1 / 19
4D3N Elephant Sanctuary Immersion & Community Experience
Immerse in BEES, a haven where rescued elephants just BE elephants.
5.0
|31 Reviews
Group size
Up to 12 guests
DURATION
4 days 3 nights
Booking type
Join-in trip
MEET UP
Free pick-up
Group size
Up to 12 guests
- Experience highlights
- Itinerary
- Inclusions
- Accommodation
- Availability
- More Info
- Host
- Reviews
Embark on an unforgettable elephant sanctuary journey.
BEES – Burm and Emily’s Elephant Sanctuary is a special place where elephants are rescued and provided a safe, natural home to just BE elephants. This sanctuary allows elephants to live out their days in a natural environment, free from exploitation and abuse. Visitors to BEES can witness the elephants naturally foraging, dust bathing, roaming, and socializing. What makes BEES truly unique is their dedication to serving the local community as well as providing the best care for their elephants. They run clean up days, education programs for kids, English classes in local schools, and provide care for local cats and dogs in need. BEES embodies the values of travel as a force for good.What to ExpectA 4-day, 3-night experience in the Mae Chaem District, about 2+ hours drive from Chiang MaiDay 1: Arrive at the sanctuary, prepare treats for elephants, watch them return from the forest, and enjoy free time with rescue animalsDay 2: Embark on a full-day observation walk, have a picnic lunch in nature, and enjoy free time in the eveningDay 3: Engage in elephant care activities in the morning, have lunch onsite, and participate in either elephant or community activities in the afternoonDay 4: Enjoy a final morning in rural Thailand, say goodbye to new friends, and head back to Chiang MaiInclusions: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner; boots for jungle trekkingExclusions: Meals outside of BEES, travel and accident insuranceHost description: Burm and Emily founded BEES in 2011, with a focus on elephant welfare and community engagement. They have created a hands-off sanctuary and are part of the World Animal Protection organization. Burm is passionate about teaching English to children in the local community.
What You’ll be Doing
Day 1:
Elephant Sanctuary ExperienceDay 2:
Observation Walk - Hiking adventure dayDay 3:
Elephant Care And Sanctuary ActivitiesDay 4:
Final morning in rural ThailandShow Details
What’s Included
Breakfast (3), lunch (3) and dinner (3)
Boots for jungle trekking (8 pairs available, but option for sizes are limited)
Round trip transport from Chiang Mai
Accommodation
Show Details
Who you’re supporting
Community Champion
Wildlife Protector
Women-led Wonder
Show Details
Where You’ll Sleep
BEES Homestay
All Nights
1 / 11
BEES Homestay
Next Available Dates
Prices shown in USD
Select Time for 07 Jun 2026
Additional Information
Where we'll meet
Start Point
Free pick-up from Inside Chiang Mai Old City Square(Old City, Thailand)
- 08:30am
- Notes: BEES typically pickup their guests at a hotel within Chiang Mai's Old City Square. Guests who are living outside the square are advised to reach out to BEES for options and advice.
End Point
- End at Inside Chiang Mai Old City Square (Old City, Thailand)
+1 other option
Start & Ends
08:30AM on Day 1 - 02:00PM on Day 4
Suitability / Accessibility
- Vegetarian food available
- Child Friendly (Recommended Age: 10+)
Cancellation & other policies
Cancellation
To secure your spot, your host will turn away other guests. Because of this, cancellations aren't allowed.Minimum Participants
If there are fewer than 2 participants, the host may reschedule or refund your booking.
See More
What to Pack
- A copy of your Travel & Accident Insurance
- Hat
- Insect Repellant
- Long Sleeve Shirts and Pants
- Sunscreen
- Toiletries (Body soap, shampoo and etc)
- Torchlight
- Towel
- Universal Adapters
- Water Bottle (refills are available on site)
From
฿10,506
/person5.0(31)
Show Prices
Save
Share
Meet your host
Founded in 2011 by Burm Pornchai Rinkaew and Emily Rose McWilliam, BEES is one of the rare elephant sanctuaries in Thailand recognised by World Animal Protection for its truly ethical practices. It was an early pioneer of a fully hands-off approach — no riding, no bathing, no shows — allowing rescued elephants to roam, forage, socialise, and simply live on their own terms.
Emily’s journey began in 2009 after witnessing the mistreatment of elephants in tourist camps. Determined to do things differently, she and Burm relocated to Mae Chaem to build BEES from the ground up — combining Emily’s conservation focus with Burm’s deep local roots and commitment to supporting the community.
Since then, BEES has grown into a community-driven sanctuary. Beyond caring for elephants, the team works closely with the local village on initiatives like tree planting (over 10,000 trees since 2012), clean-ups, education programmes, irrigation projects, and post-disaster support — many of which guests can take part in during their stay.
This isn’t a polished attraction, but a long-term conservation project run by people who have dedicated their lives to doing things the right way — for both elephants and the community around them.
Speaks: Fluent English
Acceptance rate: 78%
Top Rated Host
Keep your payments secure by using the Seek Sophie website for all transactions and communications.
We've done the homework
