if you visit an elephant sanctuary please make sure it is an ethical one such as this one, Do Not visit the riding camps! Think for yourself. It was an experience like never before and I would recommend it to anybody. We are so happy that you enjoyed your experience with us. Some have more than 30 people per tour while others only 10-15. We did the full day tour. There are many refugee dogs in the place which are also very friendly. But you will be bathing the elephants in a mud pit so youll want to bring a swimsuit to wear under your clothes. We are 100% against elephant riding, performances, tricks and any method of training or discipline where pain is inflicted to achieve a result. Tip 3: Enquire how many people they normally have per tour. Elephant Care at Bamboo Elephant Family Care from Chiang Mai, Elephant in Wild Sanctuary, Trekking and Rafting in Chiang Mai, 3 Experiences: Doi Inthanon Tour, Elephant Sanctuary, Trekking Trail, Inthanon Heaven Trail(Living Green Elephant Sanctuary), Half Day Experience Rescue Elephant Centre in Chiang Mai, Best Seller! you can also bring your phone with you for pictures (at your own risk! Thank you for coming and sharing your passion for elephant. My wife was hesitant but is so glad that she did. Recommended experiences in and around Mae Rim, Points of Interest & Landmarks, Mountains. And it shows! Read our. Max was our host and he was absolutely amazing! This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. Collectively, our educated decision making has led to hundreds of elephants being freed from riding camps. But in the last 5 years, the city has seen a drastic change in mentality toward elephant cruelty. It's very nice to know that our guests understand what we are passionate about. Maerim Elephant Sanctuary has five elephants rescued from riding camps, circuses, and illegal logging work. You can call the providers or go to their in-store address. Copyright 2023 Wandering Media LLC. A full-day experience is 2,000 THB per person and the half-day is 1,600 THB. Religion vs animal rights - A take on Kerala's elephant problem Hi Jono W. Maerim Elephant Sanctuary does have opportunities if you would like more time to get to know and love the rescued elephants. But I didnt know back then. Maerim Elephant Sanctuary: Another unethical place - See 1,784 traveler reviews, 979 candid photos, and great deals for Mae Rim, Thailand, at Tripadvisor. She raved about her experiences there so for us, we simply followed her recommendation. Highly recommended! What days have the least amount of people? Just a woman who has fallen in love with getting lost around the world. Thanks! At the time of our visit, the Maerim Elephant Sanctuary had 6 elephants and was in the process of acquiring one more. There was also a three-month old baby monkey which had been orphaned so was being cared for, it was so cute! At 30 humans to 5 elephants Id feel intimidated if I were an elephant. Dee our guide was fabulous, he was very funny and knowledgeable and it was clear he and his team care for the elephants greatly. There are four well-treated, friendly elephants and Maerim that get 24 hour care, tons of food, and plenty of visits from local dogs. From the moment you reach it, you can tell the elephants are adored and so well cared for. - See 1,768 traveler reviews, 954 candid photos, and great deals for Mae Rim, Thailand, at Tripadvisor. These guys are fantastic and get you to really get involved with the elephants. If anyone would want to personalise a tour outside our offered packages, we will always try and cater to our valued guests if we can. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Max our elephant guide was so great, our group size was about 16 people but you still managed to get photos of just yourself with the elephants - you do get a lot of time with them - plus there is a photographer who takes a lot of photos which you get to view & buy at the end! The photographer is fabulous most of the time you arent even aware he is taking the photos. Maerim Elephant Sanctuary. For lunch we made our own Thai soup. I didnt have the luxury of making an educated choice. Maerim Elephant Sanctuary: Ethical, beautiful elephant sanctuary - See 1,765 traveler reviews, 952 candid photos, and great deals for Mae Rim, Thailand, at Tripadvisor. People would rather pay and see happy elephants than to ride and assert their dominance over a broken animal. We're so happy that you enjoyed your experience with us here at Maerim Elephant Sanctuary. We feel that both package offer a great experience. The elephants were well treated and were left to their own devises, we just followed them, fed them and bathed them, no visible signs of cruelty. They are very knowledgeable about their behaviors. Incredible experience hanging out with Elephants. Maerim Elephant Sanctuary: Amazing and ethical sanctuary - See 1,776 traveler reviews, 964 candid photos, and great deals for Mae Rim, Thailand, at Tripadvisor. And finally, youll head back to the reception area where you can purchase a refreshing cocktail and lounge in their pristine, elephant-free pool before lunch. Maerim Elephant Sanctuary is considered an ethical sanctuary that follows a hands-on approach. After a lot of research we decided to go to Mae Rim