Chai Lai Orchid Reviews

Best vacation ever, amazing experience with elephants. We stayed at riverside, its a cute bamboo lodge, my son jumped into the river anytime he wants. We joined the full day jungle tour, our guide Sam was fantastic. He knows the village very well, very fun to hangout with. The elephants are definitely the star over there, my son didn't want to leave in the end of the trip. Highly recommend.

nice place can play with elephants anytime, a lot of dogs and feel like quite freedom, countryside and relaxing. facilities not really good and have to say , really worth to try this different experience, btw the stars in the night are amazing. wonderful experience

Exceptionally nice stay. The location is very idyllic, quiet and you can really relax and switch off. The highlight are the elephants. The staff is very nice and helpful, the food is delicious and sufficient. Clear recommendation!!! One Life Time Experience

Riverside cottage, a bit far from restaurants and main events, lots of bugs, but still a very special experience

This accommodation cannot be compared with normal hotels. I stayed in the room on the edge of the river. The room was very primitive. There was no air conditioner, no signal, no WiFi, no phone, no towel, toothbrush, slippers, only shower gel, bottled water and an electric fan. The mountain road is really difficult to walk, especially on rainy days. My elephant call that morning was cancelled because the water level was too high for the elephants to come over on a rainy day. The host is not very professional, so I have to take the initiative to ask. The call was cancelled early and no one notified me. I was waiting in the room stupidly because there was no phone in the room, no WiFi, and the mobile phone had no signal in the village room. If you have anything, you have to walk to the reception to ask. Long distances are dirt roads. In fact, it is much more convenient to live in the mountains. But I still think it's worth it. Although not an enjoyable experience. But it's a really special process. I chose to take a bath with an elephant for 1200 baht per person. It was fun. This is an elephant conservation purpose. There will be a chance to go again.

I've written a lot of reviews, but no more 😓😓 The hotel atmosphere is divided into a riverside room and a mountaintop room. There is a distance on both sides, and there are cars to pick up and drop off. The riverside room can encounter elephants during the day. In contrast, I prefer the quietness of the villa on the top of the mountain. Elephants are there in the morning, and they will come in the evening. Occasionally, people will come at noon, and I will stay for three days. It is beautiful, there are kittens and parrots here. 🦜 Western-style breakfast, you can also try it Thai rice, delicious

Great stay and all the staff so hard working and lovely.

Unforgettable 2 day experience - the guides Son and Pohp couldn’t do enough for us and prepared a sumptuous lunch in the jungle during our trek. The accommodation was perfect, next to the river in cosy, comfortable bamboo tiny houses. The trek is a proper walk and was sloppy in parts due to the recent rain. Fed the elephants, learned about them, bathed with them, walked with them in such a natural environment. Loved it all, thanks for the special memories!

We had the most incredible stay at Chai Lai Orchid, it was definitely the highlight of our trip to Thailand. We did the full day experience with our guide Sunny, who was incredibly helpful, knowledgeable and kind. Feeding and walking with the elephants was just amazing, and our lunch by the river was absolutely delicious. Rafting past more elephants and visiting a waterfall too, so much crammed in to one day. The whole day was perfect, more than we could have dreamed for. The food and cocktails at the cafe were so good, and our room was perfect. Feeding the elephants again at happy hour and breakfast was a real treat. I cannot recommend this experience enough, it was perfect for us as a family, memories we’ll cherish forever.

Chai Lai Orchid is truly one of the most unforgettable places I’ve ever stayed. Nestled deep in the jungle outside of Chiang Mai, this eco-lodge is not just a beautiful retreat—it’s part of a mission that matters. From the moment we arrived, we were immersed in the lush natural surroundings, welcomed by the kindest staff, and of course—greeted by elephants. We had the incredible opportunity to feed, bathe, and learn about these gentle giants in a way that felt respectful and meaningful. Every experience, from the river sessions to bamboo rafting to waking up to the sound of nature, felt magical and grounding. What sets Chai Lai apart is their partnership with Daughters Rising, helping empower women and refugees escaping trafficking and hardship. Knowing our stay supported this mission made the experience even more powerful. Our bungalow was tucked away with breathtaking views, the on-site café served delicious, fresh meals, and the entire stay felt like a once-in-a-lifetime adventure. If you’re looking for more than just a vacation—if you want to connect with nature, people, and purpose—this is the place. And if you book a professional photo session which I HIGHLY recommend, go with Pern - she's awesome!

So many magical experiences to be had! Beautiful area -- Elephants aplenty. Satik was the perfect guide for our elephant adventures, keeping us informed, entertained, and safe.

Could not recommend a stay at Chai Lai more! While there, you have to do the full day guided tour. Our guide was Tip and he was the BEST! He cooked us a wonderful lunch, let us move at our own pace, and shared so much knowledge about the animals and the local community. Plus you get to play with elephants all morning. I wasn’t sure if I would like the bamboo rafting, but it’s a must! Like you’re in a movie! If you want to support a place that is using business to do good community work, chai lai is the right choice!

We did a 2 day experience and stayed in one of the lodges overnight. Our guide Bebe was so friendly and helpful and really made our stay special. We spent lots of time with the elephants and it really was a once in a lifetime stay. We fed the elephants from our lodge climbed under waterfalls ate food prepared by Bebe on a campfire, and of course the highlight was getting to spend time with the baby elephant. Special mention to our guide Bebe who drove for 4 hours to return a pair of glasses we had left at the lodge, nothing was too much trouble for this young man and his smile was infectious. Whole experience 5 star 👌

We had the best day ever. Our guide - Lucky - and his apprentice were amazing. We had enough time with the elephants and got to be in the jungle. It felt authentic and not to touristy because we were put in a small group of 6. I highly recommend the experience, totally worth the price.