Just as the name suggests, the Romantic Elephant Care Program is for 2 people that indulge in friendly activities like feeding, bathing, and mud-playing with the enchanting animal. It is one of those special activities in the elephant retirement park that lets you and your partner take the best advantage of Mother Nature and cook Thai food together. The program lets both of you feed sugarcane and fresh fruits to the elephants. Post lunch, you can indulge your bathing with the elephants, and cleaning them with a scrub to protect their bodies. Before leaving, the facility allows you to bathe and avoid any sort of infection.
The half-day afternoon self-care program is the most popular activity of elephant retirement park Chiang Mai that starts around 01:30 PM. Prior to the activity, a guide narrates to you about elephant behavior, and care initiatives. Then, you start preparing the meals for the delightful animals and feed them their favorite food of bananas. You can caress the calm herbivores and interact with them playfully. The elephant shower starts around the afternoon where you can clean them and rub scrubs all over their body for protection.
The private experience for 2 people starts in the early morning as you visit the elephant retirement park, and change into local clothes for indulging in animal-friendly activities. A guide informs you about elephant behavior and care initiatives prior to the activity. You begin preparing meals for the adorable animals and feed them their delicious meals, bananas. The elephant mud and sand spa begins where you can witness the animal behavior closely. You can clean the elephants and apply scrubs to their bodies for protection. After changing your clothes, you can enjoy a traditional Thai buffet lunch.
The program starts in the elephant retirement park Chiang Mai with the instructions from the experienced guide regarding elephant behavior. You can start cooking herbs, and healthy meals for the elephants to serve them. The guide lets you take a walk with the elephants and witness the picturesque park. The elephant shower session starts as you can play with the elephants in the water, and apply the scrub on their body to clean them. After this activity, you can take a shower, and relax with a cold beverage.
Reach the elephant retirement park and change into local clothes for enjoying with the animals. The activity starts as you start preparing herbs for the elephants and feeding them with healthy meals. You can walk around the scenic park with the elephants, and play with them to understand their behavior. You can also clean the elephants and scrub them with mud to protect their soft skin. After the activity, you can take a shower, and enjoy authentic Thai cuisine with complimentary drinks.
Location: 5 Kotchasarn Rd Lane 5, Tambon Chang Khlan, Mueang Chiang Mai District, Chiang Mai 50100, Thailand.
Timings: Every day 08:00 AM to 10:00 PM.
Best Time To Visit: The best time to visit the elephant retirement park in Chiang Mai is towards the end of the summer season in June, and the start of the monsoon in July. This is because summers let you enjoy bathing sessions with the elephants. The cold water seems alluring amidst the heat of summer. In case it rains, the experience becomes even more natural and rewarding to play with the elephants.
By Bus: The Chiang Mai municipality bus B1, R3 and R3-R passes near the Elephant Retirement park. You can take any of these bus lines and get off at the Chiang Mai gate or the Thapae gate stop which is only a few minutes walk away from the Elephant Retirement park.
By Taxi: Elephant retirement park is only a 5-10 minute ride away from the Chiang Mai station and can be easily reached by booking a taxi or private transfers.
Shuttle: if you wish to get to the Elephant Retirement park from the Chiang Mai Airport, shuttle transfers are also available that takes around 8-10 minutes to reach the park
What is the best time to visit Elephant Retirement Park?
The best time to visit Elephant Retirement Park is between the near end of the summer season in June and the beginning of the monsoon season in July. This is because summers are ideal for bathing with elephants. In the midst of summer's heat, the cold water appears enticing. If it rains, playing with the elephants becomes even more natural and enjoyable.
What is special about Elephant Retirement Park?
The specialty of the elephant retirement park in Chiang Mai is that it allows you to get close, and be friendly with elephants, like no other zoo! The park lets you cook meals for the elephants, feed them, play with them, take a walking tour with them, and indulge in shower sessions to clean their body.
How to reach Chiang Mai?
By Air: Board a flight to Chiang Mai International Airport. The airport has international, and domestic arrivals/departures. From there, you can take a bus or train to commute to your desired place as the airport lies 3 kilometers southwest of the city center.
By Train: Board a train from Hualamphong Train Station to reach Chiang Mai Station in 12-15 hrs.
By Bus: Board a bus from Mo Chit Northern Bus Terminal in Bangkok to reach Chiang Mai in 9-12 hrs.
What is Chiang Mai Famous For?
Chiang Mai is famous for its 300 ancient temples, two tribal villages, lush greenery, and animal-based attractions. Elephant retirement park in Chiang Mai, and Elephant Sanctuary are the two most intriguing attractions that make it popular. Although Chiang Mai is a mountainous region lying North of Thailand, it popularly comprises the “Thai Highlands”. This city is Thailand’s second-largest city and houses the Ping River.
When Elephant Retirement Park is open?
Elephant retirement park is open every day from 08:00 AM to 10:00 PM. You can visit at any time of the day but all the interactive activities start during the early hours of the day, making it much more vibrant during that time.