Chiang Mai: Inthanon, Elephant Sanctuary Observation & Waterfall
Overview
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Step into a wild adventure at Joy Elephant Sanctuary. Meet majestic elephants, conquer Doi Inthanon & Hike through lush forests, and immerse yourself in Thailand's natural beauty. It's a journey you won't want to miss!
Dive into our responsible tourism with Elephant Observation programs!
Fun Interactions: Change into traditional Karen clothing, Learn, prepare elephants food and observe the gentle giants on their completely natural behavior while maintaining safe distance.
Elephant Paradise: Refresh yourself with herbal tea and take a break at the waterfall, surrounded by serene rivers.
Engaging to the core of the culture by learning how to craft your own Thai cultural handmade souvenir.
Pump your excitement with Inthanon hike: Experience the unforgettable beauty of the breeze and mist atop Thailand’s highest peak, visit the beautiful Twin Pagodas, followed by exploring the jungle and water fall in Pha Dok Siew.
Additional Info
Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
Not recommended for pregnant travelers
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Pets are prohibited
Child seat is available up on request
The Pha Dok Siew hike is recommended for children above 5 years old.
What to bring: Extra Clothes, Swimming Suit, Sandals, Trekking / Hiking Shoes Sunblock lotion, Insect Spray, Customers own allergy medication
Driving from the city to the first attraction 3 hours (1.5 hours each way) - The rest of the 45 mins is being spent travelling within Doi Inthanon area
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What To Expect
A One Day adventure with our Joy Elephant Sanctuary Observation, Doi Inthanon & Hiking Program. Enjoy scenic rural Chiang Mai as you're picked up and journey through picturesque landscapes. At the sanctuary, change into traditional Karen clothing for hands-on activities, preparing food for the elephants while learning about their history and behavior. Observe the elephants in the jungle while they roam freely. Sip herbal tea while you see the elephants enjoying their cool time before crafting a Thai cultural souvenir. Then you will enjoy your lunch before leaving the Joy Elephant Sanctuary heading towards Doi Inthanon.
Doi Inthanon
Doi Inthanon, the highest mountain in Thailand at 2,565 meters, is located in Chiang Mai Province. Named after King Inthawichayanon, the area boasts rich biodiversity, including over 400 bird species, and features diverse ecosystems like rainforests and pine forests. Visitors can enjoy stunning waterfalls, the unique frost flower phenomenon in cool seasons, and visit the highest peak of Thailand.
What‘s Included
Towel
Lunch
Drinking Water
Insurance
Coffee and/or Tea
Elephant's Food & Snack
Ticket (Inthanon National Park & Twin Pagodas)
Other personal expenses
Please bring Jacket or clothes that can keep you warm on top of the hill.
Pickup points
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Chiang Mai: Inthanon, Elephant Sanctuary Observation & Waterfall
Pickup included
Reviews
37 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Rushed tour - Guide has a lot to learn.
Emil W,Apr 13, 2026
- Review from Viator
2.00We joined this tour which included an elephant sanctuary, a visit to Thailand’s highest mountain, and a hike to a waterfall and a Karen village. First of all, the elephant sanctuary itself was nice. The elephants seemed well treated and it was a good experience to see them up close. During the bathing part, however, there was one staff member who kept splashing water on people even when it was clear they didn’t find it funny. It felt a bit strange and unnecessary, but overall the elephants themselves were lovely. The more disappointing part of the day was unfortunately the rest of the tour. Our guide on the mountain seemed quite inexperienced, and from the beginning it felt a bit like he just wanted to finish the tour and go home. When we reached the highest point of the mountain, we walked past the sign that marks the highest point without stopping. Most people take photos there, but we were just moving along quickly. Of course we could have insisted on stopping, but we didn’t know if there was another viewpoint or sign ahead. The most frustrating part of the day was the hike to the waterfall and the Karen village. The trail itself is beautiful, although quite crowded (which of course is not the guide’s fault). However, the pace was extremely fast from the beginning. We were only four people in the group, but we were constantly overtaking other hikers because of the speed. For us, hiking is about enjoying the surroundings and taking things in at a calm pace. We didn’t want to rush through the entire hike, so we slowed down a bit. After that, the guide seemed to lose patience and walked about 80–100 meters ahead of us for most of the hike. We ended up hearing parts of his explanations secondhand from other groups. When we finally reached the waterfall — the destination of a one-hour hike — we had about 55 seconds to look at it and maybe take a photo before we had to move on again. That felt very strange after walking that far to get there. In general, the whole hiking part felt rushed. For us, a hike should be something you experience and enjoy, not something you hurry through. If you feel the same way about hiking, we unfortunately cannot recommend this tour. The elephant sanctuary is worth visiting, but you might want to choose one closer to the city instead. And if you really want to visit the mountain, it might be better to go on your own or with a guide who has time to focus on your group. We also returned much earlier than the scheduled end time, even though there were only four of us on the tour.
