All our visits include either transport to the project from each city office, bus station or the hotel you are staying at.
Arrival
We recommend that you stay in the city of your trip the night before your visit. Don't try to take a trip on the day you travel on the morning of your trip. Flights, buses and trains are often late and we cannot wait at stations or airports.
Projects starting in Chiang Mai - Northern Thailand
Our home and origin - famous for crafts, cool winter days, elephants and volunteering
Nearest Airport = Chiang Mai International (CNX)
We have single day and overnight visits as well as volunteer opportunities at our own park. You also have the chance to experience other locations to see our Saddle Off initiative in action. Your visit helps to improve the lives and conditions of elephants.
Chiang Mai Single Day and Overnight visits to Elephant Nature Park
A special shorter version of our popular single day visit especially set up for to those who arrive later and have less time to spend at our park. Enjoy a visit to Elephant Nature Park; a natural sanctuary for elephants, buffalo, dogs, cats, birds and many other rescued animals. On the short park visit you observe bathing elephants but do not go into the river.
*** Observe Bathing Only
Starts: 08:30-09:00am from Hotel or 08:15am from Office Return: 3:30 pm 2,500 THB (Child - 50%)
Enjoy a full day visit to Elephant Nature Park; a natural home and sanctuary for elephants, buffalos, dogs, cats, birds and many other rescued animals. Relish river bathing with elephants, feeding time, healthy lunch, transport and more.
Sleepovers in the midst of a thriving elephant herd offers visitors the chance to enjoy the simple rustic nature of Northern Thailand in the unique company of our rescued herd. We pick up from your hotel for a scenic drive north to Elephant Nature Park where you will meet our magnificent elephant herd.
Set high in the lush northern mountains this project has some the most stunning scenery in the country. Beautiful scenery, elephants bathing, mud baths, awesome jungle walks in the company of rescued elephants make for an unforgettable day.
A special, small group "Saddle Off!" program in cooperation with a Northern Thai Lanna settlement, to the north of Chiag Mai city. Our aim here is to improve the life and treatment of the elephants under the care of these independent owners.
Our outreach initiative to improve the lives and conditions of elephants under the care of independent camps. This ongoing process aims to foster understanding between elephants and owners and brings direct income to these families. These special small-group Saddle Off ! programs have limited spaces each day.
Enjoy a stunning forest walk with elephants, feeding and river bathing while observing their behavior. These Saddle Off ! visits provide a unique experience with elephants, most of whom have only recently been freed from trick-shows and back-damaging tourist rides.
Saddle Off ! (North)
These programs are located in different villages to the North of Chiang Mai city. Each includes a visit to Elephant Nature Park
Some elephants find it very hard to mix with other elephants and in order to help them, we want to love them with intense freedom and affection. With no riding the elephants settle into our care, they build trust and love and this is achieved by humans showing them love, respect and care in a different way to their past lives in riding camps by mahouts, who have known no better than to treat them harshly and with force.
Starts: 07:40am Return: 5:30 pm 6,000 THB (no children)
Meet elephants that have been recently rescued from their daily toil of entertaining visitors. With no riding, you will feed the elephants in the early morning light and then walk with these newly rescued elephants through the dense mountain forests witnessing their natural behaviours and sense of freedom, after their recent release from the tourism trade.
An elephant camp neighboring our park has decided to try out our concept of care. Several lucky female elephants have dumped their trekking seats and their mahouts hooks have been cast aside. Only small groups enjoy the honour of observing their freedom and happiness; with no riding they can now walk, scratch, swim, eat, dust and bathe all at their own pace. May this be the start of a new trend that catches on in the Mae Taeng valley and elsewhere.
Starts: 07:40am Return: 6:30 pm 6,000 THB (no children)
A small group “saddle off” program in cooperation with a Karen settlement to the south-west of Chiang Mai city. Bathing with Elephants - Elephant food preparation and Feeding - Short forest walk (around 30 minutes) - Vegetarian lunch - Karen tribal hospitality. This trip differs from other “saddle off programs” as this trip offers just a short walk, ideal for any age group.
