Elephant Jungle Expedition 1 Day (Private Trip)
1 day Private Trip 3500 THB per person
Spend a full day exploring waterfalls, hiking through the jungle, rafting the Mae Wang River, and bonding with rescued elephants in their natural environment.
Connect With Elephants While Supporting Their Conservation
This trip combines our guests’ favourite activities into an unforgettable 1-day adventure. You will have the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to bond with elephants by spending one-on-one time with them in this private tour.
Half of the day is spent caring for elephants, learning to communicate with them, and swimming with them in the Mae Wang river. You will learn the elephants’ unique personalities and play with a baby elephant and their mom. Walk with elephants as they forage in their beautiful natural environment.
After befriending the elephant herd, enjoy a fresh Thai style picnic at a waterfall. Then take in beautiful landscapes on a hike through sun-soaked rice fields and lush jungle.
Your guide can lead you to discover hidden jungle temples or several waterfalls where you can learn about plants and medicine. The hike is fun and refreshing and the highlight is bathing in the cool waterfalls. This will be a day unlike any other! This is our most popular tour so please reserve in advance to get a spot.
Travel Better: 100% of the proceeds from this tour benefit rescued elephants and ensure they can continue to live the rest of their lives in a sanctuary free from fear and abuse.
象たちはとっても優しい目をしていて、フレンドリーに接してくれました。象のご飯タイムも、山の中の散歩も、水浴びタイムも全てステキな体験でした。
1日ツアーでは、BoyとBambooのステキな夫婦がガイドをしてくれました。
象のこと、村のこと、彼らの生活ことをツアーを通していろいろなことを話してくれました。また、ランチはBambooが手作り料理をふるまってくれました。中でも、カボチャときのこのスープは素朴なんだけど滋味深い味で、川の流れを見ながら食べる時間がとても心地よかったです。
次回も、BoyとBambooにガイドをお願いしたいです!
We also booked the jungle trek and waterfall experience with Worachit and Somchai, which ended up being one of the highlights of our stay. They were fantastic guides, taking us through the local jungle, stopping for lunch by a beautiful waterfall, and showing us some incredible temples along the way.
It was an amazing day and an experience we’d recommend to anyone visiting Chiang Mai. Chai Lai Orchid was easily one of the highlights of our trip!
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%.
Itinerary
This trip includes pick up in downtown Chiang Mai Please note that pick up locations outside of Chiang Mai are possible but may have an additional charge.
This tour also includes visiting a beautiful Karen Hill Tribe village where guests will have the opportunity to explore the traditional Karen way of life. See traditional Karen houses, and learn from your local Karen guide how indigenous people raise animals, plant crops, and enjoy their rural lifestyle. There are local artisans in each village, so this can also be a place to grab a one-of-a-kind souvenir from a local craftswoman.
The length and difficulty of the 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 as you take in the epic beauty of Northern Thailand.
Hike to a secluded jungle waterfall where you can cool off by taking a dip! This is the perfect way to relax and enjoy the peaceful surroundings in the jungle.
Arrive at an authentic elephant jungle sanctuary! Feed all the elephants in the herd, swim and play in the river, learn how to make elephant medicine and enrichment activities for the elephants and meet a baby elephant. You will plenty of time for photos, and learning how to communicate with them. Walk with your elephant through the jungle to forage and then cool off together by bathing them in the river!
We offer only ethical elephant tours. The elephants we love and support are trained each day through positive reinforcement, helping them learn to respond to voice commands. Managing them responsibly helps us ensure these elephants can safely receive veterinary care because they trust the humans around them
This tour offers a delicious picnic lunch in the lush Chiang Mai jungle. Enjoy a traditional vegetarian meal and fresh seasonal fruits as you look out onto the babbling Mae Wang river. Please let us know beforehand if you have any dietary restrictions so we can accommodate.
Glide down the lazy Mae Wang River on a traditional bamboo raft! Bamboo floats! And make for an ingenious and totally eco mode of transportation. A guide from the Lahu hill tribe community will use a bamboo paddle to steer you around the winding Mae Wang river on this handmade bamboo raft. 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.
Included
- Pick up 8:00 (Chiang Mai City)
- All Items in the Itinerary
- An English Speaking Guide
- Meal and Drinking Water
- Accident Insurance
- 16:00 Transfer back to your hotel
Not Included
- Pickups Outside of Downtown Chiang Mai
- Additional Beverages, beer
- 3% for credit card payments
The Packing List
- Comfortable Athletic Clothing
- Towel
- Swimwear
- Trekking Shoes or Sandals
- Change of Clean Clothes
- Reusable Water Bottle
- Insect Repellant
- Sunblock
- Cash for any Purchases
🔥 Our Most Popular Chiang Mai Adventure
This private jungle expedition combines elephants, waterfalls, bamboo rafting, and trekking into one unforgettable day.
Spots fill quickly — we recommend reserving in advance.
⭐ 4.8 rating on Tripadvisor and Google
🐘 Ethical, no riding
Supports Indigenous women through Daughters Rising