Elephant Nature Park, Chiang Mai

Programmes, prices and booking

According to the official website, the half-day morning programme costs 2,500 baht for adults, 1,250 for children aged 3–11 and 625 for babies under 2. A full day with the SkyWalk costs 3,500 / 1,750 baht. There are also overnight programmes and week-long volunteering. Prices include a Chiang Mai hotel transfer, vegan lunch, guide, entry and insurance.

You can visit only by booking on the official website; online booking closes 24 hours before the start and a deposit is required. If it's less than a day before your trip, call or visit the Chiang Mai office, open daily from 7:00 to 17:00.

What is Elephant Nature Park?

Elephant Nature Park is a sanctuary for rescued elephants in the Mae Taeng valley, about 60 km north of Chiang Mai. Sangduen 'Lek' Chailert founded it in the late 1990s. After teak logging was banned in 1989, many working elephants were left idle, and some ended up in tourist camps; the park buys such animals and lets them live in the valley.

The main rule is no riding: visitors feed the elephants fruit, walk alongside them and watch them bathe in the river. Other rescued animals live here too — dogs and buffalo. The work is run by the Save Elephant Foundation, which has parks in other regions as well.

How the day runs

• Pick-up from your Chiang Mai hotel at 7:30–8:00.
• Arrival at the park around 9:30 and a safety briefing.
• A guided walk among the elephants and down to the river where they bathe.
• Feeding fruit and vegetables from a platform.
• A vegan lunch of Asian and international dishes.
• Return to Chiang Mai in the early afternoon (half day) or by 17:00 (full day).

How long do you need, and when to go?

The half-day programme takes about 6 hours including travel; the full day runs from 7:30 to 17:00. The park operates all year; from May to October bring a rain jacket. The morning programme is the most popular, so book early, especially in the dry season.

Wear comfortable shoes and bring a hat, sunscreen and insect repellent. It suits everyone, from babies to retirees.

Is Elephant Nature Park worth it?

Yes, if you want to see elephants up close without supporting riding: it's the country's best-known sanctuary, and a day with them stays with you.

The YesGo take: it isn't cheap, and the elephants are mostly observed and fed rather than handled all day. Bathing the elephants in the river, as some camps offer, isn't part of the main programme. Book only through the official website.

How to do it right

• The morning programme sells out first — book ahead.
• Bring both sandals and walking shoes.
• Follow your guide: approach the elephants only when told.
• Bring a camera — photos are allowed.
• Next day: Doi Inthanon.

Questions