Karen Elephant Experience allows you to see Elephants roaming free in their natural habitat, living as their natural family group after their release from trekking work. This is another important project enabled by Save Elephant Foundation, changing the way people think about Elephants. With no riding, the elephants are able to roam freely whilst they forage for their food.
Starts: 07:40am Return: 5:30 pm 6,000 THB (no children)
Our premier volunteering experience Journey to Freedom Volunteer project is a unique project that features elephant care, learning about agriculture and community, developing local school children learning experiences and living in a cultural exchange at a tribal village in the mountains of Chiang Mai. Journey to Freedom Volunteers also spend the final night at Elephant Nature Park. Care for elephants and embed yourself in local tribal village culture.
Starts Mondays: 08:00-08:30am from Hotel or 07:40am from Office Return: 5:30 pm 15,000 THB (no children)
A life enhancing opportunity of direct hands on conservation work in a unique program to help protect a highly endangered species. Most volunteers leave with a proud sense of accomplishment and a deep satisfying feeling of having really done something positive. Volunteer at Elephant Nature Park and help to improve the plight of the Asian elephant. With no riding, come and make a real contribution to conservation in Northern Thailand.
Starts Mondays: 09:00am Return: 5:30 pm 12,000 THB (no children)
Volunteering with Elephant Nature Park Dog Rescue Project provides an opportunity to truly make a difference in the lives of so many animals. Our daily schedule includes: walking dogs who are caged while in treatment three times a day, feeding dogs twice a day, cleaning cages and other areas, removing ticks (don’t worry - we’ll teach you how to do this), socializing with the dogs
Starts Sundays: 08:00-08:30am from Hotel or 07:40am from Office Return: 5:30 pm 5,000 THB (no children)
This program is only for Qualified Veterinarians and Veterinarian Nurses / Techs. Veterinary students are also welcome and completed hours can be used as part of your coursework / placement. University assessment paperwork can be completed by our park veterinarian as part of your field-work.
Starts Mondays: 09:00-09:30am from Hotel or 08:50 from Office Return: 5:30 pm 12,000 THB (no children)
It is time now to take the chain and saddle off of the elephants. It's now time to provide an elephant haven for them with no riding. Walk together to the green fields, roam free, play in the mud, eat well and swim in the deep river. It is time to retire them from their labors, young or old, and say goodbye to being ridden. It is time for people to come to treat them with respect.
Day 1 It is time now to take the chain and saddle off of the elephants. It's now time to provide an elephant haven for them with no riding. Walk together to the green fields, roam free, play in the mud, eat well and swim in the deep river. Day 2 and includes a visit to Krasae Cave and the Death Railway. Accommodation included is a comfortable room at a local resort.
Elephant Volunteer: Main focus is to let the elephants free from work. We brought elephants from street begging to live in their homeland. Volunteers stay with mahouts families in a traditional home stay, learn about mahouts culture, experience Buddhism activity and take care the elephants, offering them a better life.
Starts Mondays: See detail Return: 3:00 pm 15,000 THB (+16years)
The Surin Project is a unique and innovative concept aimed at improving the living conditions of captive Asian elephants by removing elephant rides and providing economic sustainability for their owners through responsible volunteer tourism. We work alongside the Gwi community in the government run Surin Elephant Study Centre located in the village of Ban Tha Klang in the Surin Province in North East Thailand.
Starts Mondays: See detail Return: 3:00 pm 13,000 THB (+16years)
We are working within the Cambodia Wildlife Sanctuary to protect and conserve 1 million acres of jungle habitat, approximately one hour north of Angkor Wat. The project spans 25,000 acres and aims to protect the land and all of the native species, flora and fauna, that call it home, including tigers, monkeys, buffalos, and of course, the Asian elephant. Please note - no riding of elephants.
Starts Mondays: See detail Return: See Detail 400 US$
All our visits include either transport to the project from each city office, bus station or the hotel you are staying at.
Arrival
We recommend that you stay in the city of your trip the night before your visit. Don't try to take a trip on the day you travel on the morning of your trip. Flights, buses and trains are often late and we cannot wait at stations or airports.