Walking in the mountains
MelanyJF,Mar 22, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Wow, we loved our mountain walk with the elephants.
A day full of emotions
KARIM G,Feb 27, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00A very dense full day. Nice trekking , visits also. We really liked the ethics of the sanctuary. The well-being of the elephant comes first. Our guide was on top (Attentive, humorous) And good singer 😁
Great!
wiamh2026,Feb 7, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Very nice experience Elephants are really seen up close and especially in a natural environment and well treated. Swimming possible at the end of the day and snack very well. To do
Amazing day
Georgia S,Jan 30, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00The elephants were the highlight of the day! It was surreal to walk beside then through the jungle area. They seemed very happy and well looked after, this was a no touch no bathing sanctuary which was lovely to be apart of. Then we went to Doi inthanon to see the Pagodas, the nature trail was great with an amazing waterfall finishing in a village to try some tea and coffee. It was a long day as we were still jet lagged but definitely worth it! Our tour guide was very friendly and informative. Thank you!
Very informative and respectful elephant experience
NorthStar40407802603,Jan 17, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Recommended tour for nature lovers. Fun feeding in the morning, then respectful walk with elephants and bathing in the waterfall where our guide gave us valuable information about elephants. Delicious pad Thai, fruits and tea for lunch. After the highest point of Thailand (Summit Doi Inthanon - there it was 13 degrees) another short visit to the two king pagodas. Finally, a wonderful hike along a waterfall through the forest and past rice fields to an authentic Karen Village. We really liked it:-)
Amazing wonderful day out above Chiang Mai
simonjU3403IX,Jan 16, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Amazing day with the elephants, was very impressed with how the sanctuary is run with proper respect for the elephants, and then the mountain jungle and waterfall hike were really great also
This tour was great! It...
Ahmed K,Jan 2, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00This tour was great! It was a very long day, we left our hotel at 6:30 and didn't get back until 19:30. Note, there is a LOT of driving, especially on small windy roads towards the sanctuary. What we liked the most was seeing the elephants, being able to feed them and walk with them. It was amazing witnessing the creatures up close and we loved how ethical and respectful this sanctuary was. No riding, no washing and no petting! The experience in the park was great too, we really enjoyed the hike with the beautiful waterfalls and views. The Karen village was a wonderful experience with the coffee tasting and the lunch was very tasty. Overall, we thought this tour was well worth the money and highly recommend it.
Amazing trip
Alicia M,Dec 22, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00The day was absolutely amazing. From learning about the elephants to walking with them in their natural habitat to the amazing hike and seeing the Karen village it was a beautiful day. The guides were all fabulous as well. We felt we got to see a whole other side of Thailand from the cities.
Ethical elephant trip
Journey562498,Dec 18, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had a great day with the elephants and later hike to the Karen village. Great lunch, very well organized, lots of interesting things to do. Highly recommended.
-5% off
From THB 2,375.00Was THB 2,500.00
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Operated by Joy Elephant Sanctuary