A Rare Kind of Joy

Encircled by majestic mountains and caressed by passing breezes, this serene setting offers a rare kind of joy—where simply sitting and admiring the view becomes a moment of pure delight.

Book Your Experience

Connection, Not Control

At Hugchang The Retreat, we believe that an encounter with an elephant should never be about control, performance, or entertainment. It should be about respect, understanding, and connection. We are not a show, and we are not a riding camp. We are a place where humans and elephants meet at eye level.

Our mission is to create a safe, ethical, and peaceful environment where elephants can live naturally—walking freely, bathing in the mud, socializing, and simply being elephants.

Discover Their World

Welcome to Hugchang The Retreat, a meaningful learning space where visitors can discover the world of elephants through immersive, ethical experiences.

Understanding Behavior

Learn to read elephant body language and behavior patterns in their natural habitat.

Natural Food Preparation

Prepare fresh fruits, vegetables, and herbal vitamins for the elephants.

Elephant Care Practices

Learn proper elephant care and welfare practices from experienced mahouts.

Safe Interaction

Discover safe and respectful ways to approach and interact with elephants.

Bathing & Bonding

Experience ethical bathing and bonding moments with these gentle giants.

Sanctuary Life

Immerse yourself in the peaceful daily life of the sanctuary.

Moments of Connection

“A truly life-changing experience. Learning to care for these gentle giants with such deep respect is something we will never forget.”
— A Grateful VisitorCompany Name

Join Our Elephant Care

Elephant Care Experience

Self-Drive (Flexible Schedule)

Price per person

1,600 THB

Children (3-9 years): 800 THB
Infants (under 3): Free

Journey at your own pace
Ethical elephant feeding & bathing
DIY Herbal Vitamin preparation
Mahout outfit & towel provided
Authentic Thai Lunch by the river

Session Start Time
Morning: 08:00 AM
Afternoon: 01:00 PM

(Please arrive 15 mins early)

Select Your Date

Elephant Care Experience

With City Transfer (Complimentary)

Price per person

1,600 THB

Children (3-9 years): 800 THB
Infants (under 3): Free

Round-trip transfer from Chiang Mai City
Ethical elephant feeding & bathing
DIY Herbal Vitamin preparation
Mahout outfit & towel provided
Authentic Thai Lunch by the river

Pick-up Time
Morning: 08:30 AM
Afternoon: 11:00 AM

Select Your Date

Before You Arrive

Preparation

To ensure a smooth experience, please provide us with your full name, hotel details, and contact information.

Bring a valid ID or passport for check-in.

Be ready at your pick-up location on time; our transport will wait a maximum of 15 minutes.

Booking Conditions

Advance booking is required at least 6 hours prior to your visit.

You may reschedule your visit once free of charge.

All bookings are strictly non-refundable in any case.

Frequently Asked Questions

Activities

Activities at Hug Chang The Retreat are thoughtfully designed to offer a meaningful and immersive experience with elephants.

Guests will have the opportunity to gently touch and hug the elephants, while learning about the traditional Thai way of life where humans and elephants once lived together in harmony. You will also gain hands-on experience in proper elephant care, including observing their well-being and performing basic health checks.

In addition, you will take part in creating herbal vitamin supplements from natural ingredients and making soap for bathing the elephants, helping you develop a deeper understanding of their care and lifestyle.

Every activity is created to deepen your understanding of elephants while providing a warm, memorable, and respectful experience with nature

After the activities, you will enjoy a delicious Thai lunch at Rabieng Chang Restaurant, a relaxing riverside restaurant by the Mae Taeng River—providing the perfect ending to a memorable experience 🐘🌿

Yes! This experience is family-friendly and well-suited for children. We offer a special rate of 800 THB for children aged 2–11 years. For safety, all children must be accompanied and supervised by an adult at all times. Activities are carefully designed and adapted to ensure they are safe, fun, and engaging, creating a truly memorable experience for young guests 🐘🌿

