We currently offer 2 types of tours - a 1 day trip and a 2 day, 1 night (overnight) trip.

The 1 day trip is 2,500 THB for adults and 1,250 THB for children. The 2-day 1-night trip is 6,500 THB for adults and 3,250 THB for children.

For the 1 day trip, we pick you up between 7-7:30 AM and drop you back at your hotel around 5:30-6:00 PM. For the 2-day 1-night tour we pick you up between 8-8:30 on the first day and drop you back at your hotel the next day between 5:30-6:00 PM.

Yes, please contact us directly to discuss private tour bookings at info@elephantecotrails.com

Absolutely, as long as they are accompanied by a responsible adult! We even have special prices for our young elephant lovers.

We advise that the tour is suitable for children over the age of 8, as the hike requires a moderate level of fitness, especially in rainy months. The hike may be challenging for elderly visitors, depending on fitness abilities.

Yes, the tours still run during the rainy season, however please bring suitable clothing such as a rain jacket and suitable footwear such as boots or hiking shoes.

The best time of year is between November-February, this is Thai “winter” and after the rainy season, everything is extremely green, beautiful and the weather is cooler. It’s our favourite time of the year here in Northern Thailand!

We recommend booking as far in advance as possible, to ensure there is availability on the date you want! We take bookings up to a year in advance or you can email us in advance to book at info@elephantecotrails.com

No refunds of deposits will be given for cancellations. Rescheduling may be allowed depending on availability.

Please contact us at info@elephantecotrails.com to see if we can accommodate your booking date change.

Once you have made the payment and booked your trip on our website (https://elephantecotrails.com/booknow.php), you will receive confirmation email shortly. If you do not receive the email within 24 hours of booking, please contact us at info@elephantecotrails.com

Yes, all guests are required to sign an insurance form and waiver on the morning of the tour. This ensures you’re covered under our insurance policy whilst on the trip and fully informed about any potential risks involved in exploring the jungle alongside elephants.

Yes, we offer an overnight (2-day 1-night) tour. We highly recommend this tour, if you have the time. You’ll get to trek through Northern Thailand’s breathtaking landscapes, spend meaningful time with elephants, and enjoy a night in the tranquil jungle!

Yes, please contact us directly to discuss school or educational group tour bookings at info@elephantecotrails.com

We require a 20% deposit when booking (500 Thai Baht for the 1 day tour and 1,300 Thai Baht for the 2 day, overnight tour). This deposit is non-refundable. Rescheduling may be allowed depending on availability - please contact us at info@elephantecotrails.com

To keep everything running smoothly, we ask that all guests book ahead. Just head to our website to reserve your spot: https://elephantecotrails.com/booknow.php

For the deposit, you can pay using debit or credit card. For the remaining payment on the day of the tour, we accept cash only. Please prepare cash in advance of your tour. If you want to pay via card, please contact us in advance for advance payment.

Please contact us directly to discuss bigger group tour bookings at info@elephantecotrails.com

We cap our tour size at 12 people for the 1-day tour and 9 people for the 2-day 1-night tour. We keep our group sizes small to allow for a more personal and meaningful experience.

Yes, the elephants on our tours roam freely without restraints or interference. We believe that these magnificent creatures should be left to live in their true habitat, not used for riding, bathing, logging or any other forms of animal abuse.

1. A True Jungle Experience- Our tours are conducted deep within the Northern Thai jungle, offering visitors the chance to explore untouched landscapes. The jungle is the elephants' home, and we ensure they are left to move freely, forage for food, bathe in rivers, and interact with their herd without human interference. This allows you to witness elephants in their most authentic state, far from the typical commercialised settings.
2. Freedom for Elephants- At Elephant Eco Trails, we do not use chains, restraints, or any form of confinement. The elephants are allowed to wander, graze, and explore their surroundings as they would in the wild. We believe this freedom is essential to their wellbeing and it allows them to express natural behaviours that are often suppressed in other, more controlled environments.
3. Small, Intimate Groups- To minimise the impact on the elephants and their environment, we limit the size of our tour groups. This not only allows for a more personal and meaningful experience, but also reduces stress on the elephants and the land they inhabit. Smaller groups mean quieter, more immersive interactions with the elephants and the jungle.
4. Commitment to Conservation and Community- Our tours are designed not just to benefit visitors, but also to give back to the local community and environment. We support local guides, mahouts, and staff with fair wages, and a portion of our profits goes to Chiang Mai-based charities that work towards wildlife protection and community welfare. By choosing Elephant Eco Trails, you are supporting both the conservation of these magnificent creatures and the people who work tirelessly to protect them.

