Chiang Mai: Elephant Sanctuary, Doi Inthanon

Join a wild adventure in Chiang Mai: Elephant observation, Doi Inthanon hike, and cultural immersion. Discover Thailand’s natural beauty and rich traditions.

Duration: 12 hours
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • Thung Luang - Embark on a one-day adventure with our Joy Elephant Sanctuary Observation, Doi Inthanon & Hiking Program. Relish the scenic rural views of Chiang Mai as you’re picked up and travel through picturesque landscapes.
    At the sanctuary, don traditional Karen clothing for hands-on activities, preparing food for the elephants while learning…
What's Included
  • Free Photography
  • Towel
  • Guide: In-person: English, Thai
  • Lunch
  • Drinking Water
  • Insurance
  • Tea and coffee
  • Elephant’s Food & Snack
  • Ticket (Inthanon National Park & Twin Pagodas)
What's Not Included
  • Other personal expenses
Additional Information

Step into a wild adventure at Joy Elephant Sanctuary. Meet majestic elephants, conquer Doi Inthanon & Hike through lush forests, and immerse yourself in Thailand’s natural beauty. It’s a journey you won’t want to miss!
Dive into our responsible tourism with Elephant Observation programs!
Fun Interactions: Change into traditional Karen clothing, Learn,…

Location
Thung Luang
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
5.0
(19 Ratings)
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Paulina
Apr 13, 2025
A perfect day - Great trip! A perfect way to spend the day if in Chiang Mai. Spending time with the elephants was awesome. And then hiking through the jungle was great.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Wildexplorer2017
Mar 31, 2025
Well organised fun ethical Elephant Sanctuary day trip - Booked the full day tour comprising of half day elephant sanctuary, Doi Inthanon and hiking tour via Viator. Easy enough to book. Was picked up in a mini bus from our hotel on time, collected the other group members (8 in our group) and then drove Joy Sanctuary which took about 1.5 hrs. Stopped once on the way, able to get snacks and a coffee. Once we arrived a quick swap into a keel takes you into the sanctuary. We were welcomed nicely and they give you a Karen (local clothing) top. Had a chance to settle in and was told information about the sanctuary and our days itinerary. No bathing or riding the elephants. Each elephant had a 1:1 carer. Total of 5 female elephants in the sanctuary. We fed the elephants and then went for a short walk with them. Then there’s a chance to go into the river or just have tea and observe the elephants. Then it was lunch time; tofu pad Thai and fruit, bottled water provided. There are basic toilets onsite. We then did a short activity and went off to Doi Inthanon. Hour drive up, saw the twin pagodas and then drove for the hike. Hike was about 1.5 hrs, saw some small waterfalls, no Gibbons were seen, apparent sights are very rare to see them. The hike was ok, ended in a local native coffee and gift shop where you taste different locally made coffees. Overall the trip was great, very friendly and welcoming staff. Well organised, ran to time, started at 8am and dropped off at 7pm. The lunch was basic but tasty and there was plenty. The sanctuary is 9 months old and appears to be ethical from what we experienced
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Curiosity10142929729
Mar 30, 2025
Best day of my trip - The best day of my trip by far Jade was out tour guide for the day and he was absolutely fantastic knowledgeable and fun Made the day memorable and fun We got picked up from our requested hotel in Chang Mai We stopped for a break half way for coffee for 15 mins then headed to joy elephant sanctuary We got to feed the elephants and then walking along by them through the jungle to see them in their own habitat We then went back to the rock pool and waterfall for a swim and the elephants came to the pool to drink while we swam in the water and sat under the waterfall which was a lovely back massage Had a go on the bamboo raft which was fun then had tea and lunch which was delicious 😍 All round amazing experience😊 We then went on to the highest point of Thailand where the kind ashes are buried, I was suprised at how cool it was there and jade told us that it can get to -degrees up there during cold season . We then went to see the king and queens temples and it is so beautiful the gardens are amazing aswell as the temples and the views . We ended the tour with a hike through the Karen community trail which was not a hard hike to do at all and is a lovely 1 and half hours through beautiful area well worth every minute Again jade was a knowledgeable guide and fun with it Thank you for an amazing day all round
Review provided by Tripadvisor
176jingjingf
Mar 26, 2025
A perfect day - Went with a small group and had a very personalized experience. Our guide was very friendly and knowledgeable! All three activities were incredible in their own way. The elephants were happy and full of personality, Doi Ithanon was gorgeous, and the hike went through the most beautiful forest I've ever seen. Extremely pleased with the whole thing and so happy they took pictures for me!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Lorne_l
Mar 10, 2025
A must do experience - Unforgettable elephant experience on a preserve that doesn't exploit the animals. There were a few little bonuses like the post hike tea.
Review provided by Viator
Stay47711035174
Feb 28, 2025
Right choice - I thought long and hard about which elephant sanctuary would be the right one. There are so many options, and they all claim to be ethical. In the end, I was convinced by the fact that no riding, bathing, or touching is allowed at this one. Additionally, I was able to combine this trip with Doi Inthanon National Park, which was still on my bucket list. Before the trip, I asked myself: Is the extra cost really worth it? And can I fully experience the animals despite having less interaction with them? I can now answer both questions with a clear yes. We were allowed to feed the elephants from behind a protective fence—ensuring safety for both sides. We could also observe them up close in their natural environment. Seeing the gentle interaction between the elephants and their keepers also gave me a very good feeling. All four elephants were rescued from poor conditions and now get to fully enjoy their lives. I don’t normally write reviews, but I wanted to share my experience here because animal welfare is very important to me. Combining this visit with Doi Inthanon National Park was absolutely the right decision. I had one of the best days of my life. Many thanks for that!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Dagmark391
Feb 13, 2025
A successful day tour. - We liked the tour very much, our guide and the villagers who accompanied us on the hike were very attentive.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Andrea_l
Feb 11, 2025
An Ethical and Unforgettable Elephant Sanctuary Experience - We absolutely loved the experience! From the walk to our arrival at the elephant sanctuary, everything exceeded our expectations. The van was very comfortable, and all the tour guides were friendly and helpful. We appreciated learning about how the elephants are cared for. This activity is incredibly ethical—there’s no riding, bathing, or anything like that. Instead, we got to feed the elephants and take a peaceful walk with them afterward. We highly recommend this tour and would love to see more ethical experiences like this across Thailand.
Review provided by Viator
Esther_y
Jan 22, 2025
One of the most beautiful... - One of the most beautiful and educacional experiences I have ever had. They truly care for the elephants and the guides/drivers were very professional. Such a full experience and great communication
Review provided by Viator
Robinsv6218rk
Jan 11, 2025
Great waterfalls - More than I could have expected - our guide, Go, took us across the viewpoints of inthanon and we got a traditional lunch and some coffee as well as learned how to make smelling balm. It was clear they cared for the elephants and we got not one but two meals that day, Once at the park and once with the elephants. The waterfalls along the way and at the sanctuary were beautiful too.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
From $64
up to 15 guests
1 Adult
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience (local time).