Ethical Elephant Sanctuary in Chiang Mai — Observation Only
Elephants as they were meant to be wild, free, and never touched.
Why Observation Only?
At our sanctuary, we believe that true respect means giving elephants the freedom to be themselves. Our mission is simple: protect, not perform.
We don’t offer rides, bathing, or feeding because elephants aren’t entertainment.
They’re family.


Respect Their Dignity
Elephants are intelligent, emotional beings. We give them space to express natural behaviors without pressure, tricks, or forced interactions.
Let Them Live Naturally
Here, elephants roam forests, bathe in mud, and bond with their herd — just as they would in the wild. Observation lets you witness their real personalities without interruption.
Your Visit Makes a Difference
When you book a visit with us, you’re doing more than joining an ethical elephant experience — you’re becoming part of something bigger.
Every booking goes directly to support:
Elephant care and well-being
The salaries and training of their caretakers
Scholarships and school lunches for children in the local hill tribe village
Your support helps protect these gentle giants and give back to the people who dedicate their lives to caring for them.
Our Promise to the Elephants
Every elephant here lives free from chains, from performances, from pressure.
No rides. No shows. No tricks. Just elephants being elephants, loved, protected, and finally at peace.
Meet Our Family
Each elephant at our sanctuary has their own journey of rescue, healing, and rediscovery of freedom. They are not just animals. They are teachers, mothers, protectors, and friends.

Elephant Calf • Jungle Explorer
Born into safety at the sanctuary, Elephant is curious, playful, and loves chasing butterflies through the trees.
Elephant reminds us what true freedom looks like when life begins with safety, love, and the freedom to simply be an elephant.
- First baby born under full ethical care

Soul Sisters
Rescued from separate trekking camps, these two formed an instant bond that has only grown stronger over time.
Rarely seen apart, they spend their days walking side by side, sharing quiet moments, and offering each other comfort, companionship, and unwavering friendship.
- Known for synchronized trunk hugs

Silent Healer
Once used in logging and ceremonies, Elephant arrived carrying scars from a difficult past.
Elephant spends his days roaming freely through the forest, foraging at his own pace, and resting beneath his favorite fig tree.
- Loves music and responds to calm voices
Each elephant at Eve79 Sanctuary carries a story of survival, healing, and hope.
As you walk alongside them, our guides will gently share their pasts and the path that led them to safety.
Your Visit Experience
More than a tour — this is a peaceful journey of connection, understanding, and presence.
Every step is designed to honor the elephants — and awaken something in you.

