The staff and volunteers were amazing and the elephants have the freedom to do what they want - no pressure from anyone. Why not browse through sone of our review and take the advice of some of our guests who opted for the half day packaged. We thank-you both and especially your wife for trusting Maerim Elephant Sanctuary. All the best from Maerim Elephant Sanctuary. Hello! Will be back in a few years to see how big the baby boy has grown! And Im embarrassed to admit that I partook in the past time. And the lunch at the end was nice as well. We were very lucky as well since we were the only two in our group and so the experience felt more like a private one-to-one. We went for the half day and that was more than enough for us. There is an air-conditioned space with showers and there was lots of drinking water available. I want to apologise and say sorry, on behalf of my species, that we are the reason you can never return home, that you might never again see your family nor your natural habitat as we continue to destroy it through deforestation and pollution. Maerim Elephant Sanctuary. People would rather pay and see happy elephants than to ride and assert their dominance over a broken animal. Tip 3: Enquire how many people they normally have per tour. Read all about our experience below! When in Thailand, you are bombarded with dozens and dozens of elephant providers - many who may claim to be elephant friendly because they offer a no-riding option, then you keep reading and this is often what you see: Option A: Elephant Friendly Tour - No Riding. If you make a purchase or booking through one of our links we may earn a small commission (dont worry, its at no extra cost to you). Lunch time cooking class - making your own noodle soup! Our guide had us sit in a shady spot nearby to give us about 45 minutes of elephant education. This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. At our sanctuary, our elephants are number one. Especially Chiang Mai. It was the most amazing thing I have ever done and I still can't believe that I have.These animals can never go back into the wild, because of the abuse by humans. Does that not make you question societal norm and the cruel twisted mentality of us humans? This was the best day of my life too date!!!! There are an abundance of elephant sanctuaries in Chiang Mai and I think it could be difficult to choose the right one therefore I would recommend Maerim elephant sanctuary to everyone, they are doing a wonderful job caring for these elephants. Kind regards. How can I book when I cannot get to the website? The main guy looking after everything spoke very good English and was very knowledgeable about the elephants. All the best for the future. They educate you while you are playing with them and you get to know each one and where they were rescued from, even pointing out the many scars each bears from their previous occupancy. I can walk but have an unstable ankle. Incredible experience hanging out with Elephants. The staff are all very knowledgeable and informative and take great care of the elephants. Thank you so much for your trust and support. I visited in December, which is the peak season per guide person. Max was our host and he was absolutely amazing! They were rescued from various operations around Thailand, including logging companies, riding camps, and circus shows. Pro Tip: Be sure to get both bananas and pumpkin because some of the elephants are quite picky and will toss the ones they dont enjoy on the ground! Wonderful Experience at Ethical Elephant Sanctuary HAPPY ELEPHANTS - See 1,776 traveler reviews, 964 candid photos, and great deals for Mae Rim, Thailand, at Tripadvisor. Thank you so much for your kind review. I can't tell you how much fun that was. These guys here live for those elephants. Did you know that the small fee for the optional professional photography service also goes back into supporting the elephants so it's a win win for all. Hi Marloes! But you will be bathing the elephants in a mud pit so youll want to bring a swimsuit to wear under your clothes. The elephants were well treated and were left to their own devises, we just followed them, fed them and bathed them, no visible signs of cruelty. We do our best to provide a happy environment for our guests and elephants alike. "Captive elephants should be allowed to live as naturally as possible, so if they are forced to display unnatural behaviours - such as dancing, painting or playing football - this is being done for. I care about what you think now that you are aware of the cruelty behind it would you still support them? With many tours and sanctuaries available, how do you know which is ethical and which is not? We were deciding whether or not to go due to the ethical considerations around elephants but decided to give it a go after a lot of research. All the best from Maerim Elephant Sanctuary. But Id also suggest looking around for other ethical providers who offer tours with 15 people or less. One thing that became very important to me is that you are followed throughout the tour by a photographer dedicated to taking the best photos and so you can leave your cell phone and social networks and enjoy the 100% experience. You can really tell that the staff at Maerim absolutely adore the elephants that they care for. Religion vs animal rights - A take on Kerala's elephant problem We are so grateful to your daughter for spreading the love, That's a big part of what keeps us going, and it's also special seeing extended family help support our cause. It is great to hear that we were the highlight of your trip. Plus, they were at the lower end of the price range, at just 1600 THB/person (~$53 USD). Is the terrain difficult to walk on, uphill? Thank you for taking the time to leave your kind review. Join the monthly newsletter for travel tips and inspiration! Not only will you have a fun day of feeding and bathing the elephants at Maerim Elephant Sanctuary, but youll learn a lot along the way! Their population (from 300,000 in Thailand at the start