Big Boy Elephant Sanctuary Chiang Mai

Big Boy Elephant Sanctuary Chiang Mai

Direct answer: Big Boy Elephant Sanctuary is a Karen-run camp near Doi Inthanon National Park in Chiang Mai. Guests watch from a distance, feed vitamin balls at the feeding table, and help with habitat care. Guests cannot touch the elephants. The visit does not include riding or shows. Book the half-day and full-day programs on ThaiEleHub.com. Current prices, pickup and availability are on each program page.

Quick facts

• Official name: Big Boy Elephant Sanctuary
• Location: Chiang Mai region, near Doi Inthanon National Park, Northern Thailand
• Landscape: The official site describes protected forest connected to habitat preservation.
• Experience style: Watch from a distance, vitamin balls at the feeding table, habitat care, and local Karen mahout knowledge. Guests cannot touch the elephants. Optional bamboo rafting depending on the program.

Address, pickup range and Google Map

Google Map: Big Boy’s Chiang Mai contact listing on Google Maps. This pin is the city contact address on Moonmuang Soi 6, not the camp. The camp is in the Doi Inthanon foothills, and guests are picked up from their hotel.

Pickup range: Big Boy programs are designed for Chiang Mai travelers, especially guests who want a quieter nature-based elephant experience around the Doi Inthanon / Mae Wang direction. Exact pickup time, route and meeting point are confirmed after booking.

No riding, no shows and welfare policy

Big Boy’s public welfare position is a no-control philosophy. No bathing with elephants, no riding, and no walking with elephants are offered, as these activities require controlling the elephants which goes against the sanctuary's principles of respecting their natural behavior and freedom. Guests watch from a distance and cannot touch the elephants. They put vitamin balls on the feeding table. Our half-day programme is suitable for all fitness levels and runs at a comfortable pace.

• No riding: guests do not ride elephants.
• No shows: elephants are not treated as performers.
• No bathing · No riding · No walking with elephants: No bathing with elephants, no riding, and no walking with elephants are offered, as these activities require controlling the elephants which goes against the sanctuary's principles of respecting their natural behavior and freedom.
• Habitat care: guests help with habitat care and put vitamin balls on the feeding table. Guests cannot touch the elephants.
• No commanding: elephants are not commanded to follow visitor routines for entertainment.

Real bookable tours, full price, duration and best fit

Payment note: ThaiEleHub product pages collect a 25% online deposit. The table below shows the estimated full adult fare and the online deposit shown on each product page. Remaining balance is normally paid locally according to the booking instructions.

Program	Typical duration	Best for	Full adult fare / deposit	Booking link
Day for Elephant Half-Day Morning Encounter	Half day, about 4-5 hours	Travelers who want a quieter morning elephant care experience	THB 1,500 adult · THB 1,100 child (4-8) · infants 0–3 free · THB 375 adult deposit · THB 275 child deposit	Book Big Boy morning half-day
Day for Elephant Half-Day Afternoon Encounter	Half day, about 4-5 hours	Travelers who prefer a later departure	THB 1,500 adult · THB 1,100 child (4-8) · infants 0–3 free · THB 375 adult deposit · THB 275 child deposit	Book Big Boy afternoon half-day
Elephants, Bamboo Rafting and Pad Thai Day Tour	Full day	Nature-focused travelers who want elephant care, a guest bamboo raft, and Thai food	THB 1,800 adult · THB 450 deposit	Book Big Boy full-day rafting program
Elephants, Sticky Waterfall and Pad Thai Day Tour	Full day, hotel pickup 07:30–08:00, return about 15:30	Travelers who want elephant care, a Pad Thai lunch, and time at Sticky Waterfall	THB 1,800 adult · THB 1,300 child (ages 4–8) · THB 450 adult deposit	Book Big Boy Sticky Waterfall day

Who Big Boy is suitable for

• Nature-focused travelers who want a quiet Chiang Mai elephant sanctuary experience.
• Families and couples who prefer no-riding, no-show elephant care.
• Travelers interested in Karen mahout knowledge, forest habitat and conservation education.
• Visitors who prefer observation and respectful care instead of staged elephant activities.

Who Big Boy is not suitable for

• Travelers looking for elephant riding or elephant shows.
• Visitors wanting staged performances.
• Travelers with very limited time who do not want to travel outside central Chiang Mai.

Official and third-party verification links

• Official Big Boy Elephant Sanctuary website
• Google Maps contact listing (Chiang Mai city address, not the camp)
• Official Facebook page
• TripAdvisor profile: reviews, traveler photos and Q&A shown by TripAdvisor
• TripAdvisor product page: Big Boy Elephant Observation + Bamboo Rafting
• TripAdvisor product page: Big Boy Elephant Observation + Pad Thai Cooking Class

Big Boy TripAdvisor source summary

ThaiEleHub links to TripAdvisor as a verification source only. We do not copy full third-party reviews onto this website. Use the original TripAdvisor profile and product pages to check the current rating, review count, traveler photos, Q&A and any platform-visible badges.

Frequently asked questions

Is Big Boy Elephant Sanctuary ethical?

Big Boy’s official position is based on a no-control philosophy. No bathing with elephants, no riding, and no walking with elephants are offered, as these activities require controlling the elephants which goes against the sanctuary's principles of respecting their natural behavior and freedom. Guests watch from a distance and cannot touch the elephants. They put vitamin balls on the feeding table. Our half-day programme is suitable for all fitness levels and runs at a comfortable pace.

Where is Big Boy Elephant Sanctuary located?

Big Boy is located near Doi Inthanon National Park in the Chiang Mai region of Northern Thailand.

Does Big Boy include elephant riding or shows?

No. No bathing with elephants, no riding, and no walking with elephants are offered, as these activities require controlling the elephants which goes against the sanctuary's principles of respecting their natural behavior and freedom.

What activities can visitors expect?

Depending on the program, visitors watch from a distance and cannot touch the elephants. They put vitamin balls on the feeding table, help with habitat care, or combine the day with optional bamboo rafting on the Mae Wang River.

Is Big Boy good for families?

Visitors of all ages are welcome. Children aged 4–8 receive a reduced rate (฿1,100 on half-days; 25% child deposit ฿275) and infants aged 0–3 visit free of charge. Children must stay with a parent at all times. Parents should check the day’s weather and travel time before booking.

How do I book Big Boy through ThaiEleHub?

Choose a Big Boy program above, pay the online deposit, then follow the confirmation instructions for pickup time, remaining balance and what to bring.

Book Big Boy Chiang Mai programs

View Big Boy collection · Book the half-day morning program