Elephant Jungle Sanctuary in Chiang Mai, Thailand

So many places, very little time – That’s a mantra every traveller has probably recited once or twice. When it comes to Thailand, those words are particularly accurate. Thailand has always been a favourite destination for Indians across all age & budget groups and continues to be on the bucket list of outbound millennials. There are so many things to do in Thailand, a country that is brimming with superb nature, mouth-watering food, historic sites, Ranging from stunning temples with rich cultural heritage to frolicking by the shimmering waters of the many turquoise beaches. There are thousands of life-changing places to visit in Thailand, from towering cities and stately gardens to beautiful beaches and lush islands. One such place is Chiang Mai; it is the second most visited city in Thailand after Bangkok. Its rich culture is vibrant. Chiang Mai is the perfect place to indulge yourself in the rich culture of Thailand. Known as the ‘Rose of the North’, it offers visitors a green city, quiet roads, and a more relaxed vibe. Chiang Mai is a great place to discover the Northern region of Thailand. This culturally rich city and its surrounding countryside will offer you magnificent mountain views, beautiful temples, majestic elephants, busy markets, scenic bamboo river rafting, and more. One among the special places to visit is the Elephant Jungle Sanctuary in Chiang Mai.

Encounter Elephants in a Sanctuary

One thing you must do in Chiang Mai, it’s to spend the day with an elephant! Most people agree that spending a day with elephants is the highlight of their trip to Thailand. It’s a city that’s also close to nature and is known for having the best elephant sanctuaries in Thailand. There are many sanctuaries and parks in Chiang Mai that rescue elephants from performing and logging industries and give them the freedom to do what they love most: eating their favourite tropical snacks, rolling around in the mud, and swimming in a local river. Spending time with an elephant through the local jungle or nearby rice fields is a once-in-a-lifetime experience and the highlight of the trip to Chiang Mai.

The Elephant Jungle Sanctuary, Founded in July 2014, is home to around 30 elephants and is one of the best elephant sanctuaries snuggled in Chiang Mai, Thailand. It is a 1.5-hour drive away ethical elephant sanctuary near Chiang Mai. Famed for its ethical practices towards elephants, this reserve let visitors have a memorable interaction with the giant species, and experience their life from the closest. The elephant reserve in Chiang Mai offers many options to experience the beautiful elephants of Thailand. The mahouts help people realize incredible life experiences such as feeding the elephants by hand or bathing elephants in Chiang Mai. 

As you arrive at the Elephant Sanctuary, the guides will give you a basic overview, some information about the elephants and then traditional Karen clothes to wear. You will get to experience all the facets of the elephant reserve and other aspects of Thai culture. Throughout the visit at Elephant Jungle Sanctuary, one will be feeding, bathing and even playing with the elephants. 

To let visitors have an enjoyable experience, Elephant Jungle Sanctuary, Chiang Mai offers some exciting programs based on time availability. Either you want to cherish some moments with the giant animals, or enjoy a mud spa with them, or get on a jungle trek with them, or experience the many facets of the reserve while taking delight in the Thai culture simultaneously; here is a treat awaiting you! You may book a package for a full day visit, or two days and one night, or a day walk with the elephants through their site. The program session organized by the reserve also educates its visitors regarding how they operate, rescue elephants, and how you can also protect other elephants from becoming prey to abusive practices. So, book a package with the reserve, and grab a chance to make a difference to the lives of these lovely species. It is one of the best things to do in Chiang Mai.

How to Reach Elephant Jungle Sanctuary

Nested at a distance of around 60km from the centre of the city of Chiang Mai, it takes about one and a half hours to drive to Elephant Jungle Sanctuary from there. If you are not aware of the way to Sanctuary, then worry not! As you book a package with the reserve, you can make use of their transfer facility. You would have to mention the details of your accommodation when you book the package on their website. And voila! You are all set to enjoy a pleasant time with the elephants.

Entry Fees For Elephant Jungle Sanctuary

Elephant Jungle Sanctuary offers a variety of tours; You may book a full-day tour comprising jungle activities and transfers to and fro your accommodation, the price for full-day tour costs 2400 Baht, i.e. INR 5256 for adults, while 1800 Baht. which means INR 3942 for children in between 3 to 10 years. However, you may also choose a half-day tour which costs 1700 Baht, i.e. INR 3723 for children who are aged 3 to 10 years. If you are looking to enjoy a night there, then you can book a package with the sanctuary costing 4900 Baht, i.e. INR 10731. It comprises on-site accommodation also.

Opening hours For Elephant Jungle Sanctuary

The Elephant Jungle Sanctuary is open from Monday to Sunday, and you can visit the Jungle Sanctuary at two different times during the day. The morning visit from 6:30 am to 12:30 pm and the afternoon visit from 1:30 to 6:30 pm. The sanctuary also offers an option to spend time as much as you want with the elephants. Hence, there is no formal schedule for it.

Tips

• Carry a hat, sunscreen, a towel and a pair of spare clothes.
• You may bring a camera with you, but the sanctuary offers a photography service at no extra charge. The photographer will take photos of you throughout the day and upload the images to Dropbox, which you can then access later.
• If you are planning to book a tour to the sanctuary online, the deal for the visit of Elephant Jungle Sanctuary in Chiang Mai includes two Thai meals, drinking water, food for elephants, and transfer facility to and fro your hotels.
• It is highly instructed not to ride elephants, as the sanctuary does not entertain such practices.

With so many wonderful things to experience, you may be wondering how you’re going to plan it all. To help you, we at Pickyourtrail have experts, who have hand-picked the best attractions in the area and incorporated them into your Chiang Mai package. Do visit Pickyourtrail for your next Thailand holiday and to curate customised holidays.

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