Visiting elephants in Thailand today requires more discernment than it did a few years ago. It’s not enough for a facility to use terms like “sanctuary,” “rescue,” or “ethical tourism”: it’s important to check what activities are allowed, how much contact there is with the animals, and whether the animals can engage in natural behaviors without being forced to entertain visitors.
Baan Chang Elephant Park, in Chiang Mai Province, has changed its offerings since our original visit. The park now states that it no longer offers elephant rides, a practice that was part of its programs years ago and that we have removed from this guide to bring it in line with stricter animal welfare standards.
The Elephant and Its Cultural Significance in Thailand
The Asian elephant, known as “chang” in Thai, has a very close historical connection to Thailand. For centuries, these animals have been used for transportation, forestry work, and other heavy labor, and they have also played a prominent role in the country’s symbolism and culture.
That historical connection also helps explain part of the current complex situation. Many elephants still live in captivity and depend on tourism-related activities, so the debate is no longer limited to banning certain shows: it also touches on the economic model, animal welfare, and the alternatives available to their caretakers.
Why We Need to Reevaluate Elephant Tourism
For decades, activities in which elephants carried tourists, painted, played, performed tricks, or took part in shows became popular in Thailand. These activities require controlling the behavior of a wild animal to adapt it to visitors’ expectations—something that is hardly compatible with a model centered on the animal’s well-being.
Nor does the problem automatically disappear simply by replacing shows with experiences that seem more respectful. Activities such as bathing with elephants, constantly touching them, taking photos at close range, or participating in staged interactions can involve a high degree of control over the animal.
For this reason, animal welfare organizations recommend prioritizing experiences based primarily on observation, where elephants have plenty of space, can socialize, forage for food, move around, and decide for themselves how much contact they have with people.
What is Baan Chang Elephant Park?
Baan Chang Elephant Park is a facility located in the Mae Taeng district of Chiang Mai province. According to the park’s current description, it is a family-run project that has been involved in elephant care for decades and is focused on tourism and education about these animals.
One of the most significant differences from the previous version of this article is that Baan Chang no longer offers elephant rides. The facility itself presents this change as a step forward aimed at improving the animals’ living conditions, independence, and well-being.
You can check the current programs and policies directly on the official Baan Chang Elephant Park website. It’s a good idea to do this before making a reservation, as the available activities may change over time.
The Role of Mahouts in Caring for Elephants
During a visit to an elephant sanctuary in Thailand, you’ll likely hear people talk about mahouts—the individuals responsible for the elephants’ daily care and handling. The relationship between an elephant and its caretaker can last for many years and requires an understanding of each animal’s behavior, temperament, and specific needs.
The work of mahouts involves feeding, moving, monitoring, and handling animals that can weigh several metric tons. Their presence, therefore, should not automatically be interpreted as a negative sign: what matters is observing which handling methods are used and how much freedom the elephant has to behave naturally.
What has changed in Baan Chang since our visit
When we originally published this article in 2017, Baan Chang allowed certain types of bareback riding. At that time, we explained that removing the heavy metal structures eliminated the main problem associated with this activity. That approach is now outdated, and we no longer consider it a sufficient criterion for assessing an elephant’s well-being.
We currently prefer to evaluate the experience as a whole: handling, prior training, freedom of movement, frequency of interaction, the ability to avoid human contact, social structure, and opportunities to develop species-appropriate behaviors.
Baan Chang itself has also evolved and has eliminated elephant rides from its programs. Its current activities include experiences related to feeding, observing, and walking alongside the animals, as well as—depending on the program—certain forms of interaction.
Is it ethical to visit Baan Chang Elephant Park?
There is no label that automatically determines whether a facility is ethical simply because it is defined as a park, sanctuary, or conservation center. The best way to evaluate a visit is to examine the specific practices the facility has in place at the time of your trip.
The fact that Baan Chang has stopped offering elephant rides represents a significant shift from the model we knew years ago. However, some international animal welfare organizations currently apply even stricter standards and recommend avoiding experiences that involve touching, directly feeding, or bathing with the animals as well.
For this reason, before booking, we recommend comparing the current description of each program with independent criteria. World Animal Protection’s guide to responsible elephant tourism can serve as a reference for understanding what signs to look for.
Positive Signs to Look For
Beyond the name of the facility, the elephants’ own behavior provides a great deal of information. A welfare-oriented model should ensure that the animals have sufficient time and space to engage in species-appropriate activities.
