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All 300 Chiang Mai Attractions »

Maesa Elephant Camp

119/9 Tapae Road, Chiang Mai 50100, Thailand
+66 5320 6247
Ranked #25 of 180 attractions in Chiang Mai
4.0 of 5 stars 130 Reviews
Type: Nature/ Wildlife Areas
Traveller Description: Maesa Elephant Camp offers short 30 or 60 minute "rides" where your mahout will guide you along paths through the forest and fields surrounding the... more »
Useful Information: Activities for older children, Activities for young children
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130 reviews from our community

Visitor rating
    62
    43
    13
    5
    7
Date Rating
Queensland
Top Contributor
107 reviews 107 reviews
Reviews in 52 cities Reviews in 52 cities
48 helpful votes 48 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 25 May 2012 NEW

I realize there are lots of skeptics about this elephant Camp, but we have seen quite a few throughout the world and there was nothing wrong with this one. The elephants are happy, healthy and obviously loved by their Mahouts. How do people expect them to sustain this beautiful species without tourist money in a country that has to concentrate... More

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See 2 more reviews by Oofie46 for Chiang Mai
Ascot England
Senior Contributor
21 reviews 21 reviews
Reviews in 13 cities Reviews in 13 cities
32 helpful votes 32 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 12 May 2012
1
person found this review helpful

We were visiting Chiang Mai for the first time and wanted to see Elephants but to be honest we didnt want to get into the water with them and have a one to one! we looked on trip advisor for a good camp and Maesa seemed to be the one for us. We really enjoyed the day. We took a... More

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See 2 more reviews by TweedieAscotEngland for Chiang Mai
Melbourne Australia
Senior Reviewer
10 reviews 10 reviews
Reviews in 5 cities Reviews in 5 cities
12 helpful votes 12 helpful votes
4 of 5 stars Reviewed 11 May 2012

I wasn't sure about visiting any short of elephant camp but this one seemed to be very good. First you can buy food for the elephants and feed them, have your photo taken with them, watch them bathing in the river, then watch the show. During the show they play soccer, carry logs etc but the interesting part is when... More

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See 3 more reviews by GayleS6 for Chiang Mai
Nairobi, Kenya
Senior Reviewer
8 reviews 8 reviews
Reviews in 4 cities Reviews in 4 cities
1 helpful vote 1 helpful vote
4 of 5 stars Reviewed 10 May 2012

It was a very interesting day, good learning experience. The little village where you get dropped off between the ox cart ride and elephant ride had great prices on Hill Tribe crafts. I wish I'd had more time to shop there.

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See 2 more reviews by SMBSMBSMB for Chiang Mai
Northborough, Massachusetts
Top Contributor
124 reviews 124 reviews
Reviews in 56 cities Reviews in 56 cities
62 helpful votes 62 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 8 May 2012

This was the highlight of are Thailand visit. Great experience, we really enjoyed the long elephant ride, and feeding the elephants(especailly the babies). We did not feel that it was just a zoo, or an elephant circus!!

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Houston
Senior Contributor
24 reviews 24 reviews
Reviews in 7 cities Reviews in 7 cities
6 helpful votes 6 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 6 May 2012

We had the wonderful experience of spending half a day at this elephant camp. It was a short ride (maybe 20 minutes) to get to the camp. The elephants are so well treated. You could tell they were happy and had a good life. They performed for us, we got to take photos with them and they even drew paintings... More

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Brisbane, Australia
Contributor
12 reviews 12 reviews
Reviews in 10 cities Reviews in 10 cities
16 helpful votes 16 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 6 May 2012

Despite the negative responses about elephants in captivity and hill tribe tourist villages, this experience contributes financially to elephants no longer required for logging, and displaced Burmese refugees, so I felt OK enjoying it, and enjoy it we did. Feeding the elephants while they appreciatively wrap their trunks around you was incredible, this is followed by watching them bath, and... More

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Reviewer
3 reviews 3 reviews
2 helpful votes 2 helpful votes
3 of 5 stars Reviewed 5 May 2012

I went here and felt like the experience was really stand-offish and not interactive at all. Also, I felt like the staff says nothing to you at all. They just come out and do the show and that's it. No information about the elephants. Not sure about how they treat them but I know elephants in the entertainment business are... More

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See 2 more reviews by Zhangsta for Chiang Mai
Brisbane, Australia
Contributor
12 reviews 12 reviews
Reviews in 4 cities Reviews in 4 cities
3 helpful votes 3 helpful votes
4 of 5 stars Reviewed 26 April 2012
1
person found this review helpful

After looking at all the reviews about elephant camps I was more confused than directed. Discussed the camps with the staff atJoy's House and they rcommended Maesa elephant camp. I knew they had the elephant show but was uncertain about the ride and village trip and their treatment of the elephants. The show is a wonderful experience and a must... More

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See 3 more reviews by fist for Chiang Mai
Sao Paulo, SP
Top Contributor
50 reviews 50 reviews
Reviews in 12 cities Reviews in 12 cities
12 helpful votes 12 helpful votes
4 of 5 stars Reviewed 25 April 2012

We rented a motorcycle and were trying to arrive in Elephant Nature Park, but we got the wrong road, and found Maesa Elephant Camp. My wife want to go back to the hotel swiming pool, but after Luang Prabang experience in Elephant Village the only thing I was thinking was to be with these amazing animals again! As we arrived... More

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See 8 more reviews by Caefoto for Chiang Mai

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