Welcome & Education (30 min)
Begin your visit with a warm greeting from our local team.
We’ll share our story, explain the importance of observation-only care, and help you understand how to respectfully engage with these incredible beings.
Guided Observation (2-4 hours)
Follow forest paths and natural viewing spots as you watch elephants roam freely — grazing, playing, resting, or socializing at their own pace.
There’s no show here — just real, raw elephant life unfolding before you.
Reflection & Q&A (30 min)
After your walk, we invite you to pause, share, and ask.
Talk with our guides, reflect on what you saw, and learn how your visit helps protect elephants for generations to come.
Program options
- Half-Day Morning
- Half-Day Afternoon
- Full Day Program
- 2 Days / 1 Night Stay
Daily Schedule
- Morning Tour: Pickup at 7:00-7:30 AM
- Afternoon Tour: Pickup at 12:00-12:30 PM
- Full Day Tour: Pickup at 07:00-07:30 AM
Pricing
-
Half-Day:
Adult : 1,800 THB
Children(4–12 y.o) : 1,200 THB -
Full Day:
Adult : 2,500 THB
Children(4–12 y.o) : 1,800 THB -
2 Day 1 Night:
Adult : 4,500 THB
Children(4–12 y.o) : 2,500 THB - Infant visit for free
What’s Included in Your Experience
- Expert guide with deep knowledge of elephant behavior & conservation
- Insurance
- Round-trip transportation from Chiang Mai city center
- Elevated viewing platforms with forest views
- Tea & Coffee
- You will receive a herbal inhaler as a souvenir from us
- Drink Water
What Our Guests Say
Real moments. Real emotions. Hear from travelers who felt the magic of truly ethical elephant observation where peace, respect, and wonder come together.
EXCELLENT Based on 81 reviews Posted on Google Marta Bernardo CorrotoTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We had a great experience, the elephants are so cute and very good treated! 🐘☀️Posted on Google Victoria CorreTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Avons choisi de rester 2 jours 1 nuit, très belle expérience, de beaux trecks pour voir les éléphants le premier jour. Il faut noter que c est sanctuaire éthique donc nous approchons pas les éléphants. Très belle rando le lendemain pour se baigner dans une cascade et déjeuner au bord de l’eau. Merci à tousPosted on Google Sjoukje BoumaTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We hebben een hele leuke ochtend gehad in een prachtige bergachtige omgeving. Onze gids Rambo 😁 gaf uitleg over de olifanten en was erg aardig. De paden zijn in de regentijd vrij glibberig, maar een ieder die het wilde kreeg laarzen. We hebben een moeder olifant met een baby gezien en later nog een mooie vrouwtjes olifant. De ochtend werd afgesloten met een bezoek aan een waterval en tot slot een lunch. Heel relaxed allemaal en zeker een aanraderPosted on Google Noemi B.Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Eravamo alla ricerca di un’esperienza che fosse il più possibile autentica ed etica, e siamo davvero felici di aver trovato eve79. La nostra escursione è stata estremamente rispettosa del benessere degli elefanti: abbiamo potuto osservarli nel loro ambiente naturale, senza alcuna interferenza con i loro ritmi quotidiani. Il pranzo, seppur semplice, era davvero buono. La nostra guida era una persona gentilissima e profondamente appassionata, si vede che ama il suo lavoro e che ha a cuore questi splendidi animali. Come valore aggiunto, abbiamo avuto la possibilità di ammirare le risaie, un paesaggio davvero mozzafiato. Se cercate un’esperienza autentica, emozionante e rispettosa della natura, la consiglio vivamente!Posted on Google Sunny S.Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Wir haben spontan am Tag vorher gebucht und zum Glück gabs noch einen freien Slit für uns. Die Abholung am Hostel verlief reibungslos und die Fahrt war auch entspannt ☺️ Angekommen hatten wir direkt Blick auf den schönen Wald und die Reisterassen und konnten die lieben Hunde knuddeln. Dann ging es in die gestellten Gummistiefel (was perfekt war) und so für 1 1/2 stunden in den bepfadeten Wald. Nach 10 minuten haben wir die Elefantenmama mit ihrem Baby gesehen. Der Guide ist den Tieren mit sehr viel Respekt begegnet und hat sich so gefreut sie zu sehen. Man hat gemerkt wie viel ihm die Tiere bedeuten. Es war besonders schön, dass diese Tour TATSÄCHLICH ETHISCH vertretbar ist!!!! Wir sollten leise sein, durften nicht nah an die Tiere, kein streicheln, kein Füttern, kein Baden, kein Reiten. Und dazu gab es noch etwas aufklärung über verschiedene Elefantenarten und über ihre Lebensweisen und Eigenschaften. Der Tag endete mit einer leckeren Portion Reis und der Fahrt zurück ins Hostel. Ein Erlebnis dass durchaus unterstützenswert ist und jeden Cent wert!Posted on Google Nacho RecaTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. No feed. No bath. No riding. It was a real ethical sanctuary. Great experiencePosted on Google Luna LangschTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. 100% ethical and wonderful experience! You see the Elephants just living peacefully while walking through the forest and pass by a nice waterfall :) At the end you get very delicious fried rice that grows right there 🐘Posted on Google Margot MaillochaudTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Super expérience !Verified by TrustindexTrustindex verified badge is the Universal Symbol of Trust. Only the greatest companies can get the verified badge who has a review score above 4.5, based on customer reviews over the past 12 months. Read more
