Elephants, Waterfalls and Private Bungalow
Imagine waking up to mist rolling over jungle mountains. Outside your window, elephants wander slowly through the rice fields. Your host prepares breakfast while the village wakes up to birdsong and the sound of the river. This is not a typical tour.
Experience the heart of the jungle, walk alongside elephants, swim with them in the river, and immerse yourself in the rich traditions of the Karen people. This is a 2-day adventure deep into the mountains outside Chiang Mai where you’ll experience elephants, waterfalls, and authentic Karen village life.
2 days 1 night 5000 THB per person
Day 1 Itinerary
This trip includes pick up in downtown Chiang Mai Please note that pick up locations outside of Chiang Mai may have an additional charge. Transportation is a traditional Thai songteaw (covered pick-up truck) or a van.
The length and difficulty of the jungle hike can be adjusted to fit your ability, just let us know! On average our guests prefer to hike 2-3 hours through lush jungle terrain. Along the way you will see a wide variety of animals and plants, and your guide will share their expert jungle knowledge!
This tour offers a waterfall picnic lunch. Your guide will prepare BBQ meal and fresh seasonal fruits, and you can enjoy your lunch beside the river. Please let us know beforehand if you have any dietary restrictions so we can accommodate them. Or go with the flow and try some new tastes!
Meet a family of asian elephants and learn to love and care for them. Indigenous Karen guides will teach you how to talk to elephants, make medicine for them and bathe them in the river and observe playful baby elephants.
Guests will have the opportunity to explore the traditional way of life in a Pga k’ nyau/ Karen Hill Tribe village of Mae Sapok. See traditional Karen houses, and learn how local villagers raise animals, plant crops, and enjoy living sustainably in nature.
Sleep in a bamboo bungalow at Cha’s Lazy Mango Homestay and enjoy Pga k’ nyau (Karen hill tribe) hospitality and the countryside. It’s a great way to support local people from underprivileged communities to have the opportunity to create a better future. At breakfast you can feed the elephants from your room. This is part of our community based travel project. Travel and give back!
Itinerary- Day 2
Wake up to the sunrise over the rice fields and enjoy a traditional breakfast of locally-sourced seasonal fruits.
Visit Mae Sapok Waterfall and a Buddhist forest shrine
Finish off your day by cooling off in the lazy Mae Wang River on a traditional bamboo raft ride! Your guide will steer you around the winding river and small rapids as you relax. Drinks are allowed on the raft but PLEASE do not litter. Depending on the seasonal height of the river, rides can be from 40 min to 1 hour in duration. While most areas of the river are very shallow, life jackets are available upon request.
Pad Thai and Fresh fruits
You will leave at 13:00 and the driver will bring you back to the old city at 14:00.
Included
- Good Karma : 100% of the proceeds benefit marginalized indigenous community
- English Speaking Guide Pga k’ nyau Guide
- Transportation Pick-up and Drop-off
- Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner + Drinking Water
- Accident Insurance
Not Included
- Additional / Alcholic Beverages, and Snacks
- Optional Gratuities
- Surplus Transportation Fee for Pickups Outside of Chiang Mai
The Packing List
- Comfortable Athletic Clothing
- Swimwear
- Reusable Water Bottle
- Insect Repellant
- Sunblock
- Cash for Incidental Purchases
象との朝食ができるということで予約をしましたが、それ以上の体験ができました。
特に1日アクティビティでは、専属のガイドとシェフが1日同行してくれます。
移動中は、カレン族のガイドの方が、象や施設の説明、そして自分たちの歴史を丁寧に教えてくれます。
私は英語が得意ではなかったが、丁寧な英語で何度も教えてくれます。
アクティビティで非常に良い体験を経験しました。
ガイドのBOYさんとシェフのBAMBOOさん、
ありがとうございました!
また遊びに行きたいと思います。
It was even better than I expected.
I booked this because I wanted to have breakfast with the elephants, but the experience turned out to be so much more than that.
For the full-day activity, in particular, a dedicated guide and chef accompany you throughout the day.
During the transfers, the Karen guide kindly explained details about the elephants and the facility, as well as sharing the history of their people.
Although I am not very confident in English, they patiently explained things to me repeatedly using clear, polite English.
It was a truly wonderful experience.
A big thank you to our guide, Boy, and our chef, Bamboo!
I would love to visit again.
This was by far one of the best experiences we’ve ever done and easily the highlight of our trip to Chiang Mai!
We had Sunny as our tour guide, and he was absolutely incredible. He was polite, friendly, knowledgeable and genuinely went above and beyond to make the experience special. You could tell how passionate he is about his home, the local community and, most importantly, the elephants.
