Chai Lai Orchid – Is it worth it ? – TREKwithBECK

A stay at Chai Lai Orchid is perhaps one of the most unique elephant encounters in the world.  You can literally receive a wake up call from the elephants, who pop by the window and say hello with their trunk. It’s a once in a life time experience! (I did this experience and I highly recommend it)

But the real question here, is it worth it? I think I might of given myself away already because yes, yes it is. Getting up close with elephants has always been something I’ve wanted to do, but I have never wanted to do it in an unethical way – I also wanted a unique experience. Chai Lai Orchid was able to help make these dreams a reality with their incredible experiences!

This blog post will include all you need to know about booking an experience with Chia Lai Orchid.

Chai Lai Orchid is an ethical elephant Eco lodge, which offers unique experiences and adventures. They take extremely good care of their elephants and the Mahouts are extremely sensitive to the needs of the elephants (the carers). During my stay I didn’t see any mistreatment of the elephants in any way, in fact they looked happy to be there – and loved the snacks!

Chai Lai Orchid isn’t only known for its work in ethical elephant conservation, they are also known for their commitment to helping fight human trafficking. They support a non-profit organisation that donates 100% of its profits to the anti-trafficking charity Daughters Rising. They also employ and train local women who have either been rescued from trafficking or are identified as at risk. Chai Lai Orchid is a eco lodge that actually cares about its wildlife, and the people they hire.

Is it Ethical?

The important question when visiting any animal sanctuary – is it actually ethical? To answer quickly, yes it is. The elephants at this eco lodge are all rescued, and you aren’t allowed to ride or harass these animals in anyway. They aren’t kept on chains or ropes, instead they use a mixture of free roaming, enclosures and tethering. You can read more about Chai Lai Orchid ethical elephant practices here.

Where is it located?

Chai Lai Orchid is located in Mae Wang, Chiang Mai – just over an hours drive from Chiang Mai international airport. It is recommend not to use Grab Taxis to get to this sanctuary, as the road conditions aren’t the best and taxi drivers tend to drop people off in the wrong spot. I’d recommend booking a truck or car transfer directly through Chai Lai Orchid.

This cost me $35 AUD for a one way trip, however the truck is meant to be shared between 8 people – problems with being a solo traveller! So the round trip cost me $70 AUD, which is much more on the expensive side for transport. However, the truck picked me up and dropped me off to my hotels in Chiang Mai, booking directly with them made the experience a lot smoother.

You can also self drive here, they have directions on their website – which can be found here.

What was the Accommodation like?

I booked one night in the Chai Lai Orchid Bungalows – which happened to be the last one for months! (Book in advance). There are two types of bungalows to choose from; river or mountain view. I stayed in the river view bungalows which were situated near a river where the elephants bath. The mountain view bungalows speak for themselves and have views over the mountains.

Personally, I don’t think it matters what bungalow you choose – they both other beautiful views and a secluded feel. I’d book in advance though, cause this place is extremely popular. A garden bungalow room for 2 people, cost me $140 AUD for one night. This bungalow included a private ensuite bathroom, which had outdoor vibes. A big bed, private balcony and the ‘Elephant room service’ experience.

There is also an onsite bar and restaurants where you can have ‘elephant happy hour’ at 3.30pm. This is cheap drinks (2 for $8) and you can meet/feed the elephants. It’s a very interesting experience.

Elephant Happy Hour

The river bungalows are located a short drive from the reception area, but Chai Lai Orchid has its own private transfers between the main area and the bungalows. This is a basic truck style tuk tuk, which some people complained about – but I mean it’s Thailand and it’s a good experience!

There is a short walk down and across the river, which can be slippery so I recommend closed in shoes. The bungalow itself all have views of the river and large outdoor areas for relaxing. The balcony on my bungalow had a chair, table and hammock. The inside was basic, no AC but has everything you need for a short stay.

The huts are completely made out of bamboo, so you will get a few critters pay you a visit during the night! If you want something super luxurious or hate insects, this probably isn’t the place for you. I loved the rural setting and listening to the river/animals in the night, makes you feel very close to nature.

What are the Experiences?

There are several experiences you can choose from at Chai Lai Orchid – which you can do as a day visit as well! I would recommend staying a night or two if possible, but if you are short on time and want to experience this place for yourself, you can do day trips. The experiences are as below.

How much does it cost?

The end costs will depend on which experience you choose and whether you plan on staying overnight. As I mentioned earlier, it cost me $140 AUD for the bungalow and Elephant room service experience. This would be cheaper if I wasn’t solo travelling as the price is for two. That also included breakfast. I did buy dinner and drinks, as well as use their transport service, so my total cost for this experience was $235 AUD.

I would budget anything between $100 to $500 to visit Chai La Orchid and its experiences.

Do I recommend Chai Lai Orchid?

In short, YES! I had a magical, yet short experience here. However, it is one I will remember for the rest of my life! The service from start to finish was incredible, they were on time with the transfers and everything flowed with ease. I loved the bungalows, the meals and drinks. It is such a unique experience hearing the elephants at night, and watching them wonder around without a care in the world. It’s a great way to get up and close to these beautiful giants, in an ethical way.

I would recommend Chai Lai Orchid not only because they offer unique and memorable experiences. But because they are a eco lodge with rescued elephants and helping fight human trafficking. This is one of the best places you can have an experience with elephants in Chiang Mai, in my opinion.

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