City: Thailand
Top Things to do in Thailand
The 10 Best Nature & Wildlife Areas in Thailand, Thailand
Coordinates: 15°24′N 101°18′E / 15.4°N 101.3°E / 15.4; 101.3
Restaurants in Thailand
1. Mae Malai Elephant Training Camp
2. ElephantsWorld
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 2,122 reviews
ElephantsWorld was founded in 2008 and is a sanctuary for sick, old, disabled, abused and rescued elephants, who will receive the rest and joy that they deserve. They can enjoy themselves in their own natural environment here until their last breath. At ElephantsWorld we work for the elephants, instead of them for us! As a visitor you get to enjoy very memorable experience with these beautiful animals. You can help us with taking care of them by feeding them, gathering food and bathing them.
Reviewed By Liatcohenraviv
We have two girls who wanted to come to Thailand for a while. They wanted to work with Elephants, so we spent a full day at Elephants World; an amazing place that was founded by a veterinarian who dedicated the last 10 years helping elderly and injured elephants who were mistreated by humans. We joined the daily routine of over 40 elephants, helped with preparing food, fed the older ones and the adorable babies... and enjoyed joining them during their daily swim at the river. Meeting these giant creatures from up close helped us understand how beautiful and gentle smart and sensitive animal they are! 2500bht per person. They provide lockers and there is a shower you can use at the end of the day and a great lunch. But most importantly- staff here is just FANTASTIC!
3. Soi Dog Foundation
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1,283 reviews
Soi Dog Foundation is S.E. Asia’s largest rescue organisation for vulnerable street dogs and stray cats. For 16 years, supported by generous donations and global volunteers, SDF has worked tirelessly to reduce animal suffering through CNVR (Catch; Neuter; Vaccinate; Return) programmes. For animals unable to be returned safely to the streets, SDF provides sanctuary, as well as local and international adoption services. Rather than a “pound”, SDF is a haven where sick and vulnerable dogs and cats receive world-class medical care, and love. SDF is working in several countries to help end the inhumane and barbaric dog meat trade. SDF is also committed to environmental sustainability and has several ongoing green initiatives. Please feel free to enquire during your tour. Guided tours available Monday-Friday at 10:00am and 13:30pm. Following the 40-minute tour, visitors are encouraged to socialise with our lovely cats and dogs.
Reviewed By timtA6918AZ - Salisbury, United Kingdom
Simply an amazing and rewarding experience - we gave five days of our time volunteering, which primarily involved walking the dogs and then hours of playful interaction. We were so sad to leave at the end, but recommend it to the many travellers who pass through Thailand.
4. Elephant Rescue Park
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1,505 reviews
Elephant Rescue Park is a happy place for rescued elephants, located in the green valley of Chiang Mai. Our primary objective here is to rescue poor elephants from circus, hard work and mistreatment, provide a safe loving and secure environment for all the elephants that come and live with us, We try to keep them happy and healthy as they should be in nature but this can only be achieved with your help and support. Come and join us today. Don’t forget, all monies raised from our tours goes back to our elephants and towards rescuing new ones. You’ll get to feed them, walk with them, hug them, play with them, bathe with them and so much more.
Reviewed By mleonardo84 - Mexico City, Mexico
Lovely animals in a caring environment... totally recommend... please visit and support the place and the cause... great team running the place and providing and amazing experience with the elephants as protagonists
5. Phang Nga Elephant Park
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1,001 reviews
The Phang Nga Elephant Park is a small family-run park. Our family has cared for elephants for over 150 years and we opened the park in 2015 so that we could keep our elephants in a caring and stress-free environment and give our visitors an extraordinary and life-enhancing experience. We are dedicated to providing our elephants with the highest quality of life possible and our strong belief in human-elephant interaction is what makes the Phang Nga Elephant Park so special.
Reviewed By gcpaterson - Adelaide, Australia
This was a truly magical experience. Jake is very caring and shows dedication and compassion with maintaining an ethical elephant sanctuary, that has been with their family for over 150 years. All the staff were very attentive, and Jake had a lot of patience with the hundreds of questions our kids asked, taking the time to answer each one. Being able to experience elephants so close was an absolute highlight of our Thailand holiday. Also great lunch in a fantastic location. Would love to return one day, many thanks to Jake and the team.
