Chiang Mai Elephant Home - Office in the City — Attraction in Chiang Mai Province

My wife and I lucked out during a visit to Chaing Mai. While stopping to take photos of a local Wat (temple), we met a friendly Thai man visiting with his family from Bangkok. He told us he had been to the Chiang Mai Elephant Home the previous day and highly recommended it. He showed us where in Chiang Mai to book it (as some of the tourist traps book you in one location and then send you somewhere different). We were looking for a Sanctuary that did not encourage riding of elephants. Booking was easy and straightforward. My wife and I chose the full day plus hike option. We were picked up from our hotel at 8am by Ronnie, and driven out to the countryside in the back of a pickup truck (standard method of transportation for Chiang Mai). Along the way we stopped at a country market for a washroom break, snacks, and refreshments (get a Thai style iced coffee...very decadent!). The entire trip took about 75 minutes to our first stop, which was a bamboo rafting trip down a gentle river. Ronnie passed us off to a local river guide, and we took a leisurely 45 minute trip down the river. The river was calm with only a few small rapids...nothing to worry over but you will get a bit wet so a bathing suit is ideal for the ride. Plenty to see on the river as well...elephants, cows, oxen, snakes (tiny and harmless). After the river excursion, we met up again with Ronnie, who gave us the option of hiking to a waterfall OR a white sand beach. He recommended the waterfall, which was a shorter and easier hike, so we followed along. The hike was pleasant, not challenging for someone who frequently walks, and Ronnie regaled us with stories of elephants, his home life, and Thai traditions. After an hour or so, we arrived at the waterfall (very picturesque and romantic for this honeymooning couple), and we had 45 minutes to swim and explore. After that, it was another 30 minute walk through beautiful hilly countryside to the elephant home. Immediately on arriving we were seated to a nice Thai lunch...rice, curry potatoes and chicken, eggs and fruit. Once lunch was done, we changed into the provided elephant clothes (colorful and a bit ridiculous...but cute nonetheless), and were sent over to the food prep area. Ronnie explained to us what the elephants ate while we prepared food balls wrapped in banana leaves. My wife and I lucked out in our choice of program, because it ended up being only the two of us. Because of this, Ronnie was able to get us some extra alone time with 5 very hungry elephants (3 adults and 2 wee ones) who were more than happy to be fed, talked to, and petted. There were other groups of 10 people, but because they had chosen half day programs, we were able to get in with the elephants earlier. Ronnie was able to tell us about each elephant, their histories, and how they differed in personalities. Once the feeding was done, we switched back into our swim suits for some elephant bathing. A gentle big guy let us slather him in mud, and then took us down to the river where we were able to wash him off with big buckets of water. All the while Ronnie and the other handlers were there to make sure everything went smoothly. We opted for a photo / video option for an additional 550 Baht and were given a USB stick with everything on it before we left...a nice way to relive the memories whenever we want. At the end of the day Ronnie drove us back to our hotel and provided us with some recommendations of what we should see during our remaining time in Chiang Mai. Overall, it was a great day and we would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a cruelty-free experience with elephants. Ronnie was an excellent guide as well, so ask for him if you...

I visited Chiang Mai in late September with 4 other friends and we did Chiang Mai Elephant Home's day tour after having been recommended by a local around Chiang Mai old town, stating it was an ethical elephant sanctuary because it didn't involve any "riding". The lady at the office was really nice and helpful, and explained what the tour consisted of, also emphasising the "no-riding" aspect.

The weather was bad so we weren't able to do the bamboo rafting but we still went to the Longneck Village and on the nice hike, and we were taken to see some beautiful temples in the end to make up for the rafting.

As for the sanctuary, it all seemed great until the part where we were bathing the elephants, where one elephant got out of control and it became clear that the staff had no way of ensuring our safety, urging us to get out of the pool (a muddy hole in the ground with no actual infrastructure for people to get in and out) but seemingly helpless to do anything if anyone had actually been caught by the elephant. After everyone scrammed to get to safety they were able to call the elephant out of the pool and took it aside to be punished. After this whole ordeal we were directed to the showers to clean off the mud from our scratches and splinters (result of scurrying out of the pool however we could manage) and the first thing our guide thought to discuss with us after this was how to leave a review on Google (borderline pressuring us)...

I understand they have these activities because people buy them and they are just trying to make a living. It was clear the whole thing was centered around making it a memorable experience for the consumer, the elephants were clearly trained to partake (being given treats at every positive interaction, like posing to take a picture with each visitor). It bothered me to see the elephant being punished after the bath episode considering it's probably more so our fault that it got upset in the first place.

In retrospect, we should have done our research better and chosen a fully no-touch sanctuary if this sort of thing bothers us, but even aside from our general discomfort with the dynamic held with the elephants I must emphasise the clear lack of safety measures held in place regarding the bathing activity (which extends to all others as well).

I am leaving this review for any future visitors of this sanctuary, to beware that elephants are big animals to be respected and don't partake in any activity where you feel your safety is at stake.

I also leave this review for Elephant Home, again, I understand you are only trying to make a living, so I would also beware of the impression you leave on your visitors when marketing this as an ethical sanctuary and urge you to adapt your activities to further respect the animals and in turn be able to ensure your...

READ TO THE END PLEASE!!!! We were told we chose the BEST organisation for a tour of one of the many elephant sanctuaries in Chiang Mai. They said no chains, no hooks and all money goes directly to helping the elephants rehabilitate from the damage humans have put them through, “allowing them to roam free in a loving, natural environment”. As soon as we arrived and saw the elephants we realized this was not the case. They were practically forced to come towards us by their caretakers who screamed at them and discreetly pulled their ears. As visitors we were allowed to touch the elephants as we feed them, and you could see the fear and stress in their eyes, having to put up with more than 30 different tourists every day! The “ free natural environment” was a pretty small field with a puddle of dirt. They could not go freely anywhere, the caretakers followed them always and pushed them around and at night they got locked up in a shed for “their safety”. The worst of all was when we got down to the elephants after lunch and realized they WERE CHAINED TO THE TREE! When the staff went to lunch they chained the poor creatures to the trees and then they HID the chains before anyone would see them! Luckily we did and you could see the stressed movements on them while they were chained up, it felt as bad as a ZOO!

We had enough and told the guid we wanted to go home immediately, and 2 others joined me and my friend so he lastly agreed angrily to call us a taxi. We went straight to the main office where we had bought the tickets and complained vividly and disappointedly about the lies she had told us. She told us she knew “nothing” of this and had NEVER heard this before, but she still agreed to give us our money back after bargaining like she was used to do refounds even tho they said they didn’t’.

*We wanted the money back because it felt super bad and shameful to benefit this so called “sanctuary” when you could tell the elephants were suffering a great dea, and they were super unclear about where the money wentl! We hope to find a better place to put our money but PLEASE DO...