Elephant care in Chiang Mai

🏡 A shared home in Chiang Mai
Stay in the participant house in a standard room for four to six people. Rooms have air conditioning, locks, bed linen and access to shared bathrooms with hot showers and western-style toilets. Bring your own towel and mosquito protection. Private rooms for one or two people, with a private bathroom, may be requested separately; availability and any supplement must be confirmed.

Wi-Fi is available in public areas. The house has a dining space, a lakeside area and table tennis, giving you places to relax and spend time with others. Handwashing is possible; paid laundry is separate. Keep shared spaces tidy and follow the house rules.

🍽️ Meals together
Three meals are served on weekdays and two at weekends, with drinking water, tea and coffee. Food is mainly home-style Thai cooking: rice or noodles, vegetables, seasonal fruit and sometimes meat or fish. Vegetarian options are available. Tell the team about allergies and dietary requirements before travel so they can check what is possible.

Accommodation runs from Sunday to noon on the final Saturday. Extra nights and any room upgrade need advance agreement. Ask the team about local transport and keep practical documents and support contacts available offline.

🛡️ Working around elephants
The programme is for participants aged 18–60, with intermediate English and enough physical fitness for outdoor walking, cleaning and food preparation. Complete the HeyLocals self-declaration in your personal area before departure. This is the document we use to review your declaration about criminal records; no separate police certificate or references are needed. No formal qualification, CV or passport copy is listed as a programme application requirement.

Mahouts remain responsible for the elephants. Follow their instructions about distance, movement, feeding and any permitted contact. Do not approach an elephant independently or try to direct its behaviour. Tasks and access may change according to the animals’ needs. The programme does not include riding, and participation does not qualify you to provide veterinary treatment.

Wear closed shoes and clothing suitable for active work and changing weather. Bring sun protection, insect repellent and a reusable water bottle. Tell HeyLocals before booking about any condition that may affect your ability to take part, so the programme can assess suitable arrangements.

Arrange insurance covering the planned activities and ask a qualified doctor or travel clinic for personal health advice. During orientation, learn how to reach the local team and seek help in an emergency. Keep contacts offline and report illness, injuries or concerns promptly. Support does not mean a guide accompanies every free-time outing.

🧭 Your first Monday
Meet the local team and fellow participants, go over house rules and discuss the week ahead. The introduction includes local customs, practical health and safety guidance and basic Thai language and culture.

At the programme briefing, learn how the sanctuary works, meet the people guiding your activities and review the boundaries of your role. Ask how to move around the elephants, what to do if you feel unsure and which tasks are suitable for you. The mahouts’ instructions come first throughout the week.

The sample Monday schedule includes an introduction to Asian elephants and learning about traditional herbal preparations. The team will confirm how this fits with your arrival and general orientation. You support experienced staff; you do not choose treatments or work independently with the animals.

Once activities finish, there is time to settle into the house and get to know the group. Monday’s welcome evening is optional: let the coordinator know if you would like to join.

✈️ Arriving in Chiang Mai
Fly to Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX), with a flight scheduled to land between 08:00 and 16:00 on Sunday for the regular pickup. Allow at least an hour for immigration and customs before reaching the meeting point. Share your flight details in advance and tell the team promptly if your schedule changes or you are delayed.

You will receive the exact meeting instructions and support contacts before departure. Keep them available offline. If you cannot find the coordinator, stay at the agreed meeting point and use the contact details provided. The journey to the accommodation usually takes around 30–45 minutes, excluding waiting and traffic.

If you arrive by land or independently
Participants already in Thailand can join the arranged pickup at the airport at 14:00 on Sunday. This is a separate appointment from the flight arrival window. You may also travel to the house yourself on Sunday between 06:00 and 20:00, after agreeing your plan and approximate arrival time with the team. Saturday arrivals and off-schedule pickups require separate arrangements and extra costs.

Your return journey
The programme includes accommodation until noon on the final Saturday. Confirm your departure plan and the cost of your return transfer before booking onward travel. Allow enough time for local traffic and airline check-in. Extra nights and personal onward journeys are separate.

The programme is for ages 18–60, with intermediate English and fitness for active outdoor tasks. Complete the HeyLocals self-declaration in your personal area before departure.

You support the mahouts with food preparation, cleaning, observation and other agreed care tasks. The sample week includes observing mud baths and walking with the elephants under staff direction. Contact depends on the animals and the mahouts’ instructions; it is not a guaranteed activity.

There is no elephant riding. You do not provide veterinary treatment or work independently with the elephants. If you have questions about the care approach or your ability to take part, discuss them with HeyLocals before booking.