Unforgettable Experience at Chai Lai Orchid

Day 1

After the busy streets of Bangkok we headed north to Chiang Mai for a very different kind of experience. We spent two nights at Chai Lai Orchid a jungle eco lodge and elephant sanctuary, we booked this through booking and it felt a world away from city life.

The journey from Chiang Mai airport took just over an hour winding through the mountains in transport arranged by the hotel.

Check in was seamless and we were guided across the river to our lodge. What we saw next stopped us in our tracks, Elephants just calmly wandering nearby, no fences no barriers just moving freely near our accommodation it was one of those surreal moments that you don’t quite believe is real until your standing there watching.

Our lodge was clean, comfortable and surprisingly spacious perfect for families. It had two double beds, a large balcony overlooking the jungle and elephants, kettle for those much needed morning coffees. The outdoor shower added a sense of adventure without sacrificing comfort. It was simple but thoughtfully designed, making us feel completely at ease in the middle of nature.

At night the jungle really came alive. The sounds were intense a constant rustling, buzzing and strange noises from the trees. It was amazing but we did have a couple of sleepless nights.

Later that afternoon we headed up to the onsite cafe/restaurant for happy hour. To our delight the elephants were right there too casually hanging while the guests relaxed and ordered food and drinks. You can buy bananas to feed them, a simple unforgettable experience especially when a 10 day old baby elephant appeared. It was unbelievably cute and stole the show.

We enjoyed a relaxed meal and couple of cocktails while watching the elephants. The food was amazing, the cocktails were strong and best of all everything was incredibly affordable. We recommend the pad Thai, Chicken Satays and the lemongrass mojito was standout.

Day 2

The next day just after sunrise the elephants came to our lodge. We stood on the balcony as they reached out their trunks for the bananas and sugar canes while we sipped our coffee. A few minutes later our three tiered breakfast arrived a beautiful arranged selection of tropical fruits, pancakes, eggs, satays and pastries. It felt like such a treat sitting on the balcony feeding the elephants soaking in the jungle stillness, completely unforgettable.

We booked a full day adventure through our hotel and our local guide Pep and his daughter met us right at the lodge in the morning. The first half of the day was all about elephants we got to feed them, walk alongside them in their natural jungle environment and even learn basic commands to communicate with them. It was hands on and incredibly memorable.

After saying goodbye to the elephants, we hiked through the forest to a nearby waterfall. There our guide prepared a Thai style picnic: chicken grilled over an open fire with vegetables and rice steamed inside bamboo tubes. He even crafted forks and spoons out of bamboo on the spot, such a cool touch.

In the afternoon, we headed to the lazy Mae Wang River for bamboo rafting. We floated downstream for over an hour, soaking up the scenery and having an absolute blast. It was the perfect mix of relaxing and fun, definitely a highlight of our trip so far.

Day 3

We kept our last morning in Chiang Mai relaxed but special by booking a 1 hour family photoshoot with DLC Photographer and it turned out to be one of the best decisions of the trip, we booked this through his Instagram page.

The session was relaxed, fun, and the photographer knew exactly how to capture natural moments. We now have a collection of beautiful portraits to remember our time in Chiang Mai. (Tip: Book your session early if you’re traveling in peak season it’s a popular experience.)

After the shoot, we headed back to our lodge to pack up and check out. Our flight to Phuket took just over 2 hours.

Our Family’s Final Thoughts on Chiang Mai

Our only regret with Chiang Mai was not spending time in the city itself. We had two nights at the elephant sanctuary, which was an incredible experience – the perfect amount of time to soak it all in and really connect with the elephants. From feeding and bathing them to learning about their stories, it was an unforgettable highlight of our trip.

But instead of heading into Chiang Mai afterwards, we flew straight on to Patong. Looking back, we wish we’d added a couple of nights in the city. Exploring its temples, markets and famous street food scene would have rounded off our Northern Thailand adventure perfectly. Next time, we’ll make sure to pair the sanctuary stay with a taste of city life.

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