Booking Big Boy Elephant Sanctuary in Chiang Mai at Short Notice
You can book a Big Boy half-day in Chiang Mai at short notice on ThaiEleHub when the date is still offered on the product page. The half-day is ฿1,500 per adult and ฿1,100 per child aged 4–8 (infants 0–3 free), and you pay a 25% deposit (฿375 per adult) to hold the date.
The catch is the refund rule: a booking made within 24 hours of the tour start is non-refundable once paid. So a last-minute booking is a good idea when your plans are firm, and a poor one if you're still deciding.
How late can you book? The cut-off for each session
Check the product page for whether your date is still offered. A date is held once the deposit payment succeeds. There is no live seat map.
| Session | Hotel pickup | Back in Chiang Mai |
|---|---|---|
| Big Boy morning half-day | 07:00–07:30 | about 14:00 |
| Big Boy afternoon half-day | 11:30–12:00 | about 18:30 |
The morning session leaves the afternoon free in Chiang Mai. The afternoon session leaves the morning free for a lie-in or a temple.
What happens when you book at short notice
Booking takes about a minute and you don't need an account. You add your contact details, the tour date and your pickup hotel, then pay the deposit.
- Your date is held only once the deposit payment succeeds. There's no live seat map, so an unpaid form doesn't reserve anything.
- Deposit: ฿375 per adult and ฿275 per child. For one adult the balance on the day is ฿1,125, paid locally on tour day.
- Pickup: included for hotels within 5 km of Chiang Mai Old City, which covers Nimman, the Old City and Riverside guest houses. If you're staying further out, message ThaiEleHub on WhatsApp before you pay, because a small transfer surcharge may apply.
- Be ready 15 minutes early. The product page asks guests to be ready 15 minutes before the pickup window starts.
For bookings made well ahead, the final pickup time and place are confirmed one day before the visit. For a booking made the night before, keep your phone on and check WhatsApp after paying; ThaiEleHub confirms pickup and support from the product page once the payment succeeds.
The refund rule you need to know first
This is the part that matters most for a late booking.
- Cancel at least 24 hours before your scheduled tour start time for a deposit refund. Stripe, our payment processor, keeps its 6.5% processing fee. This fee is not charged or kept by ThaiEleHub.
- Bookings made within 24 hours of the scheduled tour start time are non-refundable once paid. If you book tonight for tomorrow, you're already inside that window.
- No-shows are charged the full tour price; the deposit is not refunded.
- To request a date change, contact ThaiEleHub customer service on WhatsApp (+66 98 858 9666) at least 24 hours before your scheduled tour start time. Date changes are subject to agreement and availability.
The full wording is on the cancellation and refund policy page.
So the honest advice is simple. If your Chiang Mai dates are fixed and you just hadn't got round to it, book now. If you might move on, fall ill or change your mind, book at least a day ahead so the refund rule still protects your deposit.
What you're booking: a quick reminder of the day
Big Boy Elephant Sanctuary sits in the Doi Inthanon foothills outside Chiang Mai. Transfer time (round-trip) is 180 minutes. It's an "observe and feed" sanctuary:
- You watch the herd from a distance. Guests cannot touch the elephants.
- Feeding is vitamin balls at the feeding table.
- You help with habitat care.
- There's no bathing with or riding the elephants, and guests don't go out on the trail alongside the herd.
- Lunch is a local meal with a Pad Thai you cook yourself.
The morning session arrives at the sanctuary at 09:30, cooks Pad Thai at 12:00, eats lunch at 12:30, says farewell at 13:00 and returns around 14:00. The afternoon session picks up 11:30–12:00, arrives at 13:30, cooks at 13:30, eats at 14:00, says farewell at 17:30 and returns around 18:30.
Late October and early November: a word on the weather
The product page's own packing list is short: secure sandals, sunscreen, insect repellent and any personal medication. A change of clothes is useful after habitat care. The page notes that green season (May–October) can be muddy, so footwear with grip helps.
When booking ahead is the better plan
Travelling November to February? That is peak season, so book your date ahead. Book early if:
- you're travelling in a group or with children and need everyone on the same session;
- your hotel is outside the 5 km pickup zone and you need the surcharge confirmed;
- you want the 24-hour refund window to still apply.
Who a last-minute booking suits, and who it doesn't
Good fit: travellers already in Chiang Mai with a free day, and anyone who just decided they'd like a calm, no-riding elephant morning before leaving town.
Not a good fit: anyone whose plans may change, guests outside the pickup zone who haven't checked the surcharge, or anyone who wants to touch, bathe with or ride elephants (Big Boy offers none of these).
FAQ
Can I book Big Boy for the same day? Check the product page for your date. A date is held once the deposit payment succeeds. There is no live seat map.
Is a booking for tomorrow refundable? No. Bookings made within 24 hours of the scheduled tour start time are non-refundable once paid.
Do I pay the full price online? No. You pay a 25% deposit (฿375 per adult, ฿275 per child aged 4–8) and the balance on the day.
What if I'm staying outside the Old City area? Pickup is included within 5 km of Chiang Mai Old City. Further out, message ThaiEleHub on WhatsApp before paying, as a small surcharge may apply.
Can I bring a toddler at short notice? Infants aged 0–3 visit free. Children must stay with a parent at all times.
Ready to book?
If your plans are set, the morning half-day and the afternoon half-day are both bookable on ThaiEleHub.com, the booking hub for Big Boy tours. Questions first? Contact ThaiEleHub or WhatsApp +66 98 858 9666.