I chose Chai Lai Orchid Elephant Sanctuary because you are able to stay in the jungle surrounded by these big, beautiful mammals as they walk around the area. Every morning, they come to your room to enjoy many bananas for breakfast and then continue wandering around the property. I didn’t want to do a day trip because I feel like you don’t get to experience the full magic of this experience. Another reason why I wanted to stay at Chai Lai Orchid Elephant Sanctuary is that it’s more than just a Elephant rescue centre, their charity Daughters Rising combats exploitation and trafficking by empowering the local women in the village to rise above poverty and help their communities. This charity helps women with safe housing, education, employment, and gives women opportunities instead of oppression.
First Impressions of Chai Lai Orchid Elephant Sanctuary
As soon as we drove in, the Elephants were out the front enjoying their stacks of bamboo, it was a beautiful welcome. We arrived before our check-in time, so we sat at the restaurant and enjoyed lunch and a refreshing drink. We went for a walk and admired the three Elephants that were living up the top of the property, a beautiful big mumma, a teenage sister and a 7-month-old baby Elephant. The baby “Bamboo” enjoyed ripping out the hose and having a nice little shower, getting very muddy and having a great time!
Once we were able to check into our room, we didn’t realise how close all the rooms were to each other. In the photos, it looked like they were quite private and spaced out. But it turns out that they were not in fact, our room was also very close to the restuarant which was okay in the end, but it doesn’t mean that everyone at the restaurant could see us relaxing on our balcony. The rooms themselves were basic but functional. Definitely a jungle type of stay, which I quite enjoyed.
The atmosphere in the early morning and afternoon/ evenings was very relaxing. During the day, they have a lot of day visitors, and it can get quite busy with so many people around. The staff were so lovely and helpful during our entire stay, and the food was absolutely delicious. Probably the best food I had in all of Thailand. You must get a coconut shake if you go. I still dream of these.
First Impression of the Ethical Practices at Chai Lai Orchid Elephant Sanctuary
Truth be told, I am always somewhat sceptical of “Ethical Sanctuaries” and whether they really follow ethical values when it comes to animals and tourism. Personally, I would never go to a place where you can get photos with tigers or lions, as most of these animals are not correctly looked after and are somewhat drugged. From my first impressions of Chai Lai Orchid Elephant Sanctuary, I could tell that the animals were well looked after and very loved. The mother was once used for humans riding on her back, as most elephants are now domesticated, and there isn’t enough land to release them back into the wild. These sanctuaries provide them with a safe place to live with an abundance of food.
The Experience at Chai Lai Orchid Elephant Sanctuary: What Your Visit Included
Meeting the elephants
Whether you choose to stay on the mountain or by the river will depend on which Elephants you’ll be feeding and spending most of your time observing. The Elephants have an area that’s for them to spend time, and guests are more than welcome to stay and watch them for as long as they like. It’s beautiful just being able to be in the presence of these elephants. Within the Sanctuary, there are 22 rescued elephants, mostly female, that call Chai Lai Orchid elephant sanctuary home.
Feeding session
If you are a guest staying in the accommodation at Chai Lai, every morning the Elephants will come to your room at the time you would like (roughly) to have breakfast with them. Included in your stay is a basket of bananas every morning to feed to the Elephants and it’s possible to buy more baskets the night before to have more time with them in the morning.
They also do a feeding time at the restaurant with the elephants from around 3 pm and sometimes until 5 pm. This is possible for a few of the day guests to enjoy, as well as the guests staying at the sanctuary.
Walking with the elephants
You can explore the surroundings of the property and watch the elephants all day if you really want to. There are options to book a half day with the elephants. This includes going on a walk through the jungle with them if they feel like it. It’s a beautiful way to be at one with the Elephants in a natural environment.
Bathing or observing elephants in the river
If you choose to stay at the riverside accommodation, you can see Elephants enjoying the water or chilling by the water’s edge at most times of the day. If you stay up on the mountain, you can walk down to the river and watch the elephants, too. However, bathing with the elephants and washing them is included in the half-day package with the elephants. Depending on the time of year, the river can be overflowing, so it might be too dangerous to enter or to actually bathe the elephants.
Extra activities provided by the sanctuary
There are plenty of day trips you can take from the sanctuary, including waterfall guided hikes, more activities with the elephants, Kayan village tour, medical plant educational tour, street food tour and Doi Inthanon National Park day tour. These all cost extra but are all reasonably priced.
