Full-day ethical elephant sanctuary day trip from Chiang Mai to Living Green Elephant Sanctuary (River valley outside Chiang Mai city). Activities: Elephant observation, Feeding elephants, Pad Thai cooking. Suitable for: Food-focused travelers, guests who want deeper immersion and cooking.
Location
Living Green Elephant Sanctuary, River valley outside Chiang Mai city, Thailand
Price
฿2,000 per adult, ฿1,300 per child (ages 4–8). Prices are in Thai baht (THB). Deposit to book: 25% per guest (฿500 adult, ฿325 child). The rest is paid on the tour day.
Hotel pickup
Complimentary pickup and drop-off are available for accommodation within a 5 km radius of Chiang Mai Old City.
Pickup time
8:00–8:30 am
Return
Back at your hotel about 5:00 pm
Length
Full-day, about 9 hours hotel to hotel
Fits your trip
Takes most of the day: pickup 8:00–8:30 am, back about 5:00 pm. Online booking stays open until 10 hours before pickup (Thailand time), so it can fill a free day at short notice.
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. Full policy
Common questions
Does this sanctuary allow elephant riding?
No. This tour does not include elephant riding, circus-style shows, tricks, or forced performances. The point of the day is to meet elephants in a calmer way, learn from the guides, and join simple care activities only when they make sense for the herd.
Does this tour include elephant bathing?
Yes. At Living Green, guests feed and bathe with the elephants. There is no forced bathing — the elephants lead, and if the herd skips the water on the day your tour still runs at the same price.
Is this tour suitable for children?
A child aged 4–8 pays ฿1,300. An adult pays ฿2,000. This day is aimed at Food-focused travelers, guests who want deeper immersion and cooking. Families should review heat and transfer time before booking.
Which hotel pickup area is included?
Yes — Chiang Mai tours include round-trip hotel pickup within 5 km of Chiang Mai Old City. Nimman, the Old City, and Riverside guest houses are inside that zone. A small transfer surcharge may apply outside the standard pickup area; message ThaiEleHub before paying the deposit to confirm.
How long is this elephant sanctuary tour?
This is a full-day experience. Hotel pickup is 08:00–08:30 Thailand time, and the current itinerary returns around 17:00. The exact return time depends on traffic, weather and elephant-led pacing, and your final pickup details are confirmed before the tour.
What if I need to cancel or reschedule?
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. Cancellations made within 24 hours of scheduled tour start time are non-refundable. Bookings made within 24 hours of tour start are non-refundable once paid. 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; changes are subject to agreement and availability. Full rules are on the cancellation and refund policy page.
What is included in this tour?
Chiang Mai transfer inside the listed area; Elephant welfare and safety briefing; Local guide, drinking water and insurance; Local meal and digital tour photos; Hands-on Thai cooking activity are included. Elephant riding and elephant shows are not included. Guests feed the elephants and bathe with them. Remaining balance is settled on the day.
How far in advance should I book?
Online booking closes 10 hours before pickup (Asia/Bangkok). A date is held once the deposit payment succeeds. The balance is paid on the tour day. There is no live seat map. Travelling November to February? That is peak season, so book your date ahead.
⏱Full-day
🚐Pickup
Full-day departing Chiang Mai. No riding and no shows. Guests feed and bathe with the elephants; the elephants lead and forced bathing is not offered. Round-trip hotel pickup is included inside the listed city zone. Adult price ฿2,000. Child price ฿1,300 for ages 4–8. Book on this page with no account. A date is not held until the deposit payment succeeds.
Full day with rescued elephants plus hands-on Pad Thai cooking near Chiang Mai. Hotel pickup, no riding, free photos. From THB 2,000.
Living Green Chiang Mai: Full-Day Sanctuary Tour & Pad Thai Cooking Class
Living Green Chiang Mai: Full-Day Sanctuary Tour & Pad Thai Cooking Class is a full-day ethical elephant tour of about 9 hours at Living Green Elephant Sanctuary Chiang Mai in the river valley outside Chiang Mai city, with hotel pickup from Chiang Mai. Guests feed and bathe with the elephants, and the day includes Pad Thai cooking. There is no elephant riding and no shows, and you book it directly on ThaiEleHub.com, the booking hub for this tour.
