Everything you need to know before you book

Message Tony directly on WhatsApp. He'll confirm available dates, send a short questionnaire about your group, and follow up with payment instructions for the deposit.

For tours, you can book as late as 1 day in advance. For overnight stays, please book 2–3 days ahead.

There are three options — Wise, which is best for international guests, PromptPay for instant transfers within Thailand, or a direct bank transfer to our Krungthai Bank account. Tony will send the correct payment details via WhatsApp once your dates have been confirmed.

We do not offer cancellations for tours or accommodation. If you cancel your booking, the deposit is non-refundable. Please make sure of your plans before booking to avoid any inconvenience.

Not on-site. Bank transfer or Wise only for the deposit; the remainder can be paid in cash on the day if preferred. We are working on adding a card terminal in 2026.

Yes — for bookings of 2 or more guests, payment can be made in a single transfer for the entire group. Tony will send one payment instruction covering the total cost for all guests in your booking.

For most tours, pickup from your accommodation in Chiang Mai is between 8:00 AM and 8:30 AM.

We provide traditional mahout clothing (pants and a shirt) for all activities. We recommend bringing closed-toe shoes and a water bottle with you.

Yes, phones and cameras are welcome.

The only rule is no flash photography near the elephants, as it may disturb or startle them.

Yes — every tour includes a traditional Thai local-style lunch.

We also offer vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options. Just let us know in advance.

We have WiFi available.

A central WiFi network is provided around the dining area and extends to the guest rooms and bungalows.

Activities will continue as normal because the elephants love the rain.

We may adjust the schedule slightly depending on the weather, but tours will still go ahead in light to moderate rain.

A maximum of 20 guests per day. If your group is larger than this, please contact Tony in advance.

Even on our busiest days, guests spend time with the elephants in small groups to ensure a more personal experience and to minimize disturbance to the elephants' wellbeing.

No — never. Elephant spines are not designed to carry weight. Every elephant in our care arrived injured from that exact practice. We do not, ever.

No. The elephants roam freely within a 25-rai forest reserve. They have hammock-style shelters they can choose to enter during heavy rain.

Then you watch from a distance, and you respect that. The freedom to walk away is the entire point of the sanctuary.

We do not force the elephants to bathe. It is entirely up to each elephant whether they want to enter the water or not.

During some seasons, especially when the weather is cold, elephants may not want to bathe. However, in the hot season, they usually enjoy spending time in the water and bathing.

Most likely, yes.

Our elephants live freely, so on rare occasions one may be out foraging in the forest, or an elephant may be receiving special care if it is unwell. However, Tony will always let you know in advance if there are any unusual circumstances before your visit.

Round-trip transportation from your accommodation in Chiang Mai is included in every tour.

Pickup is between 8:00 AM and 8:30 AM, and the drive takes approximately 60 minutes through the beautiful Mae Taeng Valley before arriving at the sanctuary.

We can send you a pinned location for use with navigation apps. Guests traveling independently should plan to arrive between 9:00 AM and 10:00 AM.

Pickup from Pai is possible with at least 7 days' notice. Tony will provide a separate quote for the pickup and transfer service.

For guests traveling from Chiang Rai, we recommend coming to Chiang Mai first and joining the tour from there, as it is the most convenient option.

Half-day tours usually return to Chiang Mai at around 2:00 PM.

Full-day tours usually return at around 6:00 PM.

Please note that these times are approximate and may vary depending on traffic, weather, and other circumstances.

We offer two accommodation types: a Family Room and a Private Bungalow with a Mini Pool.

All accommodations are located within the Doi Lom property and are approximately 200 meters from the elephant meadow.

Most rooms have both. The Glamping Tent has open-air ventilation only — cool mountain air does the job. WiFi is strongest near the kitchen barn.

All rooms include breakfast, a welcome fruit basket, daily housekeeping, and one elephant evening visit. Lunch and dinner are extra (or included with tour packages).

Yes — you can stay overnight without doing a tour day. Some guests come just to spend time on the deck with a book and watch the herd from a distance.