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Building an elephant-friendly future
Thousands of elephants across Asia are used for entertainment. They are taken away from their mothers at an early age and then they are tortured using isolation, starvation and beatings in a process known as “the crush”. The fact is, if you can ride or wash an elephant, or watch it perform, chances are the elephant has been subjected to cruel training and is living in terrible conditions
But things are changing for elephants and the wildlife tourism industry. We’ve moved more than one million people around the world to protect elephants and over 225 travel companies have now stopped selling and promoting elephant entertainment, such as rides and shows.
We’ve also worked with two conventional elephant camps in Thailand and helped them to transition to be elephant friendly. In elephant-friendly, tourists are not in direct contact with elephants, and instead get to watch elephants move freely. This is better for the elephants, safer for the tourists and safer for mahouts.
Join us to help elephants
Like us, elephants are highly social creatures. In the wild they form complex herd and family groups. But in captivity, they are unable to interact naturally with one another. This can prevent them from developing social bonds and causes immense psychological pain and suffering.
With the Covid-19 pandemic, tourism in Thailand was hit especially hard, with many captive elephant attractions empty. In turn, these tourist venues, laid off thousands of staff and struggled to care for their elephants.
Thanks to our generous supporters World Animal Protection was able to provide elephant food, vet care and staff salaries for 11 genuine sanctuaries and elephant-friendly venues.
Now you could help stop elephant suffering and demand the travel industry rebuilds responsibly.
- $24 could help feed an elephant at a genuine sanctuary or elephant-friendly venue for a day.
- $31 could help raise awareness of the cruelty in elephant entertainment.
- $55 could help lobby travel companies and government to adopt elephant-friendly policies.
- $70 could help provide an old elephant with supplements for a week.
- $119 could help transition a conventional camp to become elephant friendly.
Thank you for your generous support! Together we can end elephant exploitation. Forever.
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Elephants Hike & Homestays Thailand Itinerary
Day 1 Arrive Chiang Mai
Upon arrival at Chiang Mai airport, you will be met and transferred to the hotel for accommodation on a twin share basis with breakfast. Afternoon at leisure.
Overnight: The Empress Hotel, Superior room or similar
Meals: Nil
Day 3 Hiking in the Doi Inthanon National Park
After breakfast, we bid farewell to the staff and rescued animals before being met by our guide and driver at 10.00am for the drive south to Doi Inthanon National Park. (approx 1.5 hours).
Doi Inthanon is one of Thailand’s most famous national parks as it boasts the greatest diversity of forest types and bird species found in any single park in the country.
Doi Inthanon at 2,565m is Thailand's highest mountain and the source of many rivers. It is an important watershed area with stunning waterfalls and beautiful walking trails through forests of moist evergreen, pine and mixed deciduous.
The park supports the largest number of bird species of any site in Thailand. We explore the trails with our guide and local hilltribe guide on a true adventure!
After a brief stop at a local market to buy supplies we continue to the summit of Doi Inthanon. We enjoy a short forest walk around the summit and descend, stopping at the two pagodas that were erected in the honour of the King and Queen of Thailand. before continuing to Meo Khun Klang, a Hmong village, which is part of a Royal Project.
After lunch at the spectacular Wachirathan Waterfall, we commence our trek through dense forest until we reach the White Karen Village of Ban Khun Puai. Dinner and overnight in the village.
Our guide talk about the significance of the Northern Thailand forest and the fascinating history of the local people.
Hiking: ~3-4hrs
Overnight & dinner: Local village homestay
Meals: B,L,D
Day 5 Karen Village - Chiang Mai
After an early breakfast, we say goodbye to the village and commence trekking uphill for almost an hour. Then it's another hour downhill to a pretty waterfall where we have time to relax and swim and take in the natural environment.
We continue to the Karen Village Baan Mae Sa Pok for lunch. After lunch, we have time to look around the village before making our way back to Chiang Mai.
Hiking: ~2-3hrs
Overnight: The Empress Hotel, Superior room or similar
Meals: B,L
Day 7 Trip concludes Chiang Mai
After breakfast you will be transferred back to the airport for your flight home.
Meals: B
Day 2 Ethical Elephant Experience
After an early breakfast, we will be collected from the hotel at around 6.00am for the 2.5 hour drive through the northern province's scenic mountains to the elephant camp located in a lush valley.
On arrival, there is time to freshen up before a short briefing and background on the project. At 10.00am we hike through the forest on the Elephant Observation Walk and afterwards return for a Thai-style lunch in the forest field by the stream.
Walk back to the sanctuary by 15.00pm, to prepare food supplements for the elephants. We watch them return to the forest, then have free time until 18:00pm. Enjoy a traditional Thai dinner.
Overnight: BEES homestay: authentic rural Thai style accommodation (mattress on the floor with mosquito net)
Meals: B,L,D
Day 4 Karen Village
After breakfast we head out on the trail. Our morning walk is mainly downhill to the White Karen village where we have time to explore and practice our language skills while our guide prepares lunch.
The afternoon walk is up and down through the forest until we reach the tiny Karen village of Huay Khao Lip. Tonight we'll be asked to assist with the meal preparation.
Our guide/cook will explain the herbs and ingredients he uses. After dinner we will visit a village house to meet some of the villagers. Overnight in the village.
Hiking distance: ~4-5hrs
Overnight & dinner: Local village homestay
Meals: B,L,D
Day 6 Full day at Chang Chill
We'll be collected from the hotel between 7:30-8:00am for the 1.5 hour drive through the northern province's stunning mountains to the camp located in a lush valley.
On arrival, there will be a short briefing about the project and the 6 elephants who reside there. Afterwards, we'll commence a short trek through forest surrounded by rice paddies and valleys in search of the free-roaming elephants who will be grazing and foraging for food.
As the hike is unscripted, our guide will take us through various areas in search of the animals and their mahouts, during which time you will have the opportunity to ask questions and learn more.
After having spent time hiking through the forest, we return to the camp and join a Thai-style lunch. You can relax or take the opportunity to place fruit and veges into the feeding tubes by the stream which runs through the area to encourage the elephants to join you for their meal as well.
The second half of the day consists of gathering at the traditional Thai "sala" located by the stream. Our guide will explain how the herbs and plants gathered during our hike and used in making traditional medicine balls to help elephants digest the massive quantities of food they eat on a daily basis.
We will also have a chance to ask the mahouts, who spend day and night with their animal, questions about what they have learned while living in harmony together.
After a fascinating day at the camp, we return through the rice fields to meet our transport for drive back to Chiang Mai. The evening is free to relax at the hotel or wander around Chiang Mail.
Overnight: The Empress Hotel, Superior room or similar
Meals: B,L
Thank you for your generous support!
Together we can end elephant exploitation. Forever.
