Elephant sanctuary offering options to stay for one day or for weeks at a time. Dogs available for adoption and free roam the land, as well as cats, elephants, cows and buffalo. Guests and tourists are served Thai vegetarian food all-you-can-eat style. Office is located in Chiang Mai. Reported fully vegan December 2023. Open Mon-Sat 9:00am-5:00pm. Closed Sun.
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209/2 Sridom, Ruam Chai Alley, Mae Taeng, Chiang Mai, Thailand, 50100
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Last update on 20 Feb 2024 by BarakCohen
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Added by Skyzieboo on 02 Nov 2017
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19 Reviews
First Review by karenr
tfish
Points +3502
Gigantic vegan buffet…and elephants! - Edit
We did a day trip to the sanctuary and assumed there would be vegan food but did not realize the sheer scale of the fully vegan all-you-can-eat buffet. Was hard to even decide what to get because there were so many delicious options. Excellent and filling lunch, while watching the elephants! (Who by the way seem to be exceptionally well cared for)
Read moreGuest
food4ricky
Points +1545
A truly magical place, with love for the elephants (and really good food!!) - Edit
I've been volunteering for a week in January. I looked forward to every meal, because the food was really good! Freshly prepared by the friendly and funny kitchen staff: a Thai buffet where you make your own plate of food. With a lot of variation during the week, I didn't have the same food everyday. But even if that was so, I wouldn't have minded.
Read moreCoffee is also really good.
The place itself is run with love. If you want to learn more about elephants, their natural behaviour and how elephants have been mistreated and still are mistreated in Thailand and other neighbouring countries, this is the place.
Don't expect to touch an elephant. At this place it's strictly forbidden for visitors (which you still are as a weekly volunteer) to touch the elephants. And you wille learn why you really shouldn't want to touch an elephant. For cuddles, there are tons of willing dogs and cats happy to cuddle with you.
Truly magical place!
Updated from previous review on 2025-02-11
Guest
discovraiment
Points +118
Ethical elephant sanctuary - Edit
We did a half day (afternoon) tour. Staff was very very respectful and loving towards the elephants. Would definitely recommend visiting this sanctuary. To top it off they had a really really good vegan buffet!
Read morePros: Wellbeing of the elephants top priority, Very loving and professional staff, Amazing vegan buffet
Guest
nes_
Points +125
Skywalk at Elephant Nature Park - Edit
observe the animals up close but they will have their own mahouts and there will be no touching at all 💕 #Veganuary
Read morePros: Vegan buffet, Vegan café
Guest
Purposely_Vegan
Points +1913
Amazing experience run by a brilliant group of people! - Edit
We visited at the end of December 2024 and found this to be a brilliant animal sanctuary which is doing amazing work for Elephants and other animals. It’s a place that seems to be continually improving and addressing concerns that visitors and volunteers have with a passion of doing what is best for the animals.
Read moreWe visited about a month after the area had a disastrous flash flood which destroyed much of the park and sadly led to the immediate death of 2 of their elephants. The pain of this flood and loss was clearly still having a big impact on all the full time employees.
Our guides were very knowledgeable about all the elephants that we saw and told us about the horrific conditions they had all been subjected to before their arrival at ENP. Each elephant has a full time handler who are the only people allowed to interact with the elephants.
They have many other animals on the park. Around 1000 dogs, 2000 cats, water buffalo and pigs as well. All have been rescued and have been given a better life at this park.
The food was all 100% vegan now and was a delicious buffet.
You can volunteer at this place which is definitely something we will consider for a future visit.
Guest
thetofutravellers
Points +5369
Most famous sanctuary but different than I expected - Edit
I first visited ENP in 2014, but I took part in an activity off the main park and only visited the main premises for a very short time. This time I visited the main park and also the skywalk. While I absolutely respect ENP for what they do and visiting this park is a million times better than riding an elephant, I was still a bit confused by some aspects. I second the review written by TheDiplomat below.
Read moreWe came a lot closer to some of the elephants than I expected, and the guide even encouraged the visitors to touch some of them. She also encouraged people to have their photos taken in front of the elephants, and the tour seemed almost to be about the photos and not about learning about the elephants or animal welfare. In general, the guide did not seem knowledgeable and was not really able to answer questions. She even made jokes to the children about taking home an elephant to keep it. While it is only a joke, I still wonder about the mindset.
I must say that the visit was very different from what I thought it would be. Although all in all the work done there is impressive and I do not want to diminish the park’s achievements, it seems that it is more and more working on entertaining masses of tourists instead of steering towards even better conditions for the elephants. In comparison, we visited WFFT close to Hua Hin at a later date and it was much more educational and altogether a more respectful visit.
