Thing to do
Sunday Walking Street
Weekly evening market that closes Ratchadamnoen Road from Tha Phae Gate to Wat Phra Singh, with crafts, street food and temple-courtyard food courts.
Elephant Nature Park
Elephant rescue sanctuary founded by Lek Chailert in 1995, offering day and overnight visits where elephants are observed, fed and walked with, never ridden.
At a glance
- Type
- Elephant sanctuary (no riding)
- Area
- Chiang Mai Province (office in Phra Sing), Chiang Mai, Thailand
- Official site
- elephantnaturepark.org
Good to know
- Hotel pick-up
- Vegetarian lunch
- Day and overnight programmes
Why we recommend it
Elephant Nature Park is a long-established elephant sanctuary in northern Thailand. It was founded in 1995 by Saengduean Lek Chailert, a conservationist and elephant rights advocate, and more than 75 elephants live there. The sanctuary is in the countryside of Chiang Mai province, with a booking office in the city at 1 Ratmakka Road in the Phra Sing area of the Old City.
The sanctuary states on its own site that within its walking programme no elephants are tethered or ridden, and visits are built around watching, feeding and walking alongside the animals rather than handling them for entertainment. That makes it a sound choice for travellers who want to see elephants while avoiding riding camps.
Several programmes are offered. The Walking with Elephants single-day trip is a good example: you help prepare fruit, vegetables and banana rice balls, walk through the forest with elephants that were released from a riding business, feeding them bananas as you go, and watch them swim in the river. Lunch is a vegetarian buffet in a forest setting, and in the late afternoon you visit the main park to observe the larger herds. Other options include half-day and full-day visits, a care-focused day, a skywalk programme, an overnight stay in park huts and a week-long volunteer programme.
Day programmes collect guests from hotels within a mapped area of Chiang Mai between about 8:00 and 8:30, or you can meet at the office, and return to the city around 16:00 to 16:30. Group sizes are limited to reduce stress on the elephants. The walking programme is for adults and children over 12 and needs reasonable fitness; the sanctuary does not recommend it for people over 60, so pick a gentler visit if needed.
Book well ahead, especially in the cool season, as places are capped. Bring a hat, sunscreen, insect repellent, a change of clothes, sandals and walking shoes, and a refillable bottle; luggage is limited to one small day pack. The day is long but rewarding, and it suits animal lovers, families with teenagers and anyone wanting an ethical alternative to elephant riding.
Check the programme details on the sanctuary website before booking, as each visit has its own itinerary, age guidance and inclusions.
Elephant Nature Park FAQs
Does Elephant Nature Park allow riding?
No. The sanctuary states that in its walking programme no elephants are tethered or ridden.
Who founded it?
Saengduean Lek Chailert, who founded the sanctuary in 1995.
Is hotel pick-up included?
Day programmes include pick-up from hotels within a mapped area of Chiang Mai, or you can meet at the office.
What time do day trips start and finish?
Pick-up is around 8:00 to 8:30 and you return to Chiang Mai around 16:00 to 16:30.
Is there an age limit?
The Walking with Elephants programme is for adults and children over 12, and needs good fitness.
Is lunch included?
Yes, a vegetarian buffet is served on the walking programme.
Can I stay overnight or volunteer?
Yes, there is an overnight programme and a week-long volunteer programme.
Where is the office?
At 1 Ratmakka Road, Phra Sing, Chiang Mai 50200.