ChangChill Elephant Sanctuary (Ethical)

Our visit to this sanctuary was truly extraordinary. Despite having been to Chiang Mai multiple times, we had never taken the leap to book an "elephant tour" due to ethical concerns with the ones we came across. Discovering this place filled us with excitement, and after booking the half-day tour, we were pleased with our decision.

The overall experience was fantastic. Upon being picked up from our hotel and enjoying a comfortable 90-minute drive in a comfortable van, we embarked on a safari-like hike to witness all four retired elephants thriving in their natural habitat. It was a remarkable opportunity to observe them up close, much closer than we had anticipated. Our guide was exceptional, providing insightful lessons about their lives and detailing the special bond between the elephant and its mahout (helper/keeper).

Returning to the camp, we enjoyed a nice vegetarian lunch before assembling a "snack bar" for the elephants to relish by 1 pm. As the elephants arrived at the camp, we marveled at them in a picturesque setting. We then began our journey back home and reached our hotel before 4 pm.

Such an experience! I did the half day which felt like enough time. We went trekking in the jungle to find the 4 elephants they have there. It was more of a difficult walk than imagined however was manageable. We got to see the elephants close up, prepare food for them and watch them eat. We also got to see them bathe in mud. The guide was also really sweet and told us all about the elephants, answering all our questions.

My friends and I wanted to see elephants in Thailand, but we didn’t want to harm them in anyway. After doing some research, we found ChangChill and booked with them! The experience was truly amazing. You are really immersed into the elephants land, without interfering or disrespecting them. This is an observation-only-type experience, which was still beautiful to be apart of. We got to observe, prepare food and meet all the 4 beautiful elephants at the sanctuary!

There was a slight hiccup at the beginning with the pickup. However they've organised a taxi within 15 minutes and I got to join the group without missing anything. You walk through the jungle and look for the 4 elephants they take care of. Elephants wonder around the property, they are not allowed to be touched, fed, bathed and is definitely the most ethical sanctuary I've found. Worth doing the whole day tour where people leave and you get to stay behind, make food for the elephants and speak to their carers. There was only 3 of us doing this option and I am so glad I did it! Got to hang out around these beautiful creatures for a bit longer.

Unique and fantastic Sanctuary.
We investigated and it was one the few places where they really do not disturb elephants for example you can feed them directly, you can't ride them, etc.

It is worth going here. You go by mini bus and then some trekking (not difficult but it takes time).

Wonderful sanctuary. Had a great 1/2 day visit to ChangChill where we got to see elephants in their natural habitat.
We were very picky about ensuring that we visit an ethical sanctuary, which allows you to admire these magnificent animals from afar - ChangChill offered just that. After the morning hike in the jungle, you prepare snacks for the elephants and get to see them up close.
Great experience!

There are several elephant sanctuaries spread across the Thanon Thong Chai Range (also called the Doi Inthanon Range). In the small village of Ban Pratu Mueang is ChangChill, one of those elephant sanctuaries where "elephants can simply be elephants". Accompanied by a guide, you will look for one or more of the four resident elephants. A true adventure that every visitor will certainly enjoy!

ChangChill came as a recommendation from a friend who experienced it herself and assured me it was actually ethical - no direct contact with elephants, I knew bathing and feeding them directly was unnecessary, stressful, and unnatural for them to be crowded by people. The day started with our tour guide picking us up from our hostel, and the short 1hr-1hr30 minute drive to ChangChill. We then went on a hike, allowing us to see the beautiful views of the rice fields! We then had to go looking for the four elephants in the surrounding natural area, we were very lucky to find three of them together. Mine (our tour guide) was very knowledgeable and funny! There was a time we were right by the three elephants and he said we should go and find the other one, I was hesitant, but I couldn’t have been more wrong! We were able to get the most amazing views of Mae Korn (an elephant who struggled to eat by herself after years working in the tourist industry) eating, drinking, and she walked right past us. The mahouts and Mine ensured we stayed a safe distance away from the elephants at all times, if ever we were observing them and they moved too close, we had to step back accordingly. We then had an amazing vegetarian lunch (this was included in the ticket) and then cut some sugar cane for the elephants’ afternoon snack, and saw them eating together! This was by the far the best elephant experience I have heard of, it’s completely hands off approach ensured I left without questioning the ethics of the company I just gave my money to, and I left still seeing elephants but not feeling horrible with myself. I would 100% recommend anyone to come to ChangChill and if I’m ever in the area again I would return for the experience!

