Elephant Nature Park
Animal shelter · Mae Taeng ·

Elephant Nature Park

Animal shelter · Mae Taeng ·

Ethical elephant sanctuary with jungle tours, rafting & animal care

Elephant Nature Park by null
Elephant Nature Park by null
Elephant Nature Park by null
Elephant Nature Park by null
Elephant Nature Park by null
Elephant Nature Park by null
Elephant Nature Park by null
Elephant Nature Park by null
Elephant Nature Park by null
Elephant Nature Park by null
Elephant Nature Park by null
Elephant Nature Park by null
Elephant Nature Park by null
Elephant Nature Park by null
Elephant Nature Park by null
Elephant Nature Park by null
Elephant Nature Park by null
Elephant Nature Park by null
Elephant Nature Park by null
Elephant Nature Park by null

Information

ชม.3052 Kuet Chang, Mae Taeng District, Chiang Mai 50150, Thailand Get directions

Wheelchair accessible entrance
Wheelchair accessible parking lot

Information

Static Map

ชม.3052 Kuet Chang, Mae Taeng District, Chiang Mai 50150, Thailand Get directions

+66 53 272 855
elephantnaturepark.org
@elephantnaturepark

Features

•Wheelchair accessible entrance
•Wheelchair accessible parking lot

Last updated

Nov 22, 2025

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@travelleisure
28,641 Postcards · 5,539 Cities

Global Vision Awards 2024

"A roughly 300-acre sanctuary near Chiang Mai that rescues and rehabilitates elephants, rejecting rides and performances in favor of observational visits, volunteer opportunities for feeding and care, and educational experiences that seek to transform guests into ambassadors for elephant welfare." - Travel + Leisure Editors Travel + Leisure Editors Since 1971, Travel + Leisure editors have followed one mission: to inform, inspire, and guide travelers to have deeper, more meaningful experiences. T+L's editors have traveled to countries all over the world, having flown, sailed, road tripped, and taken the train countless miles. They've visited small towns and big cities, hidden gems and popular destinations, beaches and mountains, and everything in between. With a breadth of knowledge about destinations around the globe, air travel, cruises, hotels, food and drinks, outdoor adventure, and more, they are able to take their real-world experience and provide readers with tried-and-tested trip ideas, in-depth intel, and inspiration at every point of a journey. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines

https://www.travelandleisure.com/global-vision-awards-2024-8599244
Elephant Nature Park
@nomadicmatt
6,682 Postcards · 1,172 Cities

Southeast Asia Itineraries: From 2 Weeks to 3 Months

"I found Elephant Nature Park near Chiang Mai to be a phenomenal elephant sanctuary that rescues abused and injured elephants from around the country; it’s a place that makes clear why you should never ride an elephant, and a one-day visit costs about 2,500–3,500 THB for adults." - Matthew Kepnes

https://www.nomadicmatt.com/travel-blogs/southeast-asia-itinerary/
Elephant Nature Park
@nomadicmatt
6,682 Postcards · 1,172 Cities

How to Ethically See Elephants in Thailand (Updated 2025)

"Led by Lek Chailert, Elephant Nature Park (ENP) has operated since 1996 as Thailand’s biggest elephant rescue and conservation organization and serves as a retirement home for dozens of elephants and a menagerie of other animals saved from the tourism and logging industries; located outside of Chiang Mai, demand for visits and volunteer placements is so high that you often must reserve months in advance. I visited after booking ahead and saw firsthand the good they do and the heartbreaking stories of elephants with broken backs, legs, and missing feet; ENP has also worked with riding camps to help them give up riding and adopt more animal-friendly practices. Note that you can no longer feed or bathe the elephants there so their natural schedules aren’t disrupted, but you can still watch them eat, bathe, and get up close. Practical details: short visits last about 6–7 hours and cost 2,500 THB (includes a vegan lunch buffet and transportation to/from Chiang Mai), the popular overnight visit (2 days, 1 night) costs 5,800 THB (meals, transport, accommodation included), and a 7-day volunteer experience is around 15,000 THB." - Matthew Kepnes

https://www.nomadicmatt.com/travel-blogs/thailand-elephant-conservation/
Elephant Nature Park

Briony D.

