.

What To Bring When Visiting Elephants In Chiang Mai

Camera: There will be some amazing moments, so be sure to have your camera to snap some amazing pics. It may also pay to take a spare battery and SD card! Trust me, you will need them if you take photos as I do.

Sunscreen and Hat: The sun is hot out here in Chiang Mai, so you will want to bring along some sunscreen and a hat. There will be a little bit of shade at whatever sanctuary you choose. Though if you want to be around the elephants, you will likely be standing out in the sun for most of the day.

Bathing Suit and Towel: Now, I don’t recommend you partake in this unethical activity. Though if you must, then you will need to bring along a bathing suit and a towel.

Where To Stay In Chiang Mai?

Thankfully there are a crcazy amount of choices of where to stay in Chiang Mai, from luxury 5-star resorts (a girl can dream), locally run guesthouses, and pretty damn nice modern hostels.

On my most recent visit, I stayed at De Lanna Hotel. The location was fantastic, and having a pool to enjoy during the afternoon heat was absolute perfection.

Though during my first ever visit I was on a bit more of a budget and stayed in the literal cheapest hostel available. To say it was questionable would be an understatement, so just make sure to read reviews on the best hostels in Chiang Mai to avoid this mistake.

In terms of location, I choose to stay within the Old Town as it allows you to be within walking distance of many beautiful temples, excellent shopping, delicious restaurants, and the famous Sunday Night Market.

Other Things To Do In Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai is actually my favorite place in Thailand and there are so many things to do I just keep going back!

Cooking Class: This is one of those places where you need to do a cooking class. I had such an amazing time doing my cooking class with Arom Dii.

Night Market: I absolutely love the night markets in Chiang Mai. It is a delicious foodie experience with great souvenir shopping. There are so many stalls here that you’ll be walking for hours and still not have visit them all!

Temple Hopping: The Old Town is covered in gorgeous temples. A quick map search will show you just how many. Though my favorites are Wat Chedi Luang, Wat Chiang Man, and Wat Phra Singh Woramahawihan. ​Doi Inthanon National Park is another incredible stop that is worth the drive.

Top Tip: If you don’t have a local SIM, you can always get an eSIM for Thailand before your trip. This will also save you from waiting around the airport when you arrive.

Wrap Up: Best Ethical Elephant Sanctuaries In Chiang Mai

Now you know all the best sanctuaries worth visiting while you are in Chiang Mai, where you can have an ethical experience knowing you didn’t contribute to any abuse.

If by chance you still aren’t too sure, Elephant Nature Park is your safest option. It’s just important to note it’s a lot more hands-off, but in a good way, where you can appreciate the elephants from a distance.