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Original

Short Breaks

Wildlife

Chiang Mai & Elephant Experience

3 Days | Get to know gentle giants in Northern Thailand

Excellent

4 reviews

3 days

Start

Chiang Mai, Thailand

Finish

Chiang Mai, Thailand

Trip Code

TTAE

Min Age

Trip Size

1 - null

Physical Rating

Meals

2 breakfasts, 2 lunches

Transport

Mini bus, Songthaew

Accommodation

Hotel (2 nights)

From £195(3 days)

Trip Informations

See a different side of Chiang Mai on this short but sweet three-day adventure. From your base in northern Thailand’s most vibrant city, visit the ChiangChill elephant reserve to spend the day hanging out with gentle giants and learning how this organisation supports the protection, conservation and lifestyle of free-roaming elephants in the region. Observe the daily patterns of these elephants from a safe distance, seeing how they graze and socialise with each other. You’ll also be treated to a cooking class, where you'll collect some local produce at the morning market and then learn how to use it, from a local cook who will let you in on all the best kept secrets of Thai cuisine.

Why you’ll love this trip

Meet elephants in a responsible environment when you hang out with the gentle giants of the ChangChill reserve, watching them eat, relax and socialise.

Enjoy a live lecture from local guides to learn more about the elephants, the reserve’s sustainable tourism practices and conservation efforts in the area.

See a different side of Chiang Mai, with authentic experiences and nitty gritty details all worked out for you.

Head to a cooking class with a local cook, who will teach you how to collect the best produce from the local market, then show you how to cook some of the most delicious Thai cuisine, which you'll enjoy together for dinner.

Soak up this vibrant city with loads of free time and the flexibility to choose your own adventures, like wandering the street food markets in search of the yummiest local dishes.

By travelling on this trip, you’ll directly support our Tuuur Foundation partner, EcoThailand Foundation. Donations help educate school children on important environmental issues like climate change, nature appreciation, conservation and sustainability.

Is this trip right for you?

On Short Breaks, you maintain a good level of independence and freedom, with the added bonus of having the details sorted out for you. You’ll have lots of free time and you won’t be accompanied by a Trip Leader. This means that all included activities and tours will be run by different local Tuuur partners, and these may operate independently from each other. The included activities and transfers will operate on a join-in basis, which means that you could have your Adventure all to yourself, or others may join you along the way. If you would prefer to travel in a group with a dedicated Trip Leader, just get in touch with your booking agent and they will take you through some alternatives.

Itinerary

DAY 1
Day 1 • Chiang Mai
Sa-wat dee! Welcome to Thailand. The most vibrant city in northern Thailand, Chiang Mai has many famous temples and an interesting old city area. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 7 pm with your local guide. If you arrive early, head out to explore charming Chiang Mai. The friendliness of the people, the interesting old town bound by moats, and the many fascinating temples enthrall travellers from around the world. After the welcome meeting, you 'l have free time tonight. Make sure to sample some delicious traditional northern Thai food in the vibrant night markets – the signature dish is kao soy, yellow wheat noodles in a curry broth, traditionally served with chicken or beef.
Accommodation
Hotel (1 night)
Meals
There are no meals included on this day.
Included activities
Complimentary Arrival Transfer
Special information
The complimentary arrival transfer is only valid if arriving on Day 1 or if you have booked pre-trip accommodation through Intrepid. Please provide your arrival details at the time of booking, or at a minimum 15 days prior to travel to organise this transfer.
DAY 2
Day 2 • ChangChill - Chiang Mai
Today is set to be one to remember as you visit the ChangChill elephant reserve – a truly special experience. Drive out to the reserve and learn how this organisation supports the protection, conservation and lifestyle of free roaming elephants in the region. You’ll observe the daily patterns of these jungle giants from a safe distance, seeing how they graze and socialise with their other friends. The expert local guides will give you a live lecture on the elephants as well as the reserve’s sustainable tourism practices and conservation efforts in the area. Enjoy some refreshments near the elephant’s mud pit, then be treated to lunch in a riverside sala (pavilion) alongside your giant friends, who will be enjoying a meal too. Return to Chiang Mai for an evening at leisure.
Accommodation
Hotel (1 night)
Meals
Breakfast
Lunch
Included activities
Chiang Mai - ChangChill Elephant Sanctuary day trip
Chiang Mai - ChangChill Elephant
DAY 3
Day 3 • Chiang Mai
This morning you'll be treated to a Thai cooking class. If you're a foodie, then you’ll love this one! First, explore the local market with a local guide who will teach you how to select the best produce and where to find the key ingredients for your dishes. Then, head to your class and learn how to use them (and what to use in their place if you can’t get them at home), picking up some well kept secrets on making delicious Thai cuisine. As well as taking your own comprehensive recipe book home with you after the class, you'll of course feast on the fruits of your labour for dinner. after, your trip comes to an end. There is no accommodation included tonight. If you'd like to stay in Chiang Mai and explore the city further, just speak to your booking agent.
Meals
Breakfast
Lunch
Included activities
Chiang Mai- Cooking Class

Inclusions

Meals

2 breakfasts, 2 lunches

Transport

Mini bus, Songthaew

Accommodation

Hotel (2 nights)

Activities

Complimentary Arrival Transfer

Chiang Mai - ChangChill Elephant Sanctuary day trip

Chiang Mai - ChangChill Elephant

Chiang Mai- Cooking Class

Dates and availability

Starting

Ending

Remaining

Prices From

No availability found

Important notes

1. This trip starts on day 1 at 7pm with a welcome meeting, the trip finishes on day 3 at approximately 12pm

2. This trip is operated by one of our local partners in Thailand and therefore you may be joined by a mixture of Intrepid-booked passengers and other travellers during activities.

Reviews (4)

5 stars

Alice

Aug 24, 2024

Wow, what an incredible end to our trip. We had travelled around Vietnam and Cambodia with intrepid and had an incredible time but really wanted to see some elephants before we left so added this on to our booking. It was a quick flying visit to Chiang Mai which we had to leave early for due to flight prices. Our guide helped to organise the cooking class to change the time so we could still attend and we are SO thankful she did as it was the perfect way to experience food and a really fun activity. The elephant sanctuary- ChangChill was amazing, our guide was really knowledgeable and got us to great places to see the elephants in wild habitats to keep us and the elephants safe and happy. it felt great to know we were being such responsible travellers and doing what we could to look after the animals but also still see how they would be in the wild. The cooking class with Cooking@Home was AMAZING, the couple running were so knowledgeable and great at explaining and showing how to cook their beautiful homemade dishes in a really authentic way before letting us have a go ourselves. There was so much food we couldn’t finish and were given takeaway containers to take it home too! It was just perfection and I wouldn’t have changed a thing!

Simone

Jun 27, 2023

Great local knowledge, fantastic experiences. Was great to get involved apart of a different culture and see things I wouldn’t touring by myself. Overall great tour and would do it again. Big thank you to my guide Jinny, very informative and great to get along with.

Jole'

Oct 27, 2022

I would highly recommend this trip to everyone. You get to have the local experience, which is so important when traveling. Nan and Chai did a superb job at explaining and showing their country, it makes me want to come back soon.

Ben

Oct 09, 2022

I'd highly recommend this to anyone wanting a more authentic experience of Chiang Mai. Chai the leaders takes you on tours of the markets and explains the Thai way of life and insight into Buddhism. The highlight of the trip was the monk chat he facilitated. It was very insightful!