2-Day Kindred Spirit Elephant Sanctuary in Chiang Mai

A highlight of our holiday

Fantastic experience! Because we were there for two days we also got the chance to go to the elephants twice. It's easy to walk even for a ten-year-old and it's really nice to see the elephants in their own environment. In addition to watching the elephants, there is everything organized in the village. We haven't been bored for a moment.

via Tripadvisor (translated)

Extreme beauty from many points of view. Highly recommended!

A fantastic experience that will remain in our memories forever. We found what we were looking for, which is a truly ETHICAL approach to elephants (only observation in their natural environment, no exceptions). The operators were clear, professional, and welcoming. It was a great emotion to observe these giants who can once again live a "normal" life in the forest. We had a great time with the host family as well... In fact, I would say that the experience of one night in the village added a lot to our "tour to see the elephants," giving us the opportunity to get to know and greatly appreciate the hard work and beauty of certain lives closely connected to nature. I would recommend this experience to everyone.

Response from the operator: Cara Roberta, Grazie di cuore per aver dedicato del tempo a condividere la tua esperienza. Sapere che avete trovato proprio quello che cercavate, un approccio davvero rispettoso degli elefanti, significa moltissimo per noi. Siamo felici che abbiate apprezzato non solo l'osservazione degli elefanti nel loro habitat naturale, ma anche il soggiorno nel villaggio e l'accoglienza della famiglia ospitante. Per noi è fondamentale che i visitatori possano conoscere anche la comunità Karen e comprendere il legame profondo che esiste tra le persone, gli elefanti e la foresta. Grazie ancora per le vostre bellissime parole e per aver consigliato la nostra esperienza. Speriamo davvero di potervi accogliere nuovamente in futuro! Un caro saluto, Cristina e tutto il team di Kindred Spirit Elephant Sanctuary

via Tripadvisor (translated)

Wonderful experience in Karen Village

We had a wonderful time staying in the village, and visiting the rescued elephants with the Kindred Spirits Team. Kindred Spirits is located in a genuine Karen village. Expect basic, but very clean and comfortable accomodation and food. The project is beautifully organised. We loved the walk through fields to see the elephants as they went about their new business: foraging and living well. Our trip was inspiring and I’m sure the kids will come back to do internships in due course! Highly recommended and sad to leave.

via Viator

ethically and animal welfare concerns

A Hoax, The Sanctuary attempts to present itself as an ethically valuable elephant refuge. Unfortunately, the six elephants that live there are elephants rented by villagers. The animals have a constant human escort through their mahut and are chained up at night. Freedom in a new interpretation. The village was remote and interesting to visit. The overnight stay in the typical stilt house spartan, but sufficient and safe. However, there was no promised contact with the inhabitants. We didn't even see our host. Contact with the residents took the form of a sales event for women's handicrafts and a half-hour basket weaving session with a resident. The group was much too big with 16 people. The walk through the "jungle" was supposed to suggest a remoteness of the elephant zone, but was actually also developed with paths for cars. The girls of the organization are very nice and dedicated, but just for the wrong thing. In summary, a tourist trip that suggests something good is being done.

