# Elephant Nature Park, Chiang Mai > Elephant Nature Park is Thailand's best-known sanctuary for rescued elephants, in the Mae Taeng valley 60 km from Chiang Mai. There's no riding: you feed the elephants, walk alongside them and watch them bathe. A half-day programme costs 2,500 baht for adults and 1,250 for children aged 3–11, with transfer and lunch. Visits are by booking only, at least a day ahead. Web page: https://yesgo.io/thailand/chiang-mai/elephant-nature-park - City: [Chiang Mai](https://yesgo.io/thailand/chiang-mai), Thailand - YesGo score: 16/100 (Yes, if nearby) - Time on site: 4 h - Entry: half day 2,500 baht, ages 3–11 1,250 - Opening hours: Programmes start in the morning; Chiang Mai office 7:00–17:00 - With kids: Fine with kids - Half day (morning): 2,500 baht for adults, 1,250 for ages 3–11, 625 for under-2s - Full day (SkyWalk): 3,500 baht for adults, 1,750 for ages 3–11 - Included: Chiang Mai hotel transfer, vegan lunch, guide, entry and insurance - Booking: In advance on the website only; closes 24 hours ahead, deposit required - Riding: None — the elephants are only fed and observed - Distance: ≈ 60 km north of Chiang Mai; about 1.5 hours by transfer - Coordinates: 19.21410, 98.85840 - Facts checked: 08.11.2026 ## Key facts - **1990s** — Sangduen 'Lek' Chailert founded the park for elephants left without work (source: English Wikipedia) - **1989** — Thailand banned teak logging, leaving many working elephants unneeded (source: English Wikipedia) - **No riding** — the park's main rule: elephants are never saddled (source: elephantnaturepark.org) - **2,500 baht** — for an adult on the half-day morning programme (source: elephantnaturepark.org) - **24 hours** — before the start, online booking closes (source: elephantnaturepark.org) - **Dogs and buffalo** — other rescued animals also live at the park (source: English Wikipedia) - **Foundation** — the Save Elephant Foundation runs the work, with parks in other regions too (source: English Wikipedia) - **≈ 60 km** — from Chiang Mai, in the Mae Taeng valley (source: English Wikipedia) ## 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. > **Book only on the official website** Chiang Mai has dozens of elephant 'sanctuaries' and camps, and many sell tours under similar names. Elephant Nature Park is booked through its own website or office. There's no riding here — if someone offers 'riding at Elephant Nature Park', it's a different camp. Pushchairs aren't allowed in the park. ## 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 to get to Elephant Nature Park 1. **With the park's transfer** — pick-up from your Chiang Mai hotel at 7:30–8:00, included in the price. 2. **From the Chiang Mai office** — 1 Ratmakka Road, Phra Sing; arrive by 7:15. 3. **If you're staying out of town** — start from the office or arrange a meeting point. 4. The drive to the Mae Taeng valley takes about 1.5 hours. 5. You can't turn up on your own without a booking. ## 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. ## Before you go: checklist - [ ] Booked on the official website at least a day ahead - [ ] Hotel given for the pick-up - [ ] Comfortable shoes, a hat and sunscreen - [ ] Insect repellent and a rain jacket (May–October) - [ ] No pushchair ## Chiang Mai in three days Day one: the elephant park. Day two: Doi Inthanon. Day three: Doi Suthep temple. Add them to your route — YesGo fits in the timing and transfers. 1. [Elephant Nature Park](https://yesgo.io/thailand/chiang-mai/elephant-nature-park) — YesGo score 16/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 4 h · half day 2,500 baht, ages 3–11 1,250 2. [Doi Inthanon](https://yesgo.io/thailand/chiang-mai/doi-inthanon) — YesGo score 17/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 4 h · entry 300 baht, children 150; car 30; pagodas ≈ 100 3. [Wat Phra That Doi Suthep](https://yesgo.io/thailand/chiang-mai/doi-suthep) — YesGo score 31/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 30 min · ≈ 30 baht, funicular ≈ 20 ## Good to know Elephant Nature Park is a no-riding sanctuary in the Mae Taeng valley. Elephant Jungle Sanctuary is a different company. Riding camps (such as at Mae Sa) and elephant parks in Pattaya and Phuket are different places. ## Tips - 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](https://yesgo.io/thailand/chiang-mai/doi-inthanon). ## Questions ### How much does Elephant Nature Park cost? Half day — 2,500 baht for adults and 1,250 for ages 3–11; full day with SkyWalk — 3,500 / 1,750. ### Can you ride the elephants? No — there's no riding; the elephants are fed and observed. ### How do I book? In advance on the official website only; booking closes 24 hours before, with a deposit. ### Is transport included? Yes, from your Chiang Mai hotel; you can also start from the park's office. ### How far is the park? About 1.5 hours — roughly 60 km north of Chiang Mai. ### Is it suitable for children? Yes, from infants to retirees; pushchairs aren't allowed. ### What's included? A guided walk, elephant feeding, a vegan lunch, entry and insurance. ### Is the park open in the rainy season? Yes, all year; bring a rain jacket. ## How we checked The 2,500/1,250/625 and 3,500/1,750/875 baht prices, daily schedule, inclusions, 24-hour booking cut-off, deposit, office and pushchair ban are from the official website on 08.11.2026. History and the link to the teak logging ban are from English Wikipedia; we don't describe the elephants' lives before rescue in detail. The 1.5-hour journey is based on the programme schedule (pick-up 7:30–8:00, arrival 9:30). The 60 km distance is from Wikipedia. ## Sources - Official Elephant Nature Park website — programmes, prices, daily schedule, inclusions, booking, office - English Wikipedia — Elephant Nature Park: founding, founder, 1989 teak logging ban, other animals, foundation - Wikidata Q5359345 — coordinates --- This is the Markdown version of a YesGo page for AI assistants. Quote the web page link above, not this file.