Book your deposit on ThaiEleHub — we confirm pickup and WhatsApp support from this page after payment succeeds.
Adult tour price฿2,000Ages 9+. Full fare per adult.
Child tour price฿1,300Ages 4–8. Full fare per child.
1 Details
2 · Pickup
3 · Apple Pay / express pay
1-minute booking: add your contact, tour date and pickup details, then continue to secure your deposit payment on ThaiEleHub.
Adults
1
฿2,000 each
Children (4–8)
0
฿1,300 each
Start typing to choose a common Chiang Mai hotel. If yours is not listed, enter the full address for your Airbnb, villa or accommodation.
Deposit due today฿50025% per guest. Balance on the day ฿1,500.
25% per guest, paid securely through ThaiEleHub. The remaining balance is paid locally on tour day.
Booking closes 10 hours before departure (08:00 Thailand time). Dates inside that window cannot be booked online.
Cancellation & Refund Policy
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. Within 24 hours, the deposit is non-refundable. Bookings made within 24 hours of tour start are non-refundable once paid. No-shows are charged the full tour price; the deposit is not refunded. To request a date change, contact ThaiEleHub on WhatsApp at least 24 hours before your scheduled tour start time; changes are subject to agreement and availability. Message us on WhatsApp ↗
Secure Stripe checkout on ThaiEleHub. Instant book with express pay where your device supports it.
No riding · no shows
Free photography (not guaranteed for every guest)
cancel at least 24 hours before your scheduled tour start time.
Physical difficulty · Moderate
Moderate · comfortable if you handle a full outdoor day
Full-day route that adds a Pad Thai cooking session (roughly one hour of standing at cooking station)
Walking distance
Confirm with the sanctuary
Stairs
Confirm with the sanctuary
Terrain
Confirm with the sanctuary
Muddy / wet risk
Green season can be muddy; footwear with grip recommended
Transfer time (round-trip)
180 min
Toilet availability
Confirm with the sanctuary
Longer time on your feet, activity stations (cooking, rafting) that add standing or river work, or a full-day format. Any cell marked Confirm with the sanctuary can be answered in writing before booking — WhatsApp +66 98 858 9666.
Know the essentials before you book.
2 Price and inclusions
Full price first. Deposit at checkout.
Each guest pays a 25% deposit to reserve. The remaining balance is paid locally on tour day. Adult (Ages 9+) 2,000.00 ฿ full · 500.00 ฿ deposit Child (Ages 4-8) 1,300.00 ฿ full · 325.00 ฿ deposit Chiang Mai transfer inside the listed area Elephant welfare and safety briefing Local guide, drinking water and insurance Local meal and digital tour photos Hands-on Thai cooking activity
3 Pickup area and map
Pickup from Chiang Mai.
Hotel pickup and drop-off are included within 5 km of Chiang Mai Old City. For accommodation outside the area, ask us to confirm the transfer before booking. Living Green Elephant Sanctuary Chiang Mai Official map reference · Pickup window 08:00 - 08:30 Open in Google Maps
4 Best for and not best for
Check the fit for your group.
Best for First-time elephant sanctuary visitors Couples and families who prefer no-riding experiences Travelers who want pickup and a planned itinerary Food-focused travelers who want a cooking activity Not the best fit for Anyone looking for elephant riding or performances Travelers with only a few free hours Guests who cannot manage the stated transfer time
5 Real short video
See the camp, not stock footage.
Your browser does not support embedded video. Short, camp-specific footage from Living Green Elephant Sanctuary Chiang Mai. Playback starts only when you tap it.
What is included.
Chiang Mai transfer inside the listed area
Elephant welfare and safety briefing
Local guide, drinking water and insurance
Local meal and digital tour photos
Hands-on Thai cooking activity
The Experience
Three moments. One unforgettable day.
