Green Hill Valley Elephant Camp- Day Tours
Green Hill Valley Elephant Camp- Day Tours
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Kalaw, Myanmar
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Green Hill Valley Elephant Camp- Day Tours
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
5.0
429 reviews
Excellent
403
Very good
24
Average
2
Poor
0
Terrible
0
Stephanie
18 contributions
Jan 2020 • Friends
Despite living in Asia, I’ve never visited any elephant related tourism establishments for fear of getting it wrong and endorsing something negative. But today my friend and I had one of the best days ever visiting Green Hill Valley. It very much feels like responsible tourism and the work they do to educate locals and visitors about elephant safety, logging and tourism is excellent. I would do it all over again a million times. Keep up the good work Green Hill Valley and thank you for an unforgettable day.
Written January 24, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bonnie S
Chilliwack, Canada1,435 contributions
Jan 2020
It was a long and bumpy ride along the road full of construction but was it ever worth it! We listened to a talk on how and why they take care of these elephants. I loved hearing that most of the elephants were free to roam the forest. Then we got to feed the elephants as much as we and they wanted. We met the vet in charge and then went off to change.
After changing into our "elephant washing" clothes we took a short hike to the water. I took my elephant washing seriously! Such a great experience.
We had a super lunch, browsed the gift shop where I bought elephant bells made for specific elephants by their mahouts.
Then it was off to see how they make elephant dung paper and back to feeding the elephants if we wished.
Do not miss this experience!!
After changing into our "elephant washing" clothes we took a short hike to the water. I took my elephant washing seriously! Such a great experience.
We had a super lunch, browsed the gift shop where I bought elephant bells made for specific elephants by their mahouts.
Then it was off to see how they make elephant dung paper and back to feeding the elephants if we wished.
Do not miss this experience!!
Written January 29, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your feedback.
Written January 31, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Malcolm M
17 contributions
Feb 2020
We spent the best part of a day here. Only small numbers are allowed each day so there's lots of opportunity to spend time with the elephants. The guides are very informative and had excellent English. We started by feeding several elephants, learnt about their history and care and then went to the river to wash one, (shorts to use whilst doing this are provided). There were just the 2 of us with our elephant and we were in the river for over 30 minutes. It was an amazing experience and the highlight of our holiday. After lunch we learnt how they use the dung to make paper and fed the elephants again. This is an organisation dedicated to caring for elephants who can't work or have been badly treated.
Written March 24, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Alina Metz
4 contributions
Oct 2019 • Solo
All of this beautiful animals have a tough history. They get abused from humans almost there whole life. It made me so happy to see that those amazing Elephant organization take now care of them and that they want to give them something back for their hard work and the bad time they had to get through. Now they get everyday a medical check up, they get everyday fed with a lot of food, get loved, respected and what I really like, they go everyday after all back to the forest, where they can do whatever they want in their natural habitat. 🐘❤️ Thank you so much Green Hill Valley Elephant Camp for this incredible day.
Written April 18, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jaga Z
Palma de Mallorca, Spain2 contributions
Mar 2020 • Family
I and my 8 years old daughter we absolutely loved it. It was sooo good to have a possibility to be around those lovely creatures. We had a guide, one only for us and another couple who told us a lot and patiently kept answering all the question. Bathing an elepant was amazing as well. Definietly the elephants are very well taken care of in this wonderful place. I recomend it to everyone!
Written March 10, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Maryana
Singapore, Singapore41 contributions
Dec 2019
The trip to Green Hill Elephant camp was the most enjoyable thing we did in Myanmar !
Beautiful settings, gentle, happy and well kept elephants, indormative and professional staff, delicious lunch.
One negative - the road construction on the way to camp. Be prepared for a bumpy and dusty road.
Beautiful settings, gentle, happy and well kept elephants, indormative and professional staff, delicious lunch.
One negative - the road construction on the way to camp. Be prepared for a bumpy and dusty road.
Written January 6, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
vernalequin0x
Lugano2 contributions
Oct 2014 • Couples
It is absolutely wonderful experience to bath and feed elephants. We did trekking and it was also a pleasant walk. However I guess 40min total with elephants is way too overpriced. Besides you have to cover a cab (35$)
For the management team: maybes it is reasonable to include transportation from Kalaw in the fee of 90$ ?
For the management team: maybes it is reasonable to include transportation from Kalaw in the fee of 90$ ?
Written October 25, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jamie S
London, UK1 contribution
Apr 2014 • Friends
Hi...can anyone give an indication of the price for the programs? I'm interested in Program A, but if anyone has all the prices, it would be appreciated. Many thanks.
Written April 1, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Formerly
Cirencester, UK248 contributions
Feb 2013 • Couples
We loved our time here, and were wildly impressed both with the Green Hill Valley Elephant Camp’s vision and the professionalism of its organization.
