Elephant Nature Park Weekly Program – Living with Elephants

Location: Chiang Mai province – Northern Thailand

Nearest Airport: - Chiang Mai (CNX)

Please see the Availability Calendar Tab - Select your preferred date to Book Now!

Duration: Up to Two weeks (initial acceptance). You must make separate bookings for each week.

We are offering you a life enhancing opportunity to participate in this unique program with an internationally recognised conservationist who has worked to protect this highly endangered species for decades. People often leave the park with a greater awareness of the plight of the Asian elephant and a sense of satisfaction, having done something really positive in support of the elephants.

Join our program at Elephant Nature Park and help to improve the lives of Asian elephants. Make a real contribution to the well-being of rescued elephants in Northern Thailand. The park provides a sanctuary for mistreated, disabled, blind, senior, and orphaned elephants who have often been abused as working animals in logging, riding, circus shows, and street begging. You will get to experience how the team at Elephant Nature Park cares for the elephants and works hard every day to improve their lives.

Founded by Saengduean "Lek" Chailert, this award-winning sanctuary provides visitors with a unique encounter with rescued elephants that cannot be found elsewhere.

This program offers participants an enriching experience with time to observe elephants living a more natural life in an environment of respect, trust, and kindness.

Participants learn about elephant care and behaviour, cut grass and cornstalks for the elephants, wash and prepare fruit and other food for our herds, learn to make an elephant fruit cake, clean their shelters, help with maintenance tasks around the park, as well as with other projects designed to support the elephants. During your free time, there are many activities to enjoy, such as learning about local culture and traditions and Thai massage. This program includes six night’s accommodation in shared rooms with attached bathrooms and three freshly prepared vegan buffet style meals a day, filtered drinking water, coffee and tea.

Getting there

Arrive in Chiang Mai city by plane, bus, or train the day before (normally Sunday) the start date of your program. We will pick you up from your accommodation in Chiang Mai city on Monday morning at 9:00 - 9:30 am or you can make your own way to the Elephant Nature Park office. You will then be driven 60 km north to the park with the other participants. If you cannot make it on this day, then we can accept other starting days, but please aim to start on Monday. Late arrivals will join the other participants at the park the following day after a night in Chiang Mai city at their own expense.

What will I be doing?

Breakfast is served at 7:00 am and dinner is served at 6:00 pm. Each day you will help prepare food for the elephants and enjoy the fascinating experience of watching the herds wandering the park, socialising and interacting with each other, taking mud / dust baths and swimming in the river. Enjoy witnessing their natural behaviours, individual habits, and daily rituals. During your stay you will see for yourself, the challenges facing elephant conservation in Thailand and the part Elephant Nature Park plays in the protection of elephants.

The Living with Elephants program typically includes the following activities:

• Introduction to Elephant Nature Park and the weekly program
• Learn about the challenges facing elephants in Thailand today
• Observe elephant families interacting and communicating
• Gain insights into the stories, personalities and daily rituals of the elephants
• Discover how Elephant Nature Park is helping to improve the lives of rescued elephants
• Take walks around the park to witness the herds socializing, playing, taking mud baths and swimming in the river
• Clean and prepare food for the elephants
• Help to clean the elephant’s night shelters
• Lend a hand with projects that benefit the elephants such as maintaining mud pits

* Activities are subject to change, and may vary slightly from week to week as necessary.

Highlights

• Gain a fascinating insight into the life of elephants and how these magnificent creatures live and respond to their environment
• Get to know the elephants and their idiosyncrasies
• Develop a better understanding of the issues affecting elephants and learn how Elephant Nature Park is making a difference
• Learn more about elephants via various presentations, talks, and documentaries
• Enjoy a wide variety of delicious vegan Thai & Western cuisine
• Meet like-minded people from around the world during your stay

Accommodation and food

You will be living on-site in standard accommodation, sharing with at least one other person of the same sex. Fall asleep and wake up to the sounds of elephants vocalizing. The food is excellent, with a large vegan buffet style breakfast, lunch and dinner offering many different dishes to choose from.

What is Provided?

• Transport from Chiang Mai to Elephant Nature Park and back
• Standard accommodation (sharing room)
• Three delicious vegan meals per day, served in buffet style with lots of choices
• Internet connection - generally stable
• A practical education on the challenges facing elephant conservation

What do I need?

• A full passport valid for the duration of your stay
• Insurance (covering your placement time and any planned independent travel)
• Transport to Chiang Mai city
• Independent travel costs and return to the airport
• Any additional costs such as trips, snacks, entertainment (allow a few hundred Baht per day depending on lifestyle)
• A tourist visa is normally not necessary if you are traveling to Thailand for less than 30 days from most countries. Please check with the Thai Embassy in your country

Extensions

The initial maximum 2-week stay (1 booking per week) may be extended depending on availability and suitability. Any decision of extensions will be made at the end of your stay with us.

Leaving the Park

When it comes time to leave us on Sunday, the transport departs the park at around 2:00 pm and you will arrive in the city by 3:30 pm. If you need to leave earlier, please contact our program coordinators at the park during your stay or contact our booking team in advance.

About Living with Elephants Program

Starting From: Please be at our office no later than  9:00am. - Map Directions to Office or Pick up from your Chiang Mai city hotel 9:00am - 9:30am within the pickup area - Please Check Pickup Area Map.

If you are staying out of town(outside Middle ring-road) additional charges apply. Please advise on your reservation form.

What to Bring: Overnight bag with change of clothes for 7 days, hat, sunscreen, sandals/flip flops, walking shoes/trainers, camera, bug repellent, flashlight, gardening gloves, rubber boots in the wet season, refillable water bottle

Seasonal: rain gear (June - October), warm clothes (November - February)

Returning: Around 3:00 pm - 3:30 pm on Sunday to your hotel in Chiang Mai city

Baggage / Luggage allowance: One standard check-in size rucksack / suit case / bag and one small day pack per person

Operational Months: All Year Round

Age Suitability: Adults or children over 12 accompanied by legal guardian

Fitness Level: Good fitness standard

What is Included: Transport from Chiang Mai to Elephant Nature Park and back, clean, comfortable accommodation on site, three delicious vegan buffet style meals per day, internet connection - generally stable

Bookings close: Two days before the start date of your stay. A deposit is required to secure your place(s)

Cost: (per week or part of a week) Adult or accompanied Children over 12 years old: 15,000 Thai Baht