Top 15 Elephant Sanctuaries in Chiang Mai

1.Chiang Mai: Elephant Sanctuary, Waterfall & Bamboo Rafting

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 9,160 reviews · 9 hours · from $60Our pick

Travel from Chiang Mai to Pon Elephant Thailand for a guided day with rescued elephants. Feed bananas, walk through the forest, bathe with them, swim at Mae Wang Waterfalls, eat a Thai lunch, and float down the Mae Wang River on a bamboo raft. Guides such as Nop, Paul, Yaya, and Sunny add local insight and help with photos.

“Other than my wedding this was one of the best days of my life! Got to cuddle my favourite animal. The sanctuary was so well run. They really care for them and I learnt so many things I didn’t know. Can’t recommend this tour enough ❤️”

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2.Chiang Mai: Elephant Sanctuary & Waterfall Group Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 5,780 reviews · 7 hours · from $50

Travel about 80 minutes from Chiang Mai to Pon Elephant Thailand in Mae Wang. Feed, touch, and walk beside rescued elephants, learn their stories from an English-speaking guide such as Beer, Yaya, or Nop, and help cool them in the river. After lunch, hike to Mae Wang Waterfall for a swim or a cool break.

“Beer was such a great tour guide & very patient! Knowledgeable & welcoming. Our group had such a great time, awesome experience!!! WooHoo shout out to Beer!!! Until next time :)”

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3.Chiang Mai: Elephant Sanctuary Feeding Program Half-Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 4,527 reviews · 5 hours - 330 minutes · from $27Best value

Spend five hours south of Chiang Mai at Pon Elephant Thailand, where guides such as Pat, Toto, Jackie, and Pan explain elephant care before you prepare herbal treats, feed the animals, walk through the forest, and visit the river. Bathing is never forced, and pickup is optional.

“Sooo amazing! Got to see loads of elephants, get up close with them and bath them in the river! What an amazing experience. The half day was more than enough in my opinion.”

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4.Chiang Mai: Elephant Sanctuary, Long Neck & Sticky Waterfall

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 2,262 reviews · 9 hours · from $63

Spend nine hours outside Chiang Mai feeding and bathing elephants, visiting a Karen long-neck village, eating a Thai lunch, and climbing Buatong Sticky Waterfall. Guides such as Fluke, Amy, Tiger, and Paul are praised for clear English and careful timing. Expect a busy but varied day, with swimming clothes needed for the river and falls.

“Brilliant Day! our tour guide Fluke was very knowledgeable, entertaining and looked after us very well! it was the highlight of our Thailand trip so far don't hesitate to book!”

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5.From Chiang Mai: Elephant Care Program and Nursery Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 1,899 reviews · 5 - 6 hours · from $53

Travel from Chiang Mai to Mae Tang for a hands-on elephant care program. You’ll prepare treats, feed rescued elephants, follow them to a mud and sand spa, and help rinse them afterward. Guides such as Francesco, Tin, Disney, and Tim explain elephant behavior, while a vegetarian Thai buffet and hotel transfers keep the half-day outing simple.

“Peaceful and gentle, the elephants were amazing!The genuine care and appreciation for the elephants is evident. The day was fun and informative, the baby was soo cute 😍❤️. Would definitely visit again.”

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6.3-in-1: Doi Inthanon Tour, Elephant Sanctuary, and Trekking Trail

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,087 reviews · from $48Top rated

Spend a full day outside Chiang Mai with an English-speaking guide such as John, Jon, Note, Rainbow, or Sandy. Feed rescued elephants at Living Green Foundation, visit Thailand’s highest mountain and royal pagodas, hike to Pha Dok Siew Waterfall, then sample coffee in Ban Mae Klang Luang. Hotel transport and lunch are included.

“Definitely I recommend it! Jon and the other guys were amazing!!! I just loved the trekking, the waterfall the views! It was lovely to have the elephant experience!”

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7.Chiang Mai Elephant Sanctuary, Bamboo Rafting and Waterfall Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 870 reviews · from $58

Spend about eight hours visiting Bua Thong’s climbable waterfall, New Elephant Home in Mae Tang Valley, and a bamboo rafting camp. The elephant program centers on welfare, forest walks, and no riding. Guides such as Paul, Fluke, and Mr. Poppy are known for clear explanations and hands-on help, though the waterfall needs steady footing.

“Paul was the guide for today's adventure. It started with a trip to the waterfalls, followed by the trip to New Elephant Home, and then the bamboo raft excursion. Paul took care of us, and gave us lots of information and what to expect. He was knowledgeable about the elephants and was always willing to help take pictures for everyone in the group during the entire trip. Paul took care of the admission fees/tickets. The length of time at both waterfall and elephant sanctuary was the right amount of time. By going to the waterfall first, we were able to enjoy more time with the elephants with less people around.…”

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8.From Chiang Mai: Kerchor Eco Elephant Park Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 704 reviews · 5h 30m · from $48

Spend about five and a half hours visiting Kerchor Eco Elephant Park from Chiang Mai. Learn about elephant care, prepare snacks, feed baby elephants, walk beside them, and bathe one in a stream. Guides such as F, Fa, Fai, and NamNam are known for warm, informative hosting. Lunch, drinks, transport, elephant food, and activity shirts are included.