Forget a crowded checklist. Slow down, enter their world, and experience the sanctuary through its most meaningful moments. Change into a traditional northern shirt, prepare nourishing food and herbal treats, then watch these rescued giants softly curl their trunks around a gift from your palm. There are no hooks and no punishments here. No riding. No commands. Follow their rhythm into a natural forest habitat and observe their real character, freedom and quiet intelligence. Join the elephants near the water only when they choose to play. Their comfort always comes first, making every moment honest and unforced.
Greet Them with Love.
Change into a traditional northern shirt, prepare nourishing food and herbal treats, then watch these rescued giants softly curl their trunks around a gift from your palm. There are no hooks and no punishments here.
Walk Their Way.
No riding. No commands. Follow their rhythm into a natural forest habitat and observe their real character, freedom and quiet intelligence.
Splashes of Joy.
Join the elephants near the water only when they choose to play. Their comfort always comes first, making every moment honest and unforced.
Thoughtfully Included
More depth, less planning.
Everything essential is prepared before you arrive, so you can be fully present for the day. At Casa de Mango organic farm, prepare and enjoy Pad Thai using a traditional family recipe. Spend unhurried time in a greener, quieter habitat designed around elephant wellbeing. Accident insurance, chilled drinking water and professional photography with digital upload are included. Strictly no riding, no shows and no forced interaction. Their comfort determines the pace of your visit.
Authentic Thai Cooking Workshop
At Casa de Mango organic farm, prepare and enjoy Pad Thai using a traditional family recipe.
Natural Sanctuary Setting
Spend unhurried time in a greener, quieter habitat designed around elephant wellbeing.
All-Inclusive Care
Accident insurance, chilled drinking water and professional photography with digital upload are included.
Elephant-Led Encounters
Strictly no riding, no shows and no forced interaction. Their comfort determines the pace of your visit.
Your Itinerary
Your day, step by step.
A clear view of the journey from hotel pickup to your return, with each part of the experience paired with real sanctuary moments. Leave Chiang Mai and pass through the rural mountain, river and farming scenery. Arrive at the sanctuary for an introduction, safety briefing and traditional northern clothing. Spend time feeding, interacting and walking through the tropical forest while learning about elephant behavior. Join a hands-on Pad Thai workshop, balance the classic Thai flavors and enjoy your own creation for lunch. Make herbal medicine balls, plant future elephant food and feed the elephants and bathe with them in the water when they choose to go in (elephant-led, never forced) before saying goodbye. Ride a road transfer back to Chiang Mai with an expected arrival around 17:00. Times are approximate, except for the designated pickup window. The order may adjust for traffic, weather and elephant-led pacing. Final pickup details are confirmed before your tour.
08:00 - 08:30Hotel pickup and countryside driveLeave Chiang Mai and pass through the rural mountain, river and farming scenery.
08:30 - 10:45Welcome and northern clothingArrive at the sanctuary for an introduction, safety briefing and traditional northern clothing.
10:45 - 12:00Meet, feed and observe the elephantsSpend time feeding, interacting and walking through the tropical forest while learning about elephant behavior.
12:00 - 13:00Cook your own vegetarian Pad ThaiJoin a hands-on Pad Thai workshop, balance the classic Thai flavors and enjoy your own creation for lunch.
13:00 - 15:30Herbal medicine, seedlings and river timeMake herbal medicine balls, plant future elephant food, and feed the elephants and bathe with them in the water when they choose to go in (elephant-led, never forced) before saying goodbye.
15:30 - 17:00Change clothes and return to Chiang MaiRide a road transfer back to Chiang Mai with an expected arrival around 17:00.
Check the fit for your group.
Best for
First-time elephant sanctuary visitors
Couples and families who prefer no-riding experiences
Travelers who want pickup and a planned itinerary
Food-focused travelers who want a cooking activity
Not the best fit for
Anyone looking for elephant riding or performances
Travelers with only a few free hours
Guests who cannot manage the stated transfer time
Share your pickup details.
Complimentary pickup and drop-off are available for accommodation within a 5 km radius of Chiang Mai Old City.
Is your hotel in the transfer area?
Free pickup
Hotels and accommodation within 5 km of Chiang Mai Old City.
Outside the free radius
A small surcharge may apply. Contact our team before your tour so we can confirm the amount.
