📌Country
Thailand, Chiang Mai province, Mae Taeng district, in a valley about 60 km north of the city. The office all transfers leave from is at 1 Ratmakka Road, Phra Sing, Chiang Mai 50200.
📌Getting there
You don't get there on your own: the return transfer from the city is included in every programme. You're picked up from your hotel between 7:30 and 8:45 in the morning, or you can go to the office in central Chiang Mai.
📌How much time to spend
Half a day (morning or afternoon) is the minimum; the full day with SkyWalk is the most popular choice; and there are two-day programmes with a night at the sanctuary, plus one-week volunteer stays.
📌Best time to go
November to February, the cool, dry season in the north. In March and April there's agricultural burning and the air quality in Chiang Mai gets much worse; from May to October it rains, the valley is green and there are fewer people.
📌Currency and prices
Thai baht (THB). Prices are published, programme by programme, on the official website: the half-day visit costs 2.500 THB per adult and the full day with SkyWalk, 3.500 THB (2026).
📌Language
Programmes are run by English-speaking guides. The website and booking are in English.
📌What surprises people most
That nothing happens. There's no show, no ride, no bathing with elephants: there's a herd living in a valley and a group of visitors watching, walking and learning their stories. It takes a few minutes to get used to, and then it's the best part of the day.
📌Watch out for this
Programmes are booked in advance and bookings close 24 hours before the visit. It's not a place you can just turn up at, and in high season it sells out.
💱 THB exchange rate
Loading rate…
🌤️ Weather in Elephant Nature Park (elephant sanctuary, Chiang Mai)
Loading weather…
Thailand has a problem with elephants, and not talking about it won't solve it. Thousands of Asian elephants live in captivity, many with histories of logging work, street begging, circuses or rides with a saddle on their back, and tourism is both part of the problem and part of the way out. Elephant Nature Park, in a valley in Mae Taeng district, an hour north of Chiang Mai, is the sanctuary that set up the alternative model: here the elephants aren't ridden, don't perform and aren't chained.
The day is basically about watching. You walk through the valley alongside the herd, hear the story of each animal —where it came from, what happened to it, why it limps or why it's blind—, see how they eat, roll in the mud and bathe in the river, and have a vegan buffet lunch. In the 'hands off' programmes, which are most of them, you don't even touch them: the contact is with your eyes.
This guide gives you the specifics: which programmes there are and how much each one costs at the price published by the sanctuary itself, what the rate includes, what time you're picked up, how the half-day visit differs from the full day with SkyWalk, how volunteering and the night in the park work, and what to ask to tell a serious sanctuary from one that has only changed the sign at the gate.
📖 History of Elephant Nature Park (elephant sanctuary, Chiang Mai)
Elephant Nature Park was founded in 1998 in a valley in Mae Taeng district, an hour north of Chiang Mai, as a joint project between the organisation Green Tours and Sangduen Chailert, known around the world as Lek: she owned part of the land and leased the rest from the Thai state. The context matters: in 1989 Thailand banned commercial logging, and overnight thousands of elephants working in the timber industry, along with their mahouts, lost their livelihood. Many ended up begging on the streets, in circuses or in tourist riding camps. The sanctuary set out to rescue animals from those situations: in 1998 it had 34 elephants and by 2016 Lek Chailert had carried out some 200 rescues. The park's own model changed over the years: in its early days it included a daily show in which the elephants performed tricks, and it later evolved into the current approach, with no riding and no shows. From there, Chailert launched the 'Saddle Off!' campaign to persuade other camps to stop offering elephant rides, and the model was replicated in several projects in the region and across Southeast Asia. The park covers about 100 hectares and, besides the herd, is home to rescued dogs, cats, buffalo and other animals.
🗺️ What to see
Tours nearby, in Chiang Mai
Some places make no sense on your own; with someone explaining them, they change completely. We look ours up on Civitatis: guided in Spanish and booked online with no fuss. They have 12 activities in Chiang Mai. And there are free tours here: you book without paying and tip the guide whatever you think at the end, so trying one costs you nothing. Three are below so you get the idea: tap any of them and they all open.