The Camp is in a lush valley 45 minutes west of Kalaw reached by road descending steep hairpin bends towards the Burmese plains. This is the very edge of Shan State and at an altitude of 400 m (Kalaw is around 1500 m). A wide stream runs through its heart.
We were greeted with cold towels and the best lime soda in Myanmar – bliss! The Camp’s founder, a former tour guide, briefed us about its vision and mission: to care for elephants that are no longer able to work, and to rescue others which have become victims of human/elephant conflict. His uncle is a retired government elephant vet who now oversees the care and health of the animals.
Briefing over, he took us further into the camp to meet the five elephants and their mahouts, getting to know them by feeding them bananas.
Then it was bath time; the Camp supplies Shan trousers and we follow the large tusker up the stream where his mahout settles him in a natural pool. We are invited to wade in and join in scrubbing his skin with a wood bark that is a natural soap. The animal clearly enjoyed it, and the cool water being splashed over him. A great pleasure to spend time in a natural environment with such gentle creature.
Later we climb on to a howdah on the elephant’s back for a stroll along the river. Two other small family groups arrive, and are visibly delighted with the encounter. The camp only takes a maximum of 20 people a day, in order to keep the experience intimate and not to overstress the elephants.
After reading up on the elephants’ biographies, and each of us planting new trees (part of the sanctuary’s mission is to help with reforestation), we go back to the lodge for a fabulous lunch – beautifully prepared and presented.
This is a high-quality venture employing many local young people and reinforcing environmental awareness. We were deeply impressed with the work being done here and the care taken showing it to their guests. Our visit was one of the highlights of our Myanmar trip.
The Camp is in a lush valley 45 minutes west of Kalaw reached by road descending steep hairpin bends towards the Burmese plains. This is the very edge of Shan State and at an altitude of 400 m (Kalaw is around 1500 m). A wide stream runs through its heart.
We were greeted with cold towels and the best lime soda in Myanmar – bliss! The Camp’s founder, a former tour guide, briefed us about its vision and mission: to care for elephants that are no longer able to work, and to rescue others which have become victims of human/elephant conflict. His uncle is a retired government elephant vet who now oversees the care and health of the animals.
Briefing over, he took us further into the camp to meet the five elephants and their mahouts, getting to know them by feeding them bananas.
Then it was bath time; the Camp supplies Shan trousers and we follow the large tusker up the stream where his mahout settles him in a natural pool. We are invited to wade in and join in scrubbing his skin with a wood bark that is a natural soap. The animal clearly enjoyed it, and the cool water being splashed over him. A great pleasure to spend time in a natural environment with such gentle creature.
Later we climb on to a howdah on the elephant’s back for a stroll along the river. Two other small family groups arrive, and are visibly delighted with the encounter. The camp only takes a maximum of 20 people a day, in order to keep the experience intimate and not to overstress the elephants.
After reading up on the elephants’ biographies, and each of us planting new trees (part of the sanctuary’s mission is to help with reforestation), we go back to the lodge for a fabulous lunch – beautifully prepared and presented.
This is a high-quality venture employing many local young people and reinforcing environmental awareness. We were deeply impressed with the work being done here and the care taken showing it to their guests. Our visit was one of the highlights of our Myanmar trip.
Written March 7, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Webeetravllingmand
Smithers, Canada197 contributions
Wow... So great. Read other reviews for detailed description on what your day holds cause they are spot on.
Jungle trek
Room about an hour and a half. Pretty easy going, a lot of its down hill so where proper food wear. Recommend the walk if the weather is nice. Rain will ruin your hike, shoes, and clothes.
Prices -
Program A - 90$ pp (no jungle trek)
Program B - 180$ pp
Program C - 90$ pp. (jungle trek)
Driver there and back - 30$
Do the trek, if you can. You get to stay there as long as you want.
I was a little hesitant because of the price as it is expensive but for how close you get to the elephants is unforgettable.
TIP - don't be scared to ask questions to the founder he is awesome!
Jungle trek
Room about an hour and a half. Pretty easy going, a lot of its down hill so where proper food wear. Recommend the walk if the weather is nice. Rain will ruin your hike, shoes, and clothes.
Prices -
Program A - 90$ pp (no jungle trek)
Program B - 180$ pp
Program C - 90$ pp. (jungle trek)
Driver there and back - 30$
Do the trek, if you can. You get to stay there as long as you want.
I was a little hesitant because of the price as it is expensive but for how close you get to the elephants is unforgettable.
TIP - don't be scared to ask questions to the founder he is awesome!
Written August 12, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We are hoping to do this when staying in inle lake one day. Does anyone have any recommendations on getting to Green Hill?
Written January