Google
The ENP experience was just wonderful. We absolutely loved the 1/2 day morning visit. Easily booked online paying deposit, then final payment paid in cash when we arrived. The hotel pick up was on time. We visited just out of wet season, so if you are too I do recommend brining a poncho (also need appropriate waterproof shoes or something you’re happy to wash). The walk is very leisurely, easy for young kids etc. The guide told us a lot about each elephant group we walked past. It was amazing to be so close to the elephants, but not touching them or being so close that you are causing them stress. If you are after an ethical experience, this is definitely for you. The buffet lunch is delicious, lots of variety. Purchasing souvenirs from the gift shop is a great way to donate money to the ENP. If I visit Chiang Mai again I would definitely return to the ENP and do an overnight stay.

Jess H.

Google
1,000% recommend visiting Elephant Nature Park in Chiang Mai. This is an ETHICAL elephant sanctuary - no bathing, riding, touching. I did the overnight program and it was absolutely unbelievable!! You get picked up at your hotel (within distance of the office in Chiang mai) and they take you to the park in the morning. You get served lunch, dinner, breakfast and another lunch before you leave. You get to be close to the elephants, but no touching - great photo opportunities. You also get to make up snacks for the elephants on your 2nd day there. The guides are absolutely amazing, they tell you the history of all the elephants and where they were rescued from. They also have 100s of rescued cats and dogs that you get to see and pet as well. The accommodations are VERY NICE!!!! I highly recommend visiting this sanctuary if you want the genuine ethical elephant experience <3

Clément F.

Google
Amazing experience ! This sanctuary is huge and takes care of more than 100 elephants. The tour guides are very knowledgeable and they will tell you the story of some of the elephants, how they came there, how old they are, their current illnesses or injuries, and so on. No riding, no touching, just observing the elephants in their natural environment during close to two hours. Definitely worth the price !

Alicia B.

Google
I had the most magical experience at ENP! The elephants roam free, only their keeper are allowed to handle them and even then they do not touch them but speak to them, and they listen! The elephants are rescues from logging, circus and tourist ride attractions, some have sad backgrounds but are there to retire. I did the 2 day - 1 night stay and it was incredible. All meals included and damn there was so much choice and all delicious. Our guides O and Moss were just wonderful! Plus the accommodation is lovely too. The activities involved were beyond what I expected. Plus you get time to wander around freely along the viewing platforms, the cat sanctuary and the dogs too! On top of this, it was Lek (the owners) birthday so a huge sports day event happened at the end of the day with the whole village down for fun! I WILL be back!! Thank you for truly the best experience of my life.

Jackie W.

Google
Our tour guide Johnnie was wonderful!! The entire experience lasted around 2 ½ hours. We started with walking around the main reservation and learning about the animals, then we moved to a 2nd location where we had lunch and then prepared food for the elephants. Feeding them was truly an incredible experience!! These are such beautiful animals. After feeding, we walked along a trail with 2 elephants, and they went down into the river. Unfortunately it was too muddy to follow them down to the river bed, but we could see them from the path.

Gavin C.

Google
Such a memorable and special experience. ENP is a truly ethically run elephant sanctuary, with no riding, touching or swimming with the elephants. Our guide Tea was very insightful and passionate and taught us about the background of each elephant. It was evident the elephants care deeply about him and the caretakers. The buffaloes were also a highlight. Transport from Chiang Mai and food were excellent as well

Darren T.

Google
We did a half day tour of the sanctuary with our guide, Ann. We were picked up from our hotel at 7:30 AM and headed out to the sanctuary with a few other guests from other hotels. The sanctuary itself is stunning, and you are immediately greeted with very cute and friendly dogs (although beware of the ones with red collars - they are new and not yet friendly!). Walking around with the elephants was a great experience and learning about their stories - some more depressing than others, but it's great to see this place put the animals first and work very hard to make their lives as easy as possible, even catering to each elephants individual diets. It was great to see them playing in the water and making all sorts of noises. We were then served delicious vegetarian food at the restaurant before getting some time to explore a little, and then being dropped back off at our hotel.

abi A.

Google
Absolutely amazing experience. You could tell the elephants were safe and cared for with no tourist or even staff members other than care takers allowed to touch or feed the elephants (this is how it should be!). Our guide was so knowledgeable and had so much to tell us about each elephants history and where they had been rescued from. We got the over night package, well worth the money for the things you get to do. We also got to visit the cat sanctuary, prepare a cake for an elephant and enjoy an evening watching them wander as the sun went down. We met some lovely people there and the food was excellent too. Was a vegetarian buffet but this changed between breakfast and lunch and was some of the tastiest food we’ve had here yet!! All round amazing ethical experience.