Elephant Welfare & Ethical Practices at Chai Lai Orchid Elephant Sanctuary
No riding policy
Many Riding Elephant organisations still exist in Thailand, but at Chai Lai, they have a no-riding policy. Riding an Elephant can cause physical harm and Psychological Trauma to the Elephant. There is also a method believed to be used called “the crush” method. This is where it is meant to make elephants docile enough to be ridden. They undergo a brutal process, often called phajaan or “the crush”. This involves separating young elephants from their mothers, confining them in small spaces, and inflicting severe pain, starvation, and sleep deprivation. This causes their spirit to be broken, and they become fearful of humans.
How elephants are cared for
Each Elephant has their own caretaker from the local village who spends 24 hours a day with the Elephants. Making sure they have enough food and enrichment for their well-being. They go on multiple walks throughout the day in the jungle and have time away from the guests to chill out and relax.
Education provided to visitors
After spending a few days at Chai Lai Orchid Elephant Sanctuary, I became so much more educated about Elephants and the understanding of the animal tourism industry. Almost all the Elephants in Thailand are now domesticated and unable to be returned to the wild. As there isn’t enough wild land for them. These sanctuaries are the safest spaces for Elephants as they don’t get into conflict with the local farmers, and they aren’t used for “fun rides” for humans.
Why the sanctuary stands out compared to others
I found Chai Lai Orchid Elephant Sanctuary to be one of the best for the Elephants and for the local community. They provide safe and relaxing environments for the elephants. As well as running a charity for the women of the Karan village. It is one of only a small group of sanctuaries that you can actually stay at instead of doing day trips, and allows for deeper immersion into the traditional life
The Photography Opportunities at Chai Lai Orchid Elephant Sanctuary
There is so much beauty at Chai Lai Orchid to photograph, and I am not just talking about the Elephants. Being high in the mountains and within the clouds offers beautiful sunsets and sunrises to capture. Waterfalls nearby offer stunning shots for slow shutter photography, and of course, capturing the elephants is magical.
If you want to have professional photos with the elephants, they do have an on-site photographer (packages here) that you can book and enjoy stunning photos of you and the elephants.
Early morning and late afternoon are best for capturing stunning photos, as the lighting is wonderful at these times. Also, there won’t be any day guests and most guests will still be sleeping or enjoying the restaurant.
Practical Information for Visitors at Chai Lai Orchid Elephant Sanctuary
Location & how to get there
Chai Lai Orchid is located 1 hour and 20 minutes from Chiang Mai. It’s best to organise a driver through the company; it is a little more expensive, but it’s worth it if you are coming straight from the airport. If you have been in the city for a little while, it could be possible to use Grab to order a car, or if you have made friends with a local driver, you could ask them.
What to bring
Make sure you pack like you are going to the jungle, a rain jacket, enclosed shoes, mosquito spray, warm clothes, but also loose lightweight clothing for hot days. A camera and excitement for spending time with the Elephants.
Cost & types of packages
Accommodation prices start from THB 1,800.00 ( $85 AUD/ $57 USD), day trips start from 2500 THB ($118 AUD/ $80 USD)
Booking tips
Ideally, you want to book a year in advance if you want one of the more popular spacious rooms. It is a very popular destination and books out fast. Being organised and booking ahead of time is a must.
Ideal time of year to visit
The best time to visit this part of Thailand is during the Cool & Dry Season (November to February). However, I visited during the first week of November, and it was pouring rain. It was also the busiest season to travel there, as this is when they hold the Yi Peng festival.
Pros & Cons of Chai Lai Orchid Elephant Sanctuary
Pros:
- A beautiful Sanctuary that treats Elephants with so much love and care.
- A wonderful place for a great escape and relaxation
- Perfect for Photographers, families, solo travellers, couples!
- Food and drinks are delicious and at good prices.
- Wifi works well if you need to work
Cons:
- Accommodation is basic and can get hot in the rooms, as there are only fans.
- No other restaurants or places to grab food, make sure you bring snacks
- During the day, it can get very busy with day guests, making it a little less relaxing
Overall, I would definitely stay at Chai Lai Orchid again. However, I think 2 nights here is a great amount of time. I would probably book a mountain A-frame cabin instead of Fern. I loved my time here with the elephants, and also just switching off work and social media. It’s really great for everyone, and the staff are absolutely wonderful.
If you are coming to Chiang Mai, I highly recommend you either stay or do a day trip to Chai Lai Orchid Elephant Sanctuary. Need more locations in Thailand to visit? Check out this blog post about the top three destinations in Thailand here.