Chang Chill Elephant Sanctuary

Supakorn Tananseth's family has kept elephants for generations. Working with World Animal Protection, he closed the site, which used to allow riding and bathing, rebuilt it, and reopened it as a fully hands-off sanctuary. Today, four resident female elephants, each with a documented history of logging or tourist-riding work before rescue, roam a forested valley freely. Visitors can follow at a distance with a small group and a guide.

Two of the elephants, Mae Gohae and her daughter Mae Mayura, spent years apart working in logging and city tourism before being reunited here; they're now rarely seen far from each other. Mahouts stay involved, but as companions, sharing what they know about each elephant's history and behaviour as the group treks through forest and past rice paddies to find them.