Trunk Heaven Sanctuary

Programs

Three ways to spend a day with the elephants

Every program is built around observing and understanding Mo Ngae Po, Mali, Chicha and Naw Keer — at a respectful distance, on their terms. No riding, no bathing, no touching and no hand-feeding.

Morning + afternoon

Full-Day

Observation, lunch, enrichment, and a workshop or bamboo rafting.

See the day →

Morning

Half-Day Morning

Guided observation of the elephants, with lunch at the sanctuary.

See the morning →

Afternoon

Half-Day Afternoon

Enrichment and observation, then a workshop or bamboo rafting.

See the afternoon →

Hotel pick-up from our Chiang Mai City service area is part of each program. Prices, group sizes and availability are confirmed when you enquire.

Program 1

Full-Day Program

Morning observation, afternoon enrichment, and a hands-on workshop or bamboo rafting to finish the day.

  1. 07:30–08:00

    Hotel pick-up

    Pick-up from hotels within our Chiang Mai City service area. Your exact pick-up time will be confirmed before your visit. Please be ready in the hotel lobby 10 minutes beforehand.

  2. 08:15

    Departure from Chiang Mai

    All hotel pick-ups are completed, and we begin the journey to Trunk Heaven.

  3. 09:30

    Arrival, introduction & safety briefing

    Arrive at Trunk Heaven Basecamp (Office). Meet our team, learn about the sanctuary and our elephants, and receive a safety briefing. Transfer to a local truck for the journey into the sanctuary.

  4. 10:00

    Elephant observation

    Observe the elephants at a respectful distance as they forage, explore, rest, and interact. Our instructor will help you understand their behaviour and individual needs.

    The route and pace follow the elephants’ choices and what unfolds naturally during your visit.

  5. 12:00–12:30

    Lunch

    Enjoy a packed lunch or buffet, depending on the number of visitors. Please inform us in advance of dietary requirements and allergies. Remain at the sanctuary for the afternoon program.

  6. 13:30

    Elephant enrichment & observation

    Help our team prepare enrichment that encourages the elephants to use their senses and search for food independently.

    Under staff guidance, place food in approved locations at different heights, near ground level, or beneath suitable natural materials. Preparation takes place separately from the elephants. Then move to a safe observation area and watch how they discover and access the food.

    Activities are adapted to each elephant’s abilities and care needs. There is no direct hand-feeding.

  7. 14:45

    Transfer to basecamp

    Travel down to basecamp by local truck for your chosen afternoon activity.

  8. 15:00

    Workshop or bamboo rafting

    Choose a hands-on workshop or a bamboo rafting experience. Rafting depends on weather, river conditions, and safety assessments.

  9. 16:00

    Departure for Chiang Mai

    Begin your return journey to Chiang Mai.

Times are approximate, except the scheduled departure from Chiang Mai. Activities may change according to the elephants’ needs, weather, and local conditions. 16:00 is the departure time from basecamp, not the arrival time in Chiang Mai.

Enquire about the Full-Day Program

Program 2

Half-Day Morning Program

A morning of guided elephant observation, with lunch before you head back to Chiang Mai.

  1. 07:30–08:00

    Hotel pick-up

    Pick-up from hotels within our Chiang Mai City service area. Your exact pick-up time will be confirmed before your visit. Please be ready in the hotel lobby 10 minutes beforehand.

  2. 08:15 sharp

    Departure from Chiang Mai

    All hotel pick-ups are completed, and we begin the journey to Trunk Heaven.

  3. 09:30

    Arrival, introduction & safety briefing

    Arrive at Trunk Heaven Basecamp (Office). Meet our team, learn about the sanctuary and our elephants, and receive a safety briefing. Transfer to a local truck for the journey into the sanctuary.

  4. 10:00

    Elephant observation

    Observe the elephants at a respectful distance as they forage, explore, rest, and interact. Our instructor will help you understand their behaviour and individual needs.

    The route and pace follow the elephants’ choices and what unfolds naturally during your visit.

  5. 12:00–12:30

    Lunch

    Enjoy a packed lunch or buffet, depending on the number of visitors. Please inform us in advance of dietary requirements and allergies.

  6. 13:00

    Departure for Chiang Mai

    Transfer by local truck to basecamp, then continue your return journey to Chiang Mai.

Times are approximate, except the scheduled departure from Chiang Mai. Activities may change according to the elephants’ needs, weather, and local conditions. 13:00 is the departure time from the sanctuary, not the arrival time in Chiang Mai.

Enquire about the Half-Day Morning Program

Program 3

Half-Day Afternoon Program

Elephant enrichment and observation, then a hands-on workshop or bamboo rafting.

  1. Time confirmed before your visit

    Hotel pick-up

    Pick-up from hotels within our Chiang Mai City service area. Your exact pick-up time will be arranged to allow departure from Chiang Mai at 12:00. Please be ready in the hotel lobby 10 minutes beforehand.

  2. 12:00 sharp

    Departure from Chiang Mai

    Travel to Trunk Heaven Basecamp (Office). Receive an introduction and safety briefing, then transfer to a local truck for the journey into the sanctuary.

  3. 13:30

    Elephant enrichment & observation

    Help our team prepare enrichment that encourages the elephants to use their senses and search for food independently.

    Under staff guidance, place food in approved locations at different heights, near ground level, or beneath suitable natural materials. Preparation takes place separately from the elephants. Then move to a safe observation area and watch how they discover and access the food.

    Activities are adapted to each elephant’s abilities and care needs. There is no direct hand-feeding.

  4. 14:45

    Transfer to basecamp

    Travel down to basecamp by local truck for your chosen afternoon activity.

  5. 15:00

    Workshop or bamboo rafting

    Choose a hands-on workshop or a bamboo rafting experience. Rafting depends on weather, river conditions, and safety assessments.

  6. 16:00

    Departure for Chiang Mai

    Begin your return journey to Chiang Mai.

Times are approximate, except the scheduled departure from Chiang Mai. Activities may change according to the elephants’ needs, weather, and local conditions. 16:00 is the departure time from basecamp, not the arrival time in Chiang Mai.

Enquire about the Half-Day Afternoon Program

What “no hand-feeding” means

Enrichment, not hand-feeding

Our elephants are never hand-fed by visitors. In the enrichment activity, guests help our team set out food in approved places — at different heights, near the ground, or beneath natural materials — and then watch from a safe observation area as the elephants use their senses to find it themselves.

Preparation happens separately from the elephants, under staff guidance, and every activity is adapted to each elephant’s abilities and care needs.

Three elephants eating from a tray in a bamboo grove beside a thatched shelter
Elephants eating together at the sanctuary.
A tray of bananas, watermelon and sugarcane
Fruit and sugarcane at the sanctuary.

Special Request

Elephant Birthday Cake

Celebrate your special day with an elephant-friendly cake made from fruits, rice, and vegetables approved by our elephant care team.

At the sanctuary

Make it with us

Make it yourself with our team’s guidance, or let Trunk Heaven staff prepare it.

Celebrate from anywhere

We send you the video

Enquire and our team will prepare the cake and send you a video of the elephants enjoying it.

Sizes: S, M, L, XL. Advance booking required. Prices are confirmed when booking. All cakes are served by our team — no hand-feeding.

Enquire about a birthday cake

Ready to plan?

Tell us when you’d like to visit

Send us an enquiry with your preferred program and date. Not sure it suits you? The Visitor Guide covers what to wear, what to bring, the terrain and the river crossing.

Make an enquiry