Elephant Nature Park

"DO NOT MISS OUT ON THIS ACTIVITY!!!! I did a lot of research on ethical elephant tourism when we arrived in Chiang Mai. This addition to our trip was a last minute. Riding elephants in Thailand is not considered ethical because it takes a lot of torture and harm to the elephants to comply. The elephants’ backs are also not well suited to carry humans. I also read a lot about how bathing elephants tourist opportunities is also not ethical. I kept seeing reviews and recommendations about the best place for ethical elephant tourism was at The Elephant Nature Park. It did not mention bathing or touching elephants in anything I read, so we decided to trust the process and sign up for FULL-DAY TOUR. I would definitely wear long pants, breathable clothes, hat, sunscreen, and shoes that can have some moisture/dirt/mud on them. I wore chacos. WE MADE THE RIGHT CHOICE! Elephant Nature Park is a one of a kind rehabilitation and sanctuary for elephants in Thailand. It is completely funded based off of donations and the tour fees. They pick you up and drop you off at your hotel. 30-45 minute drive each way. LUNCH is also included. LUNCH was incredible. It was delicious buffet of noodles, stir fry, fruits, salads, etc. You wanted to have three servings of food. You get to enjoy lunch in the middle of your tour overlooking the grounds. The sanctuary also has places for guests to stay the night. When you arrive, you realize you are in this beautiful valley with a river and 100+ elephants. Our guide was fantastic. He led us around the grounds introducing us to each elephant and telling us about its characteristics. You learn all about how elephants eat, socialize, sleep, and breathe. Elephants could now be my favorite animal. There were plenty of moments to take pictures in front of elephants from different distances. The sanctuary takes in elephants from owners who can no longer support them and buys elephants to rescue them from bad situations. They have several elephants who have very bad injuries/disabilities that would not be able to live in the normal elephant world. You can tell that the sanctuary is focused on rehabilitation and health for all their animals. They also had THREE baby elephants that have been born on property and are the cutest things ever. Close to the end of the tour, we met with some of the original and oldest (75 year old) female elephants at the park. We were able to take pictures right next to them while they were eating with a hand on them. They were incredibly low key munching away on their banana stalks. I was shocked we had this opportunity. On the property, there are over 120 elephants, 500+ dogs, 300 cats, 200 wildebeests, and one pig. The sanctuary employs over 500 people between tour guides, cooks, mahouts (elephant caregivers), vets, and other staff. This sanctuary is doing incredible work with the elephants and we were honored to support their work through our visit."

"Everyone dreams of seeing elephants when they are in Thailand, but this tourist attraction has created a lot of dangerous environments for elephants. I won't get on a soap box, but after A LOT of research, The Elephant Nature Park is the best place to experience elephants and learn more about them. They rescue elephants, but also any other animal that comes their way. I recommend doing the Highlands hike adventure. You spend a lot of time just watching the elephants hike back to the sanctuary and get to feed them along the way. "

"Elephant Nature Park provides a safe haven for rescued elephants, where visitors can engage in ethical elephant interactions, learn about elephant conservation, and support the park's mission of promoting a kinder future for these majestic creatures."