and could not have been happier with our choice. Hi Marloes! We did the half day visit and we thought it was plenty of time with the elephants. Join the monthly newsletter for travel tips and inspiration! To what extent are you going to let your pride rule your thoughts and actions in the present? There are many "sanctuaries" in Thailand. People that came in the group also prepared the lunch together at the end. Maerim was coming up a lot as recommendations and was a lot cheaper than other recommendations. Ask me again now, and my answer would be very different. Thank you for your review.We totally understand your concerns. Can you please add your prices to this information? We hope to see you again in the future.Thank you from the staff at Mae Rim Elephant Sanctuary!Where Elephants are loved and respected! It is so wonderful that guests can come and make memories to treasure whilst at the same time, supporting the welfare of elephants. Wow, what a lovely review. Could not fault this place at all. More people means more money in a shorter period, but it also means the sooner they can save more elephants from riding camps, logging industry or circuses. What hotels are near Maerim Elephant Sanctuary? Our guide had us sit in a shady spot nearby to give us about 45 minutes of elephant education. Hi, thank you for your question and we apologise forbthe delayed response. Maerim elephant sanctuary | Chiang Mai - Facebook There were five elephants. They have only been open for a few years and really understand the needs of the elephants. This is THE MOST up close and personal you will ever be with elephants. !Great staffA true Sanctuary!! Also the small fee for the optional professional photography service also goes back into supporting the elephants so thank you again. This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Two years later and that is two very difficult covid years of closure, we arrived at Maerim and found everything that she said to be absolutely true. Maybe you've heard of Maerim Elephant Sanctuary and are trying to work out if it's the right place for you. My family of five had an amazing time at Into the Wild Elephant Camp. How to choose an Ethical Elephant Sanctuary? A full-day experience is 2,000 THB per person and the half-day is 1,600 THB. This was an awesome experience! Book Here Book a Room at Maerim Elephant Guesthouse Other Package HALF DAY MORNING Pick up : 7.00 - 7.30 A.M. Drop off : 1.30 P.M. BOOK HALF DAY AFTERNOON Pick up : 14.00-14.30 Drop off : 20.30 BOOK FULL DAY VISIT By choosing our sanctuary you will be actively contributing to saving the next gentle giant from a life of slavery. If you have any questions or comments youd like to add about this article, simply leave a comment below or message me @emilypeilan. Maerim Elephant Sanctuary is a project created to. I felt we were doing what they would do naturally: feeding them, walking with them, letting them roam about, cooling off in the mud and then having a bath to wash it all off. Sadly, in our home of Thailand, and the surrounding countries of Mynamar, Laos and Cambodia, some of these extraordinary animals live in captivity, are used for heavy labor on logging farms and . The video we watched at the start was partly filmed by one of the guides himself. A very good photographer follows you round for the whole day, and you have the opportunity to purchase the photographs taken. Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links. Ask if they offer riding and if they used to offer riding. Every single person on the staff was amazing. They also have beer, soda, coffee, tea, and smoothies available for purchase. The pace of activities was perfect. Planning a trip to Thailand? But Id also suggest looking around for other ethical providers who offer tours with 15 people or less. Read our, busabong, Manager at Maerim Elephant Sanctuary, responded to this review. Thank you for your honest review, We are pleased to have given you a true, meaningful experience. A Visit to Maerim Elephant Sanctuary in Chiang Mai, Thailand. !Then say good to the elephants and clean up for a great lunch! Most of the elephant sanctuaries around Chiang Mai offer a very similar program involving bathing and feeding the elephants. The main guy looking after everything spoke very good English and was very knowledgeable about the elephants. There are two types of ethical encounters that are offered by sanctuaries. Kind regards. The Sanctuary is interested in reversing the alarming trends in the elephant population and redirecting the tourism industry away from inhumane rides, carnival shows, and the like that the average Thai elephant is likely subjected to. They were were some of the best pictures we have ever posted online for our friends and family. All in all a great experience and would recommend to anyone going to Chiang Mai, particularly those who are concerned for the welfare of the animals. Dee our guide was great and the day was well organised. Maerim Elephant Sanctuary is a must visit! We learned that it will re-grow and bear fruit in as little as 9 months! Thank you for visiting and helping in the fight to save more of these magnificent creatures.All the best from Maerim Elephant Sanctuary. Maerim Elephant Sanctuary: Ethical and enjoyable for all - See 1,776 traveler reviews, 964 candid photos, and great deals for Mae Rim, Thailand, at Tripadvisor. I was concerned about the welfare of the elephants and was worried it may seem they were acting against their will or forced to do things. Not only is the service they provide exceptional but the way they look after and care for the elephants was so reassuring and lovely to see. This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. An Ethical and Fun Experience with Elephants - Reviews, Photos - Maerim Tim showed Now? If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. They have to purchase these elephants from logging companies, riding camps, and circus shows. Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information. On average however a group will consist 10-15 people. We changed into traditional Mahout clothing and packed our pockets with as many bananas we could carry. Nowadays, thanks to the internet and social media exposure, many people are becoming more mindful of animal welfare and choosing to support the more ethical local providers instead. Hotels near Chiang Mai Intl Airport (CNX), Motels near Chiang Mai Intl Airport (CNX), Hotels near Chiang Mai Rajabhat University, Hotels near Chiang Mai Vocational College, Hotels near Rajamangala University of Technology, Lanna Nan, Things to do near Maerim Elephant Sanctuary, Zipline & Aerial Adventure Parks in Mae Rim, Points of Interest & Landmarks in Mae Rim, Queen Sirikit Botanic Garden: Tickets & Tours, Elephant POOPOOPAPER Park: Tickets & Tours, Karen Long Neck Village: Tickets & Tours, Wat Pa Daraphirom Temple: Tickets & Tours, Bangarang Muay Thai & Fitness Gym: Tickets & Tours, Summit Green Valley Chiangmai Country Club: Tickets & Tours, Skagway Shore Excursion: Yukon Discovery Tour. This is one post on a series of ethical animal tourism posts by travel content creators. We hope to see you again in the future. Lunch includes a brief lesson on how to make Thai noodle soup. It's also lovely to see how much our guests care about our elephants, this is a big part of our drive. It makes me sick to the stomach and I am disgusted at my past self. The elephants seemed happy and playful. All the best for the future. When in Thailand, you are bombarded with dozens and dozens of elephant providers - many who may claim to be elephant friendly because they offer a no-riding option, then you keep reading and this is often what you see: Option A: Elephant Friendly Tour - No Riding. I see the scars embedded on the elephants bodies and cant help but let a few tears fall. Your email address will not be published. But not all of them treat there elephants well. Thank you for your lovely response.We would really love to see you back in the future and hopefully with more members of our beautiful family to meet.Thank you for choosing Maerim Elephant Sanctuary. What was the reason for the negative review? My boyfriend and I had a great time at Maerim elephant sanctuary. This is the power, we as consumers have. Maerim Elephant Sanctuary: Amazing, highly education and ethical - must do! It's amazing to watch the elephants interact not only with guests but also with each other and their environment. Its a bit of an information overload, but if you focus on the reviews (both positives and negatives), youll quickly be able to filter out the unethical ones. Ask Katharine R about Maerim Elephant Sanctuary, Ask johnsonNjohnsun about Maerim Elephant Sanctuary, Great for those who are concerned about cruelty, Ask Fiona P about Maerim Elephant Sanctuary, Ask Seren W about Maerim Elephant Sanctuary, Ask stevensH7696GA about Maerim Elephant Sanctuary, Ask franneale about Maerim Elephant Sanctuary. That once upon a time, I indirectly supported the cause of their suffering just by going to the zoo, to Ocean Park, to watch animals do unnatural tricks for sheer human entertainment. It really is so heartwarming to hear reviews like yours. We are so glad your visit was informational and enjoyable. Why is it Important to Choose Ethical Providers? Maerim Elephant Sanctuary: Great ethical elephant experience! This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. Never spam, just #RealTravel. The Elephants are awesome! Restaurants near Maerim Elephant Sanctuary: 93% of travelers recommend this experience. This place was recommended by a friend who had just gone there and it was awesome. The sanctuary uniform is a checkered t-shirt and large pants that tie so they can fit pretty much any size and shape. A simple google search will bring up enough to keep you busy and scrolling for while. Steven, We are glad you enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere of the sanctuary. It also creates a more relaxed and more engaged group of people, in my opinion. The mahouts really care about and love the elephants, only using words and slight guided direction while we are hanging with the elephants. This article will explain what to look out for when choosing an ethical provider, what a typical day at an elephant sanctuary looks like, how much it costs, where to find and book a tour, and lastly, a more personal story with some varying opinions and experiences from people I talked to.

Are Python Global Variables Bad, Closest Airport To San Bernardino, Articles I