Chai Lai Orchid Ethical Elephant Sanctuary in Chiang Mai: A Must-Visit!

“Is it going to charge at us?” I whispered to Sara as an enormous elephant suddenly thundered through the courtyard, its heavy footsteps shaking the ground beneath us. We’d barely arrived at this ethical elephant sanctuary in Chiang Mai when this unexpected welcome set our hearts racing!

If you’re like us, you’ve probably worried about accidentally supporting an unethical elephant park. Finding the best ethical elephant sanctuaries in Thailand feels like navigating a minefield. For every genuine sanctuary, there are dozens of tourist traps where elephants suffer from brutal training or carry tourists on spine-damaging rides.

After tons of research, Sara and I chose Chai Lai Orchid for our elephant experience—and it should be at the top of your list too. What made it stand out? Not only do they rescue elephants from abusive situations, but they also support the local Karen community and protect women from trafficking.

Our full day turned out to be unforgettable—splashing with a mischievous baby elephant named Tara, bamboo rafting down a peaceful river, and cooling off at Mae Sa Pok Waterfall.

In this guide, I’ll share everything about visiting this remarkable sanctuary, from what makes it truly ethical to practical tips for your own amazing experience.

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What makes an elephant sanctuary ethical?

Before diving into our experience, let’s talk about what actually makes an elephant sanctuary ethical. If you’re planning a trip to Thailand, understanding these key factors will help you choose a place that truly cares for these magnificent creatures.

No riding

This should be an absolute deal-breaker for anyone. Elephants’ spines aren’t designed to carry weight on their backs. Despite their size, riding can cause serious pain and long-term damage. Any place that offers elephant riding—even if they claim it’s “ethical riding”—should be boycotted.

At Chai Lai Orchid, we were told that riding is strictly forbidden. Instead, we focussed on natural interactions like feeding, walking alongside the elephants, and bathing with them in the river.

No chains

Elephants are incredibly intelligent and social animals. In the wild, they roam dozens of kilometres daily with their herd. Any “sanctuary” that keeps elephants chained or in small enclosures isn’t a sanctuary at all.

What amazed us about Chai Lai Orchid was how freely the elephants moved. Case in point: that elephant that charged through the courtyard when we first arrived! It seemed to us that elephants have plenty of space to roam, and while they have dedicated caretakers (mahouts), they aren’t restrained or chained at all.

No tricks or performances

Elephants aren’t performers—they don’t naturally paint pictures, throw darts, or perform circus tricks. These behaviours are typically taught using cruel training methods. Ethical sanctuaries focus on natural behaviours, positive reinforcement and education.

During our visit, we simply observed and interacted with the elephants as they ate, bathed, and socialised. There wasn’t a hint of performance or unnatural behaviour.

Transparency

A truly ethical elephant sanctuary in Chiang Mai will be open about their practices, the elephants’ histories, and how they use visitor fees. They should freely answer questions and educate guests about conservation issues.

Our guide at Chai Lai Orchid was incredibly knowledgeable and open about everything from each elephant’s background to the challenges of elephant conservation in Thailand. He explained to us that without government funding for elephant rescue, ethical tourism is actually vital for saving these animals.

About Chai Lai Orchid elephant sanctuary

Chai Lai Orchid isn’t just about elephants—it’s a social enterprise with several missions. Located about an hour outside of Chiang Mai in the Mae Wang district, it’s deep within the Thai countryside.

The sanctuary was founded by Alexa Pham, who originally came to Thailand as a photographer. After seeing the plight of both the local elephants and women at risk of trafficking, she created Chai Lai Orchid as a place that could address both issues.

Today, we were told that the sanctuary is home to 22 rescued elephants, with all proceeds supporting not only the elephants but also Daughters Rising, an anti-trafficking organisation that educates and employs at-risk women from the local Karen community.

What impressed me most was how the sanctuary has created a sustainable model where tourism directly funds both conservation and community support. It’s the kind of place where you can feel good about every baht you spend!

Where do the elephants come from?

Most of the elephants at Chai Lai Orchid have been rescued from various forms of exploitation. Some were previously used for logging (which was made illegal in Thailand in the 1980s), while others were rescued from riding camps or other less ethical tourist attractions where they were mistreated.

