*The prices shown are in U.S. dollars (USD); please note that Viajera en Tailandia will never charge you for booking through our site.
You’ll spend one night in the village of Ban Naklang, where you’ll share meals, conversations, and everyday moments with a Karen family. Mornings begin with a walk through the forest alongside the local team to look for elephants and follow them as they roam the area.
The elephants roam freely, and each visit unfolds differently, depending on the places they choose to explore, the food they find, and the interactions they have as a group. During the rest of your stay, you’ll have time to get to know the community, participate in activities such as basket weaving, and share in the daily lives of your host families.
Learn about the regenerative practices promoted by the host
The Karen families of Ban Naklang have lived in these mountains in northern Thailand for generations, forging a close bond with the forest, the land, and the elephants that are part of this landscape. Today, they welcome visitors into their homes, sharing meals, conversations, and aspects of the community’s daily life.
More than a decade ago, Cristina began working with elephants in Thailand, and years later, she began collaborating with the families of Ban Naklang to support an initiative based on coexistence between the community, the forest, and the elephants. As director of Kindred Spirit Elephant Sanctuary, she supports the project as an ally and facilitator, promoting animal welfare and the relationships that make this experience possible.
Perhaps that is what makes this place special. Rather than simply arriving at a tourist destination, visitors are invited to become part—even if only for a few days—of the life of a community and the relationships that sustain this region. The elephants, the people, and the forest are all part of the same system that continues to evolve and care for one another.
Located near Doi Inthanon National Park, Mae Chaem is a mountainous region in northern Thailand where forests, rivers, and farmland are part of daily life for local communities. This area is home to a rich cultural diversity and has been inhabited by various ethnic groups, including the Karen people, whose traditions and knowledge remain closely tied to the landscape they inhabit.
Ban Naklang, a small Karen community where this experience takes place, is located on one of these mountains. Here, the forest is part of daily life, and elephants play an important role in local history and culture. During your stay, you’ll have the opportunity to get to know this environment through the community’s daily life, spending time with families, hiking forest trails, and experiencing a way of life deeply connected to the land.
The experience lasts 2 days and 1 night. During your stay, you’ll stay in a private room in the home of a Karen family in the community of Ban Naklang, where you’ll share meals and moments of daily life, offering an authentic immersion in the local culture.
The price is 330 USD per person. If two or more people are traveling together, the rate is 175 USD per person. The price includes round-trip transportation from your accommodations in Chiang Mai, lodging, all meals, community activities, and support from the local team throughout the experience.
No. This experience prioritizes the elephants’ well-being and allows you to observe them as they move freely through the forest. There are no rides, baths, or activities that force the animals to interact with visitors. Each tour is different, as the elephants themselves set the pace of the experience.
It is recommended that you be in reasonably good physical condition to hike along forest trails for several hours. The trail runs through natural, mountainous terrain, so it is important to wear comfortable shoes, sunscreen, and clothing suitable for outdoor activities.
The experience begins with pickup at your accommodation in Chiang Mai. From there, you’ll be transferred to the community of Ban Naklang, where you’ll begin the experience alongside the team at Kindred Spirit Elephant Sanctuary and the Karen families. At the end of the second day, transportation back to Chiang Mai is also included.
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