Hidden Gem Lover’s Guide to Chiang Mai

5 reasons why you should go to a no-touch no-bathe elephant sanctuary in Chiang Mai

5 Tips For Visiting an Ethical Elephant Sanctuary in Chiang Mai

Tried and tested elephant experiences that are actually ethical!

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Ethical Elephant Experiences in Chiang Mai

Tried and tested elephant experiences that are actually ethical! 

2D1N Ethical Elephant Sanctuary Experience

Communication was efficient and pickup punctual, the experience was invaluable

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See Happy Elephants in Paradise

Communication was efficient and pickup punctual, the experience was invaluable 

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Very respectful and we still can see elephants quite upclose! 100% recommend

Very respectful and we still can see elephants quite upclose! 100% recommend

We had a perfect day with the elephants! Everyone was lovely, we learned a lot about the elephants and had the feeling they can finally have a good life at the camp. 
 Thanks for that experience

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We had a perfect day with the elephants! Everyone was lovely, we learned a lot about the elephants and had the feeling they can finally have a good life at the camp. 
Thanks for that experience 

It was an incredible experience. My friends and I are really happy to see elephants.

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It was an incredible experience. My friends and I are really happy to see elephants. 

It was a very nice experience to watch the elephants and see them move int heir habitat. I can highly recommend it!

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It was a very nice experience to watch the elephants and see them move int heir habitat. I can highly recommend it!

It was a really enjoyable and surreal experience to see these amazing elephants! It's nice to see that the camp is very conscious of the welfare of these animals, and works hard to protect and care for them. I really enjoyed the walkabout where we got to see them eating and playing around! We even got to prepare snacks for them and watch them enjoy their food later on!

It was a really enjoyable and surreal experience to see these amazing elephants! It's nice to see that the camp is very conscious of the welfare of these animals, and works hard to protect and care for them. I really enjoyed the walkabout where we got to see them eating and playing around! We even got to prepare snacks for them and watch them enjoy their food later on!

Since 2011, BEES has supported the local community by involving them in building accommodations and planting 10,000 trees, fostering both elephant conservation and environmental well-being.

Emily and her partner founded Thailand's rare no-touch, no-bathe elephant sanctuary, where elephants live freely. It's one of the few certified by World Animal Protection for ethical care.

When Emily first saw how elephants were treated in Thailand, she vowed that she would help them. Together with her partner Burm, she's pioneering a new form of wildlife tourism in Thailand. 

Founded in 2011 by Burm Pornchai Rinkaew and Emily Rose McWilliam, BEES is an acclaimed elephant sanctuary listed on the World Animal Protection Organization's Elephant Friendly Guide. Pioneering a hands-off policy, they prioritize elephant well-being and established the BEES Elephant Foundation in 2015.

Emily's commitment began in 2009 after witnessing the mistreatment of elephants in Thai tourist camps. In 2010, discussions turned into action, with Emily and her partner Burm relocating to Mae Chaem to start BEES. Burm, with a background in tourism, contributes his expertise to the project, aiming to uplift the community by teaching English.

Since 2011, BEES has been a community-driven initiative, with Burm and Emily purchasing land and involving the local village in constructing accommodations. In addition to caring for elephants, BEES focuses on environmental conservation, having planted around 10,000 trees since 2012 with the help of visitors and local kids. Together, Burm and Emily's dedication creates a sanctuary that not only protects elephants but also fosters community and environmental well-being.

Burm & Emily's Elephant Sanctuary

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Founded in 2011 by Burm Pornchai Rinkaew and Emily Rose McWilliam, BEES is an acclaimed elephant sanctuary listed on the World Animal Protection Organization's Elephant Friendly Guide. Pioneering a hands-off policy, they prioritize elephant well-being and established the BEES Elephant Foundation in 2015.

Emily's commitment began in 2009 after witnessing the mistreatment of elephants in Thai tourist camps. In 2010, discussions turned into action, with Emily and her partner Burm relocating to Mae Chaem to start BEES. Burm, with a background in tourism, contributes his expertise to the project, aiming to uplift the community by teaching English.

Since 2011, BEES has been a community-driven initiative, with Burm and Emily purchasing land and involving the local village in constructing accommodations. In addition to caring for elephants, BEES focuses on environmental conservation, having planted around 10,000 trees since 2012 with the help of visitors and local kids. Together, Burm and Emily's dedication creates a sanctuary that not only protects elephants but also fosters community and environmental well-being.

Mr. Supakorn has created jobs for local workers, including mahouts, and educates visitors on ethical wildlife tourism. This model empowers the community while prioritising the welfare of both animals 

Chang Chill is one of the few elephant reserves in Thailand meeting international standards of no-touch, no-feed, no-bathe, ensuring elephants live freely and naturally with minimal human interference

For years, elephants in Thailand were mistreated for tourism, forced to give rides and perform tricks. Mr. Supakorn, whose family has worked with elephants for generations, saw this and knew it had to change.

He shut down the riding activities and transformed his camp into Chang Chill, one of Thailand’s first ethical no-touch, no-bathe sanctuaries. Here, rescued elephants live freely, roaming and foraging as they would in the wild.

Creating Chang Chill wasn’t easy. Mr. Supakorn worked with World Animal Protection and others to build a space focused on elephant welfare. Today, six rescued elephants thrive, and visitors observe them from a respectful distance.

Chang Chill is more than a sanctuary—it’s a model for ethical tourism. By transforming his camp, Mr. Supakorn shows other elephant camps that prioritising animal welfare and offering a genuine experience is the future of tourism.

Chang Chill Elephant Camp

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For years, elephants in Thailand were mistreated for tourism, forced to give rides and perform tricks. Mr. Supakorn, whose family has worked with elephants for generations, saw this and knew it had to change.

He shut down the riding activities and transformed his camp into Chang Chill, one of Thailand’s first ethical no-touch, no-bathe sanctuaries. Here, rescued elephants live freely, roaming and foraging as they would in the wild.

Creating Chang Chill wasn’t easy. Mr. Supakorn worked with World Animal Protection and others to build a space focused on elephant welfare. Today, six rescued elephants thrive, and visitors observe them from a respectful distance.

Chang Chill is more than a sanctuary—it’s a model for ethical tourism. By transforming his camp, Mr. Supakorn shows other elephant camps that prioritising animal welfare and offering a genuine experience is the future of tourism.

Ethical Elephant Experiences in Chiang Mai

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