Our Emotional Stay at Chai Lai Orchid - An Ethical Elephant Sanctuary in Thailand
Chiang Mai Elephant Sanctuary
When planning our trip to Northern Thailand, we were determined to find an ethical elephant experienceāone where the animals could roam freely and werenāt used for performances or riding. After extensive research, we found Chai Lai Orchid, an eco-resort and elephant sanctuary nestled in the mountains near Chiang Mai.
It promised exactly what we were looking for: a natural, respectful environment for elephants, and a stay that supported both animal and human welfare.
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Ethical Sanctuary?
There’s no rules defining how elephants should be kept. From an ethical standpoint, we wanted to be sure that this sanctuary provides enough space for the elephants to roam freely. Ideally, there should be no unnatural behaviours forced on them.
Visitors might still have moral reservations about bathing with or feeding elephants. Read on to find out what we saw and how this impacted us. Ā
Did it live up to our hopes? More than we could have imagined.
Getting There: Night Train to Jungle Sanctuary
Our journey began with an overnight train from Bangkok to Chiang Mai. From the station, a local songthaew (an open pickup truck with benches) took us on a scenic 90-minute drive into the hills of Mae Sapok, near Doi Inthanon National Park.
Chai Lai Orchid is tucked into a lush valley, and we could already see elephants from the reception area as we arrived, their trunks cheekily reaching toward cafƩ tables.
We were tired after the journey, but immediately drawn in by the peaceful surroundings and incredible views.
No fences. No gates. Just a few pregnant female elephants and baby Mowgli wandering around.
Their mahouts keeping a watchful eye on them. Gentle verbal encouragements.
No chains.
No sticks.
Day 1: Arriving in Elephant Sanctuary Paradise
Though check-in wasnāt until later, our riverside bamboo huts were ready early. These huts sit right where elephants bathe, and we spent the day soaking in the atmosphereāliterally and figuratively. The sound of the river was loud but soothing, and elephants wandered freely past our porch, occasionally stopping for a dip.
The main reception is at the top of the village, with stunning views across the valley.
We chose to stay at the bottom of the valley, so we could watch the elephants bathe. It was also close to where some elephants stayed at night. We could also experience them coming to our rooms at breakfast time if we wanted to.
The Riverside Rooms were our favourite, not least as it’s cooler, you have the roaring sound of the river that emphasises the calm surroundings. And you can swim too. Or just watch the elephants bathing in front of you.
While we had no planned activities for the day, there is plenty to see and do. The cafƩ provides excellent drinks and meal choices at reasonable prices, and you could just sit there and watch the elephants roaming around.
Being exhausted from our travels, we just wanted to relax after our night train experience. And take in and immerse ourselves in nature, while watching these gentle giants be themselves.
Day 2: Breakfast with Giants & Jungle Hiking
At dawn, an elephant arrived at our balcony for breakfast. We fed her sugar cane and bananas from baskets provided by the mahouts. It was such a profound moment that I found myself in tears, filming a piece to camera about how deeply moved I was by their gentleness.
Later that morning, we hiked through steep jungle paths with our guide Bebe, who carved bamboo sticks to help us along. After reaching a waterfall, we swam, captured drone shots, and then joined Bebe in a remote village for a delicious bamboo-cooked lunch. Sticky rice, mango, herbs, and skewered chickenācooked over an open fireātasted even better for the effort it took to get there.
That afternoon, we visited more elephants and made herbal medicine balls for themāpacked with turmeric, tamarind, salt, and bananas.
They eat up to 5% of their bodyweight each day, so around 200kg of food. They have a very inefficient digestive system and sometimes get constipated. These medicine balls help them with their diet.
A family of elephants, including a playful baby called Tara, delighted us before heading for a mud bath that looked like pure joy.
Day 3: Bamboo Rafting and Reflection
On our final day, we enjoyed one more breakfast with an elephant on our porch. The magic of the experience hadnāt faded, though the emotional intensity was softer.
We wandered the area, met local artisans, and bought beautiful handmade scarves and bracelets. The highlight of the day was a bamboo rafting trip down a shallow river. Peaceful, if a little less vibrant than we remembered from a previous visit years agoāit seems we came early in the season.
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In terms of itinerary, we absolutely had the right balance of rest and relaxation mixed with intense emotional and physical activity.Ā
The Karen Hill Tribe are kind and welcoming. There seems to be the right balance of being able to sit and watch, while enjoying delicious food and beverages and having more sensory involvement if you want to.
The Heart of Chai Lai Orchid
Beyond the elephants and scenery, what really makes Chai Lai Orchid stand out is its mission. Many of the staff are women from Myanmar who have fled trafficking and exploitation. The resort gives them safe employment, training, and a dignified path forward.Ā
Every baht spent here supports both the animals and the community.
The accommodation we had was simple but exactly what you would want in an eco-resort.
We stayed in River Room 3, which is in an outstanding location. Just above the river, it’s a bamboo hut with open ceilings to allow the breeze to come through. The river is LOUD, but what a way to sleep.
The food we were served at breakfast was incredible. From scrambled eggs in banana leaves, to spicy pork and rice, with pancakes and fruit.Ā
It was more than enough to keep us going through the day.
Final Thoughts
Staying at Chai Lai Orchid was one of the most emotional and rewarding experiences weāve ever had. If youāre looking for an ethical elephant sanctuary in Thailand that also supports meaningful social change, this place is for you.
Watch the video of our stay here:
Staying with Elephants
š§” STAYING WITH ELEPHANTS ā Our Experience at Chai Lai Orchid, Thailand š¹šĀ
We travelled to northern Thailand to find an elephant sanctuary that truly put the animals first ā no shows, no rides, no chains. What we discovered at Chai Lai Orchid was more than an eco-resortā¦ it was a deeply emotional experience that challenged how we connect with nature.Ā
š Watch as we hand-feed elephants at dawn, hike into the jungle, swim beneath waterfalls, and learn from local guides and rescued communities. From crying on camera to sharing meals with the mahouts and making herbal medicine balls for the elephants, this was unlike any travel story weāve told before.Ā
š Based near Doi Inthanon National Park, Chai Lai Orchid offers ethical elephant tourism that supports women escaping exploitation and prioritises the well-being of the herd.Ā
š” Why We Made This Film: We wanted to see elephants in a place where they were free to roam, eat, bathe, and be themselves ā not perform. We also wanted to highlight an organisation supporting local women and providing a safe home, education and empowerment for marginalised women and a safe haven from human trafficking too.
Ā š§ Our Stay at a Glance:Ā
ā¢ šļø 1 night in a bamboo hut by the riverĀ
ā¢ š Elephant feeding at sunriseĀ
ā¢Ā Ā š„¾ Jungle trekking & waterfall swimĀ
ā¢ š² Traditional bamboo-cooked BBQ lunchĀ
ā¢ š§” Mud baths & medicine balls for the herdĀ
ā¢ šæ Visit to local homestay with views over the sanctuaryĀ
ā¢ š Bamboo rafting
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