The team picked us up from the hotel in Chiang Mai and took us back.
All the elephants are rescues (they came from logging and riding) and have plenty of space to roam free in the wild. We went on a walk in the forest to find them and had the opportunity to see them in their real habitat at a safe distance. Our guide was really nice and explained us all about these animals! Would recommend 100% for a actual ethical experience with no riding, touching or bathing the animals.

Highly recommend! We could really see elephants from up close. And yet elephants were not stressed about people. It was good to see them in their natural environment and be respectful.

Absolutely incredible day trip. The elephants are clearly well cared for and respected. An actual ethical sanctuary; completely hands off with elephants free to roam around as they please, as it should be. We still however had intimate and up-close views of the recused elephants while hiking through the forest which was so special. Huge shout out to our guide Tanya who was so wonderful and knowledgable. Highly, highly recommend - such a beautiful experience all round.

This experience was unlike no other. We trekked the area to see the elephants in their most natural habitat. No touching, bathing, feeding, riding, etc. with the elephants. It was such a nice experience because we weren’t bothering them. The tour guide said basically it’s not natural for humans to do all these things for them, and that they were trying to teach them how to go back into the wild. I loved that about this place. It was such a beautiful experience.

If you are looking for a truly ethical elephant sanctuary, the Chang Chill Elephant Sanctuary is absolutely the right place for you. In addition to preparing a few snacks for the elephants, the focus is on observing the animals in the jungle - the guides and mahouts always ensure an appropriate minimum distance from the elephants. No bathing, direct feeding or touching of the animals. We really enjoyed it! The lunch was also very tasty. The landscape (the mountains, the rice fields and the river) was also breathtakingly beautiful. The excursion was an absolute highlight of our trip 😊.

A wonderful experience! We booked the full day trip and saw all 4 elephants. Our guide Tanya was so lovely and knowledgeable. The lunch was great, and there is plenty to eat as a vegan. A truly ethical sanctuary that clearly cares about their elephants

Beautiful place. We really looked for a ethical place and I feel very lucky and grateful for the visit. Our guide, Thanya, was super friendly, well informed and she showed us the loved that they have for the elephants and how the place changed in the past years to become a better home for the elephants. Not touch, no bathing, no give them food… just watch them and learn.

I highly recommend it! It is a great experience! Also with lunch included and some nice activities to prepare the elephants snacks.

Every Sanctuary should be like this.

The most ethical sanctuary I have been too where elephants are encouraged to learn natural behaviours in there natural environment after being rescued, they have lots of land to roam about in. It was a great experience to see them in the wild. I enjoyed it more than I thought I would. The tour guide was funny. We had a great day.

We rigorously researched different elephant sanctuaries to make sure we were visiting an ethical sanctuary.

Booking this one was the right decision, the sanctuary was incredibly ethical as there was a strict hands-off (no touching) policy when it came to the elephants. We booked the full day tour which involved hiking to find and watch the elephants in the wild. After the provided lunch we provided food for them so we could watch them feeding and cooling off in the river.

Such a memorable experience, and all the better knowing it is more ethical than most advertised

Probably the only sanctuary doing elephant tourism in a non intrusive way. We had a service from door to door and lunch included.

They take you to hike inside the forest where a few elephants live and you have the opportunity to see them being themselves in the nature. No touching, no bathing, no torture, no exploitation. I wish all sanctuaries had a similar approach.

In the afternoon you help preparing a meal for them to come and eat in front of you.

If you want to see the elephants, I believe they are the only proper company!

A truly ethical elephant place. The elephants live in the jungle and you do have to trek to find them. At the end there is a wonderful waterfall you can call off in and then have a locally made vegetarian lunch. They really care and love the animals.

Great, ETHICALLY MINDED elephant park. There was no schedule for the elephants to follow, no touching, riding, feeding or tricks. We simply were able to see elephants be elephants and it was a remarkable experience. If you’re traveling to Thailand, I would strongly suggest looking into Chiang Chill or BEES. They set the standard for what elephant treatment should be. An elephant does not need to be bathed by a human, they can and have done that for hundreds of years on their own. To let an elephant be free truly means letting them live freely. Please consider this when booking any experience with elephants in Thailand :)