What You Need to Know About Elephant Sanctuaries in Thailand
Wind and Whim contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, I will earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks!
If you’re traveling to Thailand, visiting an elephant sanctuary may be on your to-do list. Spending time with these majestic creatures can be an unforgettable experience. As a thoughtful and responsible traveler, you’ll want to choose a sanctuary that aligns with your values. But what exactly does that involve? What should you look for in an elephant sanctuary?
In the fall of 2024, Steve and I spent a month in Chiang Mai, Thailand. We wandered through the old city, saw a lively ladyboy show, explored more wats (Buddhist monasteries and temples) than we thought possible, and spent two days at an elephant sanctuary. Our trip to the sanctuary was the highlight of our time in Chiang Mai, yet I regret choosing the sanctuary we did.
Keep reading to discover the significance of elephants in Thai culture, hear about our sanctuary experience, and learn what I wish we’d done differently.
All money is in U.S. dollars
Elephant Facts
🐘The elephant is the national animal of Thailand and is sacred in Buddhism.
🐘They are respected as a symbol of strength, wisdom, dignity, and compassion.
🐘March 13th is Thai National Elephant Day.
🐘Elephants have been used by Thai people in war and as beasts of burden.
🐘The Thai government banned the use of elephants in the logging industry in 1989.
🐘The elephant population in Thailand has dwindled from over 100,000 at the beginning of the 20th century to only a few thousand today.
🐘Asian elephants are endangered, primarily due to loss of habitat.
🐘The number of wild elephants in Thailand is estimated to be under 2,000.
🐘The number of captive elephants in Thailand is between 3,000 and 4,000.
🐘Elephants eat over 330 pounds or 150 kg of food each day and spend most of their waking hours eating.
Learn more about the elephants’ relationship to Thailand.
Our Experience
What we looked for in a sanctuary
Since rescued elephants may have been overworked (often in the logging industry), abused, or exploited, we wanted the place we chose to be a haven for them.
Our number one requirement was that there was no elephant riding at the sanctuary we picked. Ethical sanctuaries do not allow their elephants to be ridden.
We also wanted to interact with the elephants. Bathing with them wasn’t high on our wish list, but we were open to it. We didn’t do this because both of us had abrasions and cuts.
We also wanted an overnight visit. The sanctuaries we considered were all a few hours drive from Chiang Mai, and we preferred not to spend that much time on the road in one day.
Before we booked, I looked for places that met Tripadvisor’s animal welfare guidelines. All three mentioned below do, but after our visit and reading this article about elephant bathing from Elephant Nature Park, those guidelines may not be strong enough.
Our top choices
Our first choice was Elephant Nature Park. It was the first elephant sanctuary in Asia, and it has set a high bar for all the others that followed.
The park is run by Sangduen “Lek” Chailert. She has won many awards for her conservation work, including Time magazine’s Heroes of Asia (2005), Women Heroes of Global Conservation (2010), the Responsible Thailand Award for Animal Welfare (2018) and the Best Animal Welfare Award from the Tourism Authority of Thailand (2022).
Read a first-hand account of a visit to Elephant Nature Park from Forever Lost in Travel.
Unfortunately, they were closed while recovering from flood damage from Typhoon Yagi. They offered us a day package nearby, but we wanted to stay overnight, so we looked for another option.
Our next choice was Chai Lai Orchid, which checked our boxes by prohibiting elephant riding and offering overnight stays. This video makes it look like an incredible experience, and we never pass up the chance to add a touch of luxury to our adventures. Unfortunately, they were fully booked during our dates.
We looked at several other options and decided on Elephant Jungle Sanctuary.
What we did
Steve and I spent two days with rescue elephants. Our visit started with a brief talk about the differences between Asian and African elephants. Then we fed bananas to the elephants and trekked with them. Later, we made rice balls and fed them to the elephants.
For those who stayed overnight, the second day included a hike to a waterfall, a stop at a shop where we could try our hand at weaving and purchase handiwork, lunch at a local restaurant, and stops at other Elephant Jungle Sanctuary camps.
