Elephant Pride

Support the Herd at Elephant Pride

The Covid-19 coronavirus has caused severe challenges around the world and has placed extreme limitations on travel. As a result, Elephant Pride has been temporarily closed. We are doing the very best that we can to properly care for the elephants at our project, but need your support. We understand that this is a difficult time for many people around the world and offer our heartfelt sympathy. If you are in a position to help buy food for our elephants, any gift would be greatly appreciated.

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Asian Elephant Projects Shop

Give an elephant food gift to the herd at Elephant Pride

Shop for Elephants

Give a large fruit cake to the elephants at Elephant Pride

Elephant Fruit Cake

Life During Covid at Elephant Pride

This project situated next to the beautiful Mae Taeng River is home to a small group of elephants who since being retired from elephant riding have the opportunity to live a more natural life. The health of the elephants and their mood has improved thanks to the more relaxed environment with time to interact with each other and be in nature.

Elephant Pride has had no visitors since March, so the elephants routine has changed somewhat. They spend their days in the forest foraging on a variety of natural vegetation growing around the project, including grass, bamboo, leaves from native plants and trees. The elephants are also fed bananas and sugar cane as a treat, and sometimes mangoes, watermelon, papaya and pumpkin, depending on what fruit and vegetables are in season. The elephants here love swimming in the river and the females have developed close bonds, especially Thong Dee and Kham Dee who are best friends and are rarely apart. With no guests it is difficult to provide for the elephants sufficiently and whilst we are doing the best that we can to care for them, we would greatly appreciate your support during this challenging time.

This elephant tour is located close to the beautiful Mae Taeng River in Chiang Mai, Northern Thailand and is home to a small group of elephants now enjoying a better life since being retired from elephant riding and previously logging in January 2018. The family operating the project has lived with and cared for elephants for more than 15 years and is happy to have the opportunity to be supported in the transition to ethical elephant tourism.

Visitors, as part of a small group accompanied by a friendly tour guide, have the chance to dress in traditional Lanna clothing, feed the elephants and join them on a challenging one hour mountain jungle hike that crosses the river over a bamboo bridge. In the rainy season the paths through the jungle may become too difficult, so instead, the walk with the elephants will be along the river bank. Other activities include bathing the elephants in a beautiful section of the river, watching them play in the mud pit, and preparing bananas balls. In between activities, you will be served a delicious vegetarian buffet.

Since being retired from elephant riding, the condition of the elephants has improved and they are starting to gain weight now that they have more time to forage as well as being fed by visitors. Naturally, their mood has also improved thanks to the more relaxed environment with ethical activities that allow the elephants time to interact with each other.

Spend the day walking with elephants, observing them, and swimming with them in the stunning Mae Taeng River under a lush forest canopy

Activities

Tour Details

Number of Guests: 12
Number of Elephants: 3
Tour Type: Full Day Visit
Fitness Level: Challenging
Age Suitability: Adults & Children 12+

What's Included

Tour Price

Adults & Children 12+: 2,500 Thai Baht

Ethical Elephant Tours
This is a small Saddle Off project with a limited number of guests. Our model is based on ensuring the well-being of the elephants, which means no riding or other unnatural activities.

About Your Trip

Start: 8:00am – 8:45am minivan pick up from your Chiang Mai city hotel, or from our office at 7:45am. If staying out of town (outside the middle ring-road) additional charges apply. Please advise on your reservation form.
Travel Time: Around 90 minutes (educational video about Asian elephants / safety video en route to project).
Return: Arrive back in Chiang Mai city 4:00pm – 4.30pm.
Baggage Allowance: One small day pack per person.
What to Bring: Hat, sunscreen, sandals/flip flops, change of clothing, towel, walking shoes, camera & insect repellent. This project can be very muddy and wet so a change of clothing and footwear is recommended.
Operational Months: All year round.
Age Suitability: Adults & children over 12 – guests under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
Fitness Level: Challenging – walk across a bamboo bridge and on mountainous terrain up slopes with potentially muddy conditions.
Topography: Jungle, mountains & river.
Location: Mae Taeng, North of Chiang Mai, Northern Thailand.
Nearest Airport: Chiang Mai (CNX) – we recommend you stay in Chiang Mai city the night before your visit. Please note that we cannot collect you from Chiang Mai Airport – only from your Chiang Mai city hotel or guesthouse.
Booking Details: Bookings close at 5pm (GMT+7) on the day before the date of your tour if made in person at our office or 24 hours in advance if booking online. A 30% non-refundable deposit is required to secure your booking. The balance should be paid at our Chiang Mai office by 8pm on the day before your tour.

Project Background

The owners of this family-run project, Boon Lerd and his wife, Nuck, have been involved with elephants for many years and adopted the Saddle Off model at the beginning of 2018. They used to offer elephant riding and would see how it exhausted the elephants, as well as cause them stress. Naturally, this would sometimes lead to erratic and aggressive behavior. Since joining our Saddle Off program and dropping elephant riding, the elephants are in better physical condition, and are calmer, with a more even temperament. With the beautiful river so close, the elephants love to make their way into the water to cool off, drink, and play and forage in the jungle. Food for the elephants is provided from the grass, sugarcane and bananas grown at the project and from fruit and vegetables bought from local farmers.

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