They depart from Chiang Mai, 49 km away. If you book from this link we earn a commission and you pay no more.
1
The herd and each elephant's story
The heart of the visit: walking through the valley with the herd and hearing where each animal comes from and what happened to it before it arrived here.
Leer más ↓
The walk is led by a guide who knows the elephants one by one and tells their stories: the one who spent twenty years in logging, the one who went blind from abuse at a riding camp, the one who lost a foot to a landmine, the ones who formed a family together without being related.
Those stories are the part people remember. It isn't a zoo with signs: it's a place that explains why each animal is there, and that makes you look at elephant tourism with different eyes.
Getting there: with the included transfer from Chiang Mai. Best time to go: all year round; November to February is the most pleasant. Tips: ask questions; the guides know a huge amount and will answer everything.
ℹ️ Distance: About 60 km north of Chiang Mai, 1 h drive · Best time to go: November to February · Admission: Included in the programme; half day 2.500 THB adult (2026)
2
The half-day visit (morning or afternoon)
The most affordable programme: transfer, walk with the herd, vegan lunch and return. It's the one most people do.
Leer más ↓
The sanctuary offers two half-day programmes, one in the morning and one in the afternoon, with the same content. In the morning one, things get going between 7:30 and 8:00 with the hotel pick-up —or at 7:15 at the city-centre office—, you arrive at the sanctuary around 9:30, do the guided walk with the elephants down to the river, have lunch at 12:00 and at one o'clock set off on the one-hour trip back to Chiang Mai.
The price published by the sanctuary is 2.500 THB per adult, 1.250 THB for children aged 3 to 11 and 625 THB for children under 2. It includes the vegan buffet, the return transfer from the city, admission, insurance and the guide.
Getting there: transfer included. Best time to go: the morning one, when the elephants are more active. Tips: the programme accepts wheelchairs, but you need to email before booking; the sanctuary doesn't provide wheelchairs.
ℹ️ Distance: 1 h from Chiang Mai, transfer included · Best time to go: Morning session · Admission: 2.500 THB adult / 1.250 THB child 3-11 / 625 THB baby 0-2 (2026)
3
SkyWalk: the full day
The raised walkway from which you watch the herds without going down onto the ground, combined with a visit to the main sanctuary. It's the flagship programme.
Leer más ↓
SkyWalk is a 'hands off' project run by the same sanctuary: a raised walkway that lets you see the elephants from above, moving freely in their area, without human presence affecting them. The full-day programme combines SkyWalk with a visit to Elephant Nature Park itself.
It starts earlier and finishes later than the half day: pick-up is between 7:30 and 8:00 and the return leaves at 15:00. It includes the vegan buffet, transfer, admission, insurance and the guide.
Getting there: transfer included. Best time to go: all year round. Tips: it's the programme that sells out most; book ahead.
ℹ️ Distance: 1 h from Chiang Mai · Best time to go: All year round; book early · Admission: 3.500 THB adult / 1.750 THB child 3-11 / 875 THB baby 0-2 (2026)
4
Sleeping at the sanctuary (2 days and 1 night)
Accommodation inside the park, in wooden cabins with a fan and mosquito net, so you can see the herd at sunrise without the day group.
Leer más ↓
The two-day, one-night programme changes the pace completely: no strict schedule, time to sit and watch, dinner and breakfast in the park, and an early walk to see the elephants grazing in the open field before the day visitors arrive.
The accommodation is in wooden buildings with ventilated rooms and mosquito nets, designed for sleeping with the windows open. The sanctuary says that if you listen at night, you can hear the elephants snoring, rumbling and even trumpeting.
Getting there: pick-up between 8:00 and 8:30; return the next day around 17:00-17:30. Best time to go: dry season. Tips: the food covers everything from vegan to halal; mention any dietary restrictions when you book.
ℹ️ Distance: 1 h from Chiang Mai · Best time to go: November to February · Admission: 5.800 THB adult / 2.900 THB child 3-11 / 1.450 THB baby 0-2 (2026)
5
Elephant Highlands and Care for Elephants
Two full-day programmes at sister projects, smaller and less crowded than the main park.
