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See Happy Elephants in Paradise
Spot happy elephants roam free, at a sanctuary approved by animal welfare groups
4.9
|11 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
- More Info
- 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
Short + easy trek to see elephants
Make food + feed through feeding tubes
Easy & fun for all ages
Return transport from Chiang Mai
Enjoy a yummy Thai lunch!
Choose half-day or full-day immersion
What You’ll be Doing
Elephant Experience in Chiang Mai
Show Details
What’s Included
Drinking water (you must bring your own bottle)
Vegetarian lunch
Round-trip transportation
English-speaking guide.
Show Details
Next Available Dates
Prices shown in USD
Select Time for 16 Sep 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 - 04:30PM
Suitability / Accessibility
- Vegetarian food available
- Child Friendly (Recommended Age: 5+)
Cancellation & other policies
- CancellationCancel 3 days before activity for a full refund
- Minimum ParticipantsIf there are fewer than 2 participants, the host may reschedule or refund your booking.
From
$74.25 SGD/person
4.9(11)
Show Prices
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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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