Our guide explained to us that there are over 800 elephants in various sanctuaries around Chiang Mai alone. With no wild spaces in the area large enough for them to return to and no government funding for their care, ethical tourism has become a critical lifeline for these intelligent creatures.

Each elephant at Chai Lai Orchid is paired with a dedicated mahout (caretaker) who stays with them throughout the day. Unlike in some places, these mahouts use positive reinforcement (food) rather than hooks or chains to guide their elephants around the sanctuary.

Safeguarding process in place at Chai Lai Orchid

I noticed that safety is taken seriously at Chai Lai Orchid—both for visitors and for the elephants themselves. Here’s what we saw:

1. Limited group sizes: Our group had just 8 people, ensuring the elephants weren’t overwhelmed by crowds.
2. Dedicated mahouts: Each elephant has a caretaker who deeply understands their personality and can intervene if needed.
3. Structured interactions: The sanctuary has clear protocols for how and when visitors can interact with the elephants to keep everyone safe.
4. Education first: Before any interaction, we received a thorough briefing about elephant behaviour and how to approach them respectfully.
5. Natural boundaries: For activities like feeding, there were simple wooden fences—not to contain the elephants (they could literally walk around the fence, it was only a few metres in length), but to create a comfortable distance for first interactions when the elephants got excited.

I appreciated that the sanctuary was upfront about safety measures. We were told that male and female elephants are kept in different areas, as males can be more unpredictable, especially during mating seasons.

Different tours that Chai Lai Orchid offer & prices

Chai Lai Orchid offers numerous tour options to fit different schedules and interests:

Half-Day Tour

Price: 2500 THB per person (about $75 USD)

What’s included:

• Hotel pickup and drop-off in Chiang Mai
• Elephant care experience (feeding, bathing, medicine making)
• English-speaking guide
• Lunch at Chai Lai café
• Accident insurance

This is perfect if you’re short on time but still want a meaningful elephant experience. The half-day tour focuses primarily on the elephant interaction without some of the additional activities.

Full-Day Tour

Price: 2800 THB per person (about $83 USD)

What’s included:

• Everything in the half-day tour
• Visit to a Karen hill tribe village
• Bamboo rafting adventure
• Mae Sa Pok Waterfall visit
• More time with the elephants

This is the option we chose, and I’d highly recommend it if you have a full day to spare. The additional activities really round out the experience and give you a more complete picture of the local culture and environment.

Multiple Day Stay

If you’d like an even more immersive experience, we saw that Chai Lai Orchid also offers overnight accommodations in bamboo bungalows right on the property. Prices vary depending on the room type and season, but staying overnight gives you more time to connect with the elephants and explore the surrounding area at a leisurely pace.

The sanctuary even offers special photo packages in their “Elephant Photo Lodge” where an elephant will visit your bungalow for breakfast and unique photo opportunities—definitely a once-in-a-lifetime experience… and I kinda wish we’d done this!

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Our experience on a full-day tour at Chai Lai Orchid

Now for the fun part—what our day actually looked like! We booked the full-day tour and were picked up from our hotel in Chiang Mai around 8 AM.

Arrival

After about an hour’s drive through increasingly rural scenery, we arrived at Chai Lai Orchid. The property consists of several bamboo and wooden structures situated alongside a river, with lush greenery all around.

As I mentioned at the beginning, we were greeted by an elephant thundering through the main courtyard area! This unexpected welcome—a full-on charge through the area (though nobody was in danger)—made it immediately clear that the elephants here have complete freedom of movement.

After a quick check-in and brief orientation, we met our guide who would stay with us throughout the day. He spoke excellent English and clearly had impressive knowledge about the elephants and local culture.

Tour of the Karen village

Our first activity was a short trek through a nearby Karen village. The Karen are one of the hill tribe ethnic groups in Northern Thailand, and many work as mahouts due to their traditional knowledge of elephants.

The village was simple but fascinating—homes were mostly single-room wooden structures raised on stilts. Our guide explained that this design helps protect against flooding and wild animals.

During our walk, we watched daily village life and even met a grandmother teaching her granddaughter local weaving techniques. They didn’t speak English, but they taught us how to say “thank you” in their language and seemed genuinely happy to see us.

One interesting detail was seeing the rudimentary pig pens that most families maintained. Our guide mentioned that piglets sell for about 300 baht ($8.82) each, providing a valuable source of income for village families.

