elephant hotel

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
Not Included
The Packing List

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.

Cha grew up in a remote Karen village in Mae Hong Son province in Thailand. She came to Chai Lai Orchid to learn English and Hospitality. She received an interest free loan from DaughterRising.org to build her own homestay "Lazy Mango". Cha is passionate about helping animals. She has rescued over 70 homeless cats from the streets.

Karen homestay host