What we do ?
Who are we ?
Joy Elephant Sanctuary (JES), located in Chiang Mai, Thailand, was established with the vision of fostering a bonding relationship between humans, elephants, and nature. Founded as a joint initiative between a Karen Hill Tribe and a group of enthusiastic individuals who wish to see the Elephants being treated with Joy, Love, Care & Respect.
An Observation Learning
Our goal is to create an environment where visitors can learn and understand the lives of elephants through observation. Here, elephants can be themselves, freely expressing their personalities and remarkable intelligence.
The Ethical Environment
Surrounded by forests and flowing rivers, our sanctuary is an ideal habitat for elephants. We ensure the well-being of the Elephants by having year-round food supply & opportunities for visitors to help grow food for them.
Support Local
Activities benefit elephants, locals, and visitors by supporting the community & promoting sustainable farming practices. This also creates job opportunities and provides locals with knowledge for a better quality of life.
Travel With Standard
Jump to our journey
Let’s combine the experience
Get in touch on our instagram
Follow us for exclusive behind-the-scenes moments and connect with our joyful elephants.
Read and enjoy our stories, covering exciting topics. Learn fascinating elephants facts and their rich history. With many categories to choose from, there’s something for everyone to enjoy
Why Elephant Observation is the Best Ethical Choice
When visiting an elephant sanctuary, it’s important to choose experiences that prioritize the elephants’ well-being. Watching elephants in their natural behavior is the most ethical choice. It is better than
Read honest reviews of our Joyful customers
EXCELLENT Based on 229 reviews Alberto Dal Martello2025-05-12Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Una giornata indimenticabile! Esperienza super consigliata! Harvey Falgate2025-05-11Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. great experience! Kedem Golany2025-05-09Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Very great sanctuary. They have two camps, we were at one that had 5 female elephants. Everything is very ethical; you feed the elephants just like their handlers, and go on a walk with the elephants while they roam free near the trail and eat freely. Afterwards you go to a near waterfall/lake with water from the moutain, and the elephants join. They do what they want so they didn't enter and preferred to just drink the water near us. We also did the hike to a karen village which was also great. amer ansari2025-05-06Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Very good run sanctuary.the staff are nice and the activities are good. Highly recommend if yoh want an ethical elephant experience Amber Daalmeijer2025-05-03Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Such an amazing experience! It really was an ethical sanctuary and the animals looked really good and happy. We were allowed to feed them some snack but we couldn’t touch them. We also went for a walk with them in the jungle and watched them in their natural habitat. It was a really nice addition that we made the thai sniffer thing and that the bamboo rafting was included. The bamboo rafting was also amazing and so much fun!! I could really recommend the full day experience ! Anna Tompkins2025-05-02Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Such a great experience at Joy Elephant Sanctuary. One of my favorite days ever. The location is so beautiful. You are in the middle of the mountains with a waterfall and little river. It is a very ethical sanctuary and our tour guide was awesome and knowledgeable. I highly recommend coming here for the best elephant experience! Quynh D2025-05-02Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Ich war gestern im Joy Elephant Sanctuary und bin immer noch ganz begeistert! Es war eine unglaublich schöne und bereichernde Erfahrung. Besonders gut hat mir gefallen, dass hier wirklich auf Ethik geachtet wird – es ging nicht ums Reiten oder Zurschaustellen, sondern darum, die Elefanten in ihrem natürlichen Verhalten zu beobachten und mehr über sie zu lernen. Die Tour war sehr gut organisiert, und unser Guide hat uns viele spannende Infos gegeben, die ich vorher noch nie gehört hatte. Besonders cool fand ich auch, dass wir unseren eigenen Inhaler herstellen durften – das war eine schöne, persönliche Erinnerung. Man merkt kaum, dass dieses Sanctuary erst vor 10 Monaten eröffnet wurde – alles war durchdacht, herzlich und mit Liebe zum Detail gestaltet. Ich kann den Besuch absolut empfehlen! Aym Saad2025-05-01Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I had an exceptional day at Joy Elephant Sanctuary where the well-being of the elephants is clearly a top priority. The elephants are visibly well cared for and treated with great respect. We had the chance to feed them and observe their daily lives while maintaining a respectful distance to avoid disturbing them. This sanctuary is truly ethical, unlike many others !!! We also enjoyed a fun activity making our own traditional Thai herbal inhaler, which added a unique cultural touch to the experience. To top off the day, we were able to refresh ourselves by swimming in a beautiful waterfall located within the sanctuary-a real luxury after such an immersive day close to nature. Mary2025-04-27Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. It was a joy to visit the elephant sanctuary. You really tell how much they care for them and prioritise the safety and wellbeing of the elephants. Would highly recommend anyone looking for an ethical sanctuary in chaing mai
Have a Question ?
Please feel free to contact us if you need any further information