One Day Tour At ChangChill, An Observation-only, Truly Elephant-friendly Camp - Chiang Mai

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Tour Information

Key Details

  • Mobile Voucher Accepted
  • Hotel pickup Available
  • Duration: 6 Hrs
  • Language:
    English
  • Departure Time :
    07:30 AM
  • Departure Details :
    Traveler pickup is offered
    We pick up from any Hotel in Chiang Mai City
    Airports
    Chiang Mai Intl Airport, Chiang Mai Thailand
  • Cancellation Policy :
    This activity is non-refundable Tours booked using discount coupon codes will be non refundable.

Overview

ChangChill, located in Chiang mai, Northern Thailand, started its journey in 2017. ChangChill (meaning relaxed elephants in Thai) is now ready to reopen its doors offering a better life for elephants and a unique experience for visitors. the six resident female elephants the freedom to roam the valley, graze, and bathe in the river, mud and dust, while socializing with each other. Visitors are no longer encouraged to interact with the elephants, but are now given the chance to see how the elephants choose to spend their days in the forest. Observe elephants navigate the lush forest, learn about Karen hill tribe culture with local community members, or enjoy the breathtaking view from the elephant observation deck its not only the elephants that get to chill here.

Know More about this tour

Itinerary
10:00 am Arrival and introduction to ChangChills past, present and future and the programs schedule.
10:30 am Visitors begin their elephant walk, and follow their guide into the forest to observe the elephants grazing, socializing, while observing from a safe distance.
11:30 am
Visitors arrive at a rest station for traditional Thai refreshments The rest station is above a mud pit, where on a hot day, the elephants love to bathe and play together.
12:00 pm
Visitors move down to the riverside sala where they learn a bit about enrichment, help fill feeding tubes with corn, sugar cane, grass, bananas and any other supplementary food on hand.
12:15 pm Visitors having a lunch
1:00 pm
Visitors will learn about the communitys history and the traditional method of weaving clothing and bags at the Karen Cultural Centre. Visitors can try this method of weaving with the guidance of local community members and purchase item that were made by hand in the village.
1:30 pm Start Afternoon Program
Traditional Herb Lesson Learn About Herb that good for Elephant
Elephant Cooking Class learn how to make a Thai herb madicine ball for our elephant.
Mahout Chating with Mahouts about their live

Inclusions

Lunch - local Vegeterian Thai food

Air-conditioned vehicle

Exclusions

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking

Not wheelchair accessible

Infants must sit on laps

Not recommended for pregnant travelers

Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level

This tour/activity will have a maximum of 2 travelers

Traveler Reviews

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  • 22-Dec-2022

    When there are hundreds of elephant sanctuaries to choose from near Chiang Mai, it can be difficult to decide on which one to choose. If you want the best selfies or the best bang for buck with elephants this isn't the tour for you. However the educational value and knowing you are supporting an ethical tourist operator was worth it. Our kids enjoyed chopping the sugar cane with the machete and pounding the ingredients for the medicine the most so I'm glad we chose the full day tour. In the end you do get very close to their four elephants. Our tour guide Tanya was knowledgeable and very friendly. The vegetarian food, facilities and the ride was of a good standard. The ride back was quite long (almost 2 hrs) but expected.

  • 17-Dec-2022

    Estuvimos investigando mucho sobre los lugares llamados santuarios o reservas de elefantes, hay mucha información pero muy confusa. En nuestro caso queríamos tener una experiencia que fuera realmente responsable con el bienestar de los elefantes y ahí fue donde encontramos a ChangChill. Un lugar donde realmente se tiene una experiencia única y se respeta al elefante. Se puede observar a los elefantes siendo elefantes y no víctimas del turismo invasivo que los quiere tocar, alimentar y bañar; ya que estos animales son sometidos y obligados a estar en el agua. Changchill es uno de los pocos lugares en Tailandia que realmente cuida responsablemente el bienestar de estos magníficos animales. Además, quisiera comentar que toda la experiencia fue magnífica, desde la puntualidad del transporte, el personal, la comida, el cuidado de las instalaciones... etc.

  • 08-Dec-2022

    An absolutely amazing experience. Our family went for a full day and enjoyed every moment. The location is worth the trip on its own with beautiful forest, river and rice paddies. We love the fact that this place held true to its ethical claim. We had to walk through the forest to see the elephants. There were no contact but lots of close sightings. We had a great guide who made our experience smooth and informative.

  • 01-Dec-2022

    My 3rd visit to ChangChill & I wouldn’t go anywhere else to see elephants in Chiang Mai. A truly ethical sanctuary where you walk into the forest to observe the eles in their natural setting. No touching, feeding or bathing…just observing. You learn about the eles as well as make food balls for them & you’re provided a delicious local Thai lunch. You’ll experience a day like you’ve never had before.

  • 29-Nov-2022

    Journée absolument incroyable, total dépaysement, le guide a été adorable c’est bien organisé, on peux adapter la journée si on souhaite rester regarder un éléphant ou aller chercher ou s’en trouve un autre. Vrai proximité avec les éléphants en gardant ce côté respectueux et bienveillant ! Le prix en vaut la peine, surtout que le groupe est restreint (7 personnes en tout pour nous) donc vraiment appréciable !

  • 23-Nov-2022

    This is the perfect tour - you get to see elephants being elephants. I loved learning about how they rescued these elephants and are letting them be some sort of wild again. They can’t truly be wild but this is very close. It is so nice to see a truly ethical elephant sanctuary doing so well. Vegetarian lunch was delicious too!

  • 17-Nov-2022

    Situated in the beautiful, lush forrest in Northern Thailand, you will surely enjoy a full day amongst elephants and dogs. We liked the small size of the elephant sactuary and the wah they treat the animals. We took a short but hilly hike to see the elephants roam in their own environment. No bathing, deeding or petting- just letting the elephants be and observe them from a respectable distance. After the hike we had a tasy lunch and prepared snack for the elepha ts which they were happy to munch upon. Great day, great guide!

  • 14-Nov-2022

    One of the only really ethical elephants sanctuary in Thailand, here there is no physical interaction with the animal (no riding of course, but also no bathing or no touching). Wild animals should remain wild and this is why Chang Chill is encouraging them to just be elephants :) This also makes the encounter with them even more special, more intimate. First, we did an easy jungle trekking to search for them and observe them peacefully in the wild. After a delicious lunch, the second part of the day consists of observing elephants coming to eat sugar canes as a supplement to their autonomous feeding. Here, you can see them during quite a long time from very near! Overall we really loved our experience and our guide Mai, one of the best activity to do around Chiang Mai!

  • 11-Nov-2022

    We were looking for a animal friendly elephant park and Changchill definitely is!! The elephants are able to walk free through the jungle. Changchill take care of elephants who used to be used for riding en working. Togheter with world animal protection, this park fights for a better future for these animals!! I truly recommend this park to everyone!! Please avoid the big elephant parks where you can touch and feed them, this is bad for the animals!!!

  • 10-Nov-2022

    Changchill day programme provides me the opportunity to see elephants living in an environment as natural as possible and being well cared for. I am pleased to observe the elephant's physiology and its behaviour towards each other. My one tip for would be visitors is to follow the guide's advice, be patient and observe quietly. The day spent at the Sanctuary is more than photo taking opportunities. It is about learning how these magnificent animals deserve our love, care and respect.

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