The full experience lasts approximately 5–6 hours, including round-trip transportation and lunch. Each activity is thoughtfully scheduled at a relaxed pace, allowing guests to fully enjoy the experience, feel at ease, and engage meaningfully with the elephants throughout the program

Absolutely! We encourage you to capture your special moments through photos and videos during the experience. However, we kindly ask that you respect the elephants’ space and follow our staff’s guidance at all times—especially by avoiding the use of flash in sensitive moments, as it may disturb the elephants. This helps ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for both you and the animals

We are able to accommodate a range of physical limitations. Please inform us at the time of booking so we can thoughtfully prepare and tailor the activities to best suit your needs.

Some activities may be adjusted for comfort and safety, but we are committed to ensuring that every guest enjoys a smooth, meaningful, and memorable experience 🐘🌿

Transportation

We offer complimentary round-trip transfers from Chiang Mai city within our designated service area for your convenience.

For guests staying outside this area, we provide designated meeting points. If you are located farther away, our team will contact you directly to arrange transportation, and an additional fee may apply depending on the distance 🐘🌿

There is no minimum or maximum number of guests required for our transfer service. We aim to provide maximum convenience for all guests, with comfortable air-conditioned vans ensuring a safe and relaxing journey 🐘🌿

For the morning session, please be ready between 08:30 – 09:30 AM, and for the afternoon session, between 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM.

To ensure a smooth pickup, kindly be at your designated location on time. Our transfer service can wait for up to 15 minutes only 🐘🌿

The journey typically takes around 45–60 minutes, depending on traffic conditions and the location of your accommodation.

We provide comfortable air-conditioned vans to ensure a smooth, relaxing, and enjoyable travel experience from the very beginning 🐘🌿

There’s no need to worry about purchasing travel insurance, as we provide coverage for all guests participating in activities at Hug Chang The Retreat. This allows you to relax and fully enjoy your experience with peace of mind 🐘🌿

Facilities

We provide a full range of facilities to ensure your comfort throughout the experience, including personal lockers, clean restrooms, traditional mahout clothing, towels, soap, shampoo, slippers, and hair dryers.

In addition, fresh fruit, tea, coffee, and drinking water are available throughout the day to keep you refreshed and relaxed 🐘🌿

Yes! Lunch is included in the package and is served in a relaxing setting at a riverside restaurant by the Mae Taeng River, allowing you to enjoy your meal surrounded by beautiful nature.

In addition, we offer snacks and refreshments throughout the experience, including fresh fruit, tea, coffee, and drinking water to keep you refreshed and comfortable all day long 🐘🌿

Please bring a copy of your valid ID card or passport for identification and insurance purposes.

We recommend bringing sunscreen, insect repellent, and a change of undergarments (in case you would like to join water activities with the elephants) for your comfort during the experience. All necessary clothing and equipment for the activities are provided, allowing you to enjoy your experience with ease and peace of mind 🐘🌿

Some areas of our location are accessible for wheelchair users; however, due to the natural terrain, certain parts may not be fully suitable for wheelchair access.

We kindly recommend contacting us in advance before making a booking, so we can better understand your specific needs and arrange the most suitable experience for you 🐘🌿

Yes! A Subdistrict Health Promotion Hospital is located approximately 100 meters from our site, and the nearest hospital is about a 30-minute drive away. For your safety and comfort, please inform us of any medical conditions or concerns at the time of booking, so we can prepare accordingly and provide the best possible care during your visit 🐘🌿

Find Us Here

Nestled in the serene Mae Taeng District, Chiang Mai

Our Sanctuary

Located in the peaceful Mae Taeng District of Chiang Mai, our sanctuary is easily accessible from the city center while maintaining its serene, natural setting.

Address

99 Kuet Chang, Mae Taeng District
Chiang Mai 50150, Thailand

Phone / WhatsApp / WeChat

+66 84 353 5566

Hours

Open Daily: 7:00 AM – 4:00 PM