“What a beautiful experience with lovely guides! The guides made everything easy and unforgettable. The elephants are so lovely and likely to hug you!! The place is so beautiful and chill. There was not much people so everybody can get tons of pics with the sweet creatures. And there are two baby elephants!!! They made everything more beautiful and adorable… And our chill guide F this is for you! Thank you so much for your little gift and perfect pictures :). And thanks to the guy who helped me to get 20baht bottle of water with my 1000baht cash… And thanks to those beautiful people who takes care with love…”

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9.Care Pride Elephants: Full-Day Tour Experience

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 658 reviews · from $91

Join Koko, Coco, Dodo, Kiki, or Cherry for an eight-hour visit to Elephant Pride Sanctuary near Doi Inthanon. After hotel pickup, you’ll feed elephants, walk through the hills, share a Thai lunch, help with a mud bath, and rinse them in the river. Groups are capped at 12, though the number of elephants can vary.

“Great day, great staff at the sanctuary. Everything was perfect. From walking with to feeding and playing in the mud and washing them off in the river. Every moment was perfect. Staff was fun and friendly.”

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10.Half-Day Elephant Experience at Rantong

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 625 reviews · from $58

Spend about five hours at Ran-Tong Save & Rescue Elephant Centre near Chiang Mai. You’ll learn elephant care, make vitamins, feed and walk with rescued elephants, and help bathe them. Guides such as Seven, Rambo, Nikon, and Oh-Oh lead the sessions. Pickup, changing clothes, showers, lunch, and a small group of up to 15 are included.

“The Ran-Tong elephant sanctuary was a wonderful and moving experience. We were collected from our hotel in Chiang Mai (the driver was late due to traffic) and proceeded to collect another ten visitors from around the city. After about an Read more”

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11.Chiang Mai: Elephant Sanctuary, Monk Trail & Doi Suthep Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 563 reviews · 1 day · from $57

Combine Chiang Mai’s forest temples with a hands-on elephant care visit at Pon Elephant Thailand. Walk the Monk Trail to Wat Pha Lat, explore Doi Suthep, feed and bathe elephants, make medicine balls, and enjoy a Thai lunch. Guides such as Sumit, Paul, Ronnie, Suriya, and Yoong are praised for clear cultural explanations and friendly help.

“It was a perfect day. We had plenty of time to see everything. Sumit, our guide, explained everything to us calmly and we had plenty of time to ask questions, which Sumit answered. Thank you for the wonderful day, which we enjoyed very much.”

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12.Chiang Mai: Elephant Dream Project Sanctuary – Half-Day

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 552 reviews · 4 hours · from $51

Spend a half-day with the Elephant Dream Project near Chiang Mai. After hotel pickup, local guides such as JJ and Mr Dee introduce you to the elephants, then you feed them and walk beside them through the jungle without riding, tricks, or forced bathing. Thai lunch, water, entry, and transport are included.

“This was a great trip and overall experience. The driving was safe and professional. The elephants were wonderful and the pace of the day chilled. It was my favourite trip. The sanctuary needs more support so get involved elephant lovers!”

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13.Chiang Mai: Ethical Half Day Elephant Sanctuary & Waterfall

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 450 reviews · 7 hours · from $54

Travel from Chiang Mai to Joy Elephant Sanctuary in Mae Wang for a 7-hour, English-guided visit focused on observation, not riding or bathing. Feed elephants, watch them forage, walk beside the herd, relax at a waterfall, enjoy Pad Thai and tea, then make a Thai herbal inhaler to take home.

“What an amazing way to see the elephants at this sanctuary. Well cared for and great to see them doing what they want to do. X”

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14.Chiang Mai: Doi Inthanon Hiking & Elephant Sanctuary Program

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 324 reviews · 12 hours · from $56

Spend 11 to 12 hours with an English-speaking guide and a small group of up to 12. Feed and walk beside rescued elephants at Living Green Sanctuary, enjoy Pad Thai, visit Doi Inthanon’s summit and Twin Pagodas, then hike Pha Dok Siew to waterfalls, rice terraces, and an organic Karen coffee farm. Guides may include Jon, Pete, Rainbow, Nott, or Mod.

“Plenty of time with the elephants and a great way of combining with a national park visit Guides were great too”

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15.Elephant care program at CHIANGMAI ELEPHANT CARE

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 295 reviews · from $52

Ride from Chiang Mai into the northern countryside for a small-group elephant care visit. Change into a mahout-style uniform, learn about elephant behavior and herbal supplements, prepare food, feed rescued elephants, and watch them roam and socialize without riding. Guides may include Tom, Todd, Ford, or Tong. Lunch, transport, water, fees, and insurance are included.

“If I could give this tour 6 stars I would!! Our guide Todd was absolutely fantastic! He was full of information on our drive to and fro, and made ever portion of the tour enjoyable! He took tons of fabulous pictures on my camera, which was so very appreciated! The elephant sanctuary was beautiful and we really spent a lot of time feeding them, walking with them, and, of course, in the water with them! A day I will never forget!”

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