Regarding the food, it was ok, but I was quite disappointed after reading all the reviews here. I have had much better Thai food many times. Also many dishes were vegetarian and not vegan, which was clearly marked.
- Visited in July 2024 -
Updated from previous review on 2024-10-05
Guest
KLea
Points +1997
Magical experience - Edit
We wanted to see elephants in Thailand but having read about the exploitation of animals there, were cautious about what to do.
Read moreElephant Nature Park was recommended on several vegan social groups and with the website stating it was a hands-off experience with elephants rescued from exploitative practices, so used to humans, we booked to go. We're so glad we did.
Each elephant has a "handler" who gets to know them individually. The guide was familiar with the elephants and the temperaments of each, so keeping well back from those that prefer space from humans and taking photos of the visitors in front of the elephants that are comfortable. The elephants appeared to be relaxed, although some of the older elephants are clearly so used to humans using them that they seem almost confused that we're not all trying to climb on them or touch them.
Some elephants had injuries from landmines or fire, which would make living in the wild almost impossible for them.
Sadly, some had tumours, thought to be caused by repeated use of bull hooks. The sanctuary can do little other than provide a comfortable space for them to live out what life they have left.
As is happening the world over for rescuers, there is more need than resources allow. This sanctuary depends on volunteers to help with the many jobs, like food prep - cutting away the tough outer skin on watermelons and pumpkins because the elderly elephants can't chew through them.
As a customer, I can confirm we had a delicious buffet lunch, with far more options than we could reasonably have eaten!
Guest
simplysh4ns
Points +1962
Mind-blowing experience - Edit
Volunteered for a week here and it was incredible. Volunteers get a vegan breakfast, lunch and dinner buffet every day. Foods at breakfast are usually toast, cereal and some hot food, at lunch usually rice, noodle and curry dishes with some chips and spring rolls, dinners are similar usually with a theme night like pizza, burgers or pasta.
Read moreThe living areas are really clean and modern, usually two people to a room each with an en-suite and bed with a mosquito net.
Activities may include unloading trucks, walking dogs, clearing elephant poop, cutting grass, walks and talks on elephant domestication and how the park helps them to recover after the trauma they go through.
Super friendly people and a hands-off sanctuary always seeking to make their practices more ethical. Honestly couldn’t find a fault in the experience and would gladly return.
Guest
Hippienoscious
Points +403
No words to describe - Edit
This is one of those experiences that is very hard to describe with words, you have to be there, you have to see for yourself, and you have to feel it. I booked to stay there overnight and I’m so happy I did. This is one of the few, truly ethical places for animals and what they do for them here is unbelievable. It’s a sanctuary not only for elephants, but for cats, dogs, pigs, water buffalos and many other animals. All the food here is vegan. And all the staff love the animals and dedicate their hard work to serve their welfare and this is a glimpse of how the world should be for them. I’m so thankful for this incredible experience. I hope one day I can come back and contribute more. Everything about it is truly inspiring 💜
Read morePros: Everything
Cons: Nothing
Guest
Veganforthewin
Points +3346
Amazing experience - Edit
Letk the owner is amazing. They really treat the elephants well. No riding(very bad for the elephants) and give them space.
Read moreFood was fantastic. Buffet style but a proper Thai experience.
Worth the money!
Guest
EthanBakerTravels
Points +942
Amazing food!! - Edit
Hope it was all vegan, kept being told vegetarian by some, but says vegan on the website.
Read moreCha-Em
I was also here recently! The food itself seemed to be fully vegan, however I did notice several condiments that contained egg, dairy and even fish 😣👎
Read moreEthanBakerTravels
Shit no way??? It says all food is fully vegan online. I didn’t notice any fish, but thought maybe the noodles were egg?? I was assured it was at least vegetarian:(
Read moreCha-Em
Often Thais mean “pure vegetarian” so there’s a good chance the buffet food was vegan. The fish was in Lea & Perrins Worcestershire sauce and they also offered egg mayo-based condiments. I’ve emailed them about it!
Read moreEthanBakerTravels
Ahhhh okay, yes I didn’t notice the condiments. Can imagine those got overlooked😒- good job :)
Read moreGuest
sj_the_vegan
Points +405
Best food on Chiang Mai whilst supporting ethical sanctuary - Edit
As this is a food app I’ll start with my review of that which can’t be anything but 5 stars. The entirely vegan buffet has so many dishes to try you can’t go away without a plate full of dishes to enjoy. I felt in my element not having to worry about ingredients for once. The amount of animals this will save by making guests, volunteers and staff eat vegan is amazing and commendable.
