Sunshine for Elephants (Elephant Nature Park)

Sunshine for Elephants is one of the projects run under Elephant Nature Park's Saddle Off model. Almost ten years ago this camp stopped offering rides and let its elephants return to a more natural life; visitors now walk with them instead of on them. The day suits reasonably fit adults and children over four who want a proper walk in the jungle and time close to the elephants, and it ends with an afternoon at Elephant Nature Park itself.

After pickup in Chiang Mai city you drive out to the project, where you meet the elephants and feed them seasonal fruit. Then you set off along jungle paths with the herd: some flat ground, some uphill, and muddy stretches after rain. The elephants forage on native plants, roll in mud and scratch on trees as they go, and you help protect their forest by tying blessed sashes around trees. The walk ends at a wooden hut on a hill above a small stream, where you learn to make som tum, Thai green papaya salad, and sit down to a vegetarian buffet lunch. You also roll rice and banana balls for the elephants. In the afternoon you watch the elephants bathe, then transfer to Elephant Nature Park to see the big herd before the drive home.

The project's guides are trained to work with elephants and give a safety briefing before you start. Group sizes are kept small to limit stress on the animals, and they are never made to do anything unnatural. Expect to walk two to three hours in total on uneven ground and to get muddy. One small daypack per person.