FAQ

A logo of elephants in water.
Frequently Asked Questions
Tips To Improve Your Tour

Q. How far is the sanctuary (elephant camp) Chiang Mai city?

A. The travel time to the sanctuary is about 1 hour.

Q. How many elephants are there at the Sanctuary?

A. Most of the time we have between 4-6 elephants.

Q. How many people are in the group visiting the sanctuary?

A. The group is typically between 10-18 guests per day. We aim for there to be no more than 3-4 people per elephant.

Q. How many people need to be booked to operate the tour?

A. We need a minimum of 2 people to be booked to operate each tour.

Q. Is round-trip transportation included from our hotel/guesthouse in Chiang Mai?

A. Yes, transportation is included with our full-day tour.

Q. Is this tour suitable for families with young children?

A. Our tour is suitable for families with young children years 6 and older. If you have children younger than 6 please call/text or WhatsApp us @ 66 95 785-5191 for more information.

Q. Can I pay for the tour online for my ethical elephant tour?

A. Yes. You will kindly be asked during check out for a deposit to hold your reservation. The balance may be paid in Thai Baht at the sanctuary.

Q. What bags / luggage can I take with me?

A. Guests are welcome to bring one day pack or standard check-in sized backpack.

Q. Do I need to bring a bathing suit?

A. We will offer you Karen clothes (Thai outfit) for your day trip. Some guest will wear a bathing suit underneath to swim in the river or waterfall. The Karen clothes do dry quickly.

Q. What happens if it is raining on the day of my tour?

A. Our ethical elephant tour will still go ahead if it is raining. Elephants love the rain and ponchos will be provided.

Q. Will photos or videos be available of the tour after the tour date?

A. Yes, we will send you an email directing you to our Facebook page. There you can download photos and videos free of charge.

Q. What is your cancellation policy?

A. Please visit www.elephantfreedom.org to read our cancellation policy

Q. Is lunch included? What type of food will I be served?

A. A Thai style lunch is provided with drinks. Please contact us if you have special dietary needs. We also provide water, coffee, and snacks upon arrival to the sanctuary.

Q. Is it possible to change the dates of my visit?

A. Yes. You may modify your booking dates if done more than 24 hours prior to your tour date

Please click here for more frequently asked questions.

Posted on Google Google
Jadeleen Casaya profile picture
Jadeleen Casaya
19 September 2026
Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5
Pat was excellent. The staff were very hospitable. The atmosphere was pleasant and felt safe and serene
Posted on Google Google
Luca Sardone (Aquileia '69) profile picture
Luca Sardone (Aquileia '69)
16 September 2026
Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5
Elephant Freedom Elephant Sanctuary Chiang Mai. Il nostro gruppo era formatoda sole 3 person, interazione intima e diretta. Le attività principali includono la preparazione del cibo, la camminata con gli elefanti nella giungla e il bagno al fiume. Il nostro accompagnatore, persona squisita, ci ha fatto fare un giro nella foresta fino alle cascate e lì abbiamo fatto il bagno. Esperienza indescrivibile. Finito il giro ci hanno dato da mangiare, abbondante frutta e da bere. Esperienza imperdonabile.
Posted on Google Google
Scott Blackman profile picture
Scott Blackman
10 September 2026
Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5
Absolutely worth the time! My daughter and I agreed it was a top highlight of our trip. We while enjoying the elephants we also learned about the local culture from our wonderful guide Kevin.
Posted on Google Google
alex nope profile picture
alex nope
5 September 2026
Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5
Estuvo increíble la experiencia. Incluye almuerzo. Lee la letra chica al reservar, porque no leí y te cobran es una parte. El saldo lo pagas a los guías en el sitio y en efectivo. Fui en auto particular y fácil llegar.
Posted on Google Google
Guilloud maud profile picture
Guilloud maud
26 August 2026
Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5
Un moment magique ! Sur notre parcours au sri Lanka, nous avons fait une halte pour découvrir cette association et ces 2 magnifiques éléphants… cela restera un des plus beau souvenir de notre séjour 🐘 Bravo pour cette association, pour penser tjrs au bien être animal et pour votre extrême gentillesse 🥰💋🫶🏻 l’équipe semble vraiment heureuse avec un métier qui a du sens et lors de la visite, ça se sent : de supers partages, des rires… merci pour tout 🫶🏻🥰💗
Posted on Google Google
Roger Martinez Rey profile picture
Roger Martinez Rey
24 August 2026
Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5
Un santuario donde puedes compartir una experiencia junto a elefantes donde se nota que son felices y los cuidan con cariño.
Posted on Google Google
Holly Burton profile picture
Holly Burton
12 August 2026
Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5
We had such a wonderful experience at the Elephant Freedom Project! It was amazing to spend time with the elephants in a way that felt respectful, ethical, and focused on their well-being. Our tour guide, Pat, was fantastic - friendly, knowledgeable, and passionate about the elephants. Pat taught us so much about their behavior and care, which made the experience even more meaningful. Getting to see the elephants up close was unforgettable and definitely one of the highlights of our trip to Thailand. If you’re looking for an ethical elephant experience, we highly recommend the Elephant Freedom Project. Thank you, Pat and the team, for making our day so special!
Posted on Google Google
Dóra Mágocs profile picture
Dóra Mágocs
17 July 2026
Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5
Really nice and special experience, definitely recommend going! We were at the afternoon program, started with lunch, then fed the elephants and went on a tour with them, where they took a bath. It was very cool to touch and walk around these huge animals! The guide was really nice, answered all our questions and took plenty of photos and videos of us. I would recommend you to give your phone to the guide to take photos and videos, so you get the desired quality. There was supposed to be a waterfall tour that we did not go to at the end, even though it was mentioned as part of the program. It was fine without, but could have been nice to see it.
Posted on Google Google
Tamam Pereira profile picture
Tamam Pereira
10 July 2026
Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5
Simply put, visiting The Elephant Freedom Project is a once in a lifetime experience! These beautiful gentle giants are so magnificent to see up close and it is very clear that they are taken care of with lots of love and great care! Our guide, Pat was wonderful. He was very funny, informative and passionate about making sure we not only enjoyed our time with the elephants but that we also understood the importance of why they are here in this sanctuary. We took the full day tour and lucky us, no one else booked that day, so we had the 4 elephants all to ourselves! My family and I got to cut bananas off their stalks, hand feed them to the elephants, then walk alongside them on a hike, give them a bath and watch them enjoy the baby swimming in the river and then make medicine balls for them and feed it to them! They provided a homemade lunch for us which was very tasty and we got to visit the waterfall nearby and take some great pictures and a quick swim! The day was full of magical moments and it was a memory that my family and I will always remember when we think of Thailand. Thank you Elephant Freedom Project for such a beautiful experience.
Posted on Google Google
Luke Landman profile picture
Luke Landman
3 July 2026
Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5
Wat een leuke ervaring om op deze manier (zo dichtbij!) kennis te maken met de mooie olifanten van de Sanctuary. Pat heeft ons geweldig begeleid en het eten was top. De dieren ogen erg gelukkig en worden goed verzorgd. Jullie hebben ons een mooie dag bezorgd om nooit te vergeten!
Posted on Google Google
Jackson Lindenberg profile picture
Jackson Lindenberg
17 June 2026
Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5
Genuinely one of the most whimsical activities. Absolutely recommend
Posted on Google Google
Ben profile picture
Ben
9 June 2026
Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5
Amazing
A group of people standing in a river with elephants at the Contact Elephant Freedom Project.