EXCELLENT Based on 113 reviews Posted on Tripadvisor GrandTour05651457130Verified A very rewarding, authentic and ethical experience. It's quite rare in life that something you plan meets your expectations fully but our experience at Eve79 was everything I was hoping it would be. Trekking through the jungle and tracking elephants and then observing the elephants in what would be their natural habitat. We are a family of 4, with two young children (4yrs and 16mnths) and the trek was challenging for our 4 year old, but possible with some carrying. The kids were kept engaged by preparing 'medicine balls' for the elephants which we handed to a dedicated member of staff who distributed the balls on the ground a safe distance away so we could watch the elephants emerge from the jungle to eat. We were really impressed by the guide's concern for the elephants and our children and the way he would move us out of the elephant's path if he felt they were getting too close. No touching, no bathing, no riding, no hooks... exactly how it should be. Our guide also explained that there are no fences keeping the elephants captive, they stay because the sanctuary provides food for them every day, but they are in theory free to leave. There are staff members keeping track of the elephant's whereabouts and constantly cutting bamboo and grasses for them to eat. I think a full day tour would be enough, but we stayed overnight and had a great time. They really made us feel part of the family. I don't have anything to compare it to, but if you are after an authentic experience tracking a few elephants then this is the sanctuary for you... I f you wanted to see lots and lots of elephants, or get up really close, or didn't want to walk far then this maybe wouldn't be as ideal for you as it was for us.Posted on Tripadvisor Blanca BVerified Magnífica experiencia Ha superado todas nuestras expectativas, el sitio es precioso y muy grande, el guía es majísimo y divertido y lo más importante, los elefantes están totalmente en libertad, simplemente los observas en su hábitat natural y no interactúas con ellos. Un 10!!Posted on Tripadvisor sharonandtonycannellVerified A wonderful trip to a truly ethical sanctuary. Beautiful surroundings and guides that respected the elephants. A wonderful day in a truly ethical sanctuary. Watching the elephants roaming was truly magical. All the elephant sanctuary’s claim to be ethical now. Some are more ethical than others. We did our research carefully to ensure we weren’t encouraging a sanctuary with mass tourism. This was truly ethical. Watching from afar. No touching, no riding, no feeding, no bathing. Just as it should be. And the lunch was an unexpected bonus. Rice harvested from the fields below. Truly wonderful.Posted on Tripadvisor Sophie GVerified Elephant Sanctuary Eve79 is a great elephant sanctuary with a small number of elephants. I feel this is better than some sanctuaries with many elephants as they have more space to roam freely. I'd recommend a half day tour which is plenty of time to see the elephants eating, visit the waterfall and eat some fresh lunch.Posted on Tripadvisor lucy fVerified Based on mutual respect So amazing! Very cool to see the elephants living freely. After visiting this, I can’t imagine how watching elephants in captivity would be enjoyable. This is the only way to do it!Posted on Tripadvisor Jolanda vVerified Unieke ervaring waarin het welzijn van de olifanten voorop staat We wilden een olifantenreservaat bezoeken waarin het welzijn van de olifanten belangrijk is en dat is bij Eve79 zeker het geval. Je bent toeschouwer, je blijft op gepaste afstand, prachtige omgeving bovenop de berg. Je moet wel goed te been zijn want je wandelend door het bos/ jungle. Nadat je de olifanten heb gezien sluit je af bij een mooie waterval waar je kan zwemmen. We hadden het ochtendprogramma geboekt en kregen na afloop van de tour heerlijke rijst en meloen.Posted on Tripadvisor Matthew DVerified Ethical and sustainable elephant sanctuary 90 mins from Chiang Mai Fabulous place and staff, amazing scenery. If you want to see elephant in Thailand ethically then this is the place to go. Can’t recommend highly enoughPosted on Tripadvisor caitlin dVerified 10/10 Highly recommend, you can tell the elephants are well looked after. If you want to see elephants and not contribute to their exploitation, this really is the place to go. The staff are lovely, and the food at the end was lovely.Posted on Tripadvisor Ben TVerified An Actual Ethical Sanctuary!!! Cannot recommend this enough. We (my wife) did A LOT of research into ethical sanctuaries. Those other "ethical" places you have heard about, the really popular ones, chain up the elephants at night and herd them about during the day to be over bathed and hand fed by large volumes of tourists. Eve79 is completely hands off, observation only. Three (soon to be four) lovely Elephants (two rescues and a 2 y.o. baby) are completely free in their secluded valley, and only stay because their diet is so well subsidised by the local villagers, paid for by your visit. They are watched over and come by their free will to food laid out strategically on your visit, some of which you prepare yourself. We visited in off season and had the day tour to ourselves. You do get quite close, and the baby elephant may want to come to you so be prepared for some close encounters. It's also a bit of a trek through some steep hill sides to get to the viewing points. It's a new enterprise, raw and simple in the most authentic non-commercial way, and will really benefit from your support. We have been travelling through Asia for two months and so far this has been our stand out experience!Posted on Tripadvisor Nina VVerified Unique experience Overall expirience was unique. Communication wia Whatsapp was easy, the transport was well organized and the team was really nice and professional. The place is ethical, no forced interaction with the elephants, just enjoying elephants in their daily routine in a beautiful environment. I loved it!
Happy Visitors
Frequently Asked Questions
Is EVE79 a no-riding, ethical elephant sanctuary?
Yes. EVE79 is an observation-only sanctuary in Chiang Mai. There is no elephant riding, no bathing, and no shows. Rescued elephants roam freely in the forest and guests observe them without forced interaction.
How much does a visit to EVE79 Elephant Sanctuary cost?
Half-day tours are 1,800 THB per adult and 1,200 THB per child (4–12). Full-day tours are 2,500 THB per adult and 1,800 THB per child. The 2 days 1 night experience is 4,500 THB per adult and 2,500 THB per child. Infants visit free. Prices include round-trip transport from Chiang Mai city centre.
Where is EVE79 Elephant Sanctuary located and how far is it from Chiang Mai?
The sanctuary is in Mae Wang District, Mae Win Subdistrict, Chiang Mai, Thailand. Round-trip transport from Chiang Mai city centre is included with every booking, with morning pickups at 7:00–7:30 AM and afternoon pickups at 12:00–12:30 PM.
What is included in an EVE79 elephant observation tour?
What is included in an EVE79 elephant observation tour?
Is EVE79 Elephant Sanctuary officially licensed?
Officially Certified by Thai Authorities
We are fully licensed and recognized by the Thai Government. All operations at our sanctuary meet the required legal and ethical standards.


