Chiang Mai Elephant Sanctuary & Grand Canyon Day Tour

Ethical Elephant Encounter & Grand Canyon Adventure in Chiang Mai

If you want to see elephants living naturally, not performing, and then unwind at Chiang Mai’s Grand Canyon swimming spot, this day trip is for you. You’ll get real stories from local guides, a close-up look at gentle giants, and time to relax by the water.

Options for this experience

3 options

From US$ 59 to US$ 85 per person, depending on the option and date you choose. See options & prices

EG2 08:30 Guide in English Half-day elephant care experience: feed elephants, walk with elephants, bathe elephants. Duration 6 hours, pickup from hotel at 8:00 to 8:30 AM, return at 3:30 PM. Thai food: fresh lunch and drinking water. Local village and nature: a cool, comfortable 90-minute drive out of the city past scenic rural landscapes and farmland. Travel by comfortable air-conditioned minivan. Pickup is included.

EG3 08:30 Guide in English Bungalow hut: overnight stay at the Karen village camp in the mountains. Two days and one night of elephant care and Grand Canyon jumping, including feeding and bathing elephants and an overnight stay at the elephant camp. Duration 1 day 11 hours, pickup from hotel 8:00 to 8:30 AM, return at 5:30 PM. Thai food: freshly cooked meals and seasonal fruit. Local village and nature: a cool, comfortable 90-minute drive out of the city through scenic rural landscapes and farmland. Travel by comfortable air-conditioned minivan, then switch to a 4WD for the trip to the Karen village elephant camp. Pickup is included.

EG1 08:30 Guide in English One-day Elephant Care and Grand Canyon Jumping tour: feed elephants, walk with elephants, bathe elephants. Duration 8 hours, pickup from hotel between 8:00 and 8:30 AM, return at 5:30 PM. Thai food: fresh lunch and drinking water. Local village and nature: a cool, comfortable 90-minute drive out of the city through scenic rural landscapes and farmland. Travel by comfortable air-conditioned minivan. Pickup is included.

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Step-by-step itinerary

Elephants and Grand Canyon Relaxation

• Drive through rural landscapes
• Visit elephants' natural habitat
• Relax at Grand Canyon Chiangmai

What’s included

Your day includes round-trip transport in an air-conditioned van, a tasty local lunch, entry fees for both sites, and an English-speaking guide who knows their stuff about elephants and Chiang Mai’s countryside.

Times

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• Every day 08:30

Information

See elephants in their natural habitat near Chiang Mai, then relax and swim at Grand Canyon Water Park. Small group, English guide, lunch included.

Group Up to 16

Live guide English Another language? ›

Meeting point and pickup Hotel pickup included. See the pickup points

Book up to the start time

Ages Adult (12 to 50 years) · Senior (60 to 70 years) · Child (7 to 10 years) · Under 7: can't be booked

Cancellation and refunds Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund. It may be canceled if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Good to know

Low physical effort Stroller-friendly Not recommended during pregnancy Not recommended with heart problems Not recommended with back problems Infants must sit on laps

More information The pickup points, the operator’s instructions and every other detail are in the full listing. See the full listing

Traveler reviews

4.90 ★★★★★ Exceptional 31 verified traveler reviews 90% rated it 5 stars

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The experience

Leaving Chiang Mai early, we watched the city fade into green hills and rice fields. The air felt cooler out here: windows down, you could catch a whiff of wet earth and jasmine from roadside stalls. Our guide, Nok, chatted about elephant history in Thailand, tossing in little facts you wouldn’t find on a signboard. Did you know elephants can recognize themselves in a mirror? I didn’t.

At the elephant habitat, there’s no circus tricks or chains. Just elephants doing their thing. We saw them munching on bamboo, flapping their ears to shoo away flies, and one older female even splashed herself with mud. Nok pointed out how each elephant has its own personality. One kept nudging her friend for more bananas (which, yes, we got to feed them). The place felt peaceful: no crowds, just our small group and the soft sounds of the forest.

After a simple Thai lunch (the stir-fried basil chicken was my favorite), we headed to the Grand Canyon Chiang Mai. It’s not what you’d expect: a huge old quarry turned swimming spot, with red cliffs and cool blue water. Some folks jumped off ledges into the lake. I just floated and watched dragonflies skimming the surface. There’s a laid-back vibe here, with locals sunbathing and kids laughing nearby. We left with muddy shoes, sun-warmed skin, and about a hundred photos of elephants.

Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (7 to 10 years). Children under 7 can't be included in the booking.

Will we ride or bathe with elephants?

No riding or bathing. This is an ethical visit where you observe elephants in their own space and can feed them under supervision.

How long is the drive from Chiang Mai?

It takes about 90 minutes each way by air-conditioned van. The scenery along the route is actually part of the fun.

What should I bring?

Bring sunscreen, a hat, swimwear for Grand Canyon, and maybe sandals that can get muddy. Towels are handy too.

Operated by Elephant Care & Grand Canyon Jumping. Explorevia does not run this tour: we compare it with similar options, and you book it with our booking partner.

Prices and times updated today