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.
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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 272 reviews Daniel Crooksmay2025-08-04Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Great team and experience şeyma karataş2025-08-01Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Had joined their Elephant sanctuary and bamboo rafting full day tour, our driver Big and our guide Jay were so nice. Definitely recommend 😊 Els De Busscher2025-07-31Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Heel aangename ervaring! Daniel Amat2025-07-26Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Buenísima experiencia está mañana en el santuario de elefantes. Sitio precioso donde ver elefantes asiáticos domésticos en libertad. Da gusto ver con el cariño que tratan a los elefantes y a sus clientes. 100% recomendado Anastasia Ritor2025-07-26Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. The best sanctuary. Animals in a wild. Very good place for elephants Jacq Jacq2025-07-26Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Goed voor olifant en omgeving. Otis Taylor2025-07-25Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Highly recommend! Neha N2025-07-23Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I had a great time at Joy elephant sanctuary. I liked that it was ethical where we walked with the elephants and observing them without giving them much stress. The staff, Candy helped my answer my queries and was not pushy too. The guides we had during HR e pm tour were knowledgeable and kept us safe throughout. I really loved the Karen outfit that was given for us to wear. And the food was good especially after the hike from the elephant feeding area to the waterfall. We also had a workshop on making our inhalers which was interesting too! I would recommend joy elephant sanctuary for an ethical experience with the giant creatures Jean-Francois Bolduc2025-07-22Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Nous avons longuement cherché un sanctuaire éthique, pas si évident. Finalement notre choix était le bon, même si vous ne montez pas d'éléphant ou vous ne lavez pas, vous aurez une expérience unique et aucun regret. Superbe journée, Merci à toute l'équipe. Y2025-07-22Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. 像に乗ることはもちろん、人間と一緒の水遊び/体洗いなども行わない、本当にエシカルなツアー。
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