Elephant Pride Sanctuary

My wife and I booked the full day experience on a Saturday during our stay in Chiang Mai. It had been a long time dream of my wife's to spend time in a natural setting with elephants. All of our expectations were fulfilled and exceeded by this day- There is something so amazing about hiking up a hill and there is an elephant just behind you and you can feel its breath on your back. Surprisingly, we became very comfortable quickly in their company and felt safe. It was very interesting to learn how "like us" they are..... I could go on and on, they whole thing was great. I particularly enjoyed eating rice grown right there, this was served as part of the lunch.

We absolutely loved this experience. It may have been the highlight of our entire trip to Thailand. We had a private full day tour. The elephants were treated extremely well. This was not the commercialized elephant visit that is so common. The elephants were owned by a family high up in the mountains. We were able to interact with the elephants in a way that was almost unimaginable. We would highly recommend you book the full day tour for the entire experience! And if you have extra funds, book a private tour.

This is not a sanctuary. A sanctuary is q place where animals can move freely. This place has 2 elephants only as january 2026, the babies you see in other pictures are not there anymore, almost for sure to domesticate them. The 2 elephants that are there are 100% domesticated, like a pet, they do what they are made to. We paid 2800baths per person (78€) - extremely expensive to see the new modern slavery. They make everythibg extremely slow so you can be there 5-6 hours basically feeding them. They made the elephants and the group go up to a mountain hill, (spend time). Then they make the animals to get into a cold pod that they dont want to get in, later to a cold river they dont want to get in. Incredible that people can enjoy doing this. Yes is very impressive to see these animals this close, to touch their skin. But is just not right. Is not right they are trapped without possibily to move freely, they are in a very small place. The old elephant got hurt, i saw it ; they were very discrete and nobody got aware. But obviusly she is too old to go up&down and doing things she doesnt want to. Paying 76€ to go and see this and only 2 elephants, no wasnt what i expected. I expected to go to a real sanctuary. Dont really understand how we tourists can support this and give 5 star reviews to this type of places. I would have pay the same to go to a place where i can’t touch them, feed them, bath them. Just to see them move happy and free. Guides and people there are very nice but is just not right.