See Happy Elephants in Paradise

Spot happy elephants roam free, at a sanctuary approved by animal welfare groups

4.9

|12 Reviews

DURATION

9 hours

Booking type

Join-in trip

MEET UP

Free pick-up

Group size

Up to 12 guests

Experience Highlights
Itinerary
Inclusions
Availability
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Host
Reviews

See Thai elephants in paradise, at this no-touch, no-bathe sanctuary
Ever wanted to see how truly happy elephants spend their day? Imagine a place where the elephants call the shots, where they just get to be elephants. That place exists, and it's nestled in the lush hills outside of Chiang Mai. The bond between the elephants and their mahouts here is incredible – one mahout even tried to tell his elephant he was going on holiday, and the elephant started acting up, until he cancelled his plans! It's a little slice of elephant paradise, and one of the few truly ethical elephant reserves in the region.What to expectGet up close (but not too close) to elephants in their natural habitat! See how they interact, what they eat, and how they explore the sanctuary.Learn fascinating facts about elephants from your guide.Feed hungry elephants through no-touch feeding tubes.Discover the traditions of the Karen hill tribe people.See firsthand how sustainable wildlife tourism can be done right!Wrap up the day by chatting with your guide about how to make a difference for elephants long after your trip ends.Important InfoChang Chill's commitment to ethical practices means there's no riding or bathing elephants as part of this experience. This sanctuary is all about putting the elephants first!Walking here is minimal and takes place on fairly flat paths, so it's the perfect pick for families or wildlife lovers who wants a chill (yet moving) way to observe elephants.Pick your Perfect Elephant Experience: Half-Day or Full-Day!Can't decide how much time you want with these gentle giants? No worries! You can choose between a half-day adventure (7:30 am to 3:30 pm, including travel) or go all-in with the full-day experience (7:30 am to 5:00 pm, including travel). No matter which you choose, you'll get that incredible feeling of seeing elephants be elephants, plus a chance to learn about the Karen hill tribe folks. What to expect for the full-day experienceHere's what makes the full-day experience extra special:Elephant Medicine 101: Discover the plants and herbs that keep these amazing creatures healthy. You'll even get to gather some yourself!Elephant Chef Skills: Time to whip up some special healthy snacks for your favorite elephant. Their mahout might even pop by so you can get to know them both a little better.Mahout Q&A: Hang out riverside with the mahouts and learn all about their special bond with the elephants. It's a deep dive into Thai culture and why these folks are so important.About the Reserve Finding a truly ethical elephant sanctuary in Chiang Mai can be tough, but Chang Chill is definitely one of the good ones. This special place puts the elephants' well-being front and center. They've moved away from activities like riding and bathing, and instead let the elephants roam and explore the valley as they please. Chang Chill is even supported by groups like World Animal Protection – a sign that they're doing things right!

Experience highlights

See elephants in lush, jungle reserve

No touching, no bathing! Only serving 🙈

Meets international welfare standards

What You’ll be Doing

Elephant Experience in Chiang Mai

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What’s Included

Drinking water (you must bring your own bottle)

Vegetarian lunch

Round-trip transportation

English-speaking guide.

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Next Available Dates

Prices shown in USD

Select Time for 18 Nov 2024

Additional Information

Where we'll meet

Start Point

Free pick-up from Chiang Mai City Centre / Chiang Mai Old City(Chiang Mai, Thailand)

Meet at selected timeslot
Notes: Upon booking, our team will reach out via WhatsApp to confirm your pickup location and hotel name.

End Point

End at Start Point(s)

Start & ends

Daily

07:30AM - 05:30PM

Suitability / Accessibility

Vegetarian food available
Child Friendly (Recommended Age: 5+)

Cancellation & other policies

Cancellation
Cancel 3 days before activity for a full refund
Minimum Participants
If there are fewer than 2 participants, the host may reschedule or refund your booking.

From

$74.75 SGD/person

4.9(12)

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Meet your host

The head of Chang Chill, Mr. Supakorn Tananseth, comes from a family that has worked with and taken care of elephants for several generations. Originally running a camp that offered elephant rides in the Mae Wang area, Mr. Supakorn discontinued riding activities and established Chang Chill to give his elephants better living conditions. Upon discussing elephant welfare and a new, ethical tourism model with World Animal Protection and several travel companies, Mr. Supakorn decided to collaborate with these organizations to adjust the venue’s infrastructure and practices. Chang Chill’s work to offer the best living conditions possible to these elephants is a process, and we will keep evolving in the coming months and years. Throughout this time, we hope Chang Chill can serve as a model for the other camps in Thailand, to illustrate that a high welfare venue is beneficial for elephants, mahouts, tourists and camp owners.

Speaks: Fluent English

Acceptance rate: 100%

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Helpful Questions

What should I pack?

Bug spray

Camera

Closed-toe shoes

Hat

Long pants

Raincoat (between June to September)

Refillable water bottle

Sunscreen

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