travel Landscape

Travel like a local in Northern Thailand

Step off the tourist trail and spend the night in a peaceful farming village nestled in the cool mountains near Doi Inthanon National Park, Thailand’s highest peak.

Hosted by Karen hill tribe guide Nukul and her family, this unique farmstay invites you to slow down, breathe fresh mountain air, and experience a way of life that has remained unchanged for generations.

With only five private bungalows, the farm is quiet, intimate, and surrounded by jungle and rice fields — the perfect place to disconnect from the busy world and reconnect with nature.

Wake to mist drifting through the mountains, share home-cooked meals with your hosts, and experience authentic village life far from the crowds of Chiang Mai.

A Rare Chance to Connect With Elephants

Your stay includes an unforgettable visit to the Chai Lai Elephant Sanctuary, where you’ll meet rescued Asian elephants and learn about their lives and conservation.

Walk with elephants through the jungle, help prepare their herbal medicine, feed them by hand, and even join them for a refreshing river bath. These gentle giants live with their mahouts as family, and every visit helps support their care and protection.

Many guests say this is the moment they will remember forever.


Live Like a Local in the Mountains

This experience is about more than sightseeing — it’s about living inside the culture.

During your stay you can:

• Share traditional meals prepared by your host family
• Learn about Karen farming traditions
• Explore the surrounding forests and mountain trails
• Enjoy peaceful nights under the stars in cool mountain air

This is the kind of experience travelers dream about — authentic, meaningful, and far from mass tourism.


Travel That Gives Back

Your stay directly supports Karen families and ethical elephant conservation.

Community-based tourism ensures that local people are involved in hosting and guiding guests, helping preserve their culture while creating sustainable livelihoods.

When you stay here, your visit helps protect elephants, empower local communities, and preserve the forests of northern Thailand.

2 day 1 night 5000 THB

The Farm Stay

Elephant Care Experience

Connect With Elephants While Supporting Their Conservation

This trip offers once in a lifetime experiences such as, swimming with elephants, feeding the elephants by hand or meeting baby elephants born here in Chiang Mai. (We don’t work with elephants captured in the wild and babies get to stay with their moms) You will meet beautiful Asian elephants and learn how to approach and communicate with them, make elephant medicine, bathe them and walk with them through the jungle sanctuary to forage for fresh healthy food.  Learn about their history in Thailand and how your purchase of an elephant experience with our organization helps to create a safe and permanent home for them. Chai Lai Orchid’s Elephant Sanctuary is one of the best elephant sanctuaries in Chiang Mai. Relax at the Chai Lai Orchid cafe and enjoy delicious fresh food with epic views of the valley.See the full details of the program here 

Meet your Karen Hilltribe guide: Nukul

Photos of Nukul

 Why Choose Sustainable Alternative to Traditional Tourism in Chiang Mai

As the world becomes more interconnected, tourism has emerged as a significant economic driver for many countries. Thailand’s tourism industry, accounts for around 18% of GDP. Traditional tourism, characterized by large-scale operations such as all-inclusive resorts, cruise ships, and packaged tours, has been the predominant model for decades. However, a new approach, community-based tourism (CBT), is gaining traction as travelers seek more authentic and sustainable experiences. 

Chai Lai Orchid and Karen homestays  put the community first. Here the Karen hilltribe local communities play a central role in managing and hosting visitors. Unlike traditional tourism, which often operates with minimal input from local populations, CBT involves the community in planning, decision-making, and implementation processes. This model prioritizes local culture, heritage, and environment, ensuring that tourism benefits are equitably distributed among community members.