At Elephant Eco Trails, the well-being of our elephants is our highest priority. The elephants have dedicated mahouts who have developed a deep, lifelong bond with them. These mahouts play a crucial role in ensuring the elephants’ physical and emotional health. The elephants are all free roaming in the jungle, but under watchful eyes of our mahouts to ensure they are all safe, happy and cared for.

The well-being of our elephants is our top priority. Our tours are designed to let elephants simply be elephants - roaming freely, foraging, and socialising in their natural jungle environment without any restraints or human interference. We maintain a completely hands-off approach, observing the elephants from a respectful distance to allow them to engage in natural behaviours.

No, our project is an entirely hands-off experience. This means that visitors are not allowed to touch or feed the elephants. We believe that the most authentic and respectful way to interact with these magnificent animals is to observe them from a distance, allowing them to behave as naturally and “wildly” as possible.

Respecting an elephant's space lets them act naturally - socialising, exploring, and resting without human interference. This approach also fosters a more ethical connection, where humans observe and appreciate elephants as they are, instead of as attractions to touch or control. By keeping interactions hands-off, we’re helping elephants feel safe and free while supporting more sustainable and humane tourism practice!

Our elephants are cared for by local Karen families who have a deep, cultural connection with these animals, ensuring that they receive the care they deserve. The elephants also have dedicated mahouts who have developed a deep, lifelong bond with them. These mahouts play a crucial role in ensuring the elephants’ physical and emotional health. The elephants are all free roaming in the jungle, but under watchful eyes of our mahouts to ensure they are all safe, happy and cared for, every single day.

The elephants you’ll encounter on our tours are owned by local Karen families, a community in Northern Thailand with a deep cultural connection to elephants. The five elephants—Non Pong, Gili, Honey, Buay, and Boo Jhan—once endured harsh, torturous conditions in the tourism industry. By visiting Elephant Eco Trails, you’re helping support a movement toward more responsible, humane treatment of elephants, ensuring they live healthier, more fulfilling lives in the environment they were meant to be in.

The five elephants—Non Pong, Gili, Honey, Buay, and Boo Jhan—once endured harsh, torturous conditions in the tourism industry, such as riding and logging. Over time, greater awareness of the harm caused by these practices led Karen elephant owners to seek more ethical alternatives. This was the case with the five elephants at Elephant Eco Trails, whose owners brought them back to the jungle a decade ago, allowing them to live more freely in their natural environment. Here, the elephants can forage, socialise with one another, and thrive in the wild, while still benefiting from ethical tourism.

There are five elephants at Elephant Eco Trails—Non Pong, Gili, Honey, Buay, and Boo Jhan.

No, never! At Elephant Eco Trails, we believe in letting elephants live as naturally as possible, free from any forms of exploitation. Our tours are 100% hands-off, meaning there’s no riding, performances, or direct interactions that could compromise the elephants' well-being. Instead, our guests have the unique opportunity to observe these amazing animals from a respectful distance as they roam, forage, and socialise freely in their jungle habitat.

No - we’re committed to giving elephants the freedom they deserve. Our elephants roam the jungle without any chains, restraints, or enclosures, allowing them to move, socialise, and explore naturally. We believe in providing a safe, open environment where elephants can truly be themselves, undisturbed and unrestricted.

To prevent any form of exploitation, we strictly prohibit rides, performances, and direct interactions with our elephants. Instead, our tours allow guests to observe from a respectful distance as the elephants roam freely in their natural jungle habitat.
We also partner with local Karen families who have a long-standing cultural connection with these elephants and are committed to their care. Our approach supports sustainable tourism practices, ensuring the elephants can live peacefully while benefiting from a model that respects their freedom and dignity. By focusing on conservation, education, and hands-off interactions, we work to create an experience that honours the elephants’ natural lives.

