The elephant is an iconic animal in Thai tradition however typically misused as a vacationer attraction. After I deliberate my 3-week Thailand itinerary I after all needed to go to an elephant sanctuary. My youngsters wished that too. So, I needed to discover a Chiang Rai elephant camp. After analysis, speaking to pals and locals I made a decision to go to the Elephant Valley close to Chiang Rai. I used to be advised it’s a real sanctuary the place no abuse of animals takes place. That’s true, and I had a good time studying about elephants and how you can deal with them on the Chiang Rai Elephant Valley.
Chiang Rai Elephant Valley
The Chiang Rai Elephant Valley is the second elephant sanctuary of the identical administration in South East Asia. It began with their Elephant Valley in Cambodia and now Chiang Rai is open too. It’s a bit smaller however nonetheless covers 40 acres of lush inexperienced forest the place 6 elephants discovered their new house. Your contribution makes positive they will increase however that’s not all. They supply jobs and a method or one other assist over 2000 locals too.
On the Elephant Valley Thailand, the workers permits the elephants to expertise a brand new life with out stress which is able to make their life satisfying. The ethos of the Chiang Rai Elephant Valley may be very strict to ensure the elephants have a great second life. The 6 elephants come from the logging and vacationer trade the place they have been abused. Now these 6 elephants’ life in peace and might do what they need. The workers takes care of them, washes them, does dental care, and makes positive they’re wholesome. No extra abusing.
Driving an elephant? NO! Swimming with an elephant? NO! Kissing an elephant? NO! Feeding an elephant? YES, on the feeding time on the finish of the day for a really quick interval.
Attending to Chiang Rai Elephant Valley
Until you’re going to volunteer and/or keep on the homestay of Chiang Rai Elephant Valley I like to recommend visiting the white temple (Wat Rung Kun) within the morning first. The temple only a few kilometers away and collectively it’s an incredible day journey. I’ll coated the white temple already within the 3-week Thailand itinerary and can do an in-depth story later. You can too go to Elephant Valley as a day journey from Chiang Mai should you go early!
After I journey sustaining a dependable web connection is essential for navigation, communication, and accessing journey sources. An eSIM Asia plan from Actually gives seamless connectivity with out the effort of swapping bodily SIM playing cards. My eSIM Asia got here in helpful a number of instances to translate one thing and discover instructions simply within the Chiang Rai space.
I arrived on the Chiang Rai elephant sanctuary at about 12:30. Automobile parking is on the market on the entrance as not each car can simply enter due to doable micro organism coming into the sanctuary. My information, who was already ready for me, escorted me to the farmhouse for a brief briefing. At 13:30 I used to be watching elephants bathe and have enjoyable. I really like wildlife recognizing and right here it’s simply as seeing an Asian elephant of their pure habitat.
Visiting Chiang Rai Elephant Valley
As talked about a go to begins with a short introduction in regards to the Chiang Rai Elephant Valley. You’ll study that an elephant doesn’t work. Not logging timber nor entertaining vacationers. They calm down, eat grass, bamboo, drink water, cowl themselves in mud and play with one another. All these actions YOU can see at this elephant sanctuary.
The information took me to a viewing platform simply subsequent to the water the place a mom and daughter elephant have been enjoying. Simply 100 meters additional one other elephant was destroying a tree. Consuming grass. Enjoying with mud and getting some recent bamboo as a snack. I simply spend there 2 hours watching these magnificent animals and making photographs. THAT you are able to do!
Elephant feeding
After 2 hours it was time to get again to the farmhouse. One elephant received a bathe, his toes cleaned and a little bit of dental care. The workers takes care of the elephants in order that they don’t get sick. Round 16:00 it was feeding time. Just a few bamboo shoots which I used to be allowed to feed too. They’re used to folks and feeding, only a bit, is all proper. My youngsters liked this! They did need to experience and elephant too however after being on the Chiang Rai Elephant Sanctuary they don’t need to do this anymore. They discovered.
If you’re on the lookout for a spot to see elephants in Thailand (or Cambodia) then go to Elephant Valley. They honestly care in regards to the animals. Do NOT go to any sanctuary or camp the place you possibly can experience or swim with elephants. NEVER NOT go to a spot the place elephants make tips. I had a good time on the Chiang Rai Elephant Valley and so did my youngsters. If I had identified you possibly can keep in a single day earlier than I deliberate my 3-week Thailand itinerary I in all probability would have finished that. Now, I went additional north the place I stayed at Katiliya Mountain Resort & Spa.
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Gallery Chiang Rai Elephant Valley
Click on a picture for a full display screen gallery of extra photographs taken throughout this journey. In the event you like to make use of any picture for business, non-public or editorial use please contact first for permission and/or pricing.
