This is my experience visiting the Elephant Nature Park in Chiang Mai – Northern Thailand 🇹🇭
For years, I’ve been asked which elephant sanctuary in Thailand is the most ethical, and I’ve never been able to answer. I’ve always been skeptical of the word “sanctuary” in tourism, so I finally decided to see this famous park for myself.
Elephant Nature Park is one of the most well-known rescue centers in Thailand, home to over 100 elephants that have been saved from logging, circuses, and tourist riding camps.
It’s often praised as the gold standard for ethical elephant tourism, but what I experienced was more complex. While it’s clear the elephants are loved, cared for, and safe here, there were also aspects that felt different from what I expected a sanctuary to be.
In this video, I share both the positives and the concerns from my half-day visit, including what surprised me the most about the park. If you’re planning a trip to Thailand and considering visiting an elephant sanctuary, I hope my honest experience helps you make an informed decision.
Learn more about the ENP here – https://www.elephantnaturepark.org
**Disclaimer – I did not get this visit for free – this is my independent experience and opinions.
Chapters:
00:00 – 00:43 – Premise
00:44 – The ENP
1:44 – The Tour
2:33 – How it went
8:15 – Why I left early…
9:34 – The Positives
11:56 – Points of Interest
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**Disclaimer – I did not get this visit for free – this is my independent experience and opinions.
🐘 – Learn more about the ENP here – https://www.elephantnaturepark.org
Was the cat kingdom still there when you visited? I've read online about being able to visit rescue cats and dogs as well. Planning to visit in November. Thanks so much!
ศูนย์ช้างอนุรักษ์นี้ ก็ไม่น่าไว้ใจ น้ำท่วม ครั้งที่แล้ว ก็ปล่อยให้ช้างตาย แทนที่จะอพยพช้าง ไปก่อน
Earlier this year (2025) I visited a similar park on the outskirts of Hua Hin. Very good.
I had the good fortune to spend two days and one night at ENP. Getting to spend lots of time just hanging out with the elephants you get a sense of their social structure. It was one of the most amazing experiences ever. Just a side note Bob Barker of the price is right fame donated $800,000 to ENP.
We went there during Covid, and we were the only group—just 5 of us on the whole site. No quads, no river tubing, only us. It was incredible. On top of that, during the meal, I didn’t eat and instead kept watching those magnificent giant creatures from the pavilion. Then, a grandmother elephant came and tickled me with her trunk. I didn’t move, and the guide told me it was fine because I was elevated, and she was the one who decided to slip her trunk through the bars of the small fence. What an experience!
$2,500 Thai baht is just under $120 Australian.
I think that's a bargain, knowing that the proceeds go directly into the incredible Lek and staff running the Elephant Nature Park and sometimes paying the owners of elephants used in tourism and logging etc… to be rehomed in this incredible sanctuary.
I've probably did three visits to Elephant sanctuaries. I favor their well being and I think people exaggerate a bit. These are mammoth beasts that participated in regional wars. Why is it ok to ride a horse bareback and not an Elephant ? I don't buy into this ethical shit, but Elephants have been abused. I sat on one and my conscience was clean. Some have been abused and visiting a Elephant camp in Thailand is a rewarding experience.
Great insight, thanks. I've been to Chiang Mai several times but, for reasons which you describe, have never felt the need to visit one of those so-called sanctuaries. I wasn't aware of the distinction between the Elephant Nature Park and the other "sanctuaries". I just thought that they were all the same, with the riding and the bathing, etc. Your video has made me think about, perhaps, taking the tour of the elephant Nature Park but I'm, at this point, undecided. I'll weight the pros and cons in the meantime. And, by the way Paddy, nice shirt!
So glad to see you cover this. Only one slight additional point. I agree there should be a repeat briefing when you get there-you do get one in the car on the way there. It's delivered by Lou carpenter from neighbours 😂
I've been twice ten years apart. First time I went we fed and bathed the elephants, 2nd time we just fed them. Both times though I never got the impression that either activity was forced. I will definitely go back again because let's face it they are beautiful creatures and amazing to watch.
