Transport
Yes. We offer a free transfer service to/from hotels and most other places of accommodation within a 5km radius of Chiang Mai’s Old City.
Visitors requiring transport from locations outside this area will incur a small transport surcharge.
We recommend staying in Chiang Mai the night prior to your visit to Elephant Jungle Sanctuary. Planes, buses, and trains are often delayed, and we are unable to wait for you outside of your assigned pick up time. If you wish to be dropped off at the airport or another location following your visit, please inform us of this at least 24 hours prior to your visit. Please note that we cannot offer you priority treatment, and all guests will be dropped off in the most efficient order possible.
No. Unfortunately it is not possible to arrange your own transportation to Elephant Jungle Sanctuary Chiang Mai, even if you have booked a visit with us. As many of our locations are very far from the city, and utilise unmarked or unpaved roads, a specialised vehicle with a professional driver who knows the routes is essential to ensure safety and timely arrival/departure. We offer a free transfer service, and can collect you directly from your place of accommodation in Chiang Mai.
On average, it takes approximately 1.5 hours to reach the Sanctuary from downtown Chiang Mai. Time taken may vary depending on which location you visit, as well as variables such as traffic, weather, and current road conditions. We offer visitors a short break around halfway to the Sanctuary, where food, refreshments, and bathrooms are available.
For the majority of the drive to Elephant Jungle Sanctuary, we use paved public roads, however the final portion of the drive to each of our locations includes unpaved road conditions. As some of the roads we use can be quite mountainous and winding, we recommend bringing medication if you are prone to motion sickness.
Unless otherwise specified, EJS uses comfortable, spacious, air-conditioned vans driven by professional drivers.
Bookings & Payment
Bookings must be made at least 24 hours before the assigned pick up time for your visit, and confirmed by Elephant Jungle Sanctuary a minimum of 12 hours prior to the aforementioned time. Bookings requested on the same day as your desired visit will not be accepted. In order to avoid disappointment, we recommend booking as early as possible, particularly if you wish to visit during times of increased tourism in Chiang Mai, such as festival periods.
Yes. There are no fees for this, but please inform us at least 24 hours in advance. Please note that the date of your visit may not be changed due to poor weather conditions, and Elephant Jungle Sanctuary will remain operational despite rain and other mild weather conditions.
Yes. After you submit a booking request, we will inform you of the deposit amount necessary to secure your booking, and advise you of the payment methods available. Your remaining balance can be paid on the day of your visit to EJS. Please note that all deposit payments are non-refundable.
No. We do not accept booking requests made on any of our social media pages. For all booking enquiries, please contact us directly via phone, email, our website, or in person at our Chiang Mai office.
Booking cancellations made more than 48 hours before the designated visit start time are eligible for a full refund.
A partial refund of 50% is applicable for cancellations made between 24 and 48 hours prior to the designated visit start time.
No refunds shall be given in the case of a visitor ‘No Show’ or for bookings cancelled or amended less than 24 hours prior to the designated visit start time.
I have made a booking and paid my deposit. How can I pay my remaining balance?
You can pay the remaining balance for your booking by making a payment to our PayPal account prior to your visit date, or pay via cash or credit card upon arrival at Elephant Jungle Sanctuary. Please note that payment via credit card may incur a small surcharge.
Yes. We have credit card facilities at the EJS Chiang Mai office, and our drivers are also equipped with portable credit card terminals. Please note that payment via credit card may incur a small surcharge.
Yes. We offer special rates for children (4-10 years) and infants (0-3 years). Child/infant rates may be found in the ‘Price’ section on each program page in the ‘Chiang Mai’ section of our website.
To comply with insurance policy regulations, visitor ages must be reported accurately. Elephant Jungle Sanctuary reserves the right to request proof of age for bookings including children/infants prior to the commencement of the visit, during the check-in process, and throughout the duration of the visit experience.
For all media enquiries, or if you wish to book a visit for a group of 10 or more people, please email us directly at [email protected] to discuss discounted pricing.