Bamboo rafting adventure

Next, we took a jeep for about 15 minutes to the starting point for bamboo rafting. There were basic changing facilities there, which came in handy as we prepared to get a bit wet.

The bamboo rafts themselves were simple but surprisingly stable platforms made of (you guessed it) bamboo poles lashed together. Each raft held two tourists plus a guide who steered using a long bamboo pole.

Our serene 20-minute journey down the river was a perfect mix of peaceful floating and occasional mild rapids that added a splash of excitement (see what I did there…). The scenery was gorgeous—dense jungle on either side, with birds calling from the trees and occasional glimpses of village life along the banks.

Our guides were playful and kept joking with each other as we drifted down the river. We had to stay vigilant for low-hanging branches as we made our way downstream.

At the end point, another jeep was waiting to take us back to the sanctuary for lunch.

It’s lunch time!

Lunch was served in an open-air area with views of the nearby fields. The meal was simple but delicious: pumpkin soup, rice, chicken breast, and fresh watermelon for dessert. I particularly remember the chicken being well seasoned—surprisingly salty in the best way.

Cold drinks were available to buy from a refrigerator, and I took a refreshing beer (not included in the tour price, but very reasonable at around 80 baht/$2.35).

During lunch, we could see some of the elephants in a nearby field, which built anticipation for our upcoming interaction with them.

Meeting the elephants

After lunch came the highlight of the day—meeting the elephants! We started by making “elephant medicine,” a mixture of rice, banana, salt, and tamarind that helps with the elephants’ digestion. I tasted a bit (purely for research purposes, of course) and can confirm it’s not particularly delectable to the human palate!

Then we approached the feeding area, where a simple wooden fence created a barrier—not to constrain the elephants, but to prevent them from charging forward for food, which our guide explained could be dangerous for visitors. It was actually super interesting watching the elephants know where they were supposed to be and lining up without being guided into place.

We met five elephants, including one older female, two middle-aged elephants, a teenager, and the star of the show—Tara, a five-month-old baby elephant with a big personality. The feeding went by quickly as the elephants are incredibly efficient eaters. Their trunks would grab entire bunches of bananas or handfuls of sugarcane at once!

What surprised me most was how dexterous the elephants were with their trunks. They could pick up single pieces of fruit with precision or grab massive bunches of food. It was like watching someone use both a delicate paintbrush and a powerful grabbing tool simultaneously.

After feeding, we moved to the river for bathing time. This was absolutely magical. The elephants clearly enjoyed the water, spraying themselves (and sometimes us) with their trunks and rolling in the mud on the far bank.

Tara, the baby elephant, was particularly entertaining—charging through the water, splashing everyone, and occasionally trying to headbutt us playfully. Her keeper had to calm her down a few times when she got too excited, as she didn’t always understand her own strength!

One of the most memorable moments was when our guide told us to stand between two adult elephants for a photo. Being sandwiched between these massive, gentle creatures gave me an incredible appreciation for their size and power.

Throughout the elephant interaction, it was clear that the mahouts had deep bonds with their elephants. They used gentle voice commands rather than hooks or physical force, and the elephants responded well to them.

Washing off in Mae Sa Pok Waterfall

After saying goodbye to the elephants, we drove about 10 minutes to Mae Sa Pok Waterfall and walked a short distance to reach it. The waterfall had two distinct cascades, creating a refreshing pool perfect for cooling off after our elephant adventure.

Our guide encouraged us to stand under one of the cascades to feel the power of the water. It was intense but invigorating! The rocks were a bit slippery, so we moved carefully, but it was a beautiful spot to relax and reflect on our experiences so far.

By around 4 PM, we were heading back to Chiang Mai in our songthaew (shared taxi), tired but filled with unforgettable memories.

Other ethical work by Chai Lai Orchid

Beyond elephant conservation, Chai Lai Orchid is deeply committed to supporting the local community, particularly women at risk of trafficking. Here’s how they’re making a difference:

1. Employment opportunities: They primarily hire women from the Karen community, providing fair wages and skills training.
2. Education support: 100% of proceeds are donated to Daughters Rising, which provides educational scholarships for at-risk girls.
3. Community-based tourism: Rather than extracting value from the local area, Chai Lai Orchid ensures tourism benefits go directly to local people.
4. Gender equality: 90% of their leadership positions are held by women, creating positive role models for the community.
5. Environmental sustainability: The sanctuary uses eco-friendly practices like reusable water bottles and biodegradable materials.