Response from the operator: Dear Sabine, Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback about your visit to our project. We value all guest experiences and would like to address your concerns while providing additional context about our work, mission, and the challenges we face. Ethical Standards: The elephants in our care are privately owned by local villagers, and we partner with the community to bring them home to their natural environment. In Thailand, elephants are privately owned, and it is illegal to release them into the wild, as they have lived under human care for many years. According to Thai law, captive elephants cannot be returned to the wild due to their dependency on humans for survival and the risks to their safety, as this can be dangerous for both the elephants and the surrounding ecosystems. We understand that the idea of renting elephants may be seen differently by some, but we assure you that our sanctuary is built upon the highest ethical standards. We are committed to providing a safe and natural environment for elephants in collaboration with local villagers, and our efforts have been recognized and supported by our guests, the local community, national and international organizations, and external assessments. Working hand in hand with the community is the best way to address the elephant situation in Thailand, as it ensures the well-being of the elephants while also creating sustainable income opportunities for the villagers. The elephants are part of long-term agreements, and their mahouts' dedication to our mission remains unwavering. The only alternative would be to purchase elephants, which unfortunately fuels the illegal trade, leading to elephants being taken from the wild and placed into captivity. Families who lose a sustainable income often resort to this method to recover their livelihood, and we are working from the ground up to break this cycle. Our elephants are free to roam during the day, exploring the forest and foraging, guided solely by their natural instincts. They are not restricted to specific areas; instead, we follow them wherever they decide to go, whether it’s near the river, in open fields, or in the forest. Their mahouts monitor them closely to ensure their safety and to prevent them from wandering into agricultural fields where they could cause damage. The mahouts play an essential role in the elephants' well-being, overseeing their health, providing them with extra food, and ensuring they are treated with respect and care. These bonds between mahout and elephant are based on mutual trust and ensure their comfort and safety. At night, the elephants are confined, as all captive elephants in Thailand need to be for their own safety. As explained during your stay, enclosures are not possible in our area as it is community forest land, and this would mean deforesting the area even more. The way we confine our elephants allows them to be moved around, have natural foraging opportunities, and experience new enrichment every night, which is great for their welfare. Additionally, we use night cameras to monitor their behavior and ensure they maintain the highest possible standard of welfare. Hike and the Elephant Zone: The 4,000-acre (16km²) area where the elephants roam is a natural and diverse environment, including forested areas, open fields, and patches of crops cultivated by the local community. While some parts of this landscape are connected by dirt tracks to facilitate access for the community’s agricultural work, these tracks are not directly accessible from the village. During the hikes, we occasionally follow these tracks as part of the route, depending on where the elephants choose to roam that day. There are often times when the elephants are not in an area that has a road nearby, as the area is very large, and the elephants move around. On the day of your visit, the elephants opted to spend time in the open fields before moving to the river and later heading toward the forest. As we always prioritize the group's safety, energy, and consensus, the hike concluded with a collective decision to break for lunch rather than continue deeper into the forest, as we had already spent a few hours observing the elephants. This flexibility is a core part of our approach, as we adapt to both the elephants’ preferences and the group’s comfort. Group Size: The group you joined consisted of 13 guests, including yourself, with 12 hiking, as the person traveling with you decided to stay behind. Our usual group size is much smaller, but it occasionally increases during busy periods. As a small non-profit, this number is quite large for us, especially during peak seasons like this one. This was the maximum we would allow and enables us to keep funding for the quieter periods so we can continue supporting our small team and the community. The income from these tours helps sustain both our project and the local villagers. We always prioritize safety and experience during hikes, which is why we have three to four staff members accompanying the group to ensure everyone is well-guided and cared for. Community Interaction: The villagers were in the midst of the harvest season during your visit, which is a very busy and demanding time. Although they may sometimes be shy about initiating conversations, they are always open and eager to engage with guests when approached. We encourage guests to show mutual respect and engage with their hosts and the villagers in general, as these interactions can be truly meaningful. Many of our visitors have expressed how special it is to connect with the community. Basket Weaving and Handicrafts: We offer experiences like basket weaving and showcasing other local handicrafts to support the local community by highlighting their traditional skills and providing a source of income for the villagers. These activities are an important part of our mission, as they help empower the local people and create sustainable livelihoods. We understand this may not have met your expectations, but we believe these interactions promote cultural exchange and support the community in a tangible way by offering guests the opportunity to engage with and appreciate the local craftsmanship. As a very small non-profit, we support more than 20 low-income families, along with our elephants and countless others whose welfare is improved through our research. We strive to provide an ethical and meaningful experience, and we believe that understanding the challenges we face and the positive changes we bring is key. Over the years, we’ve successfully supported our local community, improved the well-being of the elephants in our care, and educated guests about ethical elephant tourism. We acknowledge our mistake in not fully explaining everything to you during your visit. Thank you for helping us improve, and for giving us the opportunity to share our mission. The KSES Team

via Tripadvisor (translated)

Special experience

It was a very special gathering. Special to sleep at the homestay and cook with them. The elephants and the hike was very, very nice. However, we felt that we were left to our own devices the first day. We would have liked to have done something else in the evening. By the way, there are games you can use. If you want something other than water or your lunch in between, you can take it with you. The taxi still stops at 7/11.

Response from the operator: Thank you very much for your thoughtful feedback. It was a pleasure hosting you, and we are delighted to hear that you enjoyed the unique aspects of staying with the homestay, cooking together, and spending time with the elephants during the hike. With regard to your first day, we did have 3 activities planned for the group in the evening, the third being an extended invitation to join the team and other guests at a local Buddhist celebration, which is an integral part of our community engagement and cultural immersion. We fully respect that everyone has different preferences and understand that you chose to enjoy your evening in a more relaxed manner and provided games as an alternative. We truly value your feedback, as it helps us enhance the experience for all our guests. We look forward to the opportunity of welcoming you again in the future. Warm regards

via Tripadvisor (translated)