I have already made a booking. Is it too late to change my program type (e.g. Morning Visit/Afternoon Visit/Full Day/Overnight/'Walk With Elephants' Experience)?
You are welcome to change your booked visit program, provided you inform us at least 24 hours prior to the date of your visit. Please contact us via email at [email protected] to discuss your desired changes, and we will inform you of any difference in price.
Locations & Elephants
At the present time, there are six Elephant Jungle Sanctuary locations in Chiang Mai. Elephant Jungle Sanctuary also has operational locations in Phuket, Pattaya, and Koh Samui.
The location you visit will largely be determined by which program you choose (e.g. Half Day/Full Day/Overnight/One Day Walk), the number of visitors on the date of your visit, and where your place of accommodation is located.
However, if you wish to visit a specific Elephant Jungle Sanctuary location (for example, if you have visited that location previously, or it has been recommended by a friend), please inform us in advance, and we will endeavour to accommodate your request.
The number of elephants differs for each location. Currently, each of our locations has a minimum herd size of at least 4 elephants. Visitor group sizes for each of our programs are structured around the number of elephants at each location to ensure that our elephants are not overwhelmed, as well as to ensure visitor satisfaction and safety.
Yes. The the itinerary and activities for each program remain the same at each location in Chiang Mai.
While we currently care for infant elephants at several of our locations, we cannot guarantee that you will get the opportunity to see one.
Is there a Karen hill-tribe village at each Elephant Jungle Sanctuary location?
No. While the original Elephant Jungle Sanctuary location was founded near a Karen village, some of our subsequently opened locations are quite remote, and we cannot guarantee that you will visit a Karen village. However, many of our staff are members of Karen hill-tribe communities, and can answer any questions you may have about their unique culture. Furthermore, you will not see or meet any Kayan, or “Long-Neck Karen” people, as they are a subgroup of Red Karen (Karenni) people, and do not reside near any Elephant Jungle Sanctuary location.
Special Requirements
Yes. All dietary requirements and restrictions can be accommodated. If you are vegetarian or vegan, have any kind of food allergy, or any other specific dietary requirements, please advise us of this prior to the day of your visit.
Yes. Guests who are pregnant, wheelchair bound, have mobility difficulties, or suffer from any other relevant pre-existing condition are required to inform Elephant Jungle Sanctuary of their condition prior to visiting. Depending on the specific circumstances, visitors with medical conditions may need to sign a waiver stating that they understand that their health condition is appropriately robust to allow safe participation in a tour involving large animals.
Yes. All ages are welcome at EJS. Please note that, to ensure the safety of young children and infants, close parental supervision is essential during any interaction with elephants. We offer discounted rates for children and infants. Please refer to each program page (e.g. ‘Afternoon Visit’) in the ‘Chiang Mai’ section of our website for specific pricing details.
What fitness level is needed to visit Elephant Jungle Sanctuary? Can I visit if I have mobility issues?
All fitness levels are welcomed at Elephant Jungle Sanctuary, however some of our locations and visit programs (such as our Walk With Elephants experience) require a moderate hiking ability. If you have mobility issues, please inform us of this prior to your visit, and we will ensure that you visit a location suited to your needs. You will never be forced to do anything you feel uncomfortable doing. Please note that unfortunately, no EJS Chiang Mai locations are currently wheelchair accessible.
You are welcome to bring a day pack or small bag. If you wish to bring a suitcase or any additional luggage, please inform us of this prior to your visit. Alternatively, you may store your luggage at the Elephant Jungle Sanctuary Chiang Mai office for the duration of your visit.
General Enquiries
All visitors to Elephant Jungle Sanctuary are covered by our insurance policy, however we highly recommend that you obtain personal travel/medical insurance prior to your arrival in Thailand.
No special vaccinations are needed to interact with elephants at any of our locations. However, detailed health information and a list of recommended vaccinations for travel in Thailand can be found at:
https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none/thailand
We recommend consulting your GP or specialist travel doctor for up-to-date medical advice prior to the commencement of your trip.