Unfortunately Lek seems to not care about big tusked bulls in their reproductive prime (so few are left!- btw, did you know that studies in southern India have shown that bulls with longer tusks have fewer parasites and are genetically stronger?). Lek takes only old and non-reproductive females. What is the contribution to the perpetuation of the best genetics in the species? Perhaps close to zero. So: no, thanks, I won't go there.
U didnt share about the male and big elephants that were kept in cages. Not saying that that is wrong or anything (cos they are very aggressive and dangerous). Maybe your tour didnt bring you to that part of the park
I’m going to Thailand in November. I really would love to see elephants but I don’t want to contribute to the exploitation of elephants. Thank you for sharing your experience and knowledge about elephants in Thailand.
What are your thoughts about staying overnight at the elephant park where you visited?😊❤
Great video. I haven't been to ENP, but it has been on our list for a while and I am following them closely on Instagram. They seem to do amazing work. One other legit place is WFFT, which is 2 hours from Bangkok. They also take care of many other animals, but elephants are their focus.
I went to Safari world in Bangkok and I saw an Elephant with a 6 inch chain around its ankle and bound to the floor. It made me so sad and disgusted I left the zoo immediately after
Elephants have long memories,
Sadly people do not
Elephant Nature Park is truly ethical…I love it there…I go frequently. The weekly volunteer programs are amazing and I highly recommend going and staying. A half day only touches the surface. The experience is one you will never forget. Lek is the most beautiful warm person who truly loves all animals which is why i return time and time again. Thank you for your honest review
I am so embarrassed to say I did ride an elephant in South India about 30 years ago. It’s only in the last few years I have learnt about elephant crushing and since this knowledge don’t look back on it with any fondness, just anger.
I have visited Elephant Nature Park twice.. I loved every minute of every day.. It was a live changing experience for me. I plan to visit again, soon. It is my HAPPY PLACE❤️🐘❤️
Paddy: you left a good review for the limited information you received in your short visit. But I volunteered for a week at the ENP in ‘08, and I can give you more info. First of all, you were concerned that nobody gave you any safety guidelines. If you had ridden the bus to the Park, you would have watched the video with everyone else that went into detail on what you can and can’t do there.
Second, your visit was far too short. You missed SO much just doing a half-day tour. Granted, not everyone can volunteer for a week there, but even staying one night you would have gotten to enjoy the camaraderie of eating and talking with fellow volunteers, maybe joined in some fun activities, or gotten a Thai massage from a masseuse, or even gone on an guided overnight trip into the rainforest to see the “Elephant Haven” second park they have. You would have perhaps helped prepare fruit in the morning for the elephants, or hung out with the cats or dogs in their separate areas. And you may have listened to Lek give a talk, which was a highlight of my stay, followed by a book signing of her beautiful photos of the ellies. And I hope you visited the gift shop, which has marvelous little hardwood carvings of the elephants carved by their mahouts. My little carving of Medo is a treasured keepsake of my trip. So good job reporting on the difference in “sanctuaries”, and you short visit there. Please encourage everyone to stay longer if they can— it would be a vacation if a lifetime.
When I visited 10 years ago they played us a video/did the safety briefing on the ride out from Chiang Mai. Back then they used to allow feeding and bathing. Good to see it has evolved further.
Perfect timing, I just arrived in Chiang mai today…ty
We have a group of us that met at ENP and now we meet up every year and volunteer together for a week. Best week of the year!!
I did a saddle off day trip (also via Elephant Nature Park), 3 years ago with friends (we were a group of 12). It was a great experience walking with 3 elephants through the wild country side, eating Longan right from the trees, making food for the elephants and watching them take a mud bath. It was rainy season, all wet and dirty, but we totally enjoyed it.
Thanks Paddy for the information, it was very helpful. At the same time we must recognise that most of these elephant "sanctuaries" are solely funded by tourism, without which they wouldn't be able to help.
I was priveleged to volunteer for a week at ENP in June this year. It was the most humble, rewarding, heart breaking, heart warming experience of my life. I believe you missed the most beautiful part by leaving early. Watching Khamla's heard come home to bed, via the river, is beautiful. We saw the bamboo rafts but not the quad bikes or tube rafters. That would definitely have ruined the tranquillity of the park. It should be noted that those activities are not part of ENP. Watching the elephants swim is awesome.