Leer más ↓
Elephant Highlands is a full-day visit to another of the group's projects, with smaller groups: 6.000 THB per adult and 3.000 THB for children aged 7 to 11. Care for Elephants is another full-day programme, with feeding the elephants, a vegetarian buffet and an afternoon visit to Elephant Nature Park: 6.000 THB per person, from age 12.
Both include the buffet, transfer from Chiang Mai, admission, insurance and an English-speaking guide, and bookings close 24 hours before the visit.
Getting there: transfer included from the Chiang Mai office. Best time to go: all year round. Tips: they're the option if you want fewer people around and are willing to pay twice as much as for a half day.
ℹ️ Distance: Chiang Mai province; transfer included · Best time to go: All year round · Admission: 6.000 THB per person for both programmes (2026)
6
The weekly volunteer programme
A week living at the sanctuary: preparing food, cutting corn, cleaning, and above all understanding how a place like this works from the inside.
Leer más ↓
The weekly 'Living with Elephants' programme is the longest on offer: seven days staying in the park, taking part in the daily care tasks —preparing food, cleaning, maintenance— and living alongside the team and the herd.
The price published by the sanctuary is 15.000 THB. It isn't a contact programme: the work is support work, not handling animals.
Getting there: transfer included. Best time to go: outside the burning season (March-April). Tips: it sells out months in advance; if you're interested, book very early.
ℹ️ Distance: 1 h from Chiang Mai · Best time to go: Book months in advance · Admission: 15.000 THB per person, one week (2026)
7
The other rescued animals
The sanctuary isn't just for elephants: there are hundreds of rescued dogs and cats, buffalo and other species, with their own care programmes.
Leer más ↓
Besides the herd, the park is home to rescued dogs and cats —many of them from the 2011 Bangkok floods and later rescues—, water buffalo saved from slaughterhouses and other animals. There are dedicated areas and specific volunteer programmes with dogs.
It's a part of the sanctuary that often surprises people who arrive thinking only about the elephants, and it says quite a lot about the thinking behind the place.
Getting there: inside the park. Best time to go: -. Tips: if you're allergic or travelling with very young children, bear it in mind: there are lots of animals roaming free.
ℹ️ Distance: Inside the sanctuary · Best time to go: - · Admission: Included in any programme
💵 Prices
Tickets
| Type | Price |
|---|
| Visita de medio día (mañana o tarde) | 2.500 THB per adult, 1.250 THB for children aged 3 to 11 and 625 THB for babies aged 0 to 2 (2026). Price published by the sanctuary on its official website, checked on 22/09/2026 |
| SkyWalk — día completo (SkyWalk + Elephant Nature Park) | 3.500 THB per adult, 1.750 THB for children aged 3 to 11 and 875 THB for babies aged 0 to 2 (2026). Price published by the sanctuary, checked on 22/09/2026 |
| Overnight — 2 días y 1 noche en el santuario | 5.800 THB per adult, 2.900 THB for children aged 3 to 11 and 1.450 THB for babies aged 0 to 2 (2026). Price published by the sanctuary, checked on 22/09/2026 |
| Elephant Highlands — día completo | 6.000 THB per adult and 3.000 THB for children aged 7 to 11 (2026). Bookings close 24 hours before the visit (official website, checked on 22/09/2026) |
| Care for Elephants — día completo | 6.000 THB per person, from age 12 (2026). Bookings close 24 hours before (official website, checked on 22/09/2026) |
| Programa semanal 'Living with Elephants' | 15.000 THB per person for the week (2026). Price published by the sanctuary, checked on 22/09/2026 |
| Qué incluye la tarifa | According to the official website, all day programmes include: vegan buffet lunch, return transfer between the Chiang Mai office and the sanctuary, admission to the project, insurance and an English-speaking guide. The overnight programme adds dinner, breakfast and accommodation |
