Doi Inthanon Elephant Sanctuary

Hours (Open/Closed) Monday 6:00 AM - 10:00 PM Tuesday 6:00 AM - 10:00 PM Wednesday 6:00 AM - 10:00 PM Thursday 6:00 AM - 10:00 PM Friday 6:00 AM - 10:00 PM Saturday 6:00 AM - 10:00 PM Sunday 6:00 AM - 10:00 PM

📍 Location of Doi Inthanon Elephant Sanctuary 🚘 Directions to Doi Inthanon Elephant Sanctuary

About Doi Inthanon Elephant Sanctuary

Visiting Chiang Mai offers a plethora of unique experiences, but one that stands out is the opportunity to interact with elephants in their natural habitat. This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that is an absolute must-do for anyone visiting the region. The tour is well-organized, with easy communication facilitated via WhatsApp. The surprise element is that it's a private tour, which adds a personal touch to the whole experience.

The tour guide, Taksin, is sensational. He immediately makes the visitors feel comfortable and takes the time to get to know them on a personal level. He caters to all their needs and goes above and beyond to ensure that they feel like VIPs throughout the trip. He also takes loads of pictures to help them remember this unique opportunity.

The first day of the experience involves exploring the beauty of Doi Inthanon National Park with a local tour guide who can identify even the smallest wildlife, from snakes to preying mantis. Taksin then takes the visitors to some incredible places that they would most likely not have visited otherwise. Even if the weather isn't on their side, they make the most of it.

Taksin has fantastic knowledge about the Karen tribes and is able to answer all questions in great detail. The meal provided in the local village far surpasses expectations. Upon arriving at the lodges where they stay, Taksin and the locals ensure that the visitors feel right at home and treat them as family.

The following day, the visitors are visited by the elephants at their lodge. They get the opportunity to feed them and take amazing photos. This later leads to seeing them naturally in the jungle and bathing them, which is an absolute once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. To finish the day, they are taken bamboo rafting, where they get to see how some locals enjoy their free time and explore amazing areas that they wouldn't have chosen to otherwise.

The groups are kept small, making the experience more personal and easy for everyone. The guide is great, funny, polite, and part of the Karen community. He can explain almost everything about the elephants and the communities around. The experience is easy-going but leaves the visitors feeling exhausted.

The tour company is also accommodating, even for solo travelers who only speak English. They offer a jam-packed day of adventure and laughs with elephants, including a baby elephant. The day includes stopping for Pad Thai at a cute little place on the side of the road, and beautiful scenery in Doi Ithanon National Park with multiple landmark stops. The tour guide, James, is knowledgeable, funny, friendly, and accommodating. He even helps with making a stop at an ATM and pharmacy on the way back.

The Elephant Sanctuary is a wonderful experience. The staff is very friendly and helps visitors understand the right way to treat the elephants. They are allowed to feed and bathe them. This is a highly recommended experience for tourists who want to see elephants and respect them, while helping the community and the rescue of other species.

The sanctuary is part of a bigger tour. The guide, Udon, takes very good care of the traveling party throughout the whole day and is very patient. He is more than happy to take photos and videos whenever asked. The elephants can freely walk around the sanctuary, which is a very good sign. They appear to be well-looked after.

The staff at the sanctuary is passionate about what they are doing. They answer every question about these beautiful creatures. Feeding the elephants and bathing them is so much fun and an experience that one will never get in a regular zoo. The elephants seem to have fun as well.

The day at the elephant sanctuary is a great one. The elephants are well-behaved and visitors can get close to them and feed them. Washing them is a lot of fun. There is a big buffet for lunch, and then afterwards, they go trekking to some nearby waterfalls where they can swim. It is indeed a great day!