Chiang Mai: Thaise kookcursus en observatie van het olifantenreservaat

Fantastic cookery school and amazing elephant sanctuary. Experience of a life time

This is a must do in chiang mai! You are looked after from that minute are picked up to dropped off. The cooking class started with a trip round the local market with Bryan our chef - he showed us the local produce which was to be used in our class. The class itself was so much fun and well taught by Bryan who made it so easy and lots of laughs too. Next to Joy Elephant sanctuary where we got to feed and trek with the elephants under the careful watch of the guides. The guide I think was Shi and sorry can’t rem the other name but both so friendly and full of passion for the elephants- such an amazing experience seeing them get to love the way they are meant too and under such loving care with Joy Sanctuary. A really great day ! :)

Very welcome friendly guide the setting is beautiful

We had the best time, we knew we wanted to do a cooking class and see elephants on our trip and this was the perfect way to do both in one day! Aim is sooo funny and we had a blast during the cooking class, it also came with e-recipes so we can recreate everything at home. Before the class Aim takes you to a local market where you can shop around, I found some Thai candy to take to and they have many other booths as well. After the cooking class we took another shuttle to the elephant sanctuary where we got to feed elephants, walk through the jungle with them, and then end at a beautiful waterfall where you have the option to swim. The sanctuary provided dinner but we were too full to eat after our cooking class. Both the cooking class and elephant sanctuary provides free bottle water for you but also has the option to buy other drinks. At the very end of the excursion they walk you through how to make a medical inhaler with herbs and menthol to take with you. They pick you up and drop you off at your hotel, our hotel was not listed on Trip Advisor so we picked a different hotel closer to the old town square for pick up, when we mentioned it didn’t allow us to choose our hotel for pick up and drop off they rerouted us to drop us off at our hotel instead. So if you don’t see your hotel listed when booking through Trip Advisor, reach out to the company through this app and ask if they will pick up at your hotel, they were very accommodating for us!

The clentire experience was a highlight of our trip to thailand. 10/10 recommend to everyone! Go if you can!

We looked especially for an ethic tour with respectful care towards elephants. This one only started 7 months ago. They have 4 elephants which are costing high amount of time and money so everyone is highly welcomed. You can feed them their snacks and follow them with their care taker. There's a waterfall, they serve tea and pad Thai - fruits. Enjoy!!!

I had the most incredible experience at Joy Elephant Sanctuary! From the moment I arrived, it was clear that the elephants are treated with the utmost care and respect. The sanctuary's mission to provide a safe, natural environment for these magnificent creatures is truly inspiring. The staff are incredibly knowledgeable and passionate about elephant welfare, and you can tell they deeply care for each animal. The elephants themselves are so gentle and it's amazing to witness their unique personalities. It’s heartwarming to see them roaming freely, engaging in their natural behaviors, and enjoying their lives. The experience also includes hands-on activities like feeding the elephants and walking with them, which makes the visit feel personal and meaningful. It’s clear that this sanctuary is doing vital work in both elephant conservation and educating visitors on the importance of ethical tourism. If you're looking for a memorable, responsible way to connect with elephants, Joy Elephant Sanctuary is absolutely the place to go. I left feeling both humbled and inspired, knowing that my visit contributed to the well-being of these incredible animals. Highly recommended!

We had such a fun time! The cooking class was great, Aim made the class so much fun and also so informative. We made 6 dishes, and some of the best food we’ve eaten in our 3 week trip in Thailand. After morning of cooking we headed to joy elephant sanctuary which was a no touch sanctuary. I’m so glad this is where we went because the sanctuary really prioritizes not stressing out the elephants and observing them in their natural habitat. We got to feed them, go on a walk, and hangout and have dinner with them.

The cooking class at Aim I can only recommend to anyone who is in Chiang Mai. Aim is such a nice and funny person shopping at the market and the subsequent cooking was very informative and very funny and the food was fantastic. Aim will send you the complete recipes and pictures she took during the course. The subsequent tour to the elephant sanctuary was just as beautiful and you could watch the animals in nature. Here, a lot of importance is placed on the welfare of the animals, which is why actions such as bathing with the tourists are refrained from.

We did both the Thai cooking class and then a trip to Joy elephant sanctuary. Absolutely brilliant day from start to finish. The cooking class with Aim was fantastic. What an incredibly funny person who really made the cooking class fun. The recipes were easy to follow and the whole thing was very well organised. One tip is don’t eat too much before the cooking class as you’ll be eating the food you make and there is plenty! The trip to the elephant park was amazing. They really care about the elephants which is evident. There is no touching , bathing or riding. I researched before going and believe this to be ethical . You do get the feed them from a distance. and follow them as they walk around the forest. The sanctuary is down in valley and the scenery is stunning. Food is provided and you can eat it on a veranda whilst watching the elephants. You won’t regret booking this trip… it was amazing.