Ban Pa Bong Piang

It's quite difficult to find a decent, genuinely ethically ran elephant sanctuary these days but after much searching, Joy is the real deal. Hotel pick up was swift and on time and once there the guides were clear and professional. The elephants were not forced to interact with us. They had their designated snack time (they are fed regular meals by their keepers) which we gave them, and we were invited to walk with them afterwards, several metre distance, no touching. Afterwards we could clean off in the sanctuary’s stream, the elephants were not made to come, but they are given free reign to come and go as they please, and they came. It was a wonderful sight. The rafting add on was well worth it, and we were lucky enough to do so in a storm! The torrential rain added to the atmosphere. (I’ll add that the guides ensured that the route was safe first before sending us down!)

good good good good good good good good good good good good good

What an unforgettable experience! Our guide, Peter, was friendly and talkative. Since I was traveling alone, he was also very thoughtful and helped me take photos. My fellow travelers were also very friendly, adding a lot of fun to the trip. I originally thought that due to the mountain burning, I wouldn't see good scenery, but the result was a pleasant surprise!

Great experience with elephants. Started off with an initial briefing, then feeding the elephants, then a small hike parallel with the elephants up and down the mountain to a river stream where we bathed in cold fresh water. We were given lunch. After lunch, we prepared local Thai inhalers, examined the elephants, prepared special digestive food for the elephants, and finally planted banana trees. The guide and team were very nice and professional. Highly recommended.

Billy was such a nice tour guide. The area was beautiful. We had enough time at each location. The hike was beautiful.

This was a fantastic experience and well worth the time and money. Our guide Sunny was funny, kind and very informative too. Highly recommend!

A very enjoyable hike, and the guide was humorous and responsible. Chiang Mai at 7 AM still had a cool, misty air. The guide picked us up punctually at 7 AM. Our family of three embarked on a small hiking trip to Doi Inthanon. The entire vehicle was filled with friends from all over the world. We chatted softly along the way, like a gentle outdoor English corner. It felt unforced, not awkward, comfortable, and at ease. We took the K route. The mountain path was enveloped in greenery, and the air was so clean it made you want to take deep breaths. The guide was humorous and gentle, telling small stories about the mountains, forests, and local area as we walked. There were no stiff explanations, just the pleasure of slowly listening. All the group members were exceptionally friendly. As we walked, we started humming songs and chatting together. It was unfamiliar yet warm, the most precious little surprise of the trip. We stopped along the way at a quiet coffee village for a cup of mountain coffee. We ascended to see the vast views from the King and Queen Pagodas. Finally, we listened to the gurgling water at the Wachirathan Waterfall. Nature, culture, and scenery—everything was just right. Ten full hours of hiking. It wasn't tiring; instead, it was incredibly healing. Compared to independent travel, I prefer the pace of these small group tours. No need to rush the itinerary, no need to check routes. You can meet interesting people and hear different stories. It's reassuring, relaxing, and full of novelty. The mountains and wilderness of Chiang Mai truly hold so much gentleness. This day is worth remembering well 🌿

Bien organizado y programado. Billy fue un guía fantástico, divertido e informativo. El grupo era de solo 12 personas. El almuerzo estuvo delicioso.