We currently support 2 local charities - Hand to Paw and Thr5ve.
Hand to Paw provides medical care, vaccinations, and sterilisation to street and temple dogs in Chiang Mai, Thailand, rescuing, treating, and protecting them from neglect, disease, and overpopulation year-round.
Thr5ve supports displaced communities in Myanmar and Thailand by providing emergency kits, solar power systems, food supplies, and birth kits to promote safety, resilience, and sustainable growth.
You can read more about both of them here: elephantecotrails.com/partners.php

At Elephant Eco Trails, we are proud to pay our guides, mahouts, drivers, and staff fairly, ensuring that their hard work is recognised and valued and that our local communities feel supported.. Beyond this, we are dedicated to giving back by donating a portion of our profits to local charities and NGOs that work tirelessly to protect wildlife, animals, human rights, and uplift the lives of those in need.

Yes, you can make additional donations to Hand to Paw and Thr5ve. You can find their websites here - https://elephantecotrails.com/partners.php

We recommend wearing long trousers/pants that cover your legs and closed hiking shoes, as there are lots of creatures and insects in the jungle, such as leeches. We also recommend bringing suncream, a hat and during the rainy season, we recommend bringing a waterproof jacket/clothing.

For the 1-day trip - walking/hiking appropriate shoes, sunscreen, insect repellant, phone/camera, suitable clothing for wet weather in the rainy season (July - October).
For the 2-day 1-night trip - change of clothes for 2 days/1 night, walking/hiking appropriate shoes, sunscreen, insect repellant, phone/camera, suitable clothing for wet weather in the rainy season (July - October), suitable clothing for cool weather in the winter season (November-February), toiletries and personal medication.

1-Day Tour - Lunch is provided, including bottled drinking water. Tea/coffee is also available at our platform at all times. Please let us know on your booking form if you have any dietary requirements.
2-Day 1-Night Tour - Lunch and dinner on day one and breakfast and lunch on day two are provided. Bottled drinking water is included and tea/coffe is also available at our platform at all times. Please let us know on your booking form if you have any dietary requirements.

Yes, all transportation to and from the tour site is included. You can read more about tour pick up times on our “Tour Options” tab on our website.

We are currently working on this - a gift shop with souvenirs is coming soon!

Yes, we have toilets on site, including showers for our overnight guests.

Absolutely!! Don’t forget to tag us on social media@elephantecotrails

Our hikes require a moderate level of fitness, especially in the rainy season when trails can become muddy and slippery. The trek may be challenging for those with mobility issues, depending on personal abilities. Feel free to reach out to us if you need additional information regarding this at info@elephantecotrails.com

Our hikes require a moderate level of fitness. For the 1-day tour, we spend around 3 hours hiking in the jungle to see the elephants. For the 2-day 1-night tour, we spend around 3 hours hiking/walking on the first day at Doi Inthanon and around 3.5 hours hiking in the jungle to see elephants on the second day.

All of the food on our tours is vegetarian. If you have any other dietary requirements please include it on the booking form or email us in advance at info@elephantecotrails.com

In the unlikely event of severe weather that prevents the tour from proceeding, we’ll reach out to you beforehand to offer the option of rescheduling for a different day.

At Elephant Eco Trails, we’re deeply committed to sustainable practices that respect the environment and its natural resources. Our efforts to reduce our environmental footprint include:
Serving fully vegetarian meals to reduce our carbon impact, with lunches in the jungle presented on biodegradable banana leaves that are easily composted.
Managing waste responsibly by recycling all materials, while any leftover food or scraps are repurposed whenever possible.
Building our project structures using natural, locally-sourced materials, such as bamboo and leaf roofing, which blend seamlessly with the surrounding landscape.
Sourcing elephant food like grass and bananas from local farmers, and allowing the elephants to forage naturally in the jungle, which promotes sustainable grazing.
These practices reflect our dedication to conserving Northern Thailand’s natural beauty and reducing the impact of our activities on the environment.

The 'Eco' in Elephant Eco Trails represents our dedication to minimising our environmental impact and creating a sustainable experience. We strive to minimize our impact by serving only vegetarian meals, which are both environmentally conscious and sustainable. When guests enjoy lunch in the jungle, it’s served on banana leaves, a fully compostable and natural alternative to disposable plates. Waste management is also a priority for us; we recycle all materials, and leftover food is repurposed to ensure nothing goes to waste. Our site structures, built from natural resources like bamboo and topped with leaf roofing, integrate seamlessly with the surroundings and help preserve the area’s beauty. Additionally, we partner with local farmers who grow grass and bananas for the elephants, reducing the need for transported feed and supporting local agriculture, while the elephants themselves can forage freely in their natural habitat. At Elephant Eco Trails, every aspect of our operations is carefully crafted to honour the land, wildlife, and communities.