What to do and see in Chiang Mai Province, Thailand: The Best Nature & Parks

December 25, 2021 Deane Carmody

Chiang Mai (Thai: เชียงใหม่, pronounced [t͡ɕʰīaŋ.màj] ( listen); Lanna: ᨩ᩠ᨿᨦᩉᩲ᩠ᨾ᩵, pronounced [tɕiaŋ.màj]) is the second-largest province (changwat) of Thailand. It is in the country's north. It is bordered by Chiang Rai to the northeast, Lampang and Lamphun to the south, Tak to the southwest, Mae Hong Son to the west, and Shan State of Burma to the north. The capital, Chiang Mai, is 685 km north of Bangkok.
Restaurants in Chiang Mai Province

1. Mae Malai Elephant Training Camp

Thailand
Excellent
81%
Good
13%
Satisfactory
6%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 16 reviews

Mae Malai Elephant Training Camp

Visitors to this training camp learn and observe the methods used to train young elephants how to log the teak forests of Thailand’s Golden Triangle.

2. Thai Elephant Home

102 Moo 2 Kuet Chang, Mae Taeng 50150 Thailand +66 89 434 2047 [email protected] http://www.thaielephanthome.com
Excellent
85%
Good
10%
Satisfactory
2%
Poor
1%
Terrible
2%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 874 reviews

Thai Elephant Home

Reviewed By supinyajune

This was one of my greatest experience in Chiang Mai ever! Even we are Thais, It was such an unique and amazing experience and we love it soo much!! We have tried elephant-riding before, we was sitting on wooden carrier. But this one is mind-blowing! We drove to the camp. Not difficult to find but you need Google maps. Recommend to call for the resevation so that the staffs could prepare the elephants and meals for you in advance. I think they have a pick-up service from your hotel, please ask them for more information when you call them. It started with providing us some basic information about the elephants. Then they asked us to get change to mahout clothes. Clean clothes providing with chaning room and showers. Later they introduced us to meet the herd and let us feed them, pet them, ride on them, even teach us few commands to them. Shortly we started riding on the elephant like a Tarzan! My girl was named Ruby, very tall and cute. Soon realized that she loved to grab-and-go some snacks along the way. That's cute! Love so much while we were in the canel with the elephants. They love to play spraying the water. You could even command them to spray the water or kiss on your cheeks. They could also lift you up. with its nose. That's just amazing! So fresh! While we were riding, we all had a personal mahout to take care all of us. So it's pretty safe in my opinion. The staff and mahout kept asking if we were alright. They were also an amazingly photographter! I was so surprised after seeing all the photos after the trip. Balancing myself on the elephants was very challenging! Recommend to bring a case with rope that could wear around your neck or a head wrap for a go pro would be a great idea. But if you do not have it, That's just fine. Mahouts could help you take photos as well. it's ok to come alone or with a friend, but you know, the more the merrier with the herd of elephants! you will have so much fun! Even it was just few hours, I really had a great moment with my friend, mahouts and of course! this herd of elephants. Thanks to K.Joe and his team for taking care all of us. Very nice and friendly staffs. PS. Would I go back? OMG!! YES!!

3. Elephant Rescue Park

24 Ratchamakka Rd. Phra Singh Subdistrict, Chiang Mai 50200 Thailand +66 96 593 9289 [email protected] http://www.elephantrescuepark.com
Excellent
92%
Good
6%
Satisfactory
2%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 1,505 reviews

Elephant Rescue Park

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

4. Elephant Care & Grand Canyon Jumping

99 31 Sridonchai Rd, Chiang Mai 50100 Thailand +66 61 810 9934 [email protected] http://www.facebook.com/Puang2516/
Excellent
92%
Good
6%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
1%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 197 reviews

Elephant Care & Grand Canyon Jumping

One day Hill tribe elephant care village & Grand Canyon Jumping! NO RIDING, NO BEATING . Meet the elephants. Feed,interact, and play with the elephants in their natural home as you learn about their behavior and history. Take photos with the elephants. Enjoy a lunch of traditional Thai food and fresh fruit join the elephants for a therapeutic mud spa. Bathe and brush the elephants in the river. Leave the village say goodbye to the elephants. The Grand Canyon in Chiang Mai in an experience you will not want to miss if you love adventure, especially cliff jumping! Pump up your adrenaline by jumping off 10m or 20m cliff into blue / green water or enjoy a relaxed swim with friends.

Reviewed By KathD508 - Sydney, Australia

We made the decision to visit the Elephant Care sanctuary as we were literally driving past and it wound up being the highlight of our day. For a fairly small fee we were allowed to walk around the grounds and see the rescued and retired elephants with a very helpful and informative guide. For a little bit extra we purchased baskets of bananas which the elephants were clearly delighted to have! It was fun getting up close to feed them. The best part was hearing the stories of how the elephants were now living out their lives in comfort after being rescued or retired from years of work. I would definitely recommend people visit the sanctuary as soon as travel is allowed, especially as I have read some of them are suffering financially at the moment.

5. Kanta Elephant Sanctuary

74/1 Moo 9 Khilek, Chiang Mai 50150 Thailand +66 93 132 9288 [email protected] https://www.facebook.com/kantaelephant/
Excellent
90%
Good
7%
Satisfactory
2%
Poor
1%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 722 reviews

Kanta Elephant Sanctuary

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!