We started by trekking through the jungle and rice fields, visiting local villages and stopping at some amazing hidden waterfalls along the way. We were able to jump in and cool down at the waterfalls, which was perfect after hiking in the heat! The scenery was absolutely beautiful.
The elephant experience was honestly unforgettable. We were able to feed the elephants and even help bathe them. What we really appreciated was that there was no pressure on the elephants at all. They were free to do their own thing and weren’t forced to interact with us. In fact, when we brought them some food, they were more than happy to come over and see us! 🐘❤️
Sunny explained how well the elephants are cared for and how much love they have for their handlers. They looked incredibly healthy, happy and playful, and it was amazing to see them behaving naturally. We were also told how donations help support the elephants and local women, which made the experience feel even more worthwhile.
We met some lovely Karen villagers along the way too. They make handmade gifts and crafts, so I’d definitely recommend bringing some cash if you’d like to support them and take something home.
Our overnight stay was another huge highlight. We stayed in a jungle hut right next to a private waterfall, where we could actually swim. There was no phone signal, which honestly made the experience even better! It really felt like we were completely off the grid and surrounded by nature. Falling asleep next to the sound of the waterfall, with the jungle and stars around us, was incredible.
The food was fantastic too. We were given loads of traditional homemade meals throughout the trip and everything was delicious. We even got to try some of Sunny’s sister’s homemade rice wine — absolutely amazing, although VERY strong! 😂
We also did bamboo rafting down the river, which was awesome and another really fun part of the adventure.
There was always plenty of food and water provided, and everything was well organised without ever feeling rushed or overly touristy. It felt like a genuine opportunity to experience the local way of life.
Sunny genuinely made the trip. He is clearly such a hardworking and dedicated man, and his personality, knowledge and kindness made the whole experience even better.
If you’re visiting Chiang Mai, I cannot recommend this experience enough. The combination of elephants, jungle trekking, waterfalls, local culture, traditional food, bamboo rafting and staying overnight in the jungle makes this an experience we’ll never forget.
10/10 — absolutely unforgettable. 🐘❤️🌿
Recorrido y el
Co tacto con los elefantes muy bonito
El guia satit muy esmerado y pendiente de todo
Muy recomendado
Address the elephant care first: this is an eco-lodge rescue, not a 100% hands-off sanctuary. The interaction (feeding vitamin balls, river splashing) felt completely unforced and deeply respectful. The elephants are clearly loved, healthy, and happy—a total contrast to traditional exploitation camps.
As for the bad reviews: most stem from overnight room accommodations (we did a day trip, but it is an eco-lodge, so manage your expectations!) or people wanting zero contact.
Highlight of the day: I dropped my phone off a bridge straight into the river, and our guide jumped in without hesitation and somehow retrieved it! That level of care defined our whole day.
If you want a hands-off observation site, look elsewhere. If you want a respectful, close encounter supporting a fantastic cause, book here!
The scenery was amazing, the food was tasty, the people in the establishment was hospitable and friendly and the opportunity to spend time with the elephants is truly one of a kind.
The highlight of the trip was the activities with guide Wit, who is the best guide ever!
Friendly, cool guy, amazing cook with ingredients you can find in the nature and offering us sugar canes for dessert!
Absolutely recommend visiting the sanctuary 🩷
The guides were also very polite, friendly, and just really cool. They explained everything to us very well and created a relaxed atmosphere throughout the experience. Our guide Soan was especially friendly and polite.
Overall, a really great experience – absolutely recommend it!
Yes, there are insects, the roads are difficult, and getting there is not easy — but this is a place in the middle of nature, not a city hotel or an Airbnb. There were mosquito nets and insect repellent in the room, as well as a shower, toiletries, towels, a hairdryer, and everything I needed after spending the day outdoors. I personally had no issue with getting dirty or encountering insects — that's part of being in nature, and I actually enjoyed it.
The food was fine and, overall, tasty. We also had a traditional meal prepared in the mountains over a fire. It was intentionally very simple, without the salt and spices we are used to, and I saw it as part of the cultural experience rather than something to judge as “bad food.”
What mattered most to me was the experience with the elephants. I spent a lot of time observing how the guides interacted with them. During the time I was there, I did not see any sticks, whips, hitting, or other obvious forms of abuse. The guides I observed used food, such as sugarcane and bananas, to interact with the elephants. The elephants were free to move around the park and I did not see them restrained by ropes or collars.
Of course, I cannot personally guarantee what happens outside the time I observed, so I don't want to make absolute claims about the ethics of the sanctuary. But based on what I personally saw, I did not witness anything that made me uncomfortable about the way the elephants were treated.
