Ethical Elephant Sanctuaries in Chiang Mai: Which Ones Are Actually Ethical?

Check out the best elephant sanctuaries in Chiang Mai worth seeing in Thailand. Find out what makes an ethical experience, the history of elephants in Thailand, the top spots to visit, and more!

There are a lot of elephant sanctuaries in Chiang Mai. Walk down any street, and you will be surrounded by travel agencies showing off their most popular tours. Though with so many on offer, you don’t want to get swept up and book something you may regret.

I remember looking back at my parents’ photos of them riding elephants in Thailand and cringing. This was back in the early 2000s, when there was a lack of knowledge of responsible tourism.

When I then went on my first backpacking trip to Thailand, I was asked by my mother if I, too, would ride an elephant. I said no and explained my reasons. Since then, I have visited numerous sanctuaries in Chiang Mai and even brought my mom back with me as well.

The most popular sanctuary in Chiang Mai is no doubt the famous Elephant Nature Park. You can book a full day visit for $77.00 / 2,500 THB online, just make sure to book in advance, as they do sell out!

Map Of The Top Elephant Sanctuaries Around Chiang Mai

Below is a map showing some of the best ethical elephant sanctuaries. Most sanctuaries have ticketing offices in Chiang Mai town. But the elephants themselves live AT LEAST an hour outside the city in the countryside.

So expect a decent drive as part of the tour you book. It’s completely normal, and honestly, a good sign since the elephants will have more space to roam.

Best Ethical Elephant Sanctuaries In Chiang Mai

Not every place calling itself an elephant sanctuary is actually ethical. In Chiang Mai, it’s easy to end up somewhere that still allows riding, shows, or forced interactions.

The sanctuaries below were chosen because they prioritise elephant welfare first with no rides, no performances, and no gimmicks.

1. Elephant Nature Park – RECOMMENDED #1 MOST ETHICAL

📍 Location: 60 km from Chiang Mai | 💰Price Range: From ฿2,500 / $77 | 👤Best For: Travelers looking for the most ethical, hands-off elephant experience | 🌐Website: View Here

Elephant Nature Park is no doubt the most popular sanctuary in Chiang Mai. It is certainly one of the most ethical as well.

Having opened in the 1990s by founder Lek Chailert, it has gained popularity due to her conservation work with elephants.

Located 60 kilometers from the center of Chiang Mai, the property sits on a huge 250 acres, giving the elephants plenty of space to live and explore.

If you’re looking for a true ethical sanctuary this is the place to go! They have rescued elephants from tourism, logging, and from the circus. Many of the elephants are blind or have ankle injuries from their time working. They do not breed the elephants. The food on property is all vegan and amazing! Absolutely the place to go if you want to be near elephants and hear their stories.

-MIRANDA (SEE MORE REVIEWS)

How to visit: I highly recommend booking as far in advance as possible if you are planning to visit. This is because it is widely considered the best of the best. Seriously, I missed out on trying to book 3 weeks in advance!

• Single-day visits for $77.00 / 2,500 THB
• Overnight stay cost is $177.00 / 5,800
• 7-day volunteer program
• Dog rescue volunteer program as well

BOOK NOW

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Elephant Nature Park (@elephantnaturepark)

2. Pon Elephant Thailand – RECOMMENDED FUN DAY TRIP

📍 Location: 90 minute drive from Chiang Mai | 💰Price Range: From ฿1800 / $55 | 👤Best For: Travelers keen for a couple ethical hours with elephants & lots of fun | 🌐Website: View Here

Even though Pon does include feeding and bathing, the elephants aren’t forced to do anything they don’t want to, and you can sit out on bits you aren’t comfortable with.

On my most recent trip to Thailand, I decided to mix it up and book with one of the most booked elephant sanctuaries I could find online. I wanted to see how ethical it actually would be.

Pon Elephant Thailand was set up a lot differently compared with other sanctuaries I have visited. Usually, we would spend the entire day with one group of elephants.

However, here it’s set up so that different elephant herds are placed in different areas for tourists, eg, feeding, playing in the jungle, walking in the river, and bathing.

We had a mixture of disabled elephants, older elephants, and young baby elephants. Though the time actually spent with them overall is a lot less (2 hours max vs 4 or 5 hours).

But, if I am being honest, I wasn’t mad at this at all, as it meant we also had the chance to visit a beautiful waterfall for a refreshing swim, as well as go bamboo rafting!

We kind of got the perfect taste of a bunch of different fun things, and honestly, I would recommend this tour and do it again.

From start to finish, this tour was absolutely fantastic. Everything was perfectly organized, relaxed, and very enjoyable. It was clear that animal welfare is a top priority, and the elephants are treated with genuine care and respect.

-PAWEL (SEE MORE REVIEWS)

How to visit: Super easy to book online through GetYourGuide.

• Single-day visit for $55.00 / 1,800 THB, and children are $50.00 / 1,600 THB
• Overnight homestay experience for $120.00 / 3,900 THB and can be found here

BOOK NOW

3. BEES – Burm & Emily’s Elephant Sanctuary

📍 Location: 3 hours from Chiang Mai | 💰Price Range: From ฿6000 / $183 | 👤Best For: Travelers wanting an immersive overnight elephant experience | 🌐Website: View Here

If you’re looking for an ethical elephant sanctuary in Chiang Mai, you cannot do better than BEES. Founded in 2011 by Burm and Emily, they have helped shape ethical tourism in the city into what it is today.

Emily’s trip to Thailand inspired her to open it as she saw the conditions of the elephants giving visitors rides and performing tricks.

The goal of the sanctuary is to allow elephants to actually be elephants and have natural behaviors. As a result, there is no bathing or riding of elephants, and there is a complete hands-off policy.

Instead, you will find yourself caring for the elephants by making their food, observing their behaviors from a distance, and appreciating them as their true selves.

Bees is a once in a lifetime experience. A truly ethical sanctuary where the elephants are cared for and live amazing lives. We did the one night stay (which was perfect for us) and the staff – Ty, Moo, Tan and the owner Burm were so amazing. 

-JESSICA (SEE MORE REVIEWS)

How to visit: Because of their approach, BEES doesn’t offer day trips. Instead, the focus is slightly longer stays where you can learn more and settle into a routine.

• Overnight stay starting from 6,000 THB / $183
• 3 night / 4 day stay

BOOK NOW

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by BEES Elephants (@beeselephants)

4. Elephant Freedom Project

📍 Location: 70 mins from Chiang Mai | 💰Price Range: From ฿2,195 / $67 | 👤Best For: More elephant interaction but still ethical | 🌐Website: View Here

Elephant Freedom Project was the first sanctuary I visited when Elephant Nature Park was fully booked.

At the time, it was run under ENP, but it’s since gone solo, and honestly, it still holds up as a really solid ethical option.

You’ll have the chance to spend quality time hanging with a small group of elephants (around six when I visited). It feels calm, unrushed, and far removed from the bustle of Chiang Mai.

My favourite part was easily the jungle walk with the elephants.

This is where their personalities really come out. Some were pretty curious, cheeky, and the younger ones were climbing hills and sliding back down, having the time of their lives.

How To Visit: Book online, prices include transfers and lunch.

• Full day visit for $92.00 / 3,000 THB
• Half-day visit from $67.00 / 2,195 THB

BOOK NOW

5. Into The Wild Elephant Camp

📍 Location: 1.5 hour from Chiang Mai | 💰Price Range: From ฿1700 / $52 | 👤Best For: Those wanting a chill elephant tour | 🌐Website: View Here

Into The Wild Elephant Camp is another great option that prioritizes the well-being of the elephants and the Karen Community. They make sure to employ locals and also teach them about ethical tourism.

You will find that the majority of elephants here are actually retired, having come from the logging or tourism industry. Instead, they can now enjoy life doing what they were meant to, being free.

Compared to other ethical elephant sanctuaries in Chiang Mai, they have quite a different approach, with quite a relaxed and chill tour.

A staff member will show you around the property when you arrive and teach you about the resident elephants.