of the 20th Century) went down (to a mere 3,000 elephants left now) mostly due to hunting for their ivory, not just due to deforestation and human activities. It was a noodle soup that we could customize to our own tastes. Its so worth it and it looked like they generally care and respect the elephants. "An elephant is a fanged animal; hence, it will be prohibitively disliked (makruh) to consume its meat." (ibid) Imam al-Haskafi (Allah have mercy on him), whilst mentioning the list of haram animals, states that it is haram to eat the meat of an elephant. We are so very glad that you had a wonderful time at our sanctuary. Maerim Elephant Sanctuary in Chiang Mai (How to Choose Ethical Elephant I am so humbled by your kind words and truly had a wonderful time with you and the tour group! I'm Pamela. As stated, the staff at the sanctuary live for those elephants. Thank you Pauline Z! Your money would go towards the perpetuation of the elephants suffering.Its not easy to sift through so many companies and trying to choose the most ethical one. After a lot of research we decided to go to Mae Rim and could not have been happier with our choice. His argument was flawed in so many ways. This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. Finally we got to go into the elephant area. Maerim Elephant Sanctuary (Mae Rim) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go. (See: Radd al-Muhtar ala-al-Durr al-Mukhtar, 6/306) Its not only that you will personally enjoy the tour more if there are fewer people, but I think the elephants themselves would prefer tours where they are bombarded with fewer humans. We have a maximum capacity of 35 guests, if this is the case during the busy seasons we stagger the group so you will only have a maximum of 20 in your group. Slowly, with support like yours, well be able to save more elephants. Thanks again for your trust. We hope to see you again in the future. Maerim Elephant Sanctuary In Chiang Mai, Thailand: Is It Ethical? We all got a chance to take some photos and had a great time. Just a woman who has fallen in love with getting lost around the world. Lunch includes a brief lesson on how to make Thai noodle soup. We are so happy that you had enlightening experience with us. Always something going on to engage all the participants, and time to fully enjoy each experience. Dee our guide was fabulous, he was very funny and knowledgeable and it was clear he and his team care for the elephants greatly. Recommended experiences in and around Mae Rim, Points of Interest & Landmarks, Mountains. Its a bit of an information overload, but if you focus on the reviews (both positives and negatives), youll quickly be able to filter out the unethical ones. It also creates a more relaxed and more engaged group of people, in my opinion. Planning a trip to Thailand? Tip 4: Read past reviews on Google or Trip Advisor. But apparently there still exists a good portion of people who care more about saving a few dollars than the welfare of these animals. Many simply cut out the riding part because it was giving them a bad name and making them unprofitable as a business. Their love, respect, and passion is palpable. Great ethical elephant experience! - Maerim Elephant Sanctuary We will be there February 15-19th. Maerim Elephant Sanctuary - Half Day Program - PM Tours Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. busabong, Owner at Maerim Elephant Sanctuary, responded to this review, busabong, at Maerim Elephant Sanctuary, responded to this review. Amazing, highly education and ethical - must do! - Maerim Elephant Practical information aside, Id now like to share a more personal story and subjective opinion on this topic, while shining some light on the varying opinions and experiences from people Ive talked to. At the time of our visit, the Maerim Elephant Sanctuary had 6 elephants and was in the process of acquiring one more. They do this to entice more customers because demand and business for elephant riding is dwindling. Type of tour: Half Day - Morning (or afternoon), Number of people on tour: 30 people (full capacity). Maerim Elephant Sanctuary: An Ethical Elephant Encounter in Chiang Mai A full-day experience is 2,000 THB per person and the half-day is 1,600 THB. The elephants are very well cared for. Ethical sanctuary - Amazing day with the Elephants! - Maerim Elephant But in the last 5 years, the city has seen a drastic change in mentality toward elephant cruelty. He made sure we enjoyed our experience and educated us about the elephants. Some have more than 30 people per tour while others only 10-15. The elephants are beautifully cared for and clearly treasured. I think it wouldve been much more pleasant for both the visitors and the elephants, if each tour only had a max number of 15 people or less. All in all a great experience and would recommend to anyone going to Chiang Mai, particularly those who are concerned for the welfare of the animals. Football Matches in Krakow - Experience as a local! There are 6 beautiful female elephants here who are so well cared for with the sanctuary modelling tourism around how the elephants would live in the wild (minus the people). In short, this was one of the highlights of our trip to Thailand. But at the same time, I dont exonerate myself from may past actions. You can create your own perfect soup concoction! We look forward to seeing you again in the future.Thank you from the staff at Mae Rim Elephant Sanctuary!Where Elephants are loved and respected! Maerim Elephant Sanctuary is considered an ethical sanctuary that follows a hands-on approach. And I'm embarrassed to admit that I partook in the past time. We learned that it will re-grow and bear fruit in as little as 9 months! They have to purchase these elephants from logging companies, riding camps, and circus shows. you can also bring your phone with you for pictures (at your own risk! Personally, there were too many people on tour. The elephants seemed happy and playful. The entire day ran so smoothly, each member of staff was incredibly