6. Elephant Nature Park
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 33 reviews
Reviewed By Gaiawanderer
We booked to go on the Elephant Heaven project tour organised through the Elephant Nature Park, and we are so glad that we did! The tour was extremely well run - the operators were friendly, knowledgeable, on-time, courteous and fun-loving. My family and I (me, my husband and two sons 9 and 7 yrs old) were picked up by minibus from our hotel in Chiang Mai. There was only one other family on our tour. We travelled for about 50 mins north of Chiang Mai. Once at our destination we were greeted by the people living on the property. We were instructed on how to prepare the sugarcane, pumpkin and bananas for the elephants. Once prepared we took this food around the back of the hut and were met by three beautiful ( and hungry) elephants- a 60 yr old, 25 yr old and a 4 year old baby-all female. We then walked with the elephants through the small area of jungle on the property and watched as the elephants knocked down small trees, drank water from the stream, and picked fruit with their trunks. Lunch was delicious and over lunch our guide was forthcoming in answering any questions that we had regarding the elephants. We then walked back down to the enclosure. The handlers sprayed water on the animals and encouraged us to come into the enclosure to rub mud on the elephants' hides. Then it was time for a swim and splash in the water. Then the handler got the elephant to suck some water up in it's trunk which (on his command) she then sprayed at our sons, much to their delight.
7. Elephant Valley Thailand
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 613 reviews
Elephant Valley Thailand was Chiang Rai's elephant sanctuary. Established in 2016 it closed in May 2020 due to Covid19 crisis.
Reviewed By S7389LAbrandonw - Faringdon, United Kingdom
Thank you to JJ, Bim & Phon (sorry if spelt wrong) for having us at Elephant Valley, it was such an amazing experience and definitely the highlight of our trip to Asia! We did the full day tour/volunteering experience with overnight stay at the guest house which I would 100% recommend for anyone considering seeing elephants in Thailand! This is a true "sanctuary", totally hands off to tourists so you get to learn about and see first hand how these beautiful animals interact in their natural habitat which is incredible. Not only that but you get to help the keepers and staff prepare the elephants food, clean up their poo (more fun than it sounds) and genuinely help to keep the sanctuary a great place for the elephant to live . Thanks again Elephant Valley Thailand!
8. Kanta Elephant Sanctuary
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 722 reviews
Kanta Elephant Sanctuary, The Ultimate Elephant Sanctuary. A new dimension of seeing, feeling and touching the elephants in the wild open space, happily. As they are parts of our family there is no need to control them in the harm way. No Training Hook No Ankle Chain and absolutely No Riding. Our elephant were take care of by our Carer with love and respect.
Reviewed By katecV9899JY - London, United Kingdom
After looking through loads of reviews for a sanctuary where they treat the elephants properly, I can recommend Kanta wholeheartedly! Absolutely superb, picked up from hotel, change into uniforms and hats (elephants need bright colours to see you), fed sugar cane and grass, then made them sticky rice balls and fed them those too. “Nine”, our guide was superb, looked after and educated us all day, with so much information in good English. Lunch was delicious egg fried noodles, with soup and watermelon. Even bathed the elephants at the end. We loved it!
9. Maerim Elephant Sanctuary
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1,727 reviews
Here at Maerim Elephant Sanctuary our mission is to rescue miss-treated elephants and provide them with a beautiful environment where they are safe, loved and cared for. We are 100% against elephant riding, performances, tricks and any method of training or discipline where pain is inflicted to achieve a result. We believe that by sharing our passion with our guests we can all contribute towards providing rescued elephants a beautiful life which they deserve. In supporting our cause you will make memories to treasure as you roam freely with or magnificent elephants. Feed them, bond with them and bath with them. By choosing our sanctuary you will be actively contributing to saving the next gentle giant from a life of slavery. Let us assure you that we are not a money making outfit, we are here because of our passion for elephant. Along this journey you be informed of the realities of caring for elephants and the cruelties they endure before we rescue them.
Reviewed By SaraS1970 - Austin, United States
We visited Chiang Mai over a weekend and decided to add this tour to our agenda since it offered a half day trip. SO glad we did! They are running a good program and are caring for the elephants well. Our host was very knowledgable, witty, and very available for questions when he wasn't presenting. Feeding the elephants was a highlight even though I was initially intimidated by their size. I chose not to "mud" with the elephants and still felt I got my money's worth. Afterwards we enjoyed some leisurely time by the pool and they end the tour with a great little perk...a group cooking class for their local Thai noodle soup Khao Soi - it was delish!
10. Green Elephant Sanctuary Park
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1,464 reviews
In the Elephant Sanctuary Park you can experience elephants in the most natural way. In their natural environment, where they are free and simply wonderful! It is important to us that you can experience the daily life of the animals. And that you can approach them when feeding or bathing. Briefly: it is a wonderful experience that you will remember for a long time. How much do you want to bet?
Reviewed By BridgitM9 - Singapore, Singapore
It was an AMAZING EXPERIENCE!! Highly recommended to all who want to see how they look after the elephants and they are all such gentle magnificent animals ????????????????????????????????The hosts and people are wonderful!❤️