Honestly, if you’re keen for an ethical experience that still allows feeding and bathing, but without the intensity or crowds of some other tours, this is a good middle ground.

How to visit: You can book directly online through their website. All tours include transfers and lunch.

• Half day program costs $52.00 / 1700 THB per person
• Full day costs $74.00 / 2400 THB per person

BOOK NOW

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Into the Wild Elephant Camp (@intothewild_elephantcamp)

7. Happy Elephant Home

📍 Location: 1.5 hours from Chiang Mai | 💰Price Range: From ฿1800 / $55 | 👤Best For: Those wanting a small intimate tour | 🌐Website: View Here

Home to rescued elephants, they can now roam freely at Happy Elephant Home. This is another ethical sanctuary worth visiting.

It’s easy to see the team here loves these elephants and really wants the best for them. If you’re lucky, you’ll have the amazing Apple as your tour guide, who has so many stories and is so passionate about the elephants.

Here at Happy Elephant Home, they have 5 elephants, all of whom are rescued from the logging or tourism trade. This is one of those sanctuaries that isn’t on the general tourist radar, which can mean it will be quiet and have smaller groups.

How to visit: Book online over on the Happy Elephant Home website.

• Full day tour costs $74.00 / 2400 THB.
• Half day tour costs $55.00 / 1800 THB.
• Overnight 2 day tour costs $153.00 / 5000 THB

BOOK NOW

Elephant Sanctuaries in Chiang Mai to Avoid

Unfortunately, there are some unethical elephant sanctuaries in Chiang Mai that you should avoid:

• Thai Elephant Home
• Chiang Dao Elephant Camp
• Patara Elephant Farm
• Mae Sa Elephant Camp

These places are known for providing inadequate care to their elephants, as well as restricting their movements. This is no doubt abuse and causes physical and mental harm.

What Makes An Ethical Elephant Sanctuary In Chiang Mai?

There’s no official definition of what qualifies as an elephant “sanctuary” in Thailand, which does mean the term gets thrown around pretty loosely.

First of all, there is no law in Southeast Asian countries as to what is considered a “sanctuary”. Therefore, nearly every elephant park you will come across in Chiang Mai will call itself a sanctuary.

That is why you need to research the place you are thinking about before visiting or even look into a few different options before deciding.

The definition of ethical is:

relating to beliefs about what is morally right and wrong – Cambridge Dictionary

Bringing this back to the elephants, we would want to ensure that the company has their best interests at heart and provides them with the best care. Balancing what is best for both elephants and tourists is certainly difficult. Especially on a subject matter on which many people have strong opinions.

When deciding which places to include, I looked for sanctuaries that meet the following standards:

• No elephant riding, shows, or performances
• No chains or bullhooks
• Elephants are free to roam and behave naturally
• Human interaction is kept minimal and never forced
• Focus on rescue, rehabilitation, and long-term care. Def not entertainment

History Of Elephants In Thailand

Before we get to what makes an ethical sanctuary, I think it is important to understand the importance of elephants in Thai history. This is because it is likely quite different from what you are currently thinking.

Back in the day, these elephants in Thailand were an important part of daily life. Exactly how horses were too many of us. They were mainly used for transportation and heavy lifting when vehicles and machinery were not an option.

In 1989, the government banned logging in Thailand, an industry that heavily relied on elephants. As a result, over 4000 of these working animals were displaced, and their mahouts were left without any income.

Thousands of working elephants were suddenly displaced, and many mahouts were left without a source of income. With no alternative support systems in place, elephants were pushed into tourism, which is how riding camps and performance shows became widespread.

With increased tourism in the ’90s, the locals quickly realized the appeal of elephants to international travelers and thus created elephant tourism.

These tourists were more than happy to pay large amounts to interact with and ride these majestic creatures. During this time, the must-do thing here was watch an elephant perform or ride one.

However, in the early 2010s, international tourist opinions changed as information started to come out about their treatment, and animal rights groups put pressure on.

As a result, many companies had to transition quickly to keep up with new demands, as this experience was the top spot in many travelers’ Thailand bucket lists. However, this doesn’t necessarily mean they are ethical, something which I will touch more on below.

