Kindred Spirit Elephant Sanctuary

Kindred Spirit Elephant Sanctuary works with more than 200 Karen villagers around Ban Naklang in Mae Chaem district, west of Chiang Mai, and the visit is as much about the village as the elephants. You hike out into the forest to find the herd and watch it feed and move, then sleep in a private room with a Karen family, cook with them and try basket weaving.

There are no day trips. The 2-day Elephants program costs ฿5,300 each for two or more people (฿10,000 alone), the 3-day Elephants and Community program ฿7,500 each (฿11,500 alone), and a 5-day trip that adds gibbon watching, work on the coffee, tea or rice plantations and a cave visit costs ฿15,000 each. Every program includes transport, the homestay and meals, and internships of one to eight weeks are also offered.