Joy Elephant Sanctuary: Ethical Elephant Observation

Join our ethical Chiang Mai Elephant Sanctuary tour. Observe elephants, enjoy a waterfall, and craft Thai souvenirs. Book now for a unique adventure.

Duration: 7 hours
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • Thung Luang - Experience the Half-day Adventure with Joy Elephant Sanctuary exclusive Elephant Observation, Waterfall, and Cultural Activities program.
    Absorb the rich culture and history of the northern Karen Hill Tribe known for their close connection to elephants. Spend your time witnessing elephant’s daily routine, and observing their behaviors…
What's Included
  • Free photography
  • Towel
  • Bottled water
  • Lunch
  • In-vehicle air conditioning
  • Elephant’s food and snack
  • Insurance
  • Tea and coffee
What's Not Included
  • Other personal expenses
Additional Information

• Embark on an ethical adventure at Joy Elephant Sanctuary: Experience responsible tourism through our Elephant Observation programs!
• Enjoy Fun Interactions: Dress in traditional Karen attire, learn to prepare food for the elephants, and watch these gentle giants in their natural behavior from a safe distance.
• Discover Elephant Paradise: Relax with…

Location
Thung Luang
Cancellation Policy

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

Customer Ratings
4.9
(55 Ratings)
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Road50169659396
Aug 9, 2025
Very nice surprise. - Welcoming at the top, they are adorable, explain and respect elephants. We feed them and then take a walk in the jungle where the elephants follow us. Then we went back down to a waterfall where we can swim. We then had a meal and a surprise memory. It was great, not too much or not enough, the rhythm was perfect. Total change of scenery insured.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Theresa_b
Aug 7, 2025
Elephant trip - This was a great experience it took about 1.5 hours to get there with 15 minutes stop to go to toilet or grab something from shop to eat or drink no toilet paper at these toilets. Road up is winding but did not feel nervous at all when you get to top you get on a 4×4 for about 5 minutes to see elephants it's rocky. Then we met shay and shy.Shy was very informative and had great knowledge of elephants he answered every question. Then we fed the elephants which was great you could not touch them .the hike was fine but wear hiking boots or non slip runners myself and my husband in late 50s fairly fit and had no problem doing it. We swam in the waterfall and then had lunch.it was a fantastic day
Review provided by Viator
F5300mcdanielc
Aug 5, 2025
Great guides and experience - Great guides and experience , half a day perfect amount of time to just see and experience, stay longer if want to see and do more.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Holiday8464
Aug 4, 2025
Special privileged occasion! - Happy elephants! Helpful staff. Stunning setting.Great communication. Such a special event, seeing these elephants in a safe sanctuary! Such a joy! Thank you for sharing!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
338darins
Aug 1, 2025
1/2 day elephant sanctuary trip - The elephants were majestic! The park was picturesque! The guide was extremely knowledgeable and professional! The lunch was delicious! I highly recommended the tour! Thanks so much!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Mauricio_m
Jul 29, 2025
Elephant Observatory was excellent! - What an awesome experience the Observation of Elephants was! All activities were well planned and explained.
Review provided by Viator
414siobhanm
Jul 28, 2025
Great trip - We had a wonderful experience at Joy Elephant Sanctuary. It was difficult to find a truly ethical sanctuary, and after much research we found Joy. The staff here taught us a lot about elephants. We were able to observe the elephants in their peaceful, daily lives. We took a small walk/hike with them, fed them watermelon, and watched them swim. We are very happy we chose to come here over other sanctuaries we heard of. Highly recommend!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Daytrip27349521231
Jul 25, 2025
Amazing - Very kind people who like to tell you everything about the Sanctuary and about the wildlife they have here in the jungle. From snakes to birds to spiders. Would definitely recommend this!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Leiree399
Jul 24, 2025
- We really enjoyed spending the morning visiting this shrine. We chose POR him because he does not ride, touch or bathe elephants. As soon as you arrive, they explain their characteristics and way DE life, then you give them banana and pumpkin to eat and go for a walk in the bush as every day to eat branches, bark and especially bamboo. And us next door, two steps away watching them go about their lives quietly. Then they rested again, we bathed EN a small waterfall and ate. In the end the elephants decided they wanted to take a bath and it was a luxury to see them enjoy EN water. EN summary, a luxury and an indelible memory. In the end we made a craft that I will NO spur... 100% recommended.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Kevin_s
Aug 10, 2025
This was a good... - This was a good experience. Our guide was well organized and informative. Seeing the elephants up close was very cool. The reason I have given a 4 and not a 5 is that this was a very rigorous hike up and down a steep muddy trail. This activity is not suitable for anyone with any physical limitations. Better notice should be given of the difficulty level of this activity.
Review provided by Viator
From $56
up to 15 guests
1 - Adult
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience (local time).