ChangChill

Changchill Elephant Sanctuary, which lies in Mae Wang District, Chiang Mai, Northern Thailand, has been known as the world's first truly elephant-friendly commercial venue where tourists can find truly happy elephants and take part in many fascinating activities without harming the animal.

Changchill - the World's first truely elephant-friendly commercial venue

Far from providing tourists with activities such as riding, bathing the elephant, or various elephant shows (which will, to some extent, harm the animal and cannot bring you real-life experiences), Changchill has moved forwards becoming an elephant-friendly venue by both offering a better life for elephants and a unique experience for tourists, hence its name (means "relaxed elephants" in Thai).

On coming to the sanctuary, visitors will have a chance to meet the 6 happy female elephants: Mae Mun, Mae Yuen, Mae Too, Mae Moleko, Mae Mayura, and Mae Gohgae, learn about their life stories, watch them roaming, eating, playing, behaving naturally from a safe position, take part in the work of preparing food for the animal, etc. Through these activities, you can know more about the wide life, experience looking after the elephants, and be aware of the danger that they are facing.

If you have a plan to visit Chiang Mai, the sanctuary can be a recommended destination for you to come and commune with nature without harming the animals.

Story of Changchill

Though recently found, Changchill Elephant Sanctuary has its own story of existence and development which has made it the first elephant-friendly commercial venue that we see today.

The story started in 2017 when World Animal Protection and some of the world's leading travel companies showed a group of about 15 Thai elephant camps a business case of how elephants are treated as a tourist attraction in Thailand. It was mainly to encourage these camps to stop providing elephant riding, elephant shows, or similar activities and move to observation-only elephant venues.

In the end, with the support of the organization and other companies, Happy Elephant Valley has reopened as Changchill - a place that allows the elephants to lead a happy life without harassment and abuse plus offers visitors a good way to enjoy nature.

In addition to being elephant-friendly, Changchill is eco-friendly as the camp harnesses hydropower from the local river and brings clean drinking water to the mahouts that live onsite.

The transition of Happy Elephant Valley widely spread the message of protecting elephants, which was then followed by the commitment to stop selling and supporting cruel elephant entertainment of 245 travel companies.

Things to do in Changchill

In Changchill, a wide range of things to do is offered to bring you the best way to enjoy nature without harming the elephants.

• Watch the elephants in their natural habitat

One of the main activities, when you visit Changchill, is to meet the 6 female elephants and observe them navigate the lush forest plus enjoy the breathtaking scenery from the observation deck. It would be pleasant for the elephant to freely enjoy their habitat. Also, each of the elephants has their own story before coming and living here so it can be interesting to hear about the stories to have an insight into how elephants are treated today for tourism; through that, you will be aware of protecting them from being abused by not supporting the travel company that sells inhumane elephant entertainment. Besides, admire the stunning scenery from above will give you a sense of peace that is usually overdone in modern life.

You can watch the elephants in their natural habitat

• Join classes to learn how to prepare an elephant's meal

In the park, some classes are held daily to teach you how to prepare a meal for the elephants. This can be fun as you can have a chance to learn about an elephant's diet, instead of directly feed them with what you bring along. Also, this is good for the elephants as they can eat foods that are suitable for their digestive system, which can help control and avoid their being sick or catching diseases when they are fed directly by tourists with foods from outside. Also, some interesting tips about taking care of these creatures will be shared with you during the class. Therefore, if you have kids, it's recommended that you allow them to join the class, which could help them learn more about plus have a love of Mother Nature. This can be a good way to protect the elephants from the harm that is brought by tourism but still offer visitors the best experience.

You can also join preparing food for the elephants

• Learn about Karen Hill Tribe's culture

In the surrounding area of Changchil, Karen Hill Tribe has settled down for thousands of years. The tribe is among five hill tribes in Thailand and stands out for the special traditional custom plus long-standing history. On coming to Changchill, you will have a chance to meet Karen people, stay in their house, join them with their daily job, talk with them about their indigenous culture, and eat the delicious local foods, which promise to bring you an unforgettable experience in your trip to Chiang Mai. Maybe, after the trip, you can have an insight into the culture and history of the Karen Hill Tribe to tell your friends and family.

Getting to know about Karen Hill Tribe can be great

Changchill Elephant Sanctuary is open for tourists to visit from 9 am to 5 pm every day during the week. If you have a plan to come to Chiang Mai and want to visit Changchill while staying there, please note the information as it can help.

• Best time to visit Changchill

As the sanctuary is located in Chiang Mai, which features quite changeable weather, choosing when to visit the sanctuary can decide whether your vacation is enjoyable or not.

The best time to visit Changchill is between November and February, as the weather is perfect for all kinds of outdoor activities. It is usually not cold but a bit sunny, so you can thoroughly enjoy the stunning scenery of the park. Besides, you can pay a visit to Changchill at any time of the year; just make sure to check the weather before you go.

• How to get to Changchill

From your place in Chiang Mai, you can choose to get to Changchill in many ways during your vacation.

Usually, traveling by bus is the most common way to get to Changchill. From anywhere in your place, you can have yourself a bus ticket at a reasonable price and get to the park comfortably. Alternatively, you can grab a taxi to reach the park, which is recommended when you go with your friends and family in a small group, as the price can be much lower. Also, hiring a private car to get to the park is available for those who seek privacy and complete comfort.

Visiting Changchill can be a great idea when you come to Chiang Mai, as it can bring the best experience during your vacation. Now pack your bag and join us on the Changchill tour.