What To Expect

What‘s Included

Reviews

• A Great Week at Kindred Spirit Elephant Sanctuary!

  Kunsang50,,Aug 18, 2019

  - Review from Tripadvisor

  5.00

  After looking into different elephant sanctuaries in Thailand, I finally settled on Kindred Spirit Elephant Sanctuary (KSES). And am I glad I ever did! My week there was an amazing one I’ll never forget. What most attracted me to this sanctuary was that the elephants get to roam in a large area of forest and that I would get to see elephants in their natural habitat. Every day, we would hike to where the elephants were and observe them as they went about their day eating, mud or dust bathing and socializing with each other. The staff at the sanctuary taught us about Asian elephants, patiently answered our many questions and did everything they could to make our week there an enjoyable one. Having the chance to stay at a homestay with one of the families in the Karen Hill Tribe village was also a unique experience. The villagers are friendly and welcoming. Meals are home cooked and delicious. Being picked up from and dropped off in Chiang Mai made getting to and from KSES easy and hassle-free. I would highly recommend a visit to KSES to anyone who is interested in seeing elephants at an ethical sanctuary. It’s a fantastic experience and I would love to one day go back!

• Once in a lifetime internship

  katemS9233IM,,Jun 24, 2019

  - Review from Tripadvisor

  5.00

  After nearly a year of researching Thailand and combing through elephant “sanctuaries”, I found Kindred Spirit! I wanted to make sure that I was contributing to an ethical and community-driven program and that’s exactly what I found at KSES. I spent 2 incredible months collecting social behavior data, researching flora and fauna native to the area, hiking to see the most beautiful family of elephants, and gaining an appreciation for the work that KSES has done for their community and the well-being of Asian elephants all over SE Asia. Outside of the internship responsibilities, I had plenty of down time to explore the village, read, and hang out with fellow volunteers and interns. I must say, besides seeing elephants every day, the best part of my experience was my host family. I have never felt so welcomed and loved by a group of people. We spent most nights by the fire, laughing, and telling stories of home. I would accompany them to church and other affairs and truly felt that I was a part of their family. I will always be grateful for my time at KSES!

  

  

  

• Experience of a lifetime

  TParker922,,Jun 20, 2019

  - Review from Tripadvisor

  5.00

  I visited the sanctuary shortly after its opening and I loved every minute of it. The village is so welcoming and supportive of volunteers coming to not only spend time with the elephants, but to learn about their lives and culture. Kerri, Sombat and the rest of Kindred Spirit are committed to returning elephants into the jungle, where they belong. I highly recommend volunteering with them. I look forward to returning as often as I can.

  

  

  

  

• Incredible, Rewarding, Exceptional Life Experience

  FeeLeakey,,Jun 20, 2019

  - Review from Tripadvisor

  5.00

  Where do I start? Want to experience an authentic Thai village? Want to interact with Elephants in an ethical way? Want to contribute to these gorgeous Elephants being treated with respect, and help them return home? ALSO... want to meet some amazing, unique people... sit around under the stars, chat, sing and chill? Needing a life changing experience? I'll never forget this place and I will return. If you're a nature person, you'll be walking through the jungle, an animal person? Seeing and hearing birds, hanging out with puppies, observing elephants and checking out insects... Interested in anthropology? You'll experience authentic village life, and get to learn some almost-extinct language... Budding photographer? Its hard not to move without seeing something you feel the need to capture... My one week was extraordinary, made some life long friends, and life long memories. Cannot recommend this enough!

  

  

  

  

  

  

• 100% ETHICAL Elephant Sanctuary! Must visit

  Jade9333,,Jun 13, 2019

  - Review from Tripadvisor

  5.00

  I researched ethical sanctuaries for months before my trip to Thailand. I was terrified of getting there and it turning out to be not a sanctaury at all. I can confidently say that this was NOT the case at Kindred Spirit. The elephants are free to roam, forage and socialise in the forest with their mahouts making sure they are safe at all times by keeping an eye on things from a distance. The The elephants are truly happy here in their natural enviroment and if you are looking for an ethical place with zero bathing, zero riding , zero bullhooks, zero exploitation and total love and care for elephants then this is the place for you. In this sanctuary, it is you as the volunteer who goes hiking in the forest to find the elephants and you can feed them bananas if they want (they always do) , it is not forced in any way and then you can witness elephants being elephants which is memorizing. I stayed here for 6 weeks and cherished every moment with the elephants. Not only do you get to experience elephants being natural but you also get the privilege of staying in a traditional Karen hill tribe village. The villagers are super friendly and all the animals around the village will please any animal lover. The food cooked by my homestay family is something I still miss as it was amazing and I was very easily catered to as a vegan. This is a must do experience for those wanting a truly ethical experience.