See Happy Elephants in Paradise

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

4.9

|14 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-feed, 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

Rare (truly) ethical reserve in Thailand

No touch, no feed, no bathe ❤️

Meets international animal standards

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.

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Who you’re supporting

Community Champion

Wildlife Protector

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Next Available Dates

Prices shown in USD

Select Time for 21 Dec 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

$76.23 SGD/person

4.9(14)

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Meet your host

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.

Speaks: Fluent English

Acceptance rate: 98%

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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

Hi! I would like to join the half day experience at the end of December but I just see the 7:30 - 17:30 time slot available.

Luis, 15 Dec 2024

Hi Luis, Thanks for your message! The 7:30 am to 5:30 pm time slot you see is the maximum time range for the experience. However, the default half-day adventure runs from 7:30 am to 3:30 pm (including travel). You can go ahead and select that time slot for the half-day experience, or if you'd like to extend it to a full day, you can choose the full-day option from the add-on. Let me know if you have any questions or need assistance with booking!

Hi! Very last minute, but do you still have availability for 2 people for the half day tour tomorrow? (December 5) thank you very much!

Ann, 04 Dec 2024

Hi Ann, Yes, it is avaialble for tomorrow

Hi! is pick up/transport only to chiang mai old town? We are going to stay at the motho homestay at Chom thong, which is nearer to chang chill. Possible to do pick up from there?

xinyan, 27 Nov 2024

Unfortunately, their pickup service is only available from the Chiang Mai Old Town area. Since Motho Homestay in Chom Thong is outside the designated pickup area, they are unable to provide transportation from there.

With the Thailand Changi Mai elephant experience what is included in the additional add on. What elephant part do you go with

Aimee, 25 Nov 2024

Hello! What’s Included in the package: Drinking water (you must bring your own bottle) Vegetarian lunch Round-trip transportation English-speaking guide.

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