How to choose an ethical elephant sanctuary in Chiang Mai
Updated · Idea Smile Tour, Chiang Mai
There are dozens of elephant camps around Chiang Mai, and they are not all the same. Some still offer rides and shows; others have moved to a calmer model where visitors feed, walk with and bathe the elephants. Here's how we help travellers pick a visit they'll feel good about.
Look for no riding and no shows
The simplest test is what the programme asks the elephants to do. A good sanctuary visit is built around the elephants' normal day: eating, walking, mud and water. If a camp offers rides, painting, football or tricks, it isn't the kind of experience we sell.
Read the itinerary, not just the name. The word "sanctuary" is used very loosely in Chiang Mai, so check that the day is made of feeding, walking, a mud spa and a river bath.
- Activities: feeding, walking alongside, mud spa, river bath
- No riding, no shows, no painting
- Mahouts guide the visit and set the pace
- Clear, honest itinerary before you book
What a typical visit looks like
Most sanctuaries are in the hills of the Mae Taeng valley, about 1 to 1.5 hours from the Old City, so tours include hotel pickup. You usually change into clothes provided by the camp, help prepare food such as bananas and sugar cane, feed the herd by hand, then follow them into the mud and down to the river.
Lunch is normally served at the camp (often a simple Thai meal such as pad thai) before the drive back.
Half day or full day?
A half-day visit takes about five to six hours door to door and covers the essentials: feeding, the mud spa and the river bath. It's the easiest option if you only have a few days in Chiang Mai.
A full day lets you slow down or add something else: a jungle trek to a waterfall, white-water or bamboo rafting, an ATV ride, or a climb up the Sticky Waterfall. There's also a day that combines Doi Suthep temple in the morning with a family-run elephant home in the afternoon.
What to wear and bring
You will get wet and muddy, and that's part of the fun.
- Swimsuit or clothes that can get muddy
- Towel and a change of clothes
- Sunscreen
- Comfortable walking shoes
Questions worth asking before you book
Ask how long you'll spend with the elephants, what's included (pickup, lunch, insurance), and what happens if it rains. We're happy to answer these at our Old City desk or by message, and every tour page lists exactly what's included.