| Horarios de salida y regreso | Morning half day: hotel pick-up between 7:30 and 8:00 (or go to the office at 7:15), arrival at the sanctuary at 9:30, lunch at 12:00 and return at one o'clock. Overnight: pick-up between 8:00 and 8:30 and return the next day around 17:00-17:30. The Chiang Mai office (1 Ratmakka Road, Phra Sing) is open from 07:00 to 17:00, Monday to Sunday (official website, checked on 22/09/2026) |
🔄 updated monthlyOfficial / reference values · double-check when buying
Activities and tours
| Activity | Price | Duration | Operator |
|---|
| Half-day visit (morning or afternoon) | 2.500 THB adult / 1.250 THB child 3-11 / 625 THB baby 0-2 (2026) | Half day, with 1 h travel each way | Elephant Nature Park |
| SkyWalk — full day | 3.500 THB adult / 1.750 THB child 3-11 / 875 THB baby 0-2 (2026) | Full day, from 7:30 to mid-afternoon | Elephant Nature Park |
| Overnight — 2 days and 1 night | 5.800 THB adult / 2.900 THB child 3-11 / 1.450 THB baby 0-2 (2026) | 2 days, 1 night | Elephant Nature Park |
| Elephant Highlands — full day | 6.000 THB adult / 3.000 THB child 7-11 (2026) | Full day | Elephant Nature Park |
| Care for Elephants — full day | 6.000 THB per person, from age 12 (2026) | Full day | Elephant Nature Park |
| Weekly volunteer programme 'Living with Elephants' | 15.000 THB per person (2026) | 7 days | Elephant Nature Park |
🔄 updated monthlyOfficial / reference values · double-check when buying
🚌 How to get there and distances
Getting around
Sanctuary transfer from the hotel
Included in all programmes
NotesIt's the only practical way to get there. They pick you up from your hotel between 7:30 and 8:45, depending on the programme. If you're staying outside the radius on the map the sanctuary publishes, you have to go to the office in the centre or arrange a meeting point by email
Chiang Mai office (1 Ratmakka Road, Phra Sing)
NotesIt's the alternative meeting point to the hotel pick-up, right in Chiang Mai's old town. It's open from 07:00 to 17:00 every day. For the half-day morning programme you need to be there by 7:15
Getting around Chiang Mai (red songthaew)
NotesThe shared red pick-up trucks are Chiang Mai's public transport: you flag one down, say where you're going and, if it's on their way, they take you. They're handy for getting to the office or heading back from the centre to your hotel
Grab and taxis in Chiang Mai
NotesGrab works well in Chiang Mai, motorbikes included. It's the simplest option if you need to be at the office at 7:15 in the morning and don't want to rely on finding a songthaew at that hour
NotesGood for the city, not for the sanctuary: you can't get there on your own, and the transfer is already included. Remember that riding a scooter in Thailand without an international licence leaves you with no insurance cover
Inside the sanctuary
Included
NotesYou get around on foot across valley ground, with grass, mud in the rainy season and the odd slope. Wear closed, comfortable shoes. The half-day programme has wheelchair facilities, but you need to let them know by email before booking
🔄 updated monthlyOfficial / reference values · double-check when buying
How to get there
| Route | Airlines / operators | Avg. price | Duration |
|---|
| Chiang Mai (hotel or office) → Elephant Nature Park | Sanctuary transfer | Included in the programme | About 1 h |
| Bangkok → Chiang Mai by plane | Thai Airways, Thai AirAsia, Thai Lion Air, Nok Air, Thai Vietjet | Varies a lot depending on how far ahead you book; it's the busiest air route in the country | 1 h 10 flight |
| Bangkok → Chiang Mai by night train | State Railway of Thailand (SRT) | Depending on class and type of sleeper car; buy at the station or on the SRT website | 12 to 14 h |
| Bangkok → Chiang Mai by bus | Intercity companies from Mo Chit Terminal | Depending on service and class | 9 to 11 h |
| Pai → Chiang Mai | Minivans along Route 1095 | Cheap fare | 3 h, with 762 bends |
| Chiang Mai Airport (CNX) → centre | Taxi, Grab, songthaew | Short, cheap ride | 10 to 20 min |
🔄 updated monthlyOfficial / reference values · double-check when buying
🏨 Where to stay
No exact prices: a scale from $ (budget) to $$$$$ (luxury), with 2-3 options per category.
