Chiang Mai Elephant Jungle Sanctuary: A Half Day Tour Review

Okay, so you’re planning a trip to Chiang Mai, and almost surely the chance to interact with elephants is on your radar? Is that right? It’s almost certainly a popular thing to do, but you want to make certain you’re doing it the ethical way, right? That is the smart thing to do. Well, a visit to the Elephant Jungle Sanctuary might be just what you are looking for. My time there certainly brought a lot of thoughts on how we interact with these animals. I am going to tell you about my experience on their half-day tour, so that you can judge whether this experience matches the things that are most important to you.

Booking and What to Expect Beforehand

Booking the half-day tour is very easy, they typically have spots available if you book a couple days in advance. You can do it right on their website. I booked mine that way. Usually, you have a choice of morning or afternoon, and both have that more or less same program. The sanctuary provides transport from your hotel, and that is very handy. They will give you an arrival time and you can get ready. Try to be on time. You will have to wait if you are late! Their communication is good, and any questions you might have, you can get answered, too. You will definitely want to know what to bring – swimsuit, towel, change of clothes, and sunscreen are absolute must-haves.

A Typical Half-Day Experience

Alright, so picture this: it’s bright and very early, or maybe it is a sleepy afternoon, you’re winding down some bumpy roads that snake through the landscapes near Chiang Mai. You show up to this place that feels removed. The first thing that will happen is you’re given traditional Karen clothing to wear. This is cool, a very good picture taking opportunity! You’ll then meet your guide who briefs the group about the sanctuary’s mission – that it’s all about rescuing and providing a sanctuary for elephants that have, as a matter of fact, been mistreated or that are not able to do that “work” any more.

You learn a good bit about elephant behavior and how to interact with them safely. It’s not, definitely not a hands-off experience. It’s more about supervised interaction which, to be honest, feels very special. You’ll get the chance to feed them – expect a trunk reaching out for bananas and sugarcane right out of your hand! So it really is quite the experience, and you may get slobbered on. And after feeding time? Mud bath! Getting muddy with these huge creatures is maybe just a little wild. This is really all about getting close and down to earth with the elephants in a safe, controlled environment.

Ethical Considerations and What Sets This Sanctuary Apart

So, very different than seeing elephants perform tricks or give rides, here they really aim to give them a natural existence. You won’t see any hooks or chains or anything of that nature. The focus is that the elephants’ health and their well-being is paramount. You’re there as a visitor in their place, not the other way around. The money you pay for your visit, actually, it goes straight back into maintaining the sanctuary and rescuing more elephants.

I thought about, well, my visit a lot after it happened. I wonder how natural a habitat can it really be, if the elephants are very, very used to human interaction, and I did wonder, just a little, if posing for photos next to the elephants, maybe just slightly, verged on objectification, in some respects. I understand that this isn’t something perfect, but I think they do their best with a bad set of choices in front of them. They appear to treat their elephants well. That might just have to be enough, too. The alternative for them is to be put back to work, and abused. Still, one to think about, very much so.

Personal Reflections and Tips for Visitors

For me, I thought getting so very close to those elephants was something special. To watch them wander around and just eat was very something, too. It was great seeing them interact with each other, seemingly with some type of a family dynamic. If you choose to go, well, definitely put on clothes that you don’t care about. I was covered in mud by the time the day was done. Take lots of pictures, too, if that is something you love doing. Support these locations if you think their ethical goals and accomplishments meet with your standards.

Other Chiang Mai Elephant Sanctuaries

Chiang Mai is almost surely full of sanctuaries and places that rescue elephants, yet I think this one sets a good standard. If you are really thinking this visit through, maybe spend a bit of time checking different places’ reviews and their policies before committing. Making the effort to go someplace that meshes with your feelings is almost certainly worth it in the long run.