Elephant Ethics Explained: Riding, Bathing & Training in Thailand

Many places in Chiang Mai market themselves as ethical without actually changing what they do.

This is why it’s so important to understand how certain activities actually affect the elephants, especially when it comes to training, riding, and bathing.

The sections below explain why these practices are controversial, and why truly ethical sanctuaries often look very different from what many travellers expect.

Training Elephants

I had a friend who visited an elephant sanctuary in Phuket, and he told me about learning commands for the elephants (letting it know when to open its mouth, lift its trunk for you to put bananas in, etc).

This is an experience that was considered ethical and had great reviews online. However, learning about the commands made me question it, as you would’ve needed to train an elephant to do this.

The process of training is not a nice one. It is called Phajaan, breaking an elephant’s spirit or the crush, and it is exactly as bad as it sounds. Often involving a young elephant, as they are more submissive, it is a form of torture.

The ultimate goal is to scare them so they will never disobey a human.

Luckily, with elephants being ethically bred in captivity, this tradition is being phased out. As a result, many elephants haven’t had to experience the phajaan and instead are learning behaviors from their mother.

Ultimately, the most ethical sanctuary will provide the closest lifestyle as if the elephant were out in the wild. Yes, that may mean you may not physically interact with them.

Is Riding Elephants Ethical?

Simply put, riding elephants for tourism is not ethical. You should never pay for the experience of riding an elephant.

However, you still will find quite a few riding camps operating throughout Southeast Asia. Western tourists, for the most part, no longer participate in riding. However, in other cultures, they still consider it okay.

The exception for when riding could be ethical is if it’s the mahout. A mahout is basically the elephant’s personal caregiver. They share a special relationship and have likely grown up together. You will see a mahout sometimes ride the elephant to take back control, or more simply, to catch a lift across a river.

Is Bathing Elephants Ethical?

The question of whether bathing elephants is actually ethical has become a hot topic of debate in the past 10 or so years.

The answer seems simple: Experts agree that bathing elephants is unacceptable and shouldn’t be offered on tours. This is for both swimming in the river and giving the elephants a mud bath.

However, there doesn’t seem to be much of this passing out within the industry. It is still widely practiced. For the most part, this is due to demand by tourists. Just like riding, if we change our mindset of what we want in the experience, the industry will respond.

Unfortunately, it is still quite challenging to find an elephant sanctuary in Chiang Mai that does not have bathing on their tour package, but for now, you could always decide to sit out of that activity.

Are Bullhooks Ethical?

This is another hot debate between experts and tourists. Check any TripAdvisor form, and everyone is complaining about the mahout carrying their bullhook.

Looking from only the perspective of a tourist, it can be easy to question this practice. I mean, come on, they are basically carrying around a device whose main purpose is to hurt these gentle giants. Though many experts claim this is a necessity to keep both the mahouts and guests safe.

Now, you do get the overzealous mahout who may just like to have a little bit too much control. This is not okay. But for the mahout, having this is literally a matter of life and death. No one wants a 4-tonne animal losing control.

By using it on sensitive areas, it allows the mahout to quickly gain control over a situation that could go badly.

Unfortunately, there was a “no hooks” policy implemented at Boon Lott Elephant Sanctuary. This is because they saw that this is what tourists wanted. This resulted in the death of one of the owners when they couldn’t regain control of an elephant.

These deaths are actually common in “no hook” and “no ankus” elephant sanctuaries. Personally, I think a bit more conversation is needed regarding the pros and cons of bullhooks. I believe a lot of tourists likely just see a torture device rather than a life-saving instrument, which it can be when used correctly.

What To Bring When Visiting Elephants In Chiang Mai

Camera or phone: You’ll have plenty of photo moments. A power bank or spare battery is handy if you take lots of photos.

Sunscreen & hat: Sanctuaries are outdoors with limited shade, and Chiang Mai heat can be intense.

Comfortable clothes: Lightweight, breathable clothing you don’t mind getting a bit dusty or muddy.

