5 of the Best Ethical Elephant Sanctuaries in Thailand

In a world where green travel and elephant shelters are on the rise, all elephant parks in Thailand are now morally right, or so they say.

But are they?

While no human interaction with captive elephants would be ideal, it’s hardly feasible. The costs for maintaining elephant orphanages are pretty high, and for all the good intentions, these organizations still need to sustain themselves. Some sanctuaries manage to limit contact between tourists and elephants, allowing them on tours across the jungle while keeping a distance of a few meters; others still offer mud baths. 

What makes them ethical is that they limit the number of daily visitors, educate people on the industry and care for elephants, treat animals respectfully and don’t offer unethical experiences like riding, tricks, and shows. That’s not to say you need to pass up on what many tourists consider a highlight of their trip to the Land of Smiles. You may feed or bathe them, enjoying the enlightening experience of discovering where these adorable giants come from and how keepers care for them. 

Here, in no particular order, are five of the best ethical elephant sanctuaries in Thailand, some of which are included in the Chiang Mai Day Pass and the Chiang Mai Elephant Lover Pass.

Elephant Nature Park, Chiang Mai

Some 57 kilometers north of Chiang Mai Old City and a half-hour car-drive from the Mae Taeng area, the Elephant Nature Park is Thailand’s oldest rescue and rehabilitation center for elephants. Lek Chailert, a renowned conservationist and longtime supporter of the rights and well-being of elephants in the kingdom, established Elephant Nature Park in the 90s, arguably the most ethical elephant sanctuary in Thailand. She’s also the founder of the Save Elephant Foundation, which supports elephant orphanages.

Animals in the Elephant Nature Park, including rescued buffaloes, cats and dogs, are free to roam around. They’re not chained and have access to quality medical care, as have formerly captive birds. While elephant riding and performances are out of the question, volunteering opportunities are available. You can take dogs for a walk, listen to exotic birds piping up from the trees, and feed elephants in their natural surroundings. 

The Elephant Nature Park doesn’t just provide a safe home for circus elephants. It also employs locals to restore the community culture and rebuilds the rainforest by planting trees. Fundamentally, this elephant camp aims to educate tourists and is open to sponsorship.

Elephant Retirement Park, Chiang Mai

One of the best elephant sanctuaries in Thailand, a benefit included in the TAGTHAi app, the Elephant Retirement Park is a one-hour drive from Chiang Mai’s city center. If you visit this elephant camp in Baan Eieag village, where these gentle giants roam in their natural surroundings, you can watch them eating shrubs and grasses in deep green woodland.

To give circus elephants a secure and comfortable place to live after decades of cruelty in the tourism sector, Adulwit Khamya, nicknamed Noi, founded the camp in 2013. While he allows mud baths, there’s strictly no abuse, no chains, and no riding. Rest assured that getting wet and dirty in the brown, gurgling river is great fun for both you and the elephants. They purr like cats; you’d be surprised. 

The owner and the whole team are more than happy to talk about the elephants as you hand-feed baby elephants. They aren’t afraid to nab sugar cane and bananas off your hand with their two fleshy fingers.

Elephants World, Kanchanaburi

Northwest of Bangkok, Kanchanaburi’s Elephants World is an organization dedicated to environmental conservation. The veterinarian Dr. Samart founded it in 2008, and his motto, “We work for the elephants; not the elephants for us,” says it all. Home to more than 30 elephants, it’s one of the best ethical elephant sanctuaries in Thailand.

You can visit Elephants World for half a day, or a whole day, or even spend the night in a traditional Thai-style bamboo hut close to the mountains. Falling asleep and waking to the sounds of the bubbling River Kwai, you’re practically guaranteed to recharge your batteries. While you’re closest to elephants when you feed them, visiting this elephant park also includes watching the animals bathe, picking and cultivating food, and cleaning apples and bananas.

You can also join the Mahout Program, a one to four week-program, where you look after an elephant while learning everything there is to know about Asian elephants. Whatever elephant activity you like best, Kanchanaburi, the city on the River Kwai that’s known for WWII history and gushing waterfalls, is well worth the one-hour bus ride from Bangkok.

Lanna Kingdom Elephant Sanctuary, Chiang Mai

Observe the giants in their natural habitat, chomping happily on grass in deep green woodland, yet within reach of Chiang Mai. The Lanna Kingdom Elephant Sanctuary sits beside a gurgling river in Thailand’s rural northeast, a one-hour drive from the Old City, surrounded by rice paddies and towering mountains.

As this elephant park is one of TAGTHAi’s benefits, you can show the sanctuary’s staff the QR code you got when you made the reservation in the app and hop on the minivan at any Chiang Mai hotel.

A half-day adventure to this sanctuary involves a mud bath with elephants. Wear the uniform the staff will give you; you’ll be drenched in this sticky mixture of earth and water when you bathe these colossal animals. You can also scrub them in the pool and hand-feed bananas to baby elephants. 

While you’re welcome to hang out with elephants, riding is strictly prohibited, and they’re never chained or confined to a particular place.

Phuket Elephant Sanctuary, Phuket

Watch tuskers roam freely across 30 acres of tropical jungle, foraging and bathing like a bunch of exuberant kids. Phuket Elephant Sanctuary, the first ethical elephant sanctuary Phuket, is Elephant Nature Park’s sister project. 

Lek Chailert and Mr. Montri Todtane, formerly an owner of a Phuket elephant camp, rescued elephants from animal trekking camps and founded this ecological park in Pa Klok, a neighborhood in the Thalang area near Phuket’s quiet east coast. It’s currently home to 12 retired elephants, overworked and tired from decades in the traditional tourism industry.

Does the idea of volunteering resonate with you? Phuket Elephant Sanctuary offers one- to seven-day programs for physically fit and motivated travelers.

This list of the best ethical elephant sanctuaries in Thailand is not final; you can find several other elephant parks that use the words “eco” and “ethical” not just for advertisements. If you’re unsure whether an elephant park is ethical, check the reviews and photos online. 

On a mission to encourage ethical travel, TAGTHAi chooses its partners mindfully. The City Pass includes several ethical elephant sanctuaries in Thailand, particularly in Chiang Mai. Do you need some trip ideas? Read our Chiang Mai, Bangkok, and Phuket blogs for some inspiration.