Mae Wang Elephant Sanctuary

Decades hauling logs, then years carrying tourists who never asked if the elephant wanted the job. In the Mae Wang valley, a small rescued herd gets to just be elephants again. You spend the morning preparing their food, walking beside them and joining them at the river, with nobody riding anything.

About this tour

Thailand's domesticated elephants spent generations working in logging camps, then in tourism — much of it hard on them. At this small sanctuary in the Mae Wang valley, a rescued herd spends the morning on its own terms: you prepare their food, walk beside them through the valley and join them at the river, with no riding at any point.