Sturdy footwear: Closed shoes or trainers are best, especially if there’s a jungle walk involved.

Bathing suit & towel (optional): Some experiences include bathing. While I personally choose to sit this out, bring these along if your tour offers it and you plan to participate.

FAQs About Visiting An Elephant Sanctuary

Chiang Mai Travel Tips

While elephant sanctuaries are definitely one reason to visit Chiang Mai, a little planning goes a long way.

The tips below cover where to stay and things to do while here, so that you can focus on enjoying the experience without stressing the small stuff.

Where To Stay In Chiang Mai?

There’s no shortage of places to stay in Chiang Mai, from luxury resorts to locally run guesthouses and pretty great hostels.

On my most recent visit, I stayed at De Lanna Hotel, which was perfectly located and had a pool that was a lifesaver in the afternoon heat.

On earlier trips, I’ve learned the hard way that reading recent reviews is a must. No matter the hostel in Chiang Mai, the price isn’t always worth it.

For location, I always recommend staying in the Old Town. It’s central, walkable, and close to temples, great food, shopping, and the Sunday Night Market.

The Common Hostel A modern and upscale hostel. From $13.00 per night including a fab breakfast. BOOK NOW	Chiangmai Midpoint Activity Hostel A favorite with travelers. A hostel with all the amenities, from $6.00 per night. BOOK NOW
De Lanna Hotel Beautiful private rooms for $55.00 per night and in the heart of the city with a pool. BOOK NOW	Moon Dragon Hotel My favorite place to stay right in the heart of the city. Private rooms start from $65.00 per night. BOOK NOW

Other Things To Do In Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai is actually my favorite place in Thailand, and there are so many things to do here, I just keep coming back!

Take a cooking class: This is one of those cities where you HAVE to do a cooking class. I had an amazing time with Arom Dii and can highly recommend.

Explore the night markets: I absolutely love the night markets in Chiang Mai. It is a delicious foodie experience with great souvenir shopping.

Temple Hopping: The Old Town is packed with some damn beautiful temples, all within easy walking distance. Some of my favourites are Wat Chedi Luang, Wat Chiang Man, and Wat Phra Singh Woramahawihan.

If you’ve got some extra time on your Chiang Mai itinerary, do a day trip out to Doi Inthanon National Park for some epic views.

Top tip: If you don’t have a local SIM, grab an eSIM for Thailand before you arrive. It’ll save you time at the airport and make getting around Chiang Mai much easier.

Wrap Up: Best Ethical Elephant Sanctuaries In Chiang Mai

You’ll find some genuinely great elephant sanctuaries in Chiang Mai. Though do your research so you know which ones are really ethical.

Skip those places offering rides or performances, and stick with sanctuaries that actually put the elephants first. And if you’re still on the fence, Elephant Nature Park will be your safest bet. It’s more hands-off, but that’s the point at the end of the day.

Alternatively, Pon’s is a good choice where the focus isn’t just on the elephants, but more of a fun day out. They do offer bathing, like a lot of sanctuaries here in Chiang Mai, but I recommend sitting it out.

Want more Northern Thailand Inspiration? Check out….

• 3 Weeks In Thailand Itinerary
• Cost To Travel Thailand & My Budget Of $23.00 Per Day
• Backpacking Thailand On A Budget Guide
• Best Hostels On Khao San Road
• How To Travel From Bangkok To Chiang Mai
• Taking The Overnight Sleeper Train From Bangkok to Chiang Mai
• Backpacking Bangkok Travel Guide
• 2 Days In Bangkok Itinerary
• Day Trip To Ayutthaya From Bangkok
• Traveling From Chiang Mai To Luang Prabang
• Chiang Mai Sunday Night Market Guide
• The Best Elephant Sanctuaries In Chiang Mai
• The Best Hostels In Chiang Mai
• 3 Days In Chiang Mai Itinerary
• Taking The Slow Boat To Laos From Thailand
• Chiang Mai Airport to The City Centre (Old City)
• Vegetarian Cooking Class In Chiang Mai
• Visiting The White Temple In Chiang Rai (Wat Rong Khun)