Elephant experiences
Joy Elephant Sanctuary
An elephant visit in Mae Wang with forest scenery, local hosts and a choice of half-day or longer programmes.
Updated 27 October 2026
Joy Elephant Sanctuary is in a green, mountainous area of Mae Wang, southwest of Chiang Mai. We visited and enjoyed the chance to meet the local team, watch the elephants in their surroundings and spend time outside the city. The sanctuary opened in 2024 with people from the local Karen community involved in its work.
Ways to visit
Joy offers morning and afternoon half-day visits. The programmes bring you into the forest setting to meet the elephants and spend time with the local team. Depending on the visit, you may prepare food for the elephants or join a local craft activity.
The full-day programme gives you more time in Mae Wang. It has featured activities such as making herbal food balls, planting seedlings for future elephant food and visiting a waterfall.
There have also been combination days with bamboo rafting on the Wang River, Doi Inthanon, Wat Doi Suthep and a Thai cooking class. These links go to Joy’s own programme pages, where you can see current options and make a reservation.
A local day out
Mae Wang’s river and hills are part of the appeal of the journey. Bamboo rafting is an especially fun addition if you want more time outdoors; you may get wet on the raft. If you book directly, mentioning What To Do In Chiang Mai helps Joy know how you found them.
