Chiang Mai Untouched Elephant: Nature Walk & Waterfall Trek

Chiang Mai’s "Untouched Elephant: Nature Walk & Waterfall Trek" offers a unique chance to connect with these magnificent creatures. Participants can feed, walk, and bathe the elephants in a sanctuary setting, all while enjoying traditional cuisine and stunning natural scenery. With transportation and an immersive itinerary, this 5-hour adventure promises an authentic cultural experience. What could this mean for your Chiang Mai explorations?

Key Points

• This tour offers an immersive experience to interact with elephants and their caretakers in a natural setting near Chiang Mai.
• Visitors can participate in activities like feeding, walking, and bathing elephants, as well as explore a nearby waterfall.
• The tour includes transportation, a guided tour, and a traditional home-cooked meal in a hill tribe village.
• This 5-hour tour is priced at $48.05 per person and can be booked with free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance.
• The tour is suitable for most travelers, but requires moderate fitness for trekking and outdoor activities.

You can check if your dates are available here:

Activity Overview

The "Chiang Mai Untouched Elephant: Nature Walk & Waterfall Trek" activity is priced from $48.05 per person and lasts approximately 5 hours.

Pickup is available from hotels in and around Chiang Mai Old Town, and the tour is led by an English-speaking guide.

Guests can cancel free of charge up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.

The experience allows visitors to live a day in the life of an elephant caretaker, immersing in the daily routines of local mahouts and enjoying traditional home-cooked meals in a traditional hill tribe village.

Experience Highlights

Visitors can live a day in the life of an elephant caretaker—feeding, walking, and bathing the gentle giants. This authentic experience immerses guests in the daily routines of local mahouts in a traditional hill tribe village.

Elephants are treated as family members, with no chains or forced performances.

Travelers can also:

• Enjoy home-cooked meals prepared by local families.

• Explore the natural surroundings and discover the waterfall.

• Experience genuine interactions with the elephants and their caretakers.

This non-commercialized experience is perfect for those seeking a genuine, unscripted encounter with elephants in their natural habitat.

Itinerary

The tour begins with pickup from hotels in and around Chiang Mai Old Town, taking around 1.5 hours to reach the Elephant Sanctuary Care Park. At the sanctuary, visitors enjoy a guided tour, have the chance to feed and walk with the elephants, and indulge in a traditional local lunch. After the elephant experience, the group heads to the picturesque Mae Wang Waterfall for an hour of free time before the 1.5-hour drive back to Chiang Mai.

| Itinerary | Duration |

| — | — |

| Pickup from Chiang Mai | 1.5 hours |

| Elephant Sanctuary Care Park | 3 hours |

| Mae Wang Waterfall | 1 hour |

| Return to Chiang Mai | 1.5 hours |

Transportation and Logistics

Transportation for the tour is provided in a 12-seater air-conditioned van or open-air pickup truck from Chiang Mai to the Elephant Sanctuary Care Park.

Once there, guests switch to a roofed 4×4 truck to reach the sanctuary itself.

The transportation options are:

• 12-seater air-conditioned van

• Open-air pickup truck

• Roofed 4×4 truck for the sanctuary

The journey from Chiang Mai to the sanctuary takes approximately 1.5 hours each way.

The trip from Chiang Mai to the sanctuary takes around 1.5 hours in each direction.

Moderate fitness is required for the trekking and outdoor activities at the sanctuary.

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Fitness and Dietary Considerations

Although moderate fitness is required for the trekking and outdoor activities at the sanctuary, the tour is suitable for most travelers.

Guests should be prepared for moderately strenuous hiking and walking on uneven terrain. The experience also involves bathing and interacting with the elephants, which requires some physical mobility.

Travelers with dietary restrictions or allergies should inform the operator in advance so accommodations can be made. The sanctuary offers traditional home-cooked meals, and they’re able to cater to various dietary needs with prior notice.

Genuine Interactions

One of the key draws of this Chiang Mai elephant experience is its emphasis on providing a genuine, unscripted encounter with the elephants and their caretakers.

This means:

• No chains, forced performances, or commercialized activities – the elephants are treated as family members, not tourist attractions.

• Visitors immerse in the daily routines of local mahouts, learning about their traditional lifestyles and methods of caring for the elephants.

• Opportunities for natural interactions, such as feeding, walking, and bathing the elephants, fostering a deeper connection and appreciation for these magnificent creatures.

Customer Feedback

What do customers say about this Chiang Mai elephant experience? Based on 59 reviews, the overall rating is 4.6 out of 5.

Customers praise the value for money, giving it a 4.6/5 rating. The transportation also scores well at 4.4/5.

However, the tour guide quality receives a 3.7/5 rating. Travelers report the transfer time was longer than expected, but most agree the time spent with the elephants was amazing.

One customer described the experience as "authentic and natural," while another said the staff were "lovely and accommodating."

Exploring the Elephant Sanctuary

After being picked up from their Chiang Mai hotels, guests are transported to the Elephant Sanctuary Care Park.

At the sanctuary, they:

Visit the elephants, learning about their daily routines and care from the local mahouts. Participate in hands-on activities like feeding and bathing the gentle giants.

• Visit the elephants, learning about their daily routines and care from the local mahouts.

• Participate in hands-on activities like feeding and bathing the gentle giants.

• Explore the lush, natural surroundings, trekking through the park’s verdant landscape.

The experience offers a rare, unscripted glimpse into the lives of these magnificent creatures and the dedicated people who protect them in a non-commercialized setting.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I Take Photos and Videos With the Elephants?

Yes, participants are encouraged to take photos and videos with the elephants during the experience. The tour provider allows and promotes capturing memorable moments with the gentle animals in their natural habitat.

Is It Possible to Interact Directly With the Elephants?

Yes, the activity allows participants to directly interact with the elephants. Visitors can feed, walk, and bathe the elephants as part of the mahout experience, immersing in the daily routines of local elephant caretakers.

How Is the Animal Welfare and Ethical Treatment Ensured?

The activity ensures ethical elephant treatment by avoiding chains, forced performances, and commercialization. Elephants are cared for as family members, and visitors interact naturally with them during their daily routines in a traditional village setting.

What Safety Measures Are in Place During the Elephant Interactions?

The tour provides a safe, ethical elephant experience. Visitors can interact with the elephants under the close supervision of experienced mahouts, who ensure the animals’ well-being and prevent any unsafe or inappropriate behavior. Safety precautions are prioritized throughout the activity.

Can I Participate in the Bathing of the Elephants?

Yes, participants can assist in bathing the elephants. The activity involves washing and scrubbing the elephants in a safe, supervised manner under the guidance of the experienced mahouts. Appropriate safety precautions are in place to ensure a comfortable and enjoyable experience.

Recap

The Chiang Mai Untouched Elephant experience offers an immersive, authentic connection with elephants in their natural habitat. Travelers can feed, walk, and bathe the gentle giants, while also enjoying a traditional home-cooked meal and exploring the stunning Chiang Mai landscape. With comfortable transportation and consideration for dietary and fitness needs, this adventure provides a meaningful and memorable way to appreciate the elephants’ welfare and the beauty of northern Thailand.

You can check if your dates are available here: