Care Pride Elephants: Full-day Tour Experience

This family (elephants & humans) consider they are all one family with no distinction between species is one of the most enlightening and enjoyable day trips you will experience in northern Thailand. There are many elephant tips but this small family group is authentic. It is more a trip to the farm than a touristy show and go. You will spend time playing, wandering, bathing, swimming and feeding the ladies. The elephants lead the activities and direct the humans to follow and engage. It’s magical!!! Grandma elephant makes the call and away you go. The best experience and group we have encountered. This experience is like going home for those like us who live the agricultural life. Just like going to the family farm where life is as should be.

Great day out - be prepared for climbing up a hill to find the elephants - good walking shoes needed! Take spare clothes for changing into after the river bathing

Our family of 5, including 3 kids 8-12 years old, did this full day tour a couple of days ago. It was an amazing experience! The chance to be up close with the 3 elephants and their handlers in such a gorgeous location was truly special. We walked with the elephants, fed them bananas and watermelon, watched them roll and play in the mud pit and then our kids swam with them in the stream and helped to wash off the mud. We also had a delicious local lunch of chicken, fried ride, egg and tons of fruit. The pace was very relaxed. We spent about 5 hours at the sanctuary plus a few hours of driving. This is the tour to do if you really want to slow down and enjoy a quiet relaxed day in nature just observing the elephants and enjoying the beautiful surroundings.

Unfortunately we did not get to participate as the driver never showed to pick us up. We waited over an hour at our hotel and ended up having to book a half day session somewhere else instead of doing the full day instead. After countless attempts to contact, the activity manager finally called me back and apologized offering a full refund and free booking the next day.

Beautiful day with mother and daughter elephants being so well cared for by the farming family. Tam and Coffee were our guides giving us their history and daily routine. We were allowed to feed them and then walk through the forest and hills in their natural feeding grounds. Then we bathed in the river and were allowed to cool the elephants down with river water. Finally a beautifully prepared meal of local produce from the very kind farming family. Overall a fabulous experience for us.

I would say it's a pretty good experience if you want to get up close and personal with Asians elephants. You will travel to a small farm with some rice patties and you get to take a walk with the elephants of a mountain. The elephants are very aware that they will be said sugarcane and we were up close personal and it was a very nice experience for my son and myself small type of run operation but I feel that you will enjoy the experience. Be sure to take lots of photos and wear shoes sandals you will be slippery

Amazing expirience! We booked a private tour and were alone with the elephants all day. We walked them, fed them and bathed them. Elephants were calm and happy and eating a lot!! The elephants freely decided the pace and we followed them. We will never forget this day!

One of the best experiences of our lives! My wife and I were incredibly lucky to have these beautiful elephants to ourselves for the entire day, which made the experience feel even more special and personal. From start to finish, it was nothing short of magical. Our guide, Coco Loco, picked us up from our hotel in a very comfortable van. On the way, we stopped to pick up fruit for the elephants and also had a break for coffee and the toilet halfway through the journey, which was a thoughtful touch. When we arrived at the sanctuary, the elephants were waiting for us. We were also offered traditional garments to wear, which was lovely and added to the experience. We began by meeting the elephants up close, gently touching them, and learning so much about their lives, personalities, and care. It was fascinating and unforgettable. We then walked with them through the jungle, simply observing them from a respectful distance while they explored, ate, and enjoyed their surroundings at their own pace. It was incredible to see them so relaxed and natural. After that, we took them into the mud, which they absolutely loved. Lunch was then served, and it was fantastic — delicious fried rice, chicken, and fresh fruit, all freshly prepared. In the afternoon, we were able to join the elephants in the mud and play with them, which was such a fun and once-in-a-lifetime experience. Afterwards, we walked them down to the river, where we helped bathe them and enjoyed splashing around together. What we loved most was how everything was done entirely on the elephants’ terms. Nothing felt rushed or forced, and they were free to move, eat, and interact naturally. It was clear that their wellbeing comes first, which made the whole experience even more meaningful. These elephants are truly incredible animals, and we feel so grateful to have shared this special day with them. Thank you to everyone at the sanctuary for the amazing work you do and for giving us an experience we will never forget.

Experience of a lifetime! Staff was extremely knowledgeable and answered all our questions. Couldn’t have asked for a better experience

We had the best day of our holiday so far..the family at the elephant sanctuary are warm and welcoming. The elephants were well behaved and friendly especially when you have food for them 😁…we gave the elephants a mud bath and wash off in the river and had great fun with them…a big thank you!!!

Traveled with my adult son. Koko was our guide/driver and was fabulous. Picked us up at our hotel in old city. There were 4 of us total on tour. There were two elephants at the sanctuary. Expected more but it worked out fine. We hiked with the elephants, fed them, played in mud with them, and then went into the river with them to bath them. Bring water shoes and change of clothes if you are planning on going into water…which you should plan on, it was the best part. Water is about waist deep. Keep your mouth closed so you don’t swallow any! They served us lunch. Highlight of our stay in Chiang Mai. Highly recommend.

片道1.5〜2時間、でも安全安心なドライブ。 そして体験中は全てがゾウ優先で、素晴らしい時間でした。 驚いたのは、ゾウの食べる量と、歩く速さと、パワフルなのに人間が近くにいる時はそれを分かっていて、気を使って行動してくれるところです。ガイドのココさんが言っていた通り、本当に大きい犬みたいでした。 毎日の散歩コースも把握していて、本当に賢いんだと思いました。歩くスピードに加え、細い道でも歩くことのできる器用さ、鼻の器用な使い方、皮膚の感触、息づかい、このツアーで学んだことがたくさんありました。 2頭は私たちよりもずっと年上で、仲良く、信頼し合っているのがよく分かりました（ごはんの横取りシーンも何度も目撃しましたが、、笑）。 ここでは本当に穏やかな時間が流れていました。仲良く戯れ合う子犬と猫も可愛かった。猫にはランチを少し持っていかれれましたが。笑 ガイドの方たちも親切で、遠慮しがちな私たちに、ゾウと触れ合う機会をたくさん作ってくれました。 川でのシャワーに入っていくときの、若い方のゾウの輝いている目と、散歩コースの頂上で休憩しながら、遊んでいるゾウを待つのんびりとした時間が、いまだに忘れられません。 いつかまた遊びに行きたいと思います！ It was a 1.5–2 hour drive each way, but it felt very safe and comfortable. During the whole experience, everything was truly elephant-first, and we had such a wonderful time. What surprised us most was how much the elephants eat, how fast they walk, and how powerful they are. Even though they are so strong, they clearly understand when humans are nearby and move carefully around us. Just like Koko said, they really felt like big dogs. We were amazed by how smart they are. They know their daily walking route, walk confidently even on narrow paths, and use their trunks with incredible skill. We learned so much during this tour — their strength, their speed, the texture of their skin, their breathing… it was unforgettable. The two elephants were much older than us, and we could clearly see how close they are and how much they trust each other (even though we witnessed some funny food-stealing moments many times! 😄). Time felt very peaceful there. The playful puppy and cat were also adorable — although the cat stole a little of our lunch! 😄 The guides were kind and thoughtful. Even though we were a bit shy at first, they created many opportunities for us to interact with the elephants. We will never forget the bright eyes of the younger elephant when entering the river for a shower, and the calm moment at the top of the walking path, waiting while the elephants played. We truly hope to visit again someday. Thank you for such a special experience.

This was an amazing experience! Coco was an outstanding guide! He shared information from the start of our drive right through to the end of our day long adventure. He was kind & caring to the elephants! We also enjoyed the hospitality & caring family who owned the elephants! They clearly took good care of these beautiful animals. All around wonderful day with truly amazing gentle creations who need our support. I highly recommend this experience!

The most amazing close up encounter with elephants you’re ever likely to have. My guide, Tee was amazing, and really went out of his way to make the experience run smoothly. You’ll little be hanging out in the jungle with the free-roaming elephants, feeding them, and then bathing them in the river. You’ll also get an excellent Thai lunch. And the family that owns the farm is lovely. Absolutely don’t miss this if you’re in the area!

All 3 of us absolutely loved this experience! Our guide was Koko. He picked us up at our hotel and we went straight there- no side trips, which we appreciated. The family that cares for them are wonderful as well. There were 5 of us for the day so we got to spend a lot of time with their 2 elephants. We started by feeding them then we walked with them into the forest where they ate and talked to each other. It was so relaxing and meant so much to see them in their element. They are so peaceful, although “Grandma” was quite sassy at times!! Then we walked with them to the river where they played down and seemed to enjoy being bathed in mud! I would 100% recommend this tour!

This is an amazing experience and I encourage anybody traveling to Thailand to sign up for this! This excursion was extra special as it was our first full day in Thailand. After the hour-long drive up to the mountains (they picked us up from our hotel), we finally met the 2 beautiful elephants (mother and daughter) that we ended up spending the entire day with! You start by feeding them and taking photos with them. We also met the baby kitten and puppy who live at the sanctuary, along with the chickens! We then walked up a steep hill and spent quality time with them next door to the sanctuary in a wooded area (outside of the gated area) - I was amazed that the 70 year-old grandmother elephant was able to hike up the hill so easily! I also took note of how quiet the elephants are in the jungle - even if they’re a few feet away, you can barely hear their footsteps. It was very peaceful. Afterwards, we went in the mud pit to put mud on them, then we went into the nearby stream (super clear, by the way) to rinse them off. The elephants are without question well taken care of and seem to be quite happy :D. Of course, there are plenty of opportunities for amazing photos! Tips: Bring sunscreen, a hat, and glasses. I’d wear water shoes instead of sandals. Do not enter the mud pit if you’re immunocompromised or squeamish as the elephants do defecate in the pit, but the stream is perfectly clean. The sanctuary provided us with water and lunch, which was very enjoyable. It was one of the best days of our trip - highly recommended!

Great day, great staff at the sanctuary. Everything was perfect. From walking with to feeding and playing in the mud and washing them off in the river. Every moment was perfect. Staff was fun and friendly.

A very special day with the elephants. Great hosts made sure we had lots of opportunities to interact with the elephants, feeding, walking, bathing, and more feeding, and some more feeding. Highly recommended.

This was the best experience we had with the elephants. Family was very nice. Kiki picked us up spoke English well. He explained everything to us about the elephants. We got to feed them bathe them and spent whole day with them. I would highly recommend this tour. We didn’t feel rushed. Elephants are treated so well. Highly recommend this tour

We had an amazing experience, one that we will never forget for the rest of our lives. We left with the biggest smiles on our faces!

Brilliant day out. We loved spending time with the elephants and our guides were fun, engaging and factual. Can thoroughly recommend this tour.

This was a wonderful experience. Our guide, Koko, was knowledgeable, kind, and made a real effort to bring the group together. There were only two elephants at the sanctuary—fewer than I expected—but I ended up learning so much about them. Being so close to such gentle, majestic animals was truly special. The duration felt just right, though at moments I found myself wishing for a bit more activity. But when you stay true to the purpose of this sanctuary—honoring and caring for the elephants—you understand why the pace is more relaxed. We also got to play with their one‑month‑old pups, which was an unexpected and delightful bonus. Highly recommend!

Recommended. Small group atmosphere that was very accessible for our young kids. Recommendations are to bring long pants/sleeves if possible to avoid bugs during hike. Then have your shorts/swimsuits for the rest of the day.

We booked a full-day at the elephant sanctuary and enjoyed every moment. It was an absolutely incredible and unforgettable experience. Mr. T was very funny and personable. He picked us up from our hotel and drove us to the sanctuary, stopping by a local market along the way. When we got to the sanctuary, we fed the elephants, hiked through a jungle with them, gave them a mud bath, and then washed them. The activities progressed naturally, and we did not feel rushed at any point. The experience also included a delicious lunch with fresh fruit. The elephants are very gentle and well cared for. We were able to have a safe, caring, fun, humane, and personal interaction with them. The guides were very knowledgeable, funny, and took tons of great photos and videos for our family. Overall, this was the highlight of our trip, and we would not hesitate to return here again :)

Wow! What a day! Everything was perfect from the transport there to the friendliest staff to the food and an unforgettable day with 2 beautiful elephants. A day I will treasure forever. If you want a small group experience this is for you. The elephants are so well cared for. You just do what the elephants choose to do! We fed them, walked with them, gave them a mud bath then washed them in the river. Highly recommend!

Amazing and unforgettable experience. The hosts were very kind and made our day amazing. The day we went it was raining and we enjoy it more since it was up in the mountain!

Coco and family were great hosts. Very caring and attentive. Did not rush us and answered all of our questions

This was an amazing day. The elephants are so well cared for. I will never forget this day, a truly must do experience where you get to interact, feed and play with the elephants. Would recommend to anyone

Great, personal tour experience where we had a lot of time to see the elephants without crowds! Our hosts were lovely

If I could give this experience 10/10 I would give it 100! Chanchai, Koko And Mr T make an incredible team!! The experience is next level and I will only ever visit this elephant sanctuary in the future. Me & my husband came last year on our honeymoon and have returned this year with our entire family. We made some very special memories and hopefully friends for a very long time with the team and the elephants. We don’t say goodbye!!! Only…. Until we meet again.

So AMAZING. Everything was perfect! There were only 2 elephants that day (no baby present) but our group of 7 experience the highlight of our Thailand trip. The elephants were gentle giants. Their family/caretakers were great hosts and lunch was beautifully prepared. 1000% recommend this tour~

Our driver was very friendly and attentive throughout the day. It was a comfortable ride to the farm with a short stop along the way. The elephants are very docile, still they are large and unpredictable so always be aware. When having the mud bath expect to get muddy! The clay may stain your clothes. There is a restroom and a place to get clean and change after the stream bath. It was a serene and amazing experience. Highly recommend.

This is the most personal experience with Thailand elephants! No big crowds, no 1/2 day twice a day bookings. The 5 elephants are very free to roam where and when they want to: the mountainside, the mud pool, the river and along the edges. This was the best tour of northern Thailand!

The experience is amazing. You spend the day with the elephants which the hosts say are part of their family. You experience feeding them having lunch with them walking to the hills , mud bath and river for a swim with them. You get to know them and fall in love with baby Jojo. Note that The roads to get there are steep and curvy so you may need medicine for nausea if you are sensitive.

This was one of the best experiences in my life! You will get up close and personal with the elephants and actually get to know their personalities. Never have I ever had a more rewarding experience than Elephant Pride Sanctuary. It was magical and if you have children, they will remember this forever. It is an experience of a lifetime. I could walk you through each phase however, I want you to experience the magic that Chanchai, Coco and their family showed and gave me. I assure you, it's a place you will want to return to or long for mentally. You will interact with each elephant down to JoJo, the baby. It was a magical experience. The lunch prepared by Chanchai's sister was so delicious and impressively wrapped in banana leaves. Nothing is wasted! To Chanchai, Coco and Family, thank you for a magical experience. I will be back. The care you give to each elephant just warms more heart. You can feel the love your family has for each one. Thank you for loving all of God's creatures giving them the care He would give to them. You guys are truly blessed. I wish you so much success, blessings and good will. See you next year!

Great experience! Our tour guides made everything to make the most of the experience! They are kind , funny and I recommend 100% this tour! Elephants are very friendly and it was an amazing experience

Wonderful experience with the elephants! Koko was an excellent guide and driver! Be prepared for a long drive into the mountains- took about 2 hours one way.

This experience at the Elephant Pride Sanctuary gave me the most calming and joyous experience in a long time. From the staff to the elephants I felt apart of the family. To be so included in their everyday life and talk with the family was amazing. I will definitely come back to visit my new friends. This is an experience worth having. See you in April!!!!!. To my elephant family and staff family, thank you!!!

Amazing amazing day! We had so much fun with the elephants and the team today. Koko and Dodo were excellent guides for such a busy day. You get to feed the elephants two separate times, walk with them, mud bath with him and rinse them in the river. It is so fun to see how the family sticks together, they are just wonderful. The staff is knowledgeable and kind and don’t hover over your shoulder the whole time. And of course Jojo the baby was a delight. Great day!

Amazing experience with genuine, caring, fun, safe and welcoming people. It was a pleasure to be able to visit, we were incredibly well looked after from the moment we were collected. A day we will never forget!

Amazing experience for the whole family. We had an all day intimate experience with the elephants for the whole day. Koko and Dodo the tour guides were really nice and made sure our day is perfect. The elephant family includes a baby named Jojo, her mother and grandmother. Very well recommended. We took so many pictures and videos as lifetime memories.

You can tell these elephants are treated with care and all the staff treat them like family. You start the day with several feedings. Then comes the fun part. You put mud all over the 3 elephants, then walk them to the river and wash them off, which was unique. The only thing I could say negative is our group had 13 people. This seemed to me like it was too many, especially during the feedings. I still give five stars for the nice people that run the sanctuary and the great interaction with the elephants.

Dodo and Cherry were amazing guides, drivers and educators with an obvious love for the land, their culture and the elephants. We loved every minute of this ethically run adventure. The elephants - grandma, mom and baby were gorgeous and well cared for. The spectacular homemade lunch and the natural environment catered to a truly memorable experience for my family.

We had the most incredible experience here! Cannot rate it highly enough. From the pick up and driver, to the lunch, to the elephants, it was all outstanding. Kind people with the most wonderful elephants, who LOVE their life! No chains, performing or riding elephants here. Just 3 generations of female elephants (including JoJo the 2.5 year old cheeky hilarious baby!!!). We loved every second of this once in a lifetime day out! Our 14 year old old teenager loved it too! Don’t even think about it - just book it!

Unbelievable experience, elephants were clearly very well taken care of, and the guides were extremely accommodating. Would definitely recommend.

An absolutely beautiful experience. We had a blast getting to feed, walk with, mud bathe, and river bathe with these beautiful elephants. They were being treated wonderfully and seemed so happy at this sanctuary. Thanks so much to our excellent guide! Lunch was also delicious! It was a perfect day.

I had the most incredible day at Care Pride Elephants Sanctuary. What was supposed to be a full-day group tour unexpectedly turned into a private tour, as I was the only person booked that day - and to my surprise and gratitude, they didn’t cancel it. Instead, they gave me an experience that went far beyond my expectations. From start to finish, the day was filled with unforgettable moments. I got to feed the elephants, walk alongside them, enjoy a mud bath, and later bathe with them in the river. It was an absolute dream. The elephants were calm and are clearly well taken care of, which was incredibly important to me. I did a lot of research before booking his tour because I wanted to support a sanctuary that puts the animals’ welfare first and I believe that Care Pride Elephants Sanctuary truly does. The staff were amazing. As a solo traveler, I was especially grateful for my guide and the driver, who were so kind and helped take tons of photos and videos so I could fully enjoy the experience and still capture all the memories. And to top off a perfect day, the owner gifted me a bag of fresh passion fruit from his land. Such a thoughtful and personal gesture that made the whole experience even more special. If you're looking for an ethical, personal, and unforgettable elephant experience in Thailand, I can’t recommend Care Pride Elephant Sanctuary enough. I’ll cherish this day forever.

What an amazing experience with a full day of being with the elephants and learning all about them. Dodo and Coco were great and helped me since I was a little scared. My husband enjoyed himself so much playing with the elephants. Great experience. I can't wait to bring my children.

Among the dozens of tours offered to see elephants and more or less interact with them, I looked for someone who offered the most natural experience possible with these wonderful animals and with this tour I found it! This family has lived and cared for elephants for generations and we had the opportunity to spend a special day with them, feed them and bathe them. A day I will surely never forget!