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Joy Elephant Sanctuary: Ethical Elephant Observation
4.9
40 Ratings
Mae Win
Join our ethical Chiang Mai Elephant Sanctuary tour. Observe elephants, enjoy a waterfall, and craft Thai souvenirs. Book now for a unique adventure.
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…
- 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 in their natural habitat.
Don’t miss the chance to enjoy the breathtaking waterfall during your visit, and also learn to craft a Thai cultural souvenir to remember your experience.
What's Included
- Free photography
- Towel
- Bottled water
- Lunch
- In-vehicle air conditioning
- Elephant’s food and snack
- Insurance
- Tea and coffee
- 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
- 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…
• 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 herbal tea and unwind by the waterfall. Nestled in lush forests and bordered by tranquil rivers, our sanctuary provides a year-round food supply for the elephants to thrive.
• Immerse in Culture: Create your own Thai cultural handmade souvenir as a memorable keepsake.
- Pets are prohibited
- Child seat is available up on request
- What to bring: Extra Clothes, Swimming Suit, Sandals, Trekking / Hiking Shoes Sunblock lotion, Insect Spray, Customers own allergy medication
Location
Thung Luang
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.9
(40 Ratings)
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Jonathangb4981as
Jun 6, 2025
Ethical & so much fun - We had an amazing time with Joy!
We did a lot of research to find an actual ethical elephant sanctuary and picked this one. It was the perfect one!
They picked us up shortly after noon. We drove for about two hours (including a pit stop) and arrived at the property. We took a truck for several minutes down to the entrance.
It's like another world as soon as you get there! There is a beautiful river cascading over rocks in a valley. We received some great information and fed the elephants. They have five beautiful mothers here, and they loved snack time.
After that, we all went on a walk. The elephants grazed as we went up into the forest a bit and then made our way back to the main area. We got changed and went for a swim while the elephants hung around the water and ate some more.
We had pad thai and fruit for an early dinner and got to watch the elephants wander around the area.
We finished by doing a souvenir craft and left about 5:30 and arrived back at our hotel at 7.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Tobieb
May 23, 2025
Great elephant experience with local people and good elephant welfare - Great experience seeing elephants in a more ethical way and meeting a local family group looking after them
No bathing / riding, just observing, walking in the jungle with them, and giving them snacks
Guide was amazing and gave us lots of information, they also provided us with a great meal and we made a Thai herb inhaler to take home with us.
Transfers included from Chiang Mai about 90minutes each way
All round great experience
Review provided by Tripadvisor
L5451zaabbyg
May 2, 2025
THE BEST CHOICE!!! - Phenomenal experience!! This is a fantastic and truly ethical elephant experience! The staff is outstanding and the elephants are incredible to watch and feed in their natural habitat. There are many elephant sanctuaries to choose from and I'm thrilled to have chosen this one!! The lunch and waterfall experience were great and the souvenirs we made are very cool. There was the option to go bamboo rafting and other options too. Thank you for such a wonderful and memorable experience!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Katlin0
Apr 8, 2025
Wonderful meeting with the elephants - The elephants were amazing, we got to feed them and walk with them, swim under the waterfall and make a wonderfully smelling souvenier. And there was no touching the elephants just as promised. We took the afternoon tour.
Our guide was very good and arrangement was very swift and smooth. We booked it late the previous evening and didn' want the transfer but wanted to arrive by ourselves with a car. Everything was we'll arranged. We got to do everything as we planned.
This is a great tour, the price was reasonable and arrangement very good and adjustable.
I hope your enterprise thrives and you can save many more elephants in the years to come.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
John_f
Mar 30, 2025
Memorable Afternoon at Elephant Sanctuary - A must do! Such a memorable experience. Superbly organized from pick up to drop off.
Small group, thorough orientation, highly ethical in treating the animals which was our priority. The lunch and craft activity added to the enjoyment. The guides were young enthusiasts. The group was diverse - younger, older(retired like us) international and engaged. Walking with the elephants was amazing.
Review provided by Viator
Becca_a
Mar 26, 2025
A must do trip! - An absolutely incredible experience feeding and walking with the elephants. You can tell they are really well cared for. We also had an excellent lunch, a dip in the waterfall and the chance to great our own souvenir. The guides were very knowledgeable and friendly, would recommend to anyone
Review provided by Viator
W2855ozrebeccaj
Mar 23, 2025
Unforgettable experience and lovely day out - My favourite day in Thailand so far, you get picked up right outside your hostel which is so handy and taken to the sanctuary. They brief you on what you’ll do that day and how they take care of the elephants. You can tell they’re so looked after and cared for here. We got to feed the elephants and go on a walk with them then taken to a waterfall where we swam and the elephants got in as well. They then gave us pad thai which was delicious and we sat watching the waterfall whilst eating. We then went back and made inhalers which are very common here in thailand and we got to take it home. The tour guides are so friendly and make the day such a special one. If you’re looking for an ethical elephant sanctuary and a lovely day out with lots to do this is definitely the place for you. A must do for people visiting Chiang Mai!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Getaway30364854858
Mar 20, 2025
One of my favorite experiences in Thailand! - Beautiful scenery and experience. The staff was so knowledgeable about the elephants and very kind with them. Swimming in the waterfall while the elephants stood around was unbelievable. 😱
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Romigny
Mar 14, 2025
Great!!! - Very nice half day very well organized. In nature the observation of elephants in their environments. I recommend.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jelcos1
May 26, 2025
New sanctuary but limited freedom - We were picked up in time and taken to the sanctuary, the driver drove safely but the name of the man who was probably our guide remained unknown because he did not introduce himself and said nothing.
Near the sanctuary you change into a pick up because the last part is not suitable for the van. After the last drive of a few minutes you arrive at the sanctuary, whose location is beautiful.
We were welcomed by a small, very cheerful and singing woman who told us about the elephants and the program.
The five elephants have been taken from people who let the elephants work on the land and are now allowed to enjoy life in the sanctuary. Or well enjoy; they get food and drinks and they are taken care of, but they are constantly escorted to a place where we as tourists then went.
So the elephants went into the woods to eat bamboo and smear themselves with mud and then we walked after them to take pictures and observe the 'free' behaviour.
I think every part of the day is the same as every part of the day there is a tour: waiting for the tourists to be fed, waiting for the tourists to get to the bamboo and mud and waiting for the tourists to get to the water and the waterfall.
So they constantly have a limited freedom.
Yes it is nice to see them and observe their behaviour and yes it is nice that they are no longer used as working animals and now have a better life, but they are far from free and do what they want.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