No. Participation in these activities during your visit is encouraged, but by no means mandatory, and you will never be forced to do anything which makes you uncomfortable.
All of our guides speak fluent English and Thai.
If the program you have booked includes a meal, you will be provided with buffet-style traditional Thai food, including vegetarian options. All dietary restrictions can be accommodated, provided we are informed of them prior to your visit. Drinking water will also be provided free of charge, and other beverages will be available for purchase.
There is limited mobile network service, and we currently do not have WiFi at any of our locations.
Maximum group capacity varies depending on the program you choose, and which location you visit. The number of people in your group will also depend on factors such as the infrastructure available, and the number of elephants at the location you visit, as well as the time of year. Our most exclusive package is our ‘One Day Walk with Elephants’ program, which is strictly limited to a maximum of 10 people per group.
Generally, we recommend that all visitors bring the following on the day of their visit: Bathing suit, Change of clothes, Walking shoes, Hat, Sunscreen, Insect repellent, Camera (optional), and Personal medication (if required). Comprehensive ‘What to Bring’ lists can be found on each program page.
All personal details provided by customers are used for contact and booking (and, if necessary, insurance) purposes only. Elephant Jungle Sanctuary will never share your personal information (including, but not limited to, your name, email address, or phone number) with a 3rd party for any reason without your express permission, unless required by law. For this reason, please do not contact Elephant Jungle Sanctuary to request the details of fellow visitors, as we are unable to provide you with this information.
As stated in our Privacy Policy (see above), we are unable to provide you with the contact details of any of our visitors. If you wish to share photos or otherwise stay in contact with any of your fellow guests, please ensure that you exchange contact details prior to leaving Elephant Jungle Sanctuary.
I left some of my belongings (shoes, towel, phone, hat, camera, etc.) at Elephant Jungle Sanctuary or in one of your vehicles after my visit. Can you help me?
If you have forgotten anything during your visit, please contact the EJS Chiang Mai office by phone as soon as possible. We will endeavor to locate the item/s and return them to you. However, Elephant Jungle Sanctuary accepts no responsibility for any items lost, damaged, or forgotten on our premises. We advise all visitors to thoroughly check their possessions prior to leaving Elephant Jungle Sanctuary at the conclusion of their visit.
We welcome you to leave a review, feedback, and suggestions on the Elephant Jungle Sanctuary Chiang Mai Facebook or Tripadvisor pages.
Photos & Media
May I bring a camera/video camera/GoPro to Elephant Jungle Sanctuary?
You are welcome to bring a camera or other personal photographic equipment with you on your visit. However, unless your device is waterproof, we recommend that you do not use it during the mud activity or while bathing in the river. Elephant Jungle Sanctuary accepts no responsibility for any device or equipment lost or damaged at any of our locations. Please note that drones may not be used at any Elephant Jungle Sanctuary location.
I am a blogger, vlogger, writer, photographer, filmmaker, or other content creator, and I would like to enquire about visiting Elephant Jungle Sanctuary in a professional capacity.
For all EJS Chiang Mai media enquiries, please email us directly at [email protected]
Yes. We offer a photography service at no extra charge. One of our professional photographers will accompany your group for the duration of your visit, and we will upload the photos taken by them to our EJS Chiang Mai Facebook page as soon as possible.
The link to your photos will generally be uploaded to our Facebook page within one (1) week from the date of your visit. We endeavor to upload albums as soon as possible after the photos are taken, however delays may occur. Please do not be concerned if photos from our other locations (or albums from subsequent days at the location you visited) are uploaded prior to the photos of your visit.
Visit the Elephant Jungle Sanctuary Chiang Mai Facebook page and scroll down until you find a post labelled with the date and program name (e.g. “Half Day Morning”) of your visit.
Follow the link in the post to navigate to the album on Dropbox, where you may view and download your photos. Please note that you do not need a Facebook or Dropbox account to follow these steps.
