. Plus they took so many cool pictures of us to bring home, and fed us amazing food. Fantastic local tribe which take super good care of the elephants, like family. Due to a rise in awareness about responsible travel and wildlife conservation through the power of the Internet and social media, word has spread about the many elephant tour operators using the terms elephant sanctuary or orphanage to attract visitors, though their practices are far from ethical. When the system detects a problem, a review may be automatically rejected, sent to the reviewer for validation, or manually reviewed by our team of content specialists, who work 24/7 to maintain the quality of the reviews on our site. The elephants are so well cared, free to roam, go as they please. 8 Ethical Elephant Sanctuaries In Chiang Mai: A Responsible Traveler's Guide Wander and Soul If you're concerned about the welfare of magnificent yet mistreated elephants of Thailand, read this post to find out how you can choose to visit an ethical sanctuary. Chiangmai Elephant Land (Chiang Mai) - All You Need to - Tripadvisor But it was well worth it. Founded in July 2014, it is a joint initiative between members of the Karen hill-tribes and Chiang Mai locals who were concerned about the welfare of elephants in Thailand. Hello, we will travel in Chiang Mai from 18th till 20th of June. Pornsawan is the land-mine victim elephant, see how much she was in pain before she arrive Elephant Nature Park. Last updated May 15, 2022 | Published on Feb 11, 2022 Visiting a Chiang Mai elephant sanctuary is one of the most rewarding activities you can participate in during a visit to Northern Thailand. Doi Inthanon National Park, Waterfall & Royal Project - Chiang Mai, Inthanon Heaven Trail(Living Green Elephant Sanctuary), Elephant in Wild Sanctuary, Trekking and Rafting in Chiang Mai, 3-Day Kindred Spirit Elephant Sanctuary Chiang Mai, Half Day Thai Cooking Course at Farm (Chiang Mai), 2-Day Kindred Spirit Elephant Sanctuary in Chiang Mai, Before posting, each Tripadvisor review goes through an automated tracking system, which collects information, answering the following questions: how, what, where and when. Elephant Nature Park is a chain-free sanctuary for abused elephants. When the system detects a problem, a review may be automatically rejected, sent to the reviewer for validation, or manually reviewed by our team of content specialists, who work 24/7 to maintain the quality of the reviews on our site. We visited this wonderful elephant sanctuary today and were so impressed by everything we saw. Thai elephant gifted to Sri Lanka is home again after rescue from - UPI 3 Best Elephant Sanctuaries To Visit In Chiang Mai - ForeverVacation I had never been trekking with elephants before only seen them from a distance. These they put on their Facebook page, so you can share the beautiful day with your friends all over the world. Often, their severe mistreatment or neglect at the hands of humans results in injury or sickness, which means they are no longer useful to their owners/captors and are only then brought to Leks attention. and why Elephant Nature Park continues to put the elephants first, even when that means losing business. Heres our guide to responsible travel in Thailand: From seeing prides of lions in Kenya and gorillas in Rwanda to tracking Bengal tigers in India, here are our top wildlife experiences. Of course, the best place for elephants is in the wild, but sadly this isnt possible for many of the amazing creatures who have wound up on Leks doorstep. After that you can take a shower and change back your clothes. Observing elephants in such a beautiful, relaxed environment is an intimate and meaningful experience that will not soon be forgotten. They may also be saved from the logging industry where they are used to destroy their own teak forests. Can you still not decide which elephant sanctuary is the best for you? From feeding to washing and bathing, hugging and holding, we offer you a unique opportunity to help care for these amazing creatures. Quera saber si nos recomiendan hacer el tour por medio da o por el da completo? Best Ethical Elephant Sanctuaries In Chiang Mai - 2023 Review For years, elephants have been integral to Thai culture and society. Header imagecredit: Shannon Thomas. The animals living at Elephant Highlands are treated humanely and with kindness and love. (It is an up close encounter so you really get to recognise their faces by the end). You see their close connections to the grey beasts. Chiang Mai Elephant Sanctuary - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go Honestly, I really wish that I could give this place a good review, but I had such a horrendous experience there that I cant recommend it. Both half day and full day will have a good lunch and both will also go to the waterfalls for about 30 minutes. Our Asia specialist, Thea, shares her experience of Chiang Mai's Elephant Nature Park and why a visit to see the gentle giants is a must. It is home to three beautiful elephants rescued from riding and performing in shows in Kanchanaburi, along with many other rescued animals, including dogs, pigs, goats, ducks, chickens, and cows. Doi Inthanon National Park, Waterfall & Royal Project - Chiang Mai, Zabb E Lee Thai Cooking School Chiang Mai, Full day car hire with private English speaking driver, Before posting, each Tripadvisor review goes through an automated tracking