Hostels in Chiang Mai's old town
Recommended optionsInside the old town walls, a few steps from the sanctuary's office: a dorm bed from about 200-450 THB and a basic private room from 500-1.000 THB a night (2026, market reference).
Guesthouses and mid-range hotels
Recommended optionsConverted Lanna houses and small hotels with a pool in the old town and in Nimman: about 1.000-2.500 THB a night (2026, market reference).
Boutique hotels and resorts in Chiang Mai
Recommended optionsDesign-led places in the old town, along the Ping River and on the outskirts: about 2.500-6.000 THB a night (2026, market reference).
Accommodation inside the sanctuary
Recommended optionsOnly available if you book the 2-day, 1-night programme or the weekly volunteer programme. They're wooden buildings with fan-cooled rooms and mosquito nets, no air conditioning. It can't be rented separately.
Recommended optionsIt's best to stay in or near the old town: transfers leave very early and the sanctuary publishes a map of the radius within which it does hotel pick-ups. Outside that radius, you have to make your own way to the office.
🍴 Where to eat
Comida incluida en el santuario
Options / signature dishAll day programmes include a vegan buffet with Asian and international dishes. The overnight programme adds dinner and breakfast, with local produce and options ranging from vegan to halal. If you have dietary restrictions, mention them when you book.
Options / signature dishThe dish of the north: egg noodles in coconut curry with chicken, topped with crispy fried noodles, pickled shallots and lime. You can eat it at any neighbourhood spot for very little (2026, market reference). It's the first thing to try in Chiang Mai.
Mercados nocturnos y comida callejera
Options / signature dishChang Phuak, the Sunday Walking Street and the Saturday Walking Street bring together the city's best food stalls, at street prices. Ideal for the night before or after the sanctuary.
Restaurantes vegetarianos y veganos
Options / signature dishChiang Mai has one of the most developed vegetarian scenes in Thailand, with lots of places in the old town and in Nimman. It fits well with the spirit of a sanctuary visit.
Cafés de especialidad en Nimman
Options / signature dishNorthern Thailand grows good highland coffee, and Nimmanhaemin is the neighbourhood to drink it in. A good stop for the next day, when your legs still remember the walk through the valley.
❓ Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to visit Elephant Nature Park?+
The sanctuary publishes prices programme by programme on its official website. As of 22 September 2026: the half-day visit costs 2.500 THB per adult, 1.250 THB for children aged 3 to 11 and 625 THB for babies aged 0 to 2; the full day with SkyWalk, 3.500 / 1.750 / 875 THB; the two days with one night, 5.800 / 2.900 / 1.450 THB; Elephant Highlands and Care for Elephants, 6.000 THB per person; and the weekly programme, 15.000 THB. All day programmes include the vegan lunch, return transfer from Chiang Mai, admission, insurance and a guide.
Can you ride or bathe with the elephants?+
No, and that's exactly the point. Elephant Nature Park doesn't allow elephant riding or keep elephants in chains, and its main projects are 'hands off': you watch the herd moving freely, walk alongside it and learn its story, but there's no organised physical contact or bathing with visitors. If a place offers you riding, bathing or photos hugging an elephant, it isn't a sanctuary by this standard.
How do I get there? Can I go on my own?+
You don't need to, and it isn't how it works: the return transfer between Chiang Mai and the sanctuary is included in every programme. They pick you up from your hotel between 7:30 and 8:45 depending on the programme, or you go to the sanctuary's office at 1 Ratmakka Road, Phra Sing, in the old town. The drive takes about an hour north, to Mae Taeng district.
How far in advance do I need to book?+
As far ahead as you can. Bookings for the day programmes close 24 hours before the visit, but that's the formal cut-off: in practice, in high season they sell out weeks in advance, and the weekly volunteer programme months in advance. It's not a place you can just turn up at.
Which programme is best?+
If you only have one day and want the classic experience, the half-day morning visit (2.500 THB) is more than enough. If you want to add the elevated walkway and see the herds from above, the full day with SkyWalk (3.500 THB) is the most popular choice. If you're after small groups and more time, go for Elephant Highlands or Care for Elephants (6.000 THB). And if you want to see the sanctuary when there are no visitors around, a night in the park (5.800 THB) is something else entirely.