If you have followed the instructions above without success, and you have allowed at least one (1) week for the photos to be uploaded, please contact Elephant Jungle Sanctuary Chiang Mai via Facebook message, and we will attempt to assist you to locate your photos. If you contact us regarding your photos, your patience, courtesy, and respect is appreciated. Excessive rudeness, offensive language, aggression, threats, or hate speech directed toward Elephant Jungle Sanctuary or any Elephant Jungle Sanctuary staff member/s will not be tolerated, and any individuals in violation of this policy will be permanently banned from our Facebook page.
Please note: Unfortunately, on rare occasions, misplaced SD cards, data corruption, hardware failure, or human error may lead to photo albums being mislabeled, partially uploaded, or lost completely. We will do everything in our power to recover your photos, however in the event that we are not able to offer you the photos taken by our professional photographer of your visit, we ask for your understanding.
After following the steps outlined in the guide above, I have not been able to locate my photos. Can you help me find them?
Yes. Please send a request for assistance directly to the EJS Chiang Mai Facebook page via direct message. Kindly include the date on which you visited (DD/MM/YY), your program (Half Day Morning/Half Day Afternoon/Walk With Elephants/etc.), and details of the location you visited (Camp 1, Camp 2, Camp 3, etc.). If you are unsure of which location you visited, please provide us with additional information which may assist us with finding your photos, such as your guides’ names, the number of elephants, or a photo of the location.
After finding and clicking the link to the album from your visit on the EJS Chiang Mai Facebook page, you will be directed to Dropbox. To download all of the photos in the album, simply click the ‘Download’ button below the album title, and the album will begin downloading to your device. If you would prefer to download only some of the photos in the album, you can simply click on each photo individually, and click the “Download” button in the top left of the screen while the photo preview is open.
Yes. Visitor photos remain online for three months (90 days) from the visit date, after which time they are deleted permanently due to storage limitations, and the Dropbox link will cease to work. We recommend that you download the photos from your visit as soon as possible and create a separate backup.
I dislike one or more photos of myself in the photo album from my visit. Can you please remove them?
Yes. We will absolutely remove any photos of you that you are not comfortable with. Please take note of the filename/s (e.g. “DSC_2024.jpg”) of the specific photo/s in the Dropbox album, then send a message including this to the Elephant Jungle Sanctuary Chiang Mai Facebook account, and we will remove the image/s as soon as possible.
May I use a photo from my visit as my profile picture or share it on social media?
Yes. You are free to use any of the images of your visit taken by our professional photographer. Please note, however, that these images are provided for personal use only, and are not to be used for commercial purposes without the prior express written consent of Elephant Jungle Sanctuary.
The photos of my visit were never uploaded. Am I entitled to a full or partial refund?
No. We provide a professional photographer as a free additional service, in an attempt to enhance the experience of our guests, particularly those without access to waterproof cameras. This service is not included in the price of a visit to Elephant Jungle Sanctuary. Our organisation offers visitors a chance to interact naturally with elephants, and we are not a personal photography service. Elephant Jungle Sanctuary staff will do everything in their power to assist you in finding your photos, and we will never maliciously withhold photos from any guest. However, occasionally things do go awry, and if we are unable to provide the photos from your visit for any reason, we apologise and thank you for your understanding.
Overnight Program
Overnight visitors will stay in resort-style shared accommodation, with basic bedding, pedestal fans, and electrical outlets. Bathrooms and showers are available in every room (Please note that hot water may not be available).
All bedding is provided, but you are responsible for supplying your own towel and toiletries.
Free time will be provided before and after dinner. This time may be spent socialising, relaxing, exploring the local area, etc.
Given the remote location of Elephant Jungle Sanctuary, facilities and amenities are limited, however electrical outlets will be available for your use. We do not currently have WiFi, and mobile phone service is limited or unavailable in many areas. Hot water will most likely be unavailable during your visit, though our locations are all equipped with showers and Western-style toilets.
We currently do not offer laundry services.