- A space to walk and move around freely.
- Opportunity to interact with other elephants.
- Access to food and foraging opportunities.
- No shows, tricks, or unnatural behavior.
- No rides with tourists on the animal.
- Controlled groups of visitors, with no crowds around the elephant.
- Transparent information about the origin, care, and handling of the animals.
None of these factors on their own guarantees perfect conditions, but the more decisions you make with the animal’s needs in mind—rather than focusing on getting a specific photo or interaction—the better.
Signs That Should Make You Think Twice
There are also easily identifiable behaviors that should make us reconsider a visit. An elephant shouldn’t have to perform as part of a show to justify the price of our admission.
- Elephants painting, dancing, or performing tricks.
- Rides on the animal’s back.
- Nonstop photo sessions with tourists.
- Compulsory or excessively frequent physical contact.
- Animals chained for extended periods without a specific safety justification.
- Baby animals used as an attraction so that visitors can pet them.
- Lack of clear information about how elephants live outside of tourist hours.
The useful question is not how close we can get to the elephant, but how much the animal itself can decide about what happens during the visit.
What You Can Learn During a Visit
A well-designed experience can help us understand that elephants need much more than just food and veterinary care. Their well-being also depends on space, social relationships, the ability to make choices, and the opportunity to engage in natural behaviors.
It also sheds light on the complex reality of captive elephants in Thailand. Simply releasing an animal that has lived for years under human care is not usually a viable solution: many require a controlled diet, supervision, and care for the rest of their lives.
How to Choose an Elephant Sanctuary in Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai offers a wide variety of elephant-related experiences, so it’s worth comparing several centers before booking. Don’t just go by photos, positive reviews, or words like “eco,” “rescue,” and “sanctuary.”
First, review the full program and check exactly what visitors will be doing. If the description promises riding, hugging, kissing, bathing, or taking numerous photos with the animal, the level of interaction is probably greater than necessary.
She then analyzes the conditions under which the elephants themselves live. She looks for centers where observation is more important than physical contact and where activities do not depend on the animal adopting a specific posture or behavior to please the group.
Questions to Ask Before Booking
If the information on the website isn’t enough, contacting the center directly can clear up many questions. The answers should be specific and transparent, not just a repetition that it is an “ethical sanctuary.”
- Is it allowed to ride elephants?
- Can visitors bathe them or touch them?
- Can elephants walk away from tourists if they want to?
- How many hours a day do they participate in activities with visitors?
- How are the elephants cared for outside of visiting hours?
- What methods do mahouts use to guide them?
- Are elephants raised specifically to support tourism?
These questions help us better distinguish between an experience designed with the visitor in mind and one organized around the animal’s needs.
Frequently Asked Questions About Baan Chang Elephant Park
Can you ride an elephant in Baan Chang?
Not according to information currently published by the park itself. Baan Chang states that it has eliminated elephant riding activities and describes its current programs as experiences that do not involve riding elephants.
Is Baan Chang a foundation?
In the previous version of this article, we used terms such as “Baan Chang Foundation.” The name currently used by the project itself is Baan Chang Elephant Park, which is presented as a family-friendly park dedicated to elephant care and tourism.
Where is Baan Chang Elephant Park?
The park is located in the Mae Taeng district, in Chiang Mai province, in northern Thailand. The park’s office estimates that it is about an hour from Chiang Mai, although travel time depends on traffic and your starting point.
Is it better to watch elephants than to touch them?
From the perspective of the most stringent welfare recommendations, yes. Observation reduces the need to control the animal’s behavior and promotes experiences in which the elephant has greater freedom to decide where to be and what to do.
Should we avoid all facilities that keep elephants in captivity?
The situation is more complex. Many elephants that have been in human care for years cannot simply be returned to the wild. The goal should be to support models that gradually reduce tourism-related exploitation and improve the conditions of animals already living in captivity.
A More Responsible Way to Interact with Elephants in Thailand
Our perception of a tourist activity can change as we learn more about animal welfare. That is precisely what has happened with this article: a recommendation published in 2017 needed to be revised using much stricter criteria and taking into account the evolution of Baan Chang itself.
If you decide to visit an elephant center in Chiang Mai, compare your options and prioritize those where the experience consists mainly of observing how the animals live. The less an elephant has to change its behavior to entertain us, the more consistent our visit will be with responsible tourism.
