No riding. No chains. No forced bathing. Just a rescued herd
living free in the hills near Doi Inthanon.
Where ethical encounters meet untamed freedom.
Big Boy Elephant Sanctuary was born from the collaboration of elephant lovers and local mahouts deeply concerned about the welfare of Thai elephants. The founders witnessed the suffering of elephants in tourism and logging industries, sparking their vision to create a safe haven for these majestic creatures.
Today, Big Boy is one of the most trusted ethical elephant sanctuaries in Chiang Mai, Thailand — a conservation home in the hills near Doi Inthanon National Park, just 1.5 hours from Chiang Mai Old City.
These activities, commonly practiced at many tourist attractions, require controlling elephants through various means. At Big Boy, we believe elephants should live as naturally as possible without human control or interference. This is what separates a genuinely ethical elephant sanctuary from an elephant camp.
Visitors enjoy a special experience observing elephants living freely—eating, playing, and staying together as a family without human interference. This is an opportunity to learn about and appreciate elephants in an environment that closely resembles their natural habitat.
Experience a transformative half-day journey at Big Boy Elephant Sanctuary, where ethical tourism meets profound connection. Immerse yourself in the wisdom of Northern Thailand's Karen Hill Tribe, renowned for their harmonious relationship with elephants. Engage in hands-on care - preparing nutritious meals, creating herbal supplements, and contributing to habitat restoration - all while respecting the elephants' autonomy. Witness...
Experience a transformative half-day journey at Big Boy Elephant Sanctuary, where ethical tourism meets profound connection. Immerse yourself in the wisdom of Northern Thailand's Karen Hill Tribe, renowned for their harmonious relationship with elephants. Engage in hands-on care - preparing nutritious meals, creating herbal supplements, and contributing to...
Elevate your ethical adventure with this full-day experience combining elephant care, culinary arts, and jungle serenity. At Big Boy Elephant Sanctuary, participate in meaningful interactions - preparing meals, creating vitamins, and restoring habitats - while honoring elephant...
Perfect for nature-loving tourists interested in conservation who want a perspective-changing experience. If you want to experience the power of nature and the genuine bond between humans and elephants—come join us!
At Big Boy, every detail is designed to honor freedom. Our elephants are not
performers; they are teachers, showing us what it means to live authentically.
By choosing us, you support:
Big Boy Elephant Sanctuary sits in the foothills near Doi Inthanon National Park, about 1.5 hours from Chiang Mai Old City. Free round-trip transfer is included from most Chiang Mai hotels, which makes us one of the easiest ethical elephant sanctuaries in Thailand to reach as a day trip.
Many guests build a wider Doi Inthanon tour around their elephant day, or pair it with the Sticky Waterfall (Bua Tong) and bamboo rafting on the Mae Wang River — ask our team and we'll help you plan the route.
4.9 across 305 Google reviews and a perfect 5.0 from 15 reviews on TripAdvisor. Every review below is real and unedited.
This is a wonderful and ethical sanctuary for elephants rescued from logging, circuses, and transportation services. We learned how to cook pad thai and we also prepared the food for the elephants. As this is one of the very few ethical animal sanctuaries in Thailand I highly recommend visiting this place while here.
Vcals Holbrook, New York · Visited with family ·
I can not recommend this sanctuary enough. My guide Note and all the caretakers did a fantastic job of educating us on these particular elephants and keeping everyone safe. We got to make vitamin balls for them and feed them sugar cane, the most lovely experience. If you are looking for an ethical sanctuary in Chiang Mai this is the one I would recommend.
Cassondra R Travelled solo ·
An amazing experience. I've seen some terrible animal treatment across Asia and it's so nice to see an ethical sanctuary, rescuing the elephants from often tragic circumstances. Don't expect to pat or ride the elephants — the local Karen people treat their animals with respect. Long trip, so choose a comfortable minivan tour, but worth it!
Chris B Travelled as a couple ·
Everything you need to know before visiting our ethical elephant sanctuary.
Yes. Big Boy Elephant Sanctuary follows a strict no-control policy: no elephant riding, no controlled walking, no mandatory bathing, and no commanding elephants to perform. Our elephants live as a family and choose their own behaviour, while visitors observe and help care for them from a respectful distance. This is what separates a genuinely ethical elephant sanctuary from an elephant camp.
Our sanctuary is located near Doi Inthanon National Park, approximately 1.5 hours by road from Chiang Mai Old City. We provide free round-trip transfer for accommodation within a 5 km radius of the Old City, with a small surcharge for locations further out. A rest stop with refreshments and bathrooms is included roughly halfway.
No. Elephant riding is not offered at Big Boy Elephant Sanctuary and never will be. Riding requires breaking an elephant's will through training methods we do not support. Instead, you will observe elephants roaming, eating, playing and mud-bathing freely, and take part in ethical activities such as preparing food, making herbal vitamin balls and planting habitat.
All tours include round-trip hotel transfers from Chiang Mai, traditional Karen clothing, all sanctuary activity materials, a local lunch with drinking water, accident insurance, and a complimentary photography service. Photos from your visit are uploaded and shared within 72 hours at no extra charge.
Yes, visitors of all ages are welcome. Children aged 4–8 receive a reduced rate and infants aged 0–3 visit free of charge. Close parental supervision is required during all interactions with the elephants. Our half-day programme is suitable for all fitness levels and runs at a comfortable pace.
