Ethical Elephant Observation, Chiang Mai |
Joy Elephant Sanctuary
What we do ?
Who are we ?
Joy Elephant Sanctuary (JES), located in Chiang Mai, Thailand, is an ethical elephant sanctuary dedicated to creating a respectful and meaningful connection between humans, elephants, and nature. Founded as a joint initiative between a Karen Hill Tribe community and a group of individuals passionate about elephant welfare, the sanctuary provides a peaceful space where elephants are 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
Joy Elephant Sanctuary follows strict ethical standards to ensure a responsible and safe experience for visitors and elephants alike.
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Why Do Elephants Look Like They Are Crying? (Elephant’s Natural Tears)
Find out why elephants look like they are crying and experience ethical elephant observation at Joy Elephant Sanctuary in Chiang Mai.
Read honest reviews of our Joyful customers
EXCELLENT Based on 459 reviews Posted on Medina Elena AtomiTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Ha sido sin duda la experiencia más bonita que hemos podido hacer en Tailandia y eso ha sido posible gracias al maravilloso y entregado guía que nos ha acompañado y enseñado los valores éticos del santuario y un poquito de la cultura tailandesa.No tengo palabras suficientes para describir esta experiencia, solo puedo dar las gracias al trabajo que hacen por ayudar a estos elefantes que han tenido un pasado muy triste. Hemos disfrutado mucho del día, del entorno, la comida y para terminar el detalle de hacernos nuestro propio inhalador. Solo puedo decir gracias, vuestro trabajo es tan importante y necesario!Posted on Ryan BernstenTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Truly an unforgettable experience. We were on the fence about even doing an elephant sanctuary, and that version of my life would be a very sad one. The elephants seemed very happy and well cared for, and having the ability to hike with them through the jungle was nothing short of magical. We had a wonderful lunch and left absolutely thrilled.Posted on Stephanie JensenTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We selected Joy Elephant Sanctuary because of the way we heard they treated the elephants and the respect for them they had. Very informative staff, engaging, friendly and obvious care for the elephants. They limited direct engagement with the elephants to ensure they were able to live in a natural, respectful environment, not treated as an activity for us humans. After a very informative talk about the elephants, we were able to feed them sugar cane and then walk at a small distantlce with them through the jungle, observing their eating habits. Later we went to the river with a small waterfall where we could get in, or just sit by and enjoy the view, with the elephants coming down to drink and eat nearby. An opportunity to take a picture with the elephants within 3-5m. Lunch was delicious - both fresh salad and thai noodle dish. We then made a yadom (Thai nasal enhaler). Definitely will use on the trip and follow instructions to make at home as well. Only thing I would advise others takong this trip - they picked us up at 6:30, and lunch was not until around noon. So make sure you eat something before you go or bring a small snack, and if you are a coffee drinker, get coffee beforehand.Posted on Eric Free hogTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Moment incroyable avec les éléphants et les soignants sont très respectueux des animauxPosted on Chiara AlbertiTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Questi sono i santuari che bisogna sostenere! Abbiamo fatto la mezza giornata al pomeriggio. Esperienza bellissima dove oltre a osservare da vicino gli elefanti ti viene spiegata la vita, le abitudini e i loro modi di vivere. Dopo avergli dato da mangiare (sempre a una certa distanza) si fa una passeggiata a distanza tra i sentieri montuosi. Gli elefanti sono liberi di muoversi e andare dove vogliono mentre i turisti seguono i loro movimenti, fermando quando si fermano gli animali, e mentendo sempre una distanza minima. Gli elefanti non si possono accarezzare, toccare, non si fa il bagno con loro e soprattutto non gli si butta acqua addosso per “lavarli” come fanno in altri posti. Alla fine della giornata ci é stato spiegato che gli elefanti vengono lasciati liberi nel parco. Non ci sono gabbie, non ci sono corde, non ci sono catene, non vengono forzati, spinti, o utilizzati bastoni per direzionarli.Posted on Chris PoultonTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. This is an absolutely wonderful experience. Everybody on my tour had done a lot of research about which elephant sanctuary in the area was the most ethical and this one was the one we all chose. You can still feed the elephants, because they are domesticated elephants (one of two types in Thailand) but after that interaction is limited because it’s better for the animals themselves. But incredibly, you get to walk with them through an area of jungle and watch them eat and bathe. What a fantastic experience!Posted on Denisa K.Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. 100% recommended! No petting, no bathing. You calmly observe elephants in their environment, close to you. You have a small hike in the jungle and you get to the waterfalls where you can take a swim, there is food prepared for you and of course elephants around. You also make your own inhaler. Great morning spent with elephants around 🙂Posted on Caryn AdrianTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Situated in a beautiful setting a little over an hour from Chiang Mai, this elephant sanctuary was one of the highlights of my trip to Thailand! Joy elephant sanctuary is an observation only tour, insuring that the elephants are very well cared for and are not stressed. Part of our tour involved walking with the elephants at a respectful distance through hilly terrain, allowing us to observe them in a more natural habitat. Our guide was informative and fun, with a great sense of humor, too. The late lunch we had was most excellent as well, along with swimming in the river and a craft event near the end of the tour. If you’re looking to observe the Asian elephant in a natural setting, this is the tour for you. 5 stars!
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