Elephants are Thailands official animal and seeing one up close and in-person is a truly magical experience. Last minutes bookings are welcome. Elephant sanctuaries in Chiang Mai that allow tourists to ride elephants using chairs, that get the elephants to perform circus acts or use hooks to control their elephants are unethical and should be avoided. Today they all live their best best life in harmony with nature and . It is my great regret that I wasnt able to visit BEES during my visit to Chiang Mai. Many thanks for your feedback. After the feeding the elephant were being washed and then they were pushed to a small waterpole were the tourist could thriw eater at Them. The lessons explained to us on how to feed, bath and experience these magnificent creatures led to a seamlessly enjoyable day. It will be interesting to see how this issue changes over time and if other camps follow suit. The waterfall experience is always a highlight of the day. As we do not control the elephants in any way, its great fun to see them entertain themselves along the way. These initiatives aim to raise awareness about the plight of captive and wild elephants, highlighting the detrimental effects of exploitative practices such as riding, logging, and entertainment. Please click here to see our guest comments and reviews. They picked great hotels and tours. Our Elephant Sanctuary in Chiang Maihas been caring for these majestic creatures for over twenty-five years. This question is still under debate by conservationists. Its a fascinating topic and the approach taken here is a bit different than, say, at a larger organization such as Elephant Nature Park. Secret Elephant Sanctuary, Chiang Mai, Thailand, June 2022 When visiting Elephant Nature Park, you can expect a truly immersive and enriching experience that focuses on the well-being of these magnificent animals. Nibble on fresh fruits and snacks as you watch the elephants play in the water. The park also houses cats, dogs, buffalo, and many other rescued animals. The package deal includes two traditional Thai buffet meals, pick up and drop off to your accommodation in Chiang Mai (terms and conditions apply), drinking water and even food for feeding the elephants! You will get to observe the elephants bathing but you can no longer go into the river with the elephants as there were concerns that it was causing too much stress for them. Definitely we will approach you again for our next Asian trip. EJS. How are its elephants treated? Last minutes bookings are welcome. You can have any trip tailor made for your travel. Elephant Sanctuary, Chiang Mai - GetYourGuide Its not a completely hands-off experience that utterly minimizes contact with elephants, so one can argue that its not as ethical as the BEES sanctuary. With elephant family Best impression with unbelievable Thank you for joining us. They focus on a better life for the elephants and provide a safe space for them to live and roam. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. BEES provides a safe haven for rescued and retired elephants to live freely and naturally, allowing them to forage, dust bathe, roam, explore, and socialize in their natural environment, unrestrained, as well as free from exploitation and abuse. The minimum stay is overnight. A Rambling Unicorn is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. After that time, owners had to learn new ways to make money so they could keep their elephants fed. BEES is a place where humans now work for them. The sanctuary also rescues dogs, cats, buffalo, and other animals as well. All the elephants in the park are rescued from places like circuses, logging industry, mistreatment camps, hard working sites and unfortunate accidents. After depending on humans their entire lives, most rescued elephants cannot survive in the wild. I recommend highly Asia Highlights as a travel company. Thanks in advance. Want to see what other guests had to say? I was a bit overwhelmed before my first visit to a Chiang Mai elephant sanctuary. It comes with vitamin b12, vitamin D3, and omega-3 fatty acids which are all the essentials you need, really. Chiang Mai Elephant Sanctuary - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go Drive approximately 1.5 hours South of Chiang Mai through rolling hills, forest, and local farming areas. Chiang Mai: Elephant Sanctuary & Waterfall Group Tour At Asia Highlights, we create your kind of journey your dates, your destinations, at your pace. Now it is on my bucket list for the next time I return to Northern Thailand. The Elephant Jungle Sanctuary is an ethical elephant sanctuary near Chiang Mai, Thailand. Have Fun !!!!! Full description. Since its inception, BEES has planted approximately 10,000 trees, run clean-up days, taught English to local children, and provided aid during natural disasters. Day 1: You will be collected in Chiang Mai and enjoy sightseeing along the way. You will learn about Chang Chills six resident elephants as well as some interesting facts about Asian elephants and their mahouts. The elephants were often forced to perform tricks or beg for food. The floating houses , railway market and elephant sanctuary were particular favourites.We had one minor glitch with the accommodation in Phuket which was immediately dealt with by Tip. Thats just one example of how far out of her way she went to make our trip easier and more enjoyable. This is a bucket list must do for sure! WHERE IN THE WORLD - EPISODE 1 - WATCH IT NOW! You wont just find elephants there, however. Elephant Nature Park was the first ethical sanctuary in Thailand. This guide will help you make informed decisions when planning your next visit to Chiang Mai. Riding elephants can cause severe physical and psychological stress to the animals, as their spines are not designed to support the weight of humans. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. That being said, there is a lot of disagreement at the moment of what constitutes ethical treatment of elephants. Elephant sanctuaries have become increasingly popular attractions for tourists in countries like Thailand, where these gentle giants hold cultural significance and symbolize spiritual values. Elephant Rescue Park is the best elephant sanctuary in Chiang Mai. Chiang Mai Elephant Sanctuary | Chiang Mai - Facebook Elephant Jungle Paradise Park. We had so much fun in Bangkok with Tanni and Tom as they kept laughing at all of our silly jokes. Photo provided by Greta of Gretas Travels. If you are going to Chiang Mai, this is an absolute MUST DO ACTIVITY!!!! I am an avid hiker, traveler, and adventurer who is on the mission to explore hiking trails around the world. Our driver in Chiang Mai was also great and very accommodating to our changes in schedules. Founded in July 2014, it is a joint initiative between members of the Karen hill-tribes and Chiang Mai locals who were concerned about the welfare of elephants in Thailand. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Browse through a wide range of Elephant Sanctuaries in Chiang Mai are Happy Elephant Home, Burm and Emily's Elephant Sanctuary, Elephant Valley, Elephant Hills, Elephant Nature Park, and many more. What You Need To Know. Read our. This really makes it a unique experience. Visits to Elephant Nature Park range in duration from a half-day trip (2,500 THB) to a 2-day sleepover (5,800 THB). She had a great attitude that made exploring the city fun and exciting, as well as an abundance of knowledge and experience. Thanks so much! After that trek to the hill with elephants they can find own food in the nature. E-co Tourism, NONTOURISTIC NO HOOK NO RIDING ELEPANT. SECRET ELEPHANT SANCTUARY - travel - NONTOURISTIC NO HOOK NO RIDING Our trip to Thailand comprised three generations of the family , ten people and an age range of 4 to 70 so a potentially difficult brief.Our itinerary over two weeks involved four locations, and a number of different trips and tours.From out arrival at an extremely busy Bangkok airport Asia Highlights were terrific.In each location we were met by a smiling , knowledgeable and professional guide who simply made everything easy and stress free for everyone.Our transportation was clean and comfortable . Relax during a bamboo rafting trip along the Mae Wang River. The number of elephants in Thailand plummeted to 3,456 captive elephants in 2007, along with approximately 1000 wild elephants. Highly recommended. Through outreach and education, they are partnering with trekking camps to help create business models based on ethical elephant tourism. Monica is a very sweet young lady who speaks excellent English via email/WhatsApp, and knows the importance of excellent customer service. 11 activities 5. The use of these weapons has rightfully been discontinued or banned by most elephant sanctuaries. https://youtu.be/Y7YKTWemiFE FOLLOW! ), Long Term Travel Packing List: Tips and Hacks for Digital Nomads, Belvedere Murgia Timone: A Hike with Spectacular Views in Matera, Italy, Winchester Walks: 10 Scenic Hikes and Walking Paths in Hampshire, Cheesefoot Head: A Lovely Walk with a Hilarious Name in Winchester, Chiang Mai Itinerary: 4 (Or More) Amazing Days in Chiang Mai, Chiang Mai Hikes: Four Easy Jungle Treks with Great Views, 9 Amazing Chiang Mai Markets, Walking Streets and Flea Markets [2022], Hike the Monks Trail to Wat Pha Lat: Chiang Mais Jungle Temple. Then preparing food for feeding elephants such as Banana, Watermelon, Suga cane, and other things the elephants can eat.Tour guide introduce the technique of feeding and talking with elephants before giving in to the real thing.After that trek to the hill with elephants they can find own food in the nature.Then getting arrive to the Mud spa can join in the mud with elephants.After that follow elephants to the nature pool in the river stream from mountain enjoy take a bath with them.And last activity making elephants laxative herb medicine and feed them.When finished take a shower get lunch and return to hotel. Thailand, 11 Days in Thailand and This means providing elephants with plenty of room to roam around and to form natural relationships with eachother. Best Elephant Sanctuaries in Chiang Mai: Ethical Animal Encounters Visited Camp 1 and was glad that my family and myself made the effort to join the morning program. Gemma was incredibly generous with her time and even walked us to security at the airport to make sure we could carry all of our luggage. Passing the time meeting the other participants was a pleasure as the temperatures dropped the higher into the mountains we traveled. On arrival, you will be given an introduction to Chang Chills past, present, and future along with the program schedule. Elephant Freedom Project offers visitors a unique experience while visiting our elephant sanctuary in Chiang Mai in Northern Thailand. It was a great experience. The surroundings are peaceful, you really feel connected to nature. 1. The price includes four meals and free drinking water (you must bring your own bottle to refill). Once againshe was right. This tour starts at 10 AM and finishes at 1:30 PM. Sharon made me a great itinerary with great experiences that I am dreaming to experience and I am looking forward to it . Wat Phra Singh. So, thank you Asia Highlights , Cathy, Tip and tour guides Tanny, Sam and Lisa. Embark on a one-of-a-kind experience and visit an ethical rescued elephant facility in the jungle outside Chiang Mai. Elephant sanctuaries have become increasingly popular attractions for tourists in countries like Thailand, where these gentle giants hold cultural significance and symbolize spiritual values.