kind, helpful and fun. Choose between a half day tour (morning or afternoon) or a full day visit. No tools or physical harm. Learnt some basic commands in Thai, learning a bit about the Elephants, fed them, walked them along a track then finished off with bathing the Elephants. There is a huge variety amongst the ethical elephant sanctuary providers. Thank you for your kind words. How to choose an Ethical Elephant Sanctuary? Think for yourself. The most recent female was saved from seven years of slavery at a logging camp near Burma/Myanmar where she was starved and worked to the point of exhaustion. From the moment you reach it, you can tell the elephants are adored and so well cared for. Eventually, we ran out of food. Photography tips, travel inspiration & tips, and featured destinations. Is it permissible to consume elephant meat? - Darul Fiqh Maerim Elephant Sanctuary: Ethical sanctuary - Amazing day with the Elephants! Etc? Hello. Kind regards. [4] Although an elephant is different from other predatory animals in that it does not prey and live on other animals like other animals. Were so glad you enjoyed your experience with us here at Maerim Elephant Sanctuary. Max our elephant guide was so great, our group size was about 16 people but you still managed to get photos of just yourself with the elephants - you do get a lot of time with them - plus there is a photographer who takes a lot of photos which you get to view & buy at the end! Hey there! They were were some of the best pictures we have ever posted online for our friends and family. Thanks! This isn't a luxury experience but a very rewarding one. You will find so many pamphlets at your hostel or hotel, at various tour providers and travel agencies. Maerim Elephant Sanctuary: Ethical & Amazing - See 1,775 traveler reviews, 961 candid photos, and great deals for Mae Rim, Thailand, at Tripadvisor. There's free pick up from chiang mai and its only about 40 mins out the city. Hello. Imam al-Haskafi (Allah have mercy on him), whilst mentioning the list of haram animals, states that it is not permissible to eat the meat of an elephant. The companies who do offer elephant riding are comparatively much cheaper than the ethical ones. 100% of travelers recommend this experience. They would get a sharp poke to get them to obey. You can tell the staff loves the elephants. If you have any questions or comments youd like to add about this article, simply leave a comment below or message me @emilypeilan. Some have much larger roaming areas for the elephants, while others are confined to a smaller area for their own safety. You get to do so much a full day is the best way to spend with the elephants, feeding them giving them a mud bath getting food for them and rinsing them. If anyone would want to personalise a tour outside our offered packages, we will always try and cater to our valued guests if we can. Can you go without a tour and just watch them close? We want to have the best possible day, while making sure the sanctuary is what it says it is and not pandering to tourists at the detriment of the elephants wellbeing. But in the last 5 years, the city has seen a drastic change in mentality toward elephant cruelty. You have the option of purchasing these digital files at the end (but you dont have to, of course). From the moment they picked us up at the hotel it was with a big smile and I was touched by an incredible group that we made an instant connection. The energetic, English-speaking guides spend a lot of time educating guests of the sanctuary about elephant poop, their sex lives, their eating habits, sleep cycles, and everything in between. The team was always attentive to give us the best experience. - See 1,781 traveler reviews, 975 candid photos, and great deals for Mae Rim, Thailand, at Tripadvisor. I really recommend visiting Maerim Elephant Sanctuary! Elephant Care at Bamboo Elephant Family Care from Chiang Mai, Elephant in Wild Sanctuary, Trekking and Rafting in Chiang Mai, 3 Experiences: Doi Inthanon Tour, Elephant Sanctuary, Trekking Trail, Inthanon Heaven Trail(Living Green Elephant Sanctuary), Half Day Experience Rescue Elephant Centre in Chiang Mai, Best Seller! Please do come and visit in the future. There were five elephants. What a great visit! Thank you again for trusting in Maerim Elephant Sanctuary. Maerim Elephant Sanctuary: Amazing & ethical experience - See 1,775 traveler reviews, 961 candid photos, and great deals for Mae Rim, Thailand, at Tripadvisor. After the elephants left we went to the people pool and had a beer. The small fee for the optional professional photography service also goes back into supporting the elephants so it's a win win. My family of five had an amazing time at Into the Wild Elephant Camp. Every single person on the staff was amazing. You don't have to go in, but you should. Id recommend this as the best way to book (after youve done your research and chosen your provider) because you can ask some last minute questions and make double sure they have your correct address. Just because everyone does something makes it a societal norm, but it doesnt mean its right. It was very good! Everybody did it. Thanks! Thank you Debkearney for your kind words! Yes. Dee our guide was great and the day was well organised. Thank you so much for you kind review. I see the scars embedded on the elephants bodies and cant help but let a few tears fall. Thank you for your trust and we hope that you come back to visit in the future. you do not have to purchase the photos he takes but it is an option and I would encourage everyone to contribute to their cause so they can continue rescuing elephants. However, in saying that, I realise that this is a business. However, due to the fact that an elephant can harm . Maerim Elephant Sanctuary. Book Here Book a Room at Maerim Elephant Guesthouse Other Package HALF DAY MORNING Pick up : 7.00 - 7.30 A.M. Drop off : 1.30 P.M. BOOK HALF DAY AFTERNOON Pick up : 14.00-14.30 Drop off : 20.30 BOOK FULL DAY VISIT
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