I think you may have missed the do’s and don’ts because you drove there yourself. I believe they go through that with you on the drive up. Most people are picked up at their hotels and drive up in the van and you didn’t do that. I volunteered for two weeks and they went over all that on the drive and then we got more safety information because we were gonna be there doing chores for the elephants and a lot more stuff than just a half day trip.
Regarding children, I don’t believe children under a certain age are allowed. I don’t remember what the cut off age is, but I think it’s in the mid to high teens.
I always got a briefing before going out in the field and i have been there many times! I've been volunteering and im involved for 10 years!
It’s so sad there has to be these animal sanctuaries imo nature is brutal but some human nature is devastating. I’m glad not all humans are the same and try to undo others wrongs.
I really don’t think quad bikers should be anywhere near that place 🤦♀️
Elephants, dolphins and octopus are some of the most intelligent creatures on earth they should be protected and respected.
Not to say that all animals shouldn’t have the same protection. Thank you for sharing your experience of this place
I have volunteered there twice and it is an awesome place. All elephants are given the best life possible for their individual circumstances.
I really believe you should have stayed for the last part- watching the Kamala herd coming back up the river is amazing.
Unfortunately in just an afternoon you get a small snapshot and that includes the noisy stuff, but it wasn’t like that either time I was there – August and November.
Sorry dont care if not popular, but the concept of ethical is incredibly subjective and usually a feel good motive for the user. Is it unethical that humans have to work? Have to carry heavy things? have to interact with others and animals? Have to perform functions and hardships for survival? NO. Creating a sanctuary sometimes feels lie giving animals an all inclusive resort, which is not a natural order. of course an animal that no longer has the capability of being wild by human fault, now should be babied by humans. But acting like elephants dont want to interact with humans and be bathed is comical. Many animals "lovers" force their own pets to live in the houses trapped as prisoners, and dont let then run freely. Dont dismiss that point, because its factual. No one is advocating for torture and straight abuse of an animal, but with all due respect, so what if we engage with animals, have them participate with humans in a role, and in turn get rewarded with safety, food, and shelter. If treated with love, theres no issue. We humans are expected to the same. Before you bring up slavery as a concept, one could argue your own dog or cat is a slave trapped in your house. Im also willing to bet the same animal lovers would have no issue killing and ant or spider. Which by default is incredibly hypocritical. Im not advocating abuse. Im advocating a realization check that there's a difference between ethical and a resort. Treating any animal with love and respect, and also having it perform duties just like we humans do is not abuse.
Elephant here died last year from flooding…if you'd like to know more about the incident….
You’re not doing any legit volunteer work without a Thailand Volunteer Visa and a work permit. It’s highly unlikely that any organisation, including ENP, is willing to arrange this due to the red tape and costs involved. That’s why you need to be very sceptical if someone says he or she has done ‘volunteer work in Thailand’. Or when you are offered to do volunteer work in any capacity.
The programs ENP offer are paid experiences with elephants. Not volunteer work.
It’s important to understand that Thai labour laws are very strict and protective of Thai. Doing volunteer work in any capacity without a work permit from the ministry of labour and appropriate visa, equals working illegally without a work permit. You’re risking fines, jail and almost always deportation and being blacklisted from Thailand if you do. Unfortunately many tourists do not realise this, until it’s too late!
I visited ENP twice on half-day trips and volunteered there for a week last year. This place is amazing. It's a shame you didn't eat the food, it was incredible. I'm quite surprised to hear you say they had meat options for lunch, are you sure about that? They quite proudly only served vegan food while I've been there.