Learning about these initiatives made us feel even better about choosing Chai Lai Orchid. Not only were we supporting ethical elephant care, but our visit was also helping to create positive social change in the broader community.

Our honest opinion about Chai Lai Orchid elephant sanctuary

So, would we recommend Chai Lai Orchid? Absolutely.

The elephants genuinely seemed happy and well-cared for, with complete freedom of movement and strong bonds with their mahouts. What impressed us most was the sanctuary’s sustainable model where tourism directly benefits both the elephants and the local community.

Like any animal tourism, there will always be debates about human-animal interaction. However, the reality in Thailand is that these domestic elephants need care and funding to survive. What sets Chai Lai Orchid apart is their commitment to letting elephants behave naturally while providing the support they need through responsible tourism.

If you’re looking for an ethical elephant experience in Chiang Mai that combines conservation with cultural immersion, Chai Lai Orchid should be at the top of your list.

Other options for ethical elephant sanctuaries in Chiang Mai

While Chai Lai Orchid was our choice and we couldn’t have been happier with it, there are a couple of other ethical sanctuaries in the Chiang Mai area worth considering:

Elephant Nature Park

Founded by Lek Chailert (known as the “Elephant Whisperer”), Elephant Nature Park is one of the pioneers of ethical elephant tourism in Thailand. They focus on rescue and rehabilitation, with a large area for elephants to roam. Their programmes tend to book up well in advance, so plan ahead if you want to visit.

BEES – Burm and Emily’s Elephant Sanctuary

Located a bit further from Chiang Mai, BEES is a smaller sanctuary caring for older elephants that have been rescued from the tourism and logging industries. Their multi-day volunteer programmes offer a more immersive experience for those who want to spend more time helping with elephant care.

Tips for planning your visit to Chai Lai Orchid

Based on our experience, here are some practical tips to help you make the most of your visit:

1. Book in advance: Especially during high season (November to February), tours can fill up quickly. Book directly through their website to ensure your spot.
2. Choose the full-day tour if possible: The additional activities really enhanced our experience and gave us a more complete picture of the area.
3. Bring swimwear and a change of clothes: You’ll get wet during the elephant bathing and waterfall visit. A change of clothes is nice for the ride back to Chiang Mai.
4. Wear comfortable shoes: Nothing fancy needed—sandals that can get wet or quick-drying trainers are perfect.
5. Pack sun protection: Hat, sunscreen, and sunglasses are essential, especially during the bamboo rafting.
6. Bring a water bottle: Staying hydrated is important, and bringing a reusable bottle reduces plastic waste.
7. Carry some cash: While the tour includes food, you might want to buy additional drinks or snacks.
8. Prepare your camera: This is definitely a photo-worthy experience, but be ready to protect your electronics from water!
9. Respect the animals: Listen carefully to your guide’s instructions about how to interact safely with the elephants.
10. Keep an open mind: Learning about elephant conservation and local culture is a big part of what makes this experience special.

Should you visit an elephant sanctuary in Chiang Mai?

Our day at Chai Lai Orchid was easily one of the highlights of our time in Chiang Mai. There’s something profoundly moving about connecting with such intelligent, gentle giants in an environment where they’re treated with respect and care.

What struck me most was the sanctuary’s holistic approach—not just caring for elephants, but also uplifting the local community and preserving cultural traditions. It’s a reminder that ethical tourism can be a powerful force for good when done thoughtfully.

So yes, I do believe you should visit an ethical elephant sanctuary in Chiang Mai. Your financial contribution will go a long way towards both the elephants and the locals. But mainly, you’ll have an awesome time!

If you’re planning a trip to Northern Thailand, I cannot recommend this experience highly enough. Just make sure to time your visit right to avoid the burning season, which typically runs from late February through April.

For those concerned about getting around Chiang Mai, don’t worry—the sanctuary includes hotel pickup and drop-off, making it an easy day trip even if you’re not comfortable driving in Chiang Mai yourself.

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We hope that our guide covered everything you need to know about visiting an ethical elephant sanctuary in Thailand. We always strive to offer the most accurate and up-to-date information we can but if you think something we’ve said is wrong, please let us know!