Elephant Nature Park — Attraction in Chiang Mai Province

Probably one of the best experiences of my life. I had a cracked and fractured ankle and was really anxious and nervous about going but we’d already paid a deposit, however ENP really looked after me and I will give special mention to their park host who took me around and made my experience 10 times better as I wouldn’t have been able to see the elephants without her help. The staff are all some of the friendliest, and most attentive I’ve ever met. From Chris working with the dogs, who was super helpful and informative and always happy to explain (one of my fave examples being he said not to spoil the dogs fun and let them get muddy if they wanted because they can bath them, which made extra work for them but had the dogs best interests and welfare in mind) to our guides who gave us all the information in a fun way, so you enjoyed working and kept us safe. The incredible chefs - I was not a vegan and was a bit nervous about eating only vegan food for a week, but the food was so INCREDIBLE, that I now know it’s possible for me to make that change so it’s inspired me to change my diet, the food was honestly above and beyond good, our group was desperate for a class or cookbook! The cashier was lovely and the barista who remembered our exact orders and relayed them with a smile! We were so impressed. I was unable to walk dogs because of my leg, (otherwise I would have been in with all the dogs!) so I came to the curly haired dogs as they were all together daily. Their mahout who cares for them NEVER stopped working. She was always sweeping, hosing, cleaning, feeding and despite the fact she didn’t speak English and I spoke around 5 Thai words we bathed dogs together, dried and brushed them, she was so lovely and treated all the dogs with kindness they deserved. I was in awe of all the projects ENP has going on, everytime I thought wow that’s good, I’d find out they were doing something else! They had clinics for the animals, took out food for the stray dogs. Even during a talk with the founder, Lek, somebody in our group mentioned that in Laos, there was a rescue struggling to get medication for cats and straight away Lek replied ‘how much do you need? I will get it to them, where can we send it’ and Derrick was organising details straight away. I have never seen so much compassion not just for animals, but for people too.

I have worked in animal care all my life but the way it’s done here is truly the benchmark, there is no question for what’s in the best interest of the animals. Derrick did a talk with us seeing the elephants and he had so much love for his bull elephants and the way he spoke about them as they are his children you can see that he deeply loves and cares for them. All the elephants on the park love him and he is family to them. The elephants themselves are fantastic, so loved and cared for, there is a reason for everything they do and I can without a doubt say if you want to visit elephants in an ethical way, this is the place to do it. We spent a week here and got plenty of opportunities to meet the elephants, and find out about all the work they do. It’s an inspirational place, helping not just animals but people. They know all of their animals by name and can tell you their stories and we had some magical moments seeing the elephants interact together, touching each other with their trunks. They are close to the platform so there is always chances to take great pictures. We learnt so much about them and the life they have had. If you have any doubt in your mind about which elephant sanctuary to choose, elephant nature park is the one, and if you cannot physically go but you are reading this, please consider donating. They are absolutely the most worthy cause with all their projects and the fantastic...

We experienced the 2 day / 1 night programme and it was a fantastic, unforgettable experience. We were unsure if we wanted to participate in any sort of elephant experience as we understood that abuse is rife, so we did a lot of research before booking with Elephant Nature Park. That fact that they only serve vegan food is an indication of the type of place they run.

Accomodation: our room was very nce, very big and with 2 huge double beds. Bathroom was very modern and clean with a really hot shower. Fan only, but that was more than enough to keep it cool. Downside was that it was very damp, everything in the room felt wet and all our stuff got damp. Only a minor negative, but thought it worth mentioning.

Food: 10/10! Food was incredible, everything is vegan and served buffet style and it was so, so good. We had 2 lunches, 1 breakfast and 2 dinner. All sort out Thai dishes, lots of veg and tofu, as well as pancakes for breakfast, noodle soup for dinner and lots of salad and fruit, tea and coffee too. We were so happy with the food.

Elephants: From my perspective, everything feels ethical and we never experienced anything that we felt uneasy with, except the male elephants who are kept separate on order to stop any breeding. Their area is a lot smaller and they don't get the same enrichment activities, 1 male elephant threw a stone at us when we walked by with our guide. Apart from that, the welfare of the elephants seems to be at the forefront of everything and all the staff and mahouts use positive reinforcement and never any sort of violence or threats. The elephants seem very well cared for and visitors have very minimal interaction, mostly just watching from afar and not getting in the way, but occasionally hand feeding like the mahouts do. This was very much on the elephants terms though and this seemed ethical enough as the mahouts are always there ensuring that visitors stick to the rules, which is basically staying far back and holding a piece of food or vegetable out and then allowing the elephant to take it.

Itinerary: A lot of your time is just spent wandering around the park with the guide (Job and Mos were both fantastic!) who explains about the elephants and the aims of the park and answers questions. We were in a group of 6 and this felt perfect. We also got to walk in the jungle on the 2nd day and hand feed some elephants. As a group we made an elephant "cake" and watched as a family of elephants devoured it in 2nds. We seen elephants bathing and playing in the river from the viewing platform, there is also a lot of other animals which you can visit such as in cat kingdom, as well as dogs, water buffalos, cows, pigs and horses.

Overall, I think this is the most ethical way to see elephants in Thailand the your money is going towards...

I recently had the privilege of volunteering at an Elephant Nature Park, and I can't recommend it enough. The sanctuary is home to over 100 elephants, 700 dogs, and 2,000 cats, and it was incredible to witness the care and respect given to each of these animals. One of the most important aspects of this sanctuary is that visitors do not ride the elephants. Instead, the focus is on providing them with a safe, peaceful environment where they can thrive.

The volunteer program was one week long, with accommodations and meals included. The schedule struck an excellent balance between work, downtime, and guided walks around the park. The tasks we were assigned were varied but always rewarding. We unloaded food trucks, picked up poop, helped with flood clean up, and even made an elephant cake as a special elephant treat! Additional, helping with the many dogs at the park was an optional task. Including getting to walk the disabled dogs. While the work was physically demanding at times, it was also deeply fulfilling to know we were contributing to the wellbeing of these magnificent creatures.

The guides, Art, Joe, and Sumo, were outstanding. They were incredibly knowledgeable about the elephants and their individual needs, background and behaviors. They made sure to keep us informed, organized, and, most importantly, safe when around the free-roaming animals. Their passion for the work was evident in everything they did, and they were always patient and supportive. Beyond their expertise with the animals, they also gave us valuable insights into Thai and mahout culture. One of the highlights was a special Thai culture lesson, where they shared traditions, customs, and even some basic language skills that enriched our overall experience.

What truly made this experience unforgettable was the sense of community and the opportunity to directly support such a meaningful cause. My heart has never felt so full. Being part of this project, even in a small way, was incredibly fulfilling, and I am proud to have contributed to their ongoing efforts to provide a loving, respectful environment for the elephants, dogs, cats and many other animals in their care.

Note to future volunteers: Bring your own gloves You can get your laundry done You might get the chance to visit a local school, if so, you need a long sleeve shirt and pants (there's likely ones you can buy at the gift store) Additional bug spray and sunscreen (and other small store items) can be purchased at the little shop outside of the main park There are mud boots that you can borrow The café is great! Bring some smaller bills for them. Bring close toe shoes, like sneakers to prevent injuries Remember to...