5 Days of Elephants: up-close, in the nature and individually
Experience elephants the right way: This stays forever!
You will get to know “your own” elephant, become familiar with it, ride through the local forest, go bathing and learn all working skills needed for logging with elephants. Moreover you will visit a Buddhist temple in the mountains, contrary to other places hardly visited by tourists and a truly unique location.
What I can expect: 4 days in the elephant camp AND 1 excursion day to a Buddhist temple
- learning all commands necessary to work with elephants
- piling logs with elephants
- visiting a remote temple in the mountains
- Visit of a Mountain tribe village
- introduction to creating paper out of elephant dung
- Make a special reminder of your “elephant”
- possibility of bamboo rafting or relaxing massage
5 Days / 4 Nights
995 € / Person
+ 20% for single travellers
Services included:
+drinking water
+full board
+english speaking tour guide
+transfer to/ from Chiang Mai
+standard accomodation – bungalows with separate bathroom can be booked on request
To our accomodation
not included:
+alcoholic drinks, soft drinks, juices
+personal expenses and tips
+international and national flights
Travel dates
The Elephant-Bonding-Tour starts every monday morning no later than 08.30 am. Kindly check availability in advance.
WITH THIS TOUR YOU WILL RIDE YOUR OWN ELEPHANT
Riding elephants means:
- Individual contact: each guest takes care of his “own” elephant – so there is no stress for the animals
- Sufficient resting possibilities: dthe tours are orientated on the welfare of the animals – breaks are necessary
- On the road: the animals are looking for their food on their way – many different paths through the mountains
Regarding the discussion “riding an elephant: yes or no” we have created a seperate website, on which we explain the position of ELEPHANT SPECIAL TOURS: Please click here for further information.
WHY IS THE 2-DAY TOUR THE SHORTEST TRIP WE OFFER?
WHY OUR TRIPS ARE WORTH THEIR PRICE
Detailed travel program
Day 1 (Monday)
Training in our elephant camp:
We pick you up from your hotel or at the airport in Chiang Mai. By car we take you to our Lodge „White House“ in Mae Sapok. The accommodations are just located nearby next to our lodge.
You get introduced to the life and behavior of elephants. Your English speaking guide will teach you the basic knowledge in elephant handling. You yourself will hand-wash the elephants and learn first commands to ride your elephant through the forest. In the afternoon you visit a nearby Karen village (hill tribe).
In the evening you have the chance to watch a movie about the anatomy of elephants.

Day 2 (Tuesday)
More information about elephant handling:
After breakfast you will go to the elephant camp accompanied by your trainer. From there you take a walk into the surrounding forest, where you pick up the elephants from their night time sleeping areas. You’ll ride the animals back to the camp and will be getting more and more confident due to the experience you gained on the previous day in dealing with the pachyderms.
At the camp you will have lunch and watch the elephants during their relaxed lunch time. You are then introduced in the specifics of working with the animals, which were trained as so-called Timber elephants. This tradition of work in the timber industry for centuries has been the sole source of income for the owners of the animals – we want to keep these skills and also want you to experience how smart those creatures are.
Of course, this training is adjusted without great physical effort to meet your needs. After you have been introduced into the woodwork, we ride another very beautiful way through the nearby forest. Afterwards you visit a local, state development project. It is designed to build sustainable structures for the community, as we are contributed to build a sustainable future for elephants. There is also the opportunity to visit a beautiful waterfall.
After your dinner you can watch another video film about elephants.

Day 3 (Wednesday)
Visit to a remote mountain temple and possibility to take a bamboo raft or a relaxing massage:
n the morning you visit the beautiful local temple “Wat Luang”, which is located far off the normal tourists paths in the forest of Mae Sapoks surrounding area. Lunch will be served in a unique environment right next to the Mae Wang-river. You then have the afternoon free for leisure. You have the opportunity to get on a bamboo raft and take a ride down the local river or you may enjoy a soothing massage.

Day 4 (Thursday)
Training in our elephant camp:
Today’s focus lies on logging with the elephants. Adapted to the your physical fitness you will learn the basics of this centuries-old tradition. After lunch you will delve into your knowledge and learn different ways to get on and ride your elephant.
Tonight you will watch a documentary about the mahouts’ work with elephants in the logging industry.

Day 5 (Friday)
Training in our elephant camp:
Enjoy your last activities with your elephant in the camp. Show your trainer and mahout what you have learned about elephant handling during the last days. Prove yourself how talented you control your elephant. On a last ride through Thailand’s mountains on the largest existing land mammal of the earth you can reminisce pass in review all the great experiences you had during the last days.
After enjoying a relaxed shower in you room we will take you back to Chiang Mai. You will arrive in the city latest 18.00h.