For me, Chai Lai was not about luxury or perfect roads and rooms. It was about spending time in nature and being able to observe elephants living, bathing, playing, scratching themselves on trees, covering themselves in mud, and simply being elephants. Actually, one of the sweetest moments was when a baby elephant got a banana from a tourist, couldn’t figure out how to peel it off, and then went straight to his guide, handed him the banana, and got a peeled one back, he immediately ate it, and I was absolutely delighted watching this!
Pudimos darles de comer, compartir tiempo con ellos y bañarnos juntos en el río, además de alimentar también a los elefantes bebés. Estar tan cerca de estos increíbles animales y poder interactuar con ellos fue algo que difícilmente olvidaremos.
Queremos hacer una mención especial a nuestro guía, Satit, que fue fantástico. Muy amable, atento y cercano, nos explicó muchísimas cosas sobre los elefantes y consiguió que disfrutáramos todavía más de la experiencia.
El alojamiento también nos encantó. La cena fue excelente y el desayuno igualmente delicioso, pero uno de los momentos más mágicos fue poder dar el desayuno a los elefantes directamente desde nuestro bungalow. Despertarte y vivir algo así es difícil de describir con palabras.
Todo el conjunto —el entorno, los elefantes, el alojamiento, la comida y especialmente el trato recibido— hizo que nuestra estancia fuera realmente especial.
Una experiencia absolutamente recomendable y uno de esos recuerdos que nos llevaremos para siempre. Volveríamos sin dudarlo. 🐘❤️
We had an absolutely wonderful two-day trek with Chai Lai Orchid, definitely one of the highlights of our trip to Thailand.
A huge part of what made the experience so special was our guide, Loni. He is a fantastic guide: warm, attentive, passionate, and incredibly knowledgeable about the region. Throughout the trek, he shared so much with us about the jungle, the plants, local life and the culture of the area. We learned a lot while simply enjoying the experience, which made the trek feel very authentic and personal.
One of our favorite moments was visiting Loni’s village and getting a glimpse of local life through someone who truly knows and loves this region. We also spent the night in an absolutely beautiful place in the middle of nature, right beside a mountain water fall. Waking up there was magical.
And of course, spending time with the elephants was an unforgettable part of the experience. 🐘🌿
The whole trek felt authentic, generous and very far from a standard tourist experience. We came back with wonderful memories and the feeling that we had discovered a very special side of northern Thailand.
If you have the chance to do this trek, ask for Loni. We couldn’t recommend him more highly. Thank you, Loni, for these two fantastic days!
We took the 2 days 1 night experience package and it was worth every penny
Our guide LON was simply amazing - his teachings of the jungle and the way of life are precious and we enjoyed learning so much
We visited a sacred 700 years old temple, hiked inside the jungle, slept next to a waterfall and played with elephants in the water
Highly recommended experience
La experiencia es un 10/10. Merece la pena cada minuto que pasas en este sitio, lo recomiendo 100%.
Tienes un guía solo para ti.
Nosotros tuvimos la suerte de que nos tocara Phop y solo tengo palabras buenas hacia él, nos hizo mil fotos, nos explicaba cosas y curiosidades de la cultura tailandesa, atento y ayudándonos en el treeking, a parte de buen guía se le veía muy buena persona, nos ha dado muchísima pena el despedirnos de él, 5 estrellas por Phop, por las actividades y el buen trato que tienen hacia los elefantes.
También especial mención al guía Dom que nos amenizó la noche con juegos tras la cena. Son unos cracks! Siempre lo recomendaré a toda la gente que viaje a Tailandia, es un antes y después del viaje.
Todo al detalle, desde que te recogen en tu hotel en Chiang Mai, hasta los bonitos detalle en el desayuno.
Tuvimos como guía (porque la experiencia es individual, no en un grupo grande) a Phop, un chico encantador que estuvo siempre atento, detallista, nos enseñó juegos con plantas, nos construyó unos vasos con una caña de bambú, nos hizo millones de fotos preciosas, y mil cosas más. Phop te echaremos de menos!
La experiencia con elefantes no quiero dar muchos detalles para no hacer spoiler, pero es impresionante y única en la vida. Los elefantes se mueven sin cuerdas ni cadenas, únicamente siguiendo la voz del cuidador. Les dan de comer para intentar que puedas hacerte fotos con ellos, pero si el elefante se quiere dar media vuelta, la da y se acabó las fotos, como debe ser.
Vamos que solo tengo palabras buenas para el sueño que hemos vivido!
Travel That Gives Back
Your visit directly supports:
• Ethical elephant care
• Indigenous Pga k’ nyau (Karen) communities
• Women’s empowerment through Daughters Rising
100% of proceeds go toward community development and protecting elephants.
This means your trip doesn’t just create memories — it creates real impact.