Thanks for your honest review of ENP. I've been a supporter of Lek and her work for over a decade. I've visited and taken groups from Canada for the one week volunteer program. If you ever get a chance, DO IT !!! I think I've visited and volunteered around 12 to 15 times. Every time I learn something new. I'm not sure if you were told, she also has a dog rescue on site as well as Cat Kingdom with roughly 2000 cats. There is so much more to learn and experience. I hope you can visit again and get way past scratching the surface 😊 one of the highlights is Saturday night when Lek speaks to the weekly volunteers. She is passionate about not just elephants but all living beings. ❤
Fair review Paddy, thank you. One thing you missed is that Elephant Nature Park offers an incredible life enhancing opportunity for people to stay on site and volunteer in conservation and animal welfare activities. I have volunteered twice and am looking forward to my third voluntary project. Volunteers are given detailed safety briefings and all staff are very keen to make sure everyone is looked after. It’s a beautiful and magical place ❤️🙏❤️
Lovely Nature Nature Park. Thanks for sharing. Excellent elephant rescue sanctuary. Animal abuse is of course terrible, inexcusable. I am at two minds regarding sanctuaries . Are the elephants in other parks bathing with tourist, is that animal abuse? How are the operators going to pay for the elephant food, vetinariry Is a Is riding horses, animal abuse? Is requiring humans to do go to work (to earn a living) is that that also abuse? There just is almost no where left in Thailand to release healthy elephants into the wild.
I visited the park 2 years ago in November. I did the full day with the skywalk and pickup from my Chiang Mai hotel. Weather wasn't too hot in November and on the full day visit the food is served midday as lunch so was a very welcome break.
Our guide did give a briefing which included what to do if the elephant tried to reach for your phone and the colour coding of the collars on the many rescue dogs for if friendly etc.
I had a fantastic time there and would absolutely recommend the full day visit. The skywalk is a seperate section of the park with a reasonably long evelated walkway around the fields so you can see the elephants from above.
There are many sanctuaries doing amazing work and rescuing elephants. I’ve visited many over the years. It’s unfortunate everyone only visits and recommends the famous one. The others also need support.
Paddy, your tour guide is Aging! We met him at Elephant Haven Thailand. Another good place for an elephant to retire! Thanks for doing this story. Important work!
No, so you don’t know they did have a storm a while back ago so you didn’t know that either. There’s a lot of things you do not know but there is why some people don’t talk about that but these elephants love it there they get what they need. They’re happy and that is more important than anything else.
I understand that you want to say how you feel and that’s good that you were doing that but you don’t know all of what’s involved and why this is they had to do a lot to get to where they’re going and where they’re at. It’s very important. I think it’s very beautiful. I know somebody that visited with them as well. That particular thing that you’re talking about only happens so many times in the year it’s not like it’s every day they give no notice when they’re going through there and they have no way to stop them people from coming down through that river on the bikes they’re not there to hurt the elephants. They’re not there to hurt anybody. The elephants have to hear some type of noises to make it normal for them. I think they’re the people they’re doing great. I think they’re doing great. I think you’re a good person and you just wanna say how you feel that’s all.
I’m sorry, but maybe that is the only place they have to bring them and I think it’s wrong to complain about it because these elephants have been through so much and if that is the only place that they have to bring them it hurts. It’s very sad that you’re saying this.
I have visited a couple of the more ethical ones over the years and always enjoyed it yet felt a bit conflicted. As long as these places exist and charge tourists to visit or volunteer there will always be an incentive for captive elephants, I know these places need funding somehow but I suspect most are making a profit from the animals. I don't know how they will continue to source elephants to continue once most are rescued.
This is a wonderful place. Spent the day there in 2023. I wish Lek could take care of all elephants. We did a walking tour with them. Their size and strength is incredible, but what an incredible raw experience.❤
Thanks for this video, Paddy. I was looking forward to your thoughts about it after watching your previous video. It was so sad to see the elephant that obviously had a permanent deformation of it's front leg, I suspect due to being chained up for so long. Human beings can be so cruel.
Less than ninety minutes from where I live, in South Australia, is the Monarto Safari Park. It's the largest Safari Park outside of Africa and is a key 'player' in conservation efforts of some of the beautiful creatures on the planet. The animals there are in large areas of fenced off enclosures for the safety of both animals and visitors. From behind a fence and on a slightly raised platform, I needed a 400mm Lens to get a reasonably close shot of the Asian Elephants. To be able to get so close to the elephants at the ENP in Chiang Mai would be awesome. Keep up with your great videos. I'm looking forward to the next one in your awesome Thailand adventures.
Hi Paddy,thanks for all the information. What did you make of Kao Yai national park? Worth the stayover? Did you see much? Thanks again