Yes, the elephants on our tours roam freely in their jungle habitat. We believe that these magnificent creatures should be left to live naturally, not used for riding, bathing, logging or any other forms of exploitation.
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.
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 seven elephants – Mae Boo Jhan, Mae Bun Sri, Mae Yui, Mae Buay, Gili, Luna and Plai Phusuk, all live freely in the Northern Thai jungle. 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 always meant to thrive in.
While some of our elephants were not “rescued” in the traditional sense, many have been rehabilitated from lives previously spent in unethical tourism and logging industries. Some of our elephants, such as Mae Boo Jhan and Mae Boon Sri, once endured difficult conditions including riding, logging and other exploitation. As awareness around elephant welfare grew, their Karen caretakers chose a different path – bringing them back to the jungle and transitioning to a more ethical, hands-off way of living, over a decade ago.
Today, these elephants are able to roam freely, forage naturally, bathe in the river on their own accord, and socialise with one another in their natural environment, without any kind of forced interactions.
Our two youngest elephants, Gili and Luna, were born in the jungle and have never experienced riding, logging, or tourist exploitation. They represent the future of ethical elephant care – growing up wild, free, and surrounded by their family herd.
Our herd is made up of seven elephants – six females and one male: Mae Boo Jhan, Mae Bun Sri, Mae Yui, Mae Buay, Gili, Luna, and our one bull elephant, Plai Phusuk. Each elephant has their own unique personality and story, which you can read about here.
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.
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.
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 through thier websites.
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