Private transfer
A private vehicle can be arranged for 2,500 THB.
Final pickup location and time are confirmed by our team one day before your visit. Please be ready 15 minutes before your scheduled pickup window.
Structured facts for Living Green Elephant Sanctuary
Entity
Living Green Elephant Sanctuary
Location
River valley outside Chiang Mai city, Thailand
Experience type
Ethical elephant sanctuary visit
Animal policy
No riding, no elephant shows
Common activities
feeding the elephants, bathing with them in the water (elephant-led, never forced), walking and observation
Best for
families, couples, first-time Chiang Mai visitors
Booking
Available through ThaiEleHub.com
Last updated
July 2026
The Fine Print
Good to know.
Clear answers, kept quietly out of the way until you need them. Yes. This tour is designed around no riding, no shows and no forced interaction. Feed the elephants and bathe with them in the water when they choose to go in (elephant-led, never forced). Yes, hotel pickup is included inside the listed Chiang Mai transfer area. Enter your hotel name or full accommodation address during booking so our team can confirm the exact arrangement. This is a full-day experience. The exact return time depends on traffic, weather and elephant-led pacing, and your final pickup details are confirmed before the tour. Children can usually join, but families should review the itinerary, walking conditions and transfer time before booking. Add a note during checkout if your child needs extra support. Chiang Mai tours include round-trip air-conditioned hotel transfer within 5 km of the Old City. Chonburi tours include specified central Bangkok and Pattaya zones. We will confirm any small out-of-zone surcharge before your visit. 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. Cancellations made within 24 hours of the tour start time are non-refundable. No-shows are charged the full tour price; the deposit is not refunded. To request a date change, contact ThaiEleHub on WhatsApp at least 24 hours before your scheduled tour start time. Date changes are subject to agreement and availability. Please contact us before booking. We can help you choose a gentler itinerary and explain walking, river and transfer conditions clearly. Yes. Please add your dietary request during checkout or message us in advance. Vegetarian requirements are easy to accommodate. Bring a change of clothes, swimwear or quick-dry clothing, secure sandals, sunscreen, insect repellent, a towel and personal medication. We provide free photography on Living Green tours, but we can't guarantee that every guest will be photographed. After the tour, everyone can download their photos free from our public social media pages.
Is this an ethical elephant sanctuary tour?
Yes. This tour is designed around no riding, no shows and no forced interaction. Feed the elephants and bathe with them in the water when they choose to go in (elephant-led, never forced).
Is hotel pickup included?
Yes, hotel pickup is included inside the listed Chiang Mai transfer area. Enter your hotel name or full accommodation address during booking so our team can confirm the exact arrangement.
How long is this elephant sanctuary tour?
This is a full-day experience. The exact return time depends on traffic, weather and elephant-led pacing, and your final pickup details are confirmed before the tour.
Can children join this tour?
Children can usually join, but families should review the itinerary, walking conditions and transfer time before booking. Add a note during checkout if your child needs extra support.
What is the free hotel transfer zone?
Chiang Mai tours include round-trip air-conditioned hotel transfer within 5 km of the Old City. Chonburi tours include specified central Bangkok and Pattaya zones. We will confirm any small out-of-zone surcharge before your visit.
Can I cancel or change my 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. Cancellations made within 24 hours of the tour start time are non-refundable. No-shows are charged the full tour price; the deposit is not refunded. To request a date change, contact ThaiEleHub on WhatsApp at least 24 hours before your scheduled tour start time. Date changes are subject to agreement and availability.
Is the tour suitable during pregnancy?
Please contact us before booking. We can help you choose a gentler itinerary and explain walking, river and transfer conditions clearly.
Can you prepare vegetarian food?
Yes. Please add your dietary request during checkout or message us in advance. Vegetarian requirements are easy to accommodate.
What should I bring?
Bring a change of clothes, swimwear or quick-dry clothing, secure sandals, sunscreen, insect repellent, a towel and personal medication.
When will I receive my free photos?
We provide free photography on Living Green tours, but we can't guarantee that every guest will be photographed. After the tour, everyone can download their photos free from our public social media pages.