Read moreThe sanctuary is one of the most if not the most ethical sanctuary in Chiang Mai. There’s no riding or bathing and although you walk round close to the elephants they are free to wander around the land and even go into and cross over the river.
An absolutely amazing place all round.
Pros: Entirely vegan , Amazing choice , Book direct through website
Guest
gabandtonic
Points +3018
Incredible ethical elephant sanctuary - Edit
I was really impressed by both their programming and tourism model. Visiting here is one of the best days of my life- I am so grateful to ENP for this place.
Read moreGuest
VeggieNB1
Points +63
This was the best vegan food in Chang Mai - Edit
We’ve been eating vegan/vegetarian food all around Thailand, but the buffet that they had here was the most extensive and tasty. We didn’t have any idea that it was all vegan until someone told us that.
Read morePros: It was a very extensive vegan Buffet, So tasty!
Cons: It was outside the city , Lots of flies as it was outdoors
Guest
MattiasE
Points +4264
Increible vegan buffé - Edit
I stayed her for two weeks and ate all vegan buffé here three times every day. Fantastic food and the view over the elephants are wonderful! 🐘❤️
Read moreGuest
TheDiplomat
Points +1024
Well-run sanctuary with a few challenges - Edit
Generally a very positive experience on the full day visit. I have major reservations about any purported claims of any sanctuary, ethical questions about visiting, and deep anger about animal tourism in Thailand on the whole. I decided to go in an effort to better understand what’s happening, especially in border areas with Myanmar. From what I can tell, the Elephant Nature park is the best sanctuary in the country. It clearly has a strong commitment to animal welfare and ethical principles. But I worry that more should be done, especially as there were a few concerning signs that the facility is expanding post COVID with a clear goal of attracting more visitors. Efforts did not appear to be working to provide the elephants more space, but to cordon off more spaces for new arrivals and creat better viewing opportunities. Hopefully, some of the improvements will be for better treatment, and improve services and support to the elephants in its care. Although, this wasn’t obvious. Potentially even creating more separation between guests and the elephants, which was closer than I had expected or appreciated when going into it today. Certainly, I have no real knowledge in sanctuary management, including and especially for elephants. Maybe I’m a bit misinformed about best practices or maybe I’m reacting more to the horrific condition unto which most elephants are treated in SE Asia and arrive at the sanctuary. We did get a good sense of that over the course of the day. Nevertheless, I still struggled with my concerns today because not all of my questions were fully addressed. Our guide for the day was nice and pleasant, but unable to answer many questions. We also went right into the tour (after the 1:15 minute drive from Chiang Mai) with little introduction to the facility. Our guide had no ability to speak to elephant welfare generally in Thailand or the challenges for wild populations. Spent the majority of the day walking around the main area of the property approaching and observing the elephants under the care of their caretakers. Many of the elephants were disabled after recovering from very brutal treatment prior to coming to the sanctuary. Walked away with mixed feelings, but generally happy that the sanctuary seems to be taking good care of the 110 or so elephants under their care. Lunch was buffet and very nice. Weather was warm. If you do decide to come, make sure to bring a hat and other sun protection.
Read moreBrookeB
Very helpful review, thank you
Read moreGuest
blacknroses
Points +6778
Best sanctuary for elephants - Edit
You have to do a volunteer week. It‘s totally amazing!! You clean the park, prepare elephant food and walk with them. You get a vegan buffet styled breakfast, lunch and dinner. The best thing in Thailand and an amazing once in a lifetime experience!!!
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2022-08-22
Guest
oskeewowwow
Points +1520
Ethical Recovery of Elephants on Large Plot of Land - Edit
Beautiful large open space where 82+ elephants that have been rescued from logging and riding camps or even land mine accidents are recovering from their past.
Read moreThe model allows eco conscious tourists to meet elephants on the elephant's terms. There are no hooks, ropes, chains, riding, or any tools of abuse. The elephants are watched by local Thai caretakers nearly all day. Elephants that are not ready to meet people or other elephants are kept in a large space where they can hopefully recover after a few years.
Tourists can sign up for a day trip to meet the elephants or a week long volunteer program to assist with the upkeep of the large property. This place is a model for ethical human / animal interaction. Reservations must be made well in advance for the day trips.
Also the massive lunch buffet is ALL VEGAN!!!!
Pros: Ethical, Huge all vegan lunch buffet, Large open spaces for the elephants
Cons: Must book a day trip well in advance
Guest
karenr
Points +43
excellent ethical place to meet elephants - Edit
We did the overnight stay which requires booking a few months in advance. We were served completely vegan food, buffet style, and there were many choices. The elephants at the park are recovering from past physical and emotional trauma but it was eye opening to see. I highly recommend it.
Read morePros: lots of vegan options, ethical tourism
Guest
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