Elephant Sanctuaries in Chiang Mai

Elephant Sanctuaries in Chiang Mai

The Chiang Mai region of Thailand is home to a growing number of elephant sanctuaries. These sanctuaries provide a safe haven for elephants that have been abused or neglected, and they offer visitors the opportunity to learn about and interact with these amazing animals. There are a number of different elephant sanctuaries in Chiang Mai to choose from, each with its own unique approach to elephant care and conservation. Some of the sanctuaries focus on providing a retirement home for elephants that have worked hard their whole lives, while others focus on rescue and rehabilitation.

Some of the best Chiang Mai elephant sanctuaries include the Elephant Nature Park, where you can get the opportunity to feed, bathe, and walk with elephants, all while learning about the park's efforts to rescue and protect these animals. Others, such as the Burm and Emily’s Elephant Sanctuary are places where you can watch elephants from a distance or even interact with them on some of the guided tours. Some of the other popular elephant sanctuaries located in Chiang Mai include the Maerim Elephant Sanctuary, the Kanta Elephant Sanctuary and others. No matter which sanctuary you visit, you are sure to have an unforgettable experience.

The elephant sanctuaries in Chiang Mai are some of the best places in all of Thailand to learn about these gentle giants, while also gaining insights as to how they are protected against poaching. Chiang Mai is home to numerous elephant sanctuaries and parks, such as the Happy Elephant Home, where you can enjoy a wide array of activities whilst interacting with the elephants. You can also visit the Elephant Hills, which is a wonderful place to see elephants in their natural habitat, or the Hug Elephant Sanctuary, which offers a variety of elephant-centric activities for visitors to enjoy.

Happy Elephant Home

Happy Elephant Home is one of the most popular Chiang Mai elephant sanctuaries and is a perfect place to enjoy staying in the wilderness, amidst the elephant population here. It is here where you can indulge in an amazing tour, dressed in traditional Thai attire. During the tour, you can not only meet the elephants in the sanctuary, but also walk with them, pet, feed them and enjoy a mud spa with these friendly animals, whilst also learning about their habitats.

Burm and Emily's Elephant Sanctuary

Another one of the top elephant sanctuaries in Chiang Mai is the Burm and Emily’s Elephant Sanctuary, tucked within the northern mountains of rural Thailand. is a place where elephants can go to retire and live out their days in peace. The sanctuary is run by a husband and wife team who have a passion for these gentle giants. The elephants at the sanctuary are well cared for and have plenty of space to roam and socialize. However, you cannot touch, ride or bathe the elephants here.

Elephant Valley

The Elephant Valley, located around 65 kilometres from the city, is another one of the popular Chiang Mai elephant sanctuaries. It is also one of the best sanctuaries in the region to enjoy a plethora of different tours and activities with elephants. In addition to petting the elephants here, you can also enjoy a walk with them on the premises, learn about their survival in the wild or even indulge in mud or water bath with them.

Elephant Hills

Ranked amongst the more offbeat elephant sanctuaries in Chiang Mai, Elephant Hills is a place where you can enjoy a weekend retreat as well. They offer holiday packages consisting of several tours to the surrounding jungles, or even a stay at one of the floating cottages. The packages offered by them typically include feeding, bathing, walking and interacting with the elephants as well.

Elephant Nature Park

When looking for Chiang Mai elephant sanctuaries, head over to the Elephant Nature Park, which is one of the oldest sanctuaries of its kind in the region. The sanctuary dates back to the 1900s and is home to 70 elephants, all of whom have been rescued from different parts of the world. While you can enjoy swimming, walking, feeding and bathing the elephants here, you can also avail of different tours or volunteer programs to gain deeper insights into three friendly giants.

Patara Elephant Camp

Known as one of the best elephant sanctuaries in Chiang Mai, the Patara Elephant Camp is popular for its vast open expanses, where the elephants can rest, play or even breed. This camp is also a great place to learn about the history of the region as well as that of the elephants residing here. You can also enjoy jingle walks, mud baths or swimming with the elephants here.

Maerim Elephant Sanctuary

The Maerim Elephant Sanctuary is a rescue and rehabilitation centre for elephants and one of the top elephant sanctuaries in Chiang Mai. The sanctuary provides a safe haven for elephants that have been abused or neglected. The elephants here are able to roam freely and socialise with other elephants at the sanctuary. The sanctuary offers visitors the opportunity to meet and interact with the elephants, and to learn about their care and rehabilitation. You can also enjoy making your own noodle soup or learn about the medicines and herbs used for the treatment of elephants here.