6. Maerim Elephant Sanctuary

31 Moo 8, Mae Rim 50180 Thailand +66 99 243 9111 [email protected] http://www.maerimelephantsanctuary.com
Excellent
93%
Good
5%
Satisfactory
1%
Poor
1%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 1,727 reviews

Maerim Elephant Sanctuary

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!

7. Kerchor Elephant Eco Park

Chiang Mai Thailand +66 1 334 4789 [email protected] http://www.kerchorelephant.com
Excellent
89%
Good
8%
Satisfactory
2%
Poor
1%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 96 reviews

Kerchor Elephant Eco Park

Sweet Giants. After visiting this camp was wonderful experience with my boy. Nid she good manage for this trip well organize etc...Super. Mr Stater ( Rum ) he is good work with his job good knowledge about the elephants Supreme. Another guy "Kiki "Good lads mate improve lots of work...That what I can c. Try that 1 in the life time Guys. Recommend. Done guys. Liger and Whale

Reviewed By Paradise292387

This group from the Karen tribe takes great care of their elephants and allowed us a good deal of time to enjoy feeding, bathing and massaging the elephants. They also took a ton of photos of our group which we enjoyed having. Rum and his friends were so hospitable and even included water, watermelon and bananas for us to snack on. We had a large group and everyone got plenty of kisses and hugs from our new elephant friends.

8. Maeklang Elephant Conservation Community

50360 Thailand +66 62 956 9941 [email protected] http://maeklangelephantconservation.org
Excellent
95%
Good
3%
Satisfactory
1%
Poor
1%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 388 reviews

Maeklang Elephant Conservation Community

Maeklang Elephant Conservation Community is based in the beautiful Mae Wang district. Around 1 Hour South of Chiang Mai’s busy city. Maeklang offers a natural environment for our Elephants with fresh mountain river flowing through our land surrounded by forest, rice fields, corn fields and Banana plantations. Here at Meaklang we offer an Eco friendly safe home for Elephants away from the harsh reality of tourism and forest work. Our goal is promote Eco tourism and Educate Locals and tourists, showing them how to use Elephants as a basis to grow organic food without using damaging pesticides… When rescuing Elephants our goal is to keep families together keeping mum and babies side by side making for a stress free life Learn about Elephants in the wild Meet our Family of Elephants Feed them Get muddy with them Bath with them Love them Thank You for choosing Maeklang

Reviewed By Chrissy52014 - Sydney, Australia

Unforgettable. Every moment of our two day overnight experience with Maeklang Elephant Conservation Community was amazing. We visited as a family with three teenagers and stayed overnight at the sky camp. From three in the afternoon until 11am the next day, it was just our family, the elephants and their handlers. Magical. We helped feed the elephants, entertain the three month old baby elephant William, enjoyed a Thai BBQ under the starry skies at night and slept in a cosy bamboo hut by the river. In the morning we were woken by the elephants through the window. Highly recommend this group, they displayed thoughtfulness and kindness to us and the elephants. We booked through PM Tours Chiang Mai.

9. Elephant Village Sanctuary

96/1 Ragang Rd., Chiang Mai 50100 Thailand +66 84 489 4028 [email protected] http://www.elephantvillagesanctuary.com
Excellent
89%
Good
4%
Satisfactory
4%
Poor
1%
Terrible
2%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 70 reviews

Elephant Village Sanctuary

Family-owned elephants in a hill tribe village. Visit us to be up close to elephants and experience a hill tribe village. Trek to a waterfall and enjoy nature.

Reviewed By muhit7 - Northolt, United Kingdom

Was a great trip! It was a proper small village (20 People) we had to take the fruit over to the main elephant area through some really ropey methods. It all added to the experience and I loved it to bits. The baby elephant (Nathalie) is so cute and loves Ken you can tell. Feeding the elephants was a great experience with some great people it was a lovely day. Bathing them was all the better with a good group of people you have to just get in there!! Sorry if the pics show people who didn't want them but they are so good!!!

10. Doi Inthanon

Ban Luang Subdistrict, Doi Inthanon National Park 50270 Thailand +66 53 286 729 http://www.facebook.com/DoiInthanonNationalPark/
Excellent
56%
Good
32%
Satisfactory
9%
Poor
2%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 2,192 reviews

Doi Inthanon

Reviewed By Liammoore199 - Bangkok, Thailand

You’re at 6000 foot altitude and you can feel it ! I was out of breath haha, but honestly all jokes aside this place is insane!!! Just check my photos out !! We came From chiang Mai 2 hour drive ! 125cc scooter hire 250Baht Fuel 130Baht(covering 110 km each way and the steep hills) loaded with 2 people at all times Entrance fee to national park 300 baht Parking 20 baht Entrance fee to the pagodas 40 baht 2 hour drive back ! Was it worth it !??? Yes it was!!!! Honestly recommend a day trip here and be adventurous and come on a bike!! Ps take warm clothes if you ride a scooter we forgot that driving up a hill at 5000 ft altitude in clouds would be freezing !!! Cheers ! Enjoy !

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