This participatory holiday offers a rare experience: spending each day in the company of five elephants taken in by a small Thai family living on the outskirts of Chiang Mai. These gentle giants, once exploited in a tourist park, now live in a respectful environment at the heart of a committed family project.

The history of elephants: a deeply Thai heritage

In Thailand, particularly in the North of the country, elephants have played a major role for centuries. Formerly used for forestry work – notably logging and transporting timber – they were then redirected en masse to the tourism industry when deforestation was gradually banned.

Elephant rides, shows, constant chaining: for years, these practices became the norm in many parks.

The Covid-19 crisis has disrupted this ecosystem: with the sudden disappearance of tourists, many elephants have been abandoned or neglected. When the owner of a neighbouring park died, his animals were entrusted to various families, including the owner's own son, who decided to radically change their practices. No more chains, no more shows, no more rides: just a respectful, sustainable and ethical approach.

The five elephants you will meet are among these rescued animals. Taken in by a small family who live right next to the former park, they now enjoy a semi-natural environment, appropriate food, unforced human interaction and greater freedom of movement.

Every day, the family guides you through activities essential to the elephants' well-being: preparing their food, learning the proper techniques for feeding them directly, walking with them in the heart of the jungle, cleaning their enclosures, and observing their general condition.

These are simple, authentic moments.
You will be surprised by the delicacy with which these giants move: massive, yet silent and surprisingly gentle.

A commitment that changes local
practices

Beyond the pleasure of being in contact with these pachyderms, your participation has a real impact.

The family wants to prove that ethical and respectful tourism can be economically viable. Elephant rides still exist in the region, but the model proposed here shows an alternative way forward: one of kindness and respect for the animal's pace.

Your presence helps to reinforce this message to the local community.