Elephant Rescue Park

The Elephant Rescue Park is one of the most unexplored elephant sanctuaries in Chiang Mai. This is a place that is a sanctuary for sick, injured or orphaned elephants, and provides a safe haven for elephants to recover and rehabilitate in a natural environment. You can enjoy several different tours here, which include activities like feeding, walking and petting the elephants, among other things. You can also enjoy mud baths with these gentle beasts during your visit to the park.

Kanta Elephant Sanctuary

One of the most famous elephant sanctuaries in Chiang Mai is the Kanta Elephant Sanctuary. It is a place dedicated to providing a safe and natural environment for elephants. The sanctuary is home to a variety of elephants, including those that have been rescued from the illegal wildlife trade. The sanctuary offers a variety of activities for visitors, including elephant trekking, painting, and bathing. Some of the highlights here also include feeding the elephants or learning how to make the foods for these animals using fruits and natural herbs.

Chiang Mai Elephant Sanctuary and Trekking

Located on the mountains along the banks of the Chao Phraya River, is the Chiang Mai Elephant Sanctuary, which is considered to be amongst the best elephant sanctuaries in Chiang Mai. It is a place where you can see elephants up close and learn about their care. You can also feed and bathe them. During your visit to this sanctuary, you can enjoy activities like petting or walking with the elephants, or even going on river safaris using bamboo rafts, and visiting a waterfall. The sanctuary is also a great place to indulge in trekking around the lush forested trails of the mountains here.

Thai Elephant Home

When looking for unique elephant sanctuaries in Chiang Mai, head to the Thai Elephant Home. It is a sanctuary which has rescued elephants from countries throughout the Asian continent. The sanctuary is home to over 30 elephants and provides them with food, shelter, and veterinary care. Elephants are also used in educational programs, and tourists can visit the sanctuary to learn about these amazing animals. You can also feed, walk with and pet the elephants or even play with the baby elephants during your visit to the sanctuary.

Hug Elephant Sanctuary

The Hug Elephant Sanctuary is amongst the most pristine elephant sanctuaries in Chiang Mai. It is a relatively newer sanctuary in the region and has many rescued elephants in its premises. In addition to taking a tour of the sanctuary, you can also enjoy a feeding session with the elephants, play with these gentle giants or even tuck into a delicious Thai meal here. Don’t forget to enjoy a mud bath with the elephants before going for a swim with them in the river.

FAQ's

What are the best elephant sanctuaries in Chiang Mai?

Some of the best elephant sanctuaries in Chiang Mai include the Elephant Nature Park, the Burm and Emily’s Elephant Sanctuary, Happy Elephant Home, the Chiang Mai Elephant Sanctuary and the Maerim Elephant Sanctuary.

What is the best time to visit Chiang Mai?

The best time to visit Chiang Mai is during the winter season here, which lasts from November to February. It is during this time that you can experience rather cool and pleasant weather in Chiang Mai, which is great to explore the outdoors or visit the many elephant sanctuaries.

Which is the biggest Elephant Sanctuary in Chiang Mai?

The Mae Sa Elephant Camp is the biggest elephant sanctuary in Chiang Mai and is dedicated to the care and conservation of elephants. The camp houses over 30 elephants that have been rescued from abusive or neglectful situations. The sanctuary provides a safe haven for elephants and offers elephant rides, elephant shows, and elephant encounters. The Mae Sa Elephant Camp is committed to the care and conservation of elephants and provides a unique and memorable experience for visitors.

How to reach Chiang Mai?

  • By Air: You can take a flight to the Chiang Mai International Airport, which is located around 3 kilometres to the southwest of the centre of Chiang Mai.
  • By Train: You can also avail of a train ride to Chiang Mai from different parts of Thailand. Most trains from Bangkok and other cities ply to the Chiang Mai Railway Station.
  • By Road: You can also enjoy a bus or car ride to get to Chiang Mai if you are coming here from Bangkok. You can take a bus from the North Terminal (Moh Chit) in Bangkok to the Arcade Bus Station in Chiang Mai.

Why is Chiang Mai famous?

Chiang Mai is the second largest city in Thailand and is famous for its natural beauty, cultural heritage and the arts. The city has been a major trading centre since the 14th century. Chiang Mai is also known for its Buddhist temples and monasteries, which are well-known for their beauty. The city is also famous for its many lush valleys, hillsides and forested regions, which act as the abode of a plethora of elephant sanctuaries.

The content and images used on this site are copyright protected and copyrights vests with the respective owners.

© 2025 www.mychiangmaipass.com All rights reserved.