Pong Yaeng Elephant Sanctuary — Attraction in Chiang Mai Province

I saw a all-5-star review page on "Smiley Elephant Sanctuary"(the same as this one) and was attracted here. Unfortunately, if I were met with an excellent guide (like Ton like all other people on that page had mentioned), things would have been very different.

Not recommend this camp for I was over-charged and given a not-so-pleasing experience. But still, the elephants here seemed to live a free life.

Charged 1500 baht (only accept cash) for 1h of activities: feeding one elephant with bananas and grass, trekking down and up the hill (I don't understand why we "forced" the elephant to walk a long muddy way, while all the activities could be done without moving much, or the trekking could be much more worthy if the guide could tell me something about elephants), walking across a stream and splashing some water, helping me with some pictures - that's all. No herbal food making but it wasn't informed (I consider it fraud for being charged more), and the guide didn't understand English so I knew very little about my trip. After I crossed the stream, I thought there was some "mud bath" ahead but no, it was the end of the trip, so I insisted on a good bathing with water.

I just hope the money I spent could help improve the elephant's living.

The owner should know a good guide could make a huge difference. If there is no English-speaking guide, or some activities are not available, it should be informed ahead and the price...

We showed up unannounced while riding the Doi Suthep loop. One of the elephants was standing behind the entrance while 2 others where grazing freely. The caretakers were friendly and I could understand some of it with my basic Thai. No on the spot feeding as at other camps.

I suggest you give them a call prior to heading there to find out the possibilities (bathing, feeding, etc) I wish I could interact more with the elephants as they need all the help they can during...

Seeing pictures of people riding these poor elephants breaks my heart shame on you guys i hope these are from other camps and i did not waste my money on people who abuse animals I asked 1000 times and care takes told me they don’t let tourists or anyone ride them so I believed them i hope they were being honest if you visit this or any other camp Kindly don’t ride them just pet them feed them . Say no to animal abuse ❤️ Pola...