Is it good for kids?+
Yes. The half-day programme takes everyone from babies to older adults, with separate rates for ages 3 to 11 and for under-2s, and the sanctuary says it has wheelchair facilities on that programme —although it doesn't provide wheelchairs and asks you to let them know by email before booking—. Bear in mind there's a lot of walking over valley ground and plenty of free-roaming animals besides the elephants.
Why is there a problem with elephants in Thailand?+
Because thousands of Asian elephants live in captivity and their keep depends on work. When Thailand banned commercial logging in 1989, the elephants from the timber industry and their mahouts were left without income, and many ended up begging on the streets, in circuses or in camps offering tourist rides. Sanctuaries like this one rescue animals from those situations —in 1998 it had 34 elephants, and by 2016 its founder had carried out some 200 rescues— and pushed campaigns such as 'Saddle Off!' to get other camps to stop offering rides.
Sources consulted (12)
- Elephant Nature Park — Half Day Morning Visit (2.500 THB adult, 1.250 THB child aged 3 to 11, 625 THB baby aged 0 to 2; pick-up and return times; inclusions; accessibility; accessed 22/09/2026): https://www.elephantnaturepark.org/enp/visit-volunteer/projects/enp-half-day-morning-111/view
- Elephant Nature Park — SkyWalk, full day (3.500 / 1.750 / 875 THB; inclusions: vegan buffet, transport from Chiang Mai, admission and insurance, English-speaking guide; accessed 22/09/2026): https://www.elephantnaturepark.org/enp/visit-volunteer/projects/skywalk-102/view
- Elephant Nature Park — Overnight, 2 days and 1 night (5.800 / 2.900 / 1.450 THB; accommodation included; accessed 22/09/2026): https://www.elephantnaturepark.org/enp/visit-volunteer/projects/overnight-elephant-nature-park-2days-1night-43/view
- Elephant Nature Park — Elephant Highlands, full day (6.000 THB adult, 3.000 THB child aged 7 to 11; bookings close 24 h before; accessed 22/09/2026): https://www.elephantnaturepark.org/enp/visit-volunteer/projects/elephant-highlands-single-day-62/view
- Elephant Nature Park — Care for Elephants, full day (6.000 THB, ages 12 and up; accessed 22/09/2026): https://www.elephantnaturepark.org/enp/visit-volunteer/projects/care-for-elephants-107/view
- Elephant Nature Park — Weekly Program «Living with Elephants» (15.000 THB; accessed 22/09/2026): https://www.elephantnaturepark.org/enp/visit-volunteer/projects/elephant-nature-park-weekly-program---living-with-elephants-45/view
- Elephant Nature Park — official website: office at 1 Ratmakka Road, Phra Sing, Chiang Mai 50200; office hours 07:00 to 17:00, Monday to Sunday; no-riding and chain-free elephant policy (accessed 22/09/2026): https://www.elephantnaturepark.org/
- Wikipedia (EN) — «Elephant Nature Park» (founded in 1998 by Green Tours together with Sangduen «Lek» Chailert; Mae Taeng district, about 60 km north of Chiang Mai; around 100 hectares; 34 elephants in 1998 and some 200 rescues carried out by Chailert by 2016; shift away from the original show model; «Saddle Off!» campaign): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elephant_Nature_Park
- Background on Thailand's 1989 ban on commercial logging and its effect on working elephants and their mahouts.
- OpenStreetMap — sanctuary coordinates (19.21427, 98.8569), Mae Taeng valley, looked up via Photon on 22/09/2026: https://www.openstreetmap.org
- Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) — Responsible Thailand Awards 2022, animal welfare category, awarded to Elephant Nature Park (reported in the sanctuary's own press section): https://elephantnaturepark.org/media-article/tat-announces-winners-of-responsible-thailand-awards-2022-best-animal-welfare-elephant-nature-park/
- The hotel and food price ranges for Chiang Mai are 2026 market references to help with budgeting, not rates verified establishment by establishment. The sanctuary's programme prices, on the other hand, are taken from its official website.
