Karen Tribe Native Elephant Chiang Mai

We had an unforgettable overnight stay with Sun and his family at the Karen Tribe Native Elephant Village in Sameong Tai - a small village with 300 residents in the Chiang Mai Province. The ‘Karen Tribe Native Elephants’ mission is to be a model sustainable sanctuary where humans and elephants coexist in harmony, caring for one another with respect and compassion. It was without a doubt one of the highlights of our one-month trip to Thailand and such a beautiful experience. We first met Sun back in 2015 during a previous visit to Chiang Mai and had always hoped to return one day to experience their way of life, even if only for 24 hours. For hundreds of years, the Karen people have lived and worked alongside elephants, and the five elephants in Sun’s village are eighth generation. Although fully domesticated, the love, care, and deep respect shown for these truly remarkable animals is immediately evident and they seem to have found a sustainable way to keep their beloved elephants in their village. Only a small number of visitors are allowed at any one time, and we were the only guests staying overnight. This gave us the unique opportunity to work one-on-one with a member of Sun’s team as they carried out their daily routine of feeding, brushing, and bathing the elephants. Throughout the day, Sun shared his knowledge, explaining how they care for the elephants and recognise signs of good health and happiness. He also described how the entire village works together to ensure there is enough food for them, and we even helped mix and grind the elephants’ daily vitamin supplement. In the afternoon, Sun took us on a short drive to their village school to watch a game of Sepak Takraw. Played with a rattan or plastic ball on a court similar to a badminton court, the game resembles volleyball—but players can only use their feet, knees, shoulders, chest, and head to touch the ball. It was fascinating to watch. We then visited a stunning waterfall before heading to the paddy fields where rice and other food for the village are grown. We stopped for a cold drink to take in the beautiful views and later went in search of bananas to bring back for the elephants to eat the following day. The evening was spent cooking a traditional meal with Sun and his wife Jirapohn, followed by relaxed conversation around the campfire with their two lovely sons, aged 8 and 10. Our overnight accommodation was a very comfortable timber-framed structure with two separate sleeping areas and a private bathroom—simple, peaceful, and perfect for the experience.

My husband and I recently booked an experience with Karen Tribe Native Elephants, and it was truly unforgettable. From start to finish, everything exceeded our expectations. We were able to play with, feed, bathe, and ride our elephant — such an incredible hands-on experience. The day was beautifully organized, and we were also treated to a wonderful lunch that made the experience even more special. I cannot emphasize enough how amazing this sanctuary is. The care provided to the elephants is exceptional. They are genuinely treated like family, and you can see the love and respect in every interaction. The owner, Sun, took the time to explain and educate us about how the elephants are cared for. Learning about their routines, health, and overall well-being made the experience even more meaningful. This was truly the highlight of our trip, and I am so grateful we had the opportunity to be part of it. I highly recommend this experience to anyone visiting the area — it is something we will cherish forever.

We have a wonderful and unforgettable time with the elephants. Sun and the trainers helped us slowly get close with the elephants. We learned how to feed the elephants, bath them, checking the poo 💩, and making the supplement for the elephants. Sun even taught us how to blew bubbles from a plant’s ‘liquid’. It was so fun. The Karen people are definitely kind and friendly. We like the traditional foods very much, even though it looked simple but it was so delicious. Eventually, the interaction with the elephants was indeed a great experience for us.