Visiting Maerim Elephant Sanctuary

Location: Chaing Mai, Thailand

Recommended by Abigail of I’m Going on an Adventure

How do I know it’s ethical?

A holiday to Thailand usually means an elephant encounter, but with so many tours to choose from how do you know which is ethical and which isn’t? 

In recent years, the mood around animal encounters has shifted and many tourists no longer wish to partake in unethical experiences. In regards to elephants, riding elephants was once a massive money-making business! 

However, as we evolve a deeper understanding of how these elephants are treated for us to be able to get close to them, let alone ride them, we understand that it is not ethical. In fact, taming an elephant, or crushing as it’s known is a harsh and cruel experience.

An ethical elephant sanctuary is one which does not allow you to ride elephants, or use elephants in a cruel or disrespectful manner. Most elephants in sanctuaries have either come from riding camps, logging camps, or circuses and are now living a much happier life. 

There are two types of ethical encounters that are offered by sanctuaries. The most ethical is a hand-off approach where you visit the elephants, and watch them but never interact. The second is a hands-on approach which is offered by most elephant sanctuaries in Thailand.

The debate is still out if the second is actually an ethical approach, but for now, it seems to be the lesser of two evils and is considered ethical. You can read more about the differences in my post, Maerim Elephant Sanctuary In Chiang Mai, Thailand: Is It Ethical?

Description of the Experience

Visiting Maerim Elephant Sanctuary was an incredible experience, we really did have the most amazing day. We were very lucky as well since we were the only two in our group and so the experience felt more like a private one-to-one. 

We were able to feed, bathe and get very close to the elephants, this is very much a hands-on approach. From what we saw the elephants were not forced into any activity and were very much cared for.

If the elephants were asked, I’m sure they would prefer their current lifestyle to their previous; which would have been working in logging and riding camps! Maerim Elephant Sanctuary is considered an ethical sanctuary that follows a hands-on approach.

Company/ Cost: 

You can book directly through Maerim Elephant Sanctuary. A full-day experience is 2,000 THB per person and the half-day is 1,600 THB. Transportation is included; the half day can be booked for 7 am or 2 pm.

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This is one post on a series of ethical animal tourism posts by travel content creators. The experiences cover all seven continents and a variety of animals. Ensure that your animal experience is an ethical one.

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