system, which collects information, answering the following questions: how, what, where and when. Simon and the crew were a lot of fun and informative at the same time. It focuses on rehabilitating elephants who have been rescued from dire conditions and has been operating since the 1990s. Bella died in December. After lunch, we got to give them a mud spa and wash them in their private waterfall. Due to Leks compassion and reputation for taking in unwanted animals, the park has also become home to retired water buffalo, an estimated 300 dogs and also hundreds of cats (the cats prefer to stay indoors and can mostly be seen in their cat heaven quarters). Saludos! You get to feed the elephants bananas, jump in a mud bath with them and swim in the river. I think you can do as we did. Interestingly, this also means that family politics can come into play! . Got to feed the elephants bananas, bathe them in mud, and wash them in the river. We did the full day and it was the best experience ever. Back to hotel: 12:30 - 01:00 PM. Unfortunately, these "handlers" torture the elephants in order to break their spirits and force them to obey human commands. Of the 4000 elephants in captivity in Thailand, 70-80 percent of them are used for tourist riding, logging or circus training. The staff were friendly, funny and knowledgeable. Hi, And elephants arent the only creatures youll see. So-called elephant sanctuaries are rescue stations where elephants that are too old for conventional business are taken and can live a happy life. This sanctuary is ideal if you want to accompany the elephants during the sunset on their small trekking tour in this valley. Elephant Sanctuary Chiang Mai | KANTA Elephant Sanctuary Chiang Mai 13. 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Most of elephants are free to move around the acres of land, though two of the bull elephants have their own separate enclosures. Elephant Jungle Sanctuary Chiang Mai - Tripadvisor They are very happy to be together at Elephant Nature Park. Disclosure: Your support helps keep our site running. After that we were able to bathe with them and then cover them in mud again. The two-day package includes a bath in the mud with the elephant, as well as getting clean again under a waterfall. Tour starts 01:00 pm, finishes 07:00 pm. Literally a dream come true for my family! When we arrived at the sanctuary after a long bit drive but amazing views lunch was prepared & ready for us to eat. 1. All of the elephants here have been rescued from mistreatment and Happy Elephant Home focuses on giving them the happiest lives possible (the clue is in the name). This elephant sanctuary, set high in the picturesque mountains near Chiang Mai, has some of the most stunning scenery in Northern Thailand. The decision to end bathing with guests has caused a 50% drop in sign-ups for park visits, but the entire point of the park is to save these beautiful creatures from the trauma they endured at the hands of humans, so we decided to let them enjoy their freedom to the utmost. Elephant Jungle Sanctuary Chiang Mai - All You Need to - Tripadvisor She has won multiple awards for her work and is named one of "Asia's Heroes". Chiang Mai elephant sanctuary - My Thailand Tours 72.09. We got to feed, walk and bathe with 9 elephants (including one baby). Of course, this all takes time and is just in the beginning stages at the moment. Chiangmai Elephant Land promotes sustainable, ethical, eco-friendly tourism and ensures your elephant experience does no harm to the animals or to the environment.Elephant Land - a special place for elephants and humans. Elephant Rescue Park is simply a paradise for homeless elephants, situated in a pristine and picturesque valley of Chiang Mai. PRICE /PERSON 1,600. Elephant Nature Park (Chiang Mai) - All You Need to Know - Tripadvisor Clearly elephants do not have thumbs but their trunks are extremely versatile. Loved it and had a great time. That would just be a dream come true if i was able to meet a baby. 2. A superb trip out and a real close elephant experience. The fact that Elephant Nature Park is constantly challenging its own standards and redefining ethical elephant encounters so that the animals come first is what really sets this elephant sanctuary apart from the others in Chiang Mai. We just booked through our hotel. 2. So you will not only get the full experience of the elephants but get accustomed to the Thai culture in general. Best Elephant Sanctuaries in Chiang Mai: Ethical Animal Encounters This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in United Kingdom. Arrivando da rassada quanto dista? Revenue impacts the experiences featured on this page. There is limited or no feeding of the elephants, There is limited or zero physical contact with the elephants, You may be thinking "why is it bad to feed or touch an elephant?". It was an amazing experience to see rescued elephants being provided with a better life while at the same time being able to interact with them. I booked a full day experience for March 18, 2023 on November 22, 2022. Ops! It's not about us, it is about the elephants. We've had a lot of fun with our group (~15 people) and our guide was super fun! Chiang Rai Day Tour from Chiang Mai + The Long Neck Hill Tribe With Boat. Chiang Mai, Northern Thailand. We ventured to renowned rescue centre Elephant Nature Park in Chiang Mai to find out. We had a nice interaction with their elephants. We were picked up at 0730 on the dot and were driven to the sanctuary which was 45 mins away - en route we stopped for food and water. Elephant Nature Park is no doubt the most popular elephant sanctuary in Chiang Mai. They dont do rides and know how to treat the animals correctly. Content, facts and prices on this page are believed to be correct at time of writing. 