Elephant Retreat Full Day Tour

No, at Elephant Retreat, we do not allow riding or direct contact with the elephants. Our sanctuary is focused on providing an ethical and respectful environment for the elephants, allowing them to live in a natural and stress-free setting. Riding elephants is harmful to their physical health, and direct contact, while tempting, can disrupt their natural behavior and well-being.

Instead, we offer opportunities for you to observe the elephants in their natural habitat, watch the Mahouts bathe the elephants, and learn about their care from a safe and respectful distance. Our mission is to foster understanding and support for elephant conservation, prioritizing the animals’ welfare above all else.

There is one area along the Elephant River Hike that requires you to take some care. You will be on level ground, however, there is some area of the ground that will require some careful navigation. The area is approximately 15 meters long. The hike to the waterfall will require going down approximately 200 stairs. Going down is not difficult, but extra attention is required. When we are finished at the waterfall you will need to go back up the stairs. This is not difficult but can be exhausting depending on the shape you are in.

We recommend footwear such as all-terrain flip-flops or sandals. Sneakers are fine, but they will likely get wet and dirty. You can manage in flip-flops however certain parts of the trail are better suited for an open sandal with straps. Crocs can also work. Certain parts of the river hike will require you to cross the river. The depth of the water is approximately 6″ to 18″ and has large rocks on the river bed. These crossings are very small and only take 30 seconds to cross, but your feet will get wet.

The travel time to the sanctuary is about 1 hour.

Yes, the full-day tour includes roundtrip transportation from any location in Chiang Mai City. Please contact us by email at [email protected] or by calling/text or WhatsApp at 66 95 560-2569 with any questions. We are available daily from 8 AM to 10 PM Thailand time.

Our tour is suitable for families with young children. If you have children younger than 6 please call/text or WhatsApp us @ 66 95 560-2569 for more information. You may also check out the following webpage, please click here for more details.

We have more than 12 elephants. The group size will determine how many elephants join us for the activities.  We do our best to maintain a ratio of one elephant per four guests.

Yes, you may book your reservation from this page. To start the booking process please click “Check Availability”. You have the option to pay in full online or place a deposit and the balance in Thai Baht upon pickup. Please call/text or WhatsApp 66 95 560-2569 with any questions.

The group is typically between 15-20 guests per day. We aim for there to be no more than 3-4 people per elephant. This may vary depending on the tour you select. Our smallest groups are typically for the feeding experience. Our full-day or half-day afternoon tours are normally the most popular. Either way will maintain a good ratio of guests to elephants to ensure everyone has the opportunity to personally interact with the elephants.

We need a minimum of 2 people to be booked to operate each tour. If the tour you selected reflects availability then we have already met the required number.

Guests are welcome to bring one day pack or a standard check-in-sized backpack.

If you book our full-day or half-day afternoon tour we do recommend bringing a bathing suit. We will offer you Karen clothes (Thai outfits) for your day trip. Some guests will wear a bathing suit underneath to swim in the Mae Wang waterfall. The Karen clothes do dry quickly. We have a locker room for you to store your clothes.

Our elephant tour will still go ahead if it is raining. Elephants love the rain, and ponchos will be provided. However, if weather conditions are severe enough to place our guests in danger, the tour may be canceled. If this were to happen, you would receive a 100% refund.

Yes, we will send you an email within 24 hours of your tour date directing you to your tour photos and videos. You may download photos and videos free of charge.

There is never a fee to reschedule your tour. Our stated cancellation policy requests that you cancel your booking or reschedule requests no less than 24 hours before your tour date. For more information, please visit https://elephantretreat.com/cancellation-policy/ to read our cancellation policy

A Thai-style buffet lunch with drinks is provided. Please contact us if you have special dietary needs. We also provide water, coffee, and snacks upon arrival to the sanctuary. Lunch is included in all tours with the exception of the feeding experience.

Yes. You may modify your booking dates free of charge if you notify us 24 hours or more before your tour date..

Yes, 15% of our bookings are with single guests. Everyone is welcome at our sanctuary, single, couples, and families alike.

If you are making the journey on your own please use this link for the proper GPS directions to our camp. This is the only link to will get you to our exact location. https://goo.gl/maps/8mu3ARxtZbyeqDHC6

You will be in the open during part of your journey, we do recommend wearing a hat to protect from the sun. Bug repellent really depends on the person and the time of year you visit. Most of the journey is bug-free, but you may encounter some pesky friends during the jungle hike. A small amount of repellent for your feet, legs, and arms is recommended. Depending on the person you may wish to apply some sunscreen as well.