The elephants seemed loved and well cared for, and the guides were respectful and helpful. Even though the second day was pretty much a repeat of the first day, we came away feeling that this was a wonderful once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Rethinking the experience
Looking back, I regret choosing Elephant Jungle Sanctuary. My perspective shifted when I saw guests “bathing” the elephants and covering them in mud while the mahouts kept them distracted with food. I felt these activities were for the entertainment of the guests, not for the benefit of the elephants.
I was happy that the baby elephant was left alone to enjoy her bathtime.
Elephants are more than capable of bathing themselves. They are also adept at tossing mud over their backs to prevent sunburn and discourage insect bites. It didn’t look like they benefitted from having people do this for them. I also imagine they didn’t appreciate water being thrown near their eyes.
What I would do differently
I’ll be the first to admit that I am not great at researching before a trip. This is one time when more research would have been wise.
If I had done so, I might have come across this list of elephant sanctuaries to consider and avoid from Responsible Travel. I was saddened to see Elephant Jungle Sanctuary on the list of places they don’t support.
Looking back, I realize there was no mention of the elephants’ backgrounds. The fact that they operate four locations across Thailand and multiple camps in Chiang Mai makes me question whether Elephant Jungle Sanctuary is more focused on catering to tourists than on truly being a sanctuary.
If I were to visit another sanctuary, I would go for one day only. Much of what we did on the second day was a repeat of the first day’s activities or seemed designed to fill time.
I would also look for a hands-off program focused on learning about the individual elephants and observing their behavior.
Elephant Sanctuary FAQs
Where are the sanctuaries?
There are numerous elephant sanctuaries in the north and south of Thailand, including many near Chiang Mai and Phuket. Elephant Jungle Sanctuary is west of Chiang Mai. Since the sanctuaries are in rural areas, plan to spend a few hours in transit each way.
Where do the sanctuary elephants come from?
Sanctuary elephants can come from abusive and exploitative situations like the logging industry and performance-centered shows. Some may have an injury or disability. However, it can be hard to know where the elephants at a given sanctuary come from. Patronizing a well-respected sanctuary can help ensure the elephants are actual rescues, not animals purchased for a business.
What do you do at the sanctuaries?
Feed the elephants – they will gently take food from your hand. You may also help prepare rice balls and feed them to the elephants.
Trek with them – this was the most natural of the activities we did. The elephants roamed at their own pace while we followed and observed them.
Bathe them – many programs include this activity, but it may become less common as it can be viewed as exploitative.
Learn about elephants – a good program will educate you about elephants. A great one will make you feel you got to know the individual elephants.
See local life – some programs include a visit to a local village. The quality of these stops varies. Some are just an opportunity to sell souvenirs.
Do crafts – our park had a tie-dye session where guests dyed scarfs. It also has a session on making elephant poop paper in one of its programs.
Hike without elephants – longer programs may include a hike without the elephants.
What other animals are in the sanctuaries?
Some sanctuaries have dogs and cats. Elephant Nature Park has water buffalo, too.
What does it cost?
Here are some estimates to get you started. These costs are per person and are based on prices as of December 2024 converted into U.S. dollars.
Half-day $60-$75
Full-day $85-$100
Overnight $150-$175
Costs include transfers to and from the city, food (lunch for full-day and morning, four meals for overnight visits), and all items used in the program. You will have to pay for most beverages.
Discounts for children are often available. Elephant Nature Park gives a 50% discount for children under eleven.
Summary
I hope this post has given you helpful information about finding an ethical elephant sanctuary. You may wonder if visiting even the most ethical places makes sense. It does. Your money goes toward housing, feeding, and caring for the elephants. As you saw above, they eat a lot. It also helps the mahouts (elephant keepers).
I suggest booking early so you don’t miss out on your top choices as we did.
Until Next Time
If you’ve visited an elephant sanctuary, Steve and I would love to hear about your experience. And if you haven’t yet, maybe this has inspired you to plan a visit!
Happy traveling,
Linda
If you enjoyed this post, consider subscribing to Wind and Whim. You’ll get an email notification each time we publish a new post and get our short and sweet monthly newsletter in your inbox, too! If I’ve given you valuable information and you want to show your appreciation, you can buy me a coffee.