380. We would like to thank Save Elephant Foundation and Gentle Giants for supporting the elephants at Elephant Highlands over the past couple of years. but with the full day you will have a lot time with the elephants, Elephant Family Sanctuary, Chiang Mai: Address, Phone Number, Elephant Family Sanctuary Reviews: 5/5. Elephant Nature Park in Chiang Mai, Thailand. As well as this, Superboy drove us to pick up breakfast on the way there, we had snacks when we arrived, a delicious lunch and more food before we left. Make sure to look good, because you also get to choose to take home some of the best photos that they have over the course of the two days. A definite must if youre visiting chiang mai! The elephants range from every age group, including small elephants that are even born in the elephant sanctuary, to older ones that lived most of their life in logging camps or conventional businesses. The medication is a mix of fruits, rice and salt that the group will make and then give to the elephants. I repeat DO NOT book with Chiang Mai Elephant Land. Well the difference between the half day and the full day is you will spend more time with the elephants. How many people are in your group when visiting elephants? Best activity weve ever booked via klook! Lunch was good with lots of fresh fruits (an elephant stole the leftovers XD). They have the freedom to move around and have plenty of room to . Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information. Before she was rescued, she belonged to the, ThaiKoon spent many months to getting around to know difference herd before she make the decision to join family. Elephant Nature Park was the first ethical sanctuary in Thailand. At Elephant Jungle Sanctuary Chiang Mai, you can choose between a full-day or half-day trip. In addition to rescuing elephants, they also house buffalos, dogs, cats, as well as other species that are endangered and needs their help. In addition to these programs that are aimed at tourists, they also have a volunteering program which allows you to stay for seven days at the park. During my time, they had around a handful of elephants, from small playful babies to fully grown adults. 3 Experiences: Doi Inthanon Tour, Elephant Sanctuary, Trekking Trail. We then fed them and they became more accompanied and joined us. We then walked down to the river where we washed the mud off.following this we headed down to the waterfall which was beautiful. Could not have asked for a better 2 day experience!! Ethical Chaing Mai Elephant Jungle Sanctuary Visit. They are pretty slow these days due to the Corona virus. We then went to feed the elephants, which as you can imagine was amazing! The male elephant, known in Sri Lanka as Muthu Raja, or Pearly King, and as Sak Surin, or Mighty . Contacts. Private elephant sanctuary, jungle-trekking and tours. Another alternative as a sustainable elephant sanctuary is the Chiang Mai Elephant Land. we booked the day before from the hostel honestly there are a couple of cars going there with 8 pp each. Superb day spent with the elephants and baby elephant. Excellent experience overall! Your park fees directly contribute to expensive medicine (some of which isnt available in Thailand and must be shipped overseas), the elephants large appetites, staff wages, funds for rescuing more animals, the expansion into a more natural elephant habitat, as well as the upkeep of the park itself. Thank you for your support. Thanks you for considering about their need. This is in the 2 day 1 night package. I also love how the elephants just step in and out of the one enclosure that they have. The Covid-19 coronavirus has caused severe challenges around the world and has placed extreme limitations on travel. Hola Chic@s, For additional comfort, they will pick you up at your hotel if it is in Chiang Mai. She carries the scars of her past everywhere she goes. It was founded by Lek Chailert, who is widely famous for her elephant conservation work. 200 Rachapakinai Rd., Tambon Sripoom Amphoe Muang Chiangmai Thailand 50000. Wander and Soul 2023 Terms and Conditions | Privacy Policy. In the full-day package, you also get a traditional lunch, plant a tree and craft some herbal medicine. If you are allowed to touch the elephants, they should be able to come and go as they please, to seek refuge from human contact if they wish to be left alone. from. Ethical Elephant ToursThis is a small Saddle Off project with a limited number of guests. I have not received any reply at all. You get to bathe with them and feed them. There you can learn more about the elephants and take care of them. Hi, I am arriving in Thailand in January, iwas wondering how much time I should give before booking? It was cool and refreshing. One of the most awaited trip I'm waiting. Our guide was really good friendly & funny. During a ride, the elephant is constantly prodded in their most sensitive areas with a small hook and most are also chained. Office Hours: 07:00-17:00 Mon-Sun. Perfect setting to see these beautiful animals. Elephant Sanctuary Chiang Mai | Elephant Highlands | Eco Tourism Authors I would highly recommend visiting the sanctuary with your children. We left all our stuff up there and it was fine. Sa Ngae, initially known to us when he arrived at the park as Jai Dee, can now be found exploring, Today we see 20 year old Mho Jae beginning to relax in the company of SookSai, as they both care, Born around 1980, Tilly was rescued from a trekking camp in early March 2011, She has had about 15 owners, Ponsawan is one of our four elephants who were the land-mine victims. They currentlyhave 5 elephants in their sanctuary and youre able to choose from a half day package, either in the morning or the afternoon, or a full-day package. Not all the elephants at the park get along with each other; some get territorial over their young (the babies seem to get along with everyone, much to the chagrin of their many nannies and aunties who are forever running after them), some struggle to accept a newcomer into the herd and one couple even managed to keep their hidden romance a secret from the staff until the female became pregnant! Elephant Jungle Sanctuary is an ethical and sustainable eco-tourism project located approximately 60km from the city of Chiang Mai, Northern Thailand. 1. You can choose either between a one-day program, where you meet the elephants, feed them and have the usual interaction, or a two-day stay at the sanctuary. DO read up on the history of the sanctuary, DO donate time or money to ethical sanctuaries if possible, to support their cause, DON'T trust a park's practices just because it's called a sanctuary, orphanage, or rescue. Pictures used are either created and owned by travelanddestinations.com, are creative commons, provided by an author, or purchased via stock sites. What is noticeable is that all the animals here have distinct personalities, in part shaped by experiences in their past lives as working elephants. Elephant Jungle Sanctuary is an ethical and sustainable eco-tourism project located approximately 60km from the city of Chiang Mai, Northern Thailand. We had a wonderful experience! Read our. I am very happy to say that all the elephants are treated as family and don't endure any harm. I would also recommend wearing some really good hiking shoes, as the elephant sanctuaries are located near the mountains and having some good shoes definitely helps. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. Wonderful Experience at Ethical Elephant Sanctuary Thanks in advance. Other so-called elephant sanctuaries may still use the barbaric torture method used to "break" an elephant, so that the animal follows human commands in order to perform tricks or be ridden. The host was amazing and his passion for the welfare of his elephants. Be sure to also include swimming clothes, as the sanctuaries will allow you to swim with them. We had a great day. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Hi everyone! Capital of the North of the Thailand and located close to the highest mountains of the country, Chiang Mai is a city that is more and more appreciated by visitors for its simplicity and authenticity. Guests who want to support a truly ethical elephant sanctuary will understand that. They only allow a maximum of 15 visitors per day, to preserve the natural environment of the sanctuary and to focus on improving the conditions of the elephants. Hello, we are traveling with two small children, ages 5 years and 9 months, would the sanctuary be a good recommendation for us to visit? A full-day Elephant Jungle Sanctuary package offers visitors the opportunity to get to know each of the remarkable elephants and gain a special understanding of their daily lives and behaviors. But they will be around nearby for us to call them back. Inthanon Heaven Trail (Living Green Elephant Sanctuary) 28. from. Unlike ALL of the other elephant experiences (including those who falsely claim they are a sanctuary) this place does not cage the elephants at all! Absolutely would recommend doing this if you ever have the opportunity. From the outside, it seems as though you would simply hop on your elephant and take a leisurely stroll through the jungle with an elephant handler who gently guides the animal along the correct path. Also what includes and the activity plan. Short and steep hike back and we had a lovely lunch made for us. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. It keeps tourist groups small in order to ensure the elephants don't become overwhelmed by the humans surrounding them. Unfortunately not. 13. Chiang Mai | Elephant Jungle Sanctuary ciao, garantito che in questo posto non maltrattino gli elefanti per renderli pi amichevoli con gli uomini? Here you will find elephants from young to old, roaming the land, bathing in the mud and river and playing with their mahouts (trainers) whilst surrounded by scenic rice terraces and farm land. The address on the website shows it as being in the main town. I was picked up from my hotel and an hour later or so, after driving through the jungle, arrived at Camp 6 where the whole team made us feel so welcome. per adult. Is it right time to visit Thailand. Here, the elephants roam free and happy, able to wander the forest and graze at their leisure. We then enjoyed a delicious variety of Thai meals After the day was done then we said goodbye to the elephants were brought to a beautiful waterfall for some nice cliff jumping and swimming. Read our.