Gibbon Encounters

ELEPHANT AND GIBBON CARE

Book a visit

No strategy can succeed without the involvement of people. Your stay, no matter its length, directly contributes to covering our elephants' care and supporting wild gibbons, allowing them to live in the forest. Together, we can create a lasting impact.

Elephant and Gibbon Encounters

Visit for 5 days and 4 nights

  • Price: 2+ persons = 15,000THB per person (approx. $450USD/£340/640AUD)

    Solo travellers: Please get in touch to check if a group is already operating

    This price includes transport, accommodation and meals.

  • The programme includes observing elephants and gibbons in their natural habitat, and learning about our conservation efforts.

    You will also immerse yourself in the Karen culture by living in 2 communities, learning their handicrafts, and engaging in the village life.

  • Day 1

    • 9:00 AM: Pickup from Chiang Mai (Pick-ups from Pai or Mae Hong Son may be possible upon request).

    • Travel through a national park and scenic mountains with lunch en route.

    • Arrive at our village and meet your homestay family, staff, and interns.

    • Immerse yourself in Karen culture:

      • Village Tour

      • Cook with your homestay family

      • Learn traditional basket weaving from a village elder.

    Day 2

    • Early morning: Hike into the forest to find the elephants.

    • Spend the morning observing, recording, and learning about their natural behaviours.

    • Enjoy lunch in the forest.

    • Learn more about our conservation work, the local language, and culture.

    • Option to participate in community projects.

    ​Day 3

    • Early morning: Hike into the forest to find the elephants.

    • Spend the morning observing, recording, and learning about their natural behaviours.

    • Lunch in the village.

    • Afternoon: Leaving to the Gibbon Encounters Village.

    • Evening: Dinner and explore the surroundings.

    Day 4

    • Sunrise: Wake up to the enchanting calls of gibbons right outside your door.

    • Follow their calls around the village with a local expert, hoping to catch a glimpse of these agile creatures.

    • Breakfast.

    • Visit a local cave and enjoy a traditional forest lunch.

    • Participate in community projects, such as:

      • Assisting in coffee, tea, or rice plantations.

      • Learning the art of weaving from local artisans.

    • Dinner.

    Day 5

    • Early morning: Another chance to spot gibbons near the village.

    • Breakfast.

    • Afternoon: Lunch in the village, followed by departure to Chiang Mai or Pai.

    Note: While we hope to spot gibbons, they are wild animals, and sightings cannot be guaranteed. The programme might differ depending on the season.

Gibbon Encounters

Visit for 3 days and 2 nights

  • Price: 2+ persons = 7,500THB per person (approx. $230USD/£190/320AUD))

    Solo travellers: Please get in touch to check if a group is already operating

    This price includes transport, accommodation and meals.

  • The programme includes wild gibbons in their natural habitat, and learning about our conservation efforts.

    You will also immerse yourself in the Karen culture, learning their handicrafts, and engaging in the village life.

  • Day 1

    • 9:00 AM: Pickup from Chiang Mai (Pick-ups from Pai or Mae Hong Son may be possible upon request).

    • Travel through a national park and scenic mountains with lunch en route.

    • Arrive at our village and meet your homestay family, staff, and interns.

    • Immerse yourself in Karen culture:

      • Village Tour

      • Cook with your homestay family

      • Learn traditional basket weaving from a village elder.

    Day 2

    • Sunrise: Wake up to the enchanting calls of gibbons right outside your door.

    • Follow their calls around the village with a local expert, hoping to catch a glimpse of these agile creatures.

    • Breakfast.

    • Visit a local cave and enjoy a traditional forest lunch.

    • Participate in community projects, such as:

      • Assisting in coffee, tea, or rice plantations.

      • Learning the art of weaving from local artisans.

    • Dinner.

    Day 3

    • Early morning: Another chance to spot gibbons near the village.

    • Breakfast.

    • Afternoon: Lunch in the village, followed by departure to Chiang Mai or Pai.

    Note: While we hope to spot gibbons, they are wild animals, and sightings cannot be guaranteed. The programme might differ depending on the season.

SUPPORT

FAQ

General

  • Kindred spirits are two people who are connected and bonded together on a higher level of consciousness. This connection is similar to the very special bond that can happen between a mahout and elephant who care for each other deeply. Although there are many people who take care of elephants just to earn an living and have no interest in connecting with them, our mahouts have grown up with their elephants, they know each other inside out and they therefore possess this now very rare connection. Despite the fact that they are animal and human, they are also kindred spirits.

  • No. In many instances when an elephant is sold, the previous owner will then use this money to replace the sold elephant by buying one that has been poached from the wild (these are sold at a much cheaper rate). We at Kindred Spirit Elephant Sanctuary do not wish to encourage this. Our elephants belong to families within our local Karen communities, they have been in their families for many generations and we pay them a monthly salary to compensate the elephants. This close connection enables us to secure our elephants freedom without contributing to illegal trade.

  • Elephant tourism in Thailand is very a very complex situation. The reality of it is, due to the huge deforestation, without tourism the elephants would have nowhere to go. Our elephants are very lucky to have the forest in our sanctuary to roam, but this is not possible for every elephant. This is why we work with our community and other organizations to bring better welfare and future for all captive elephants through science.

Visitor programme

  • Once you sign up to visit or volunteer, you will be sent an information pack which will tell you what exactly you need to bring and answer all your questions.

  • We accept visitors and interns of any age, however anyone under 18 must be accompanied by a responsible adult. Please bear in mind that hikes may be physically demanding so assess your level of fitness for yourself.

  • You will stay in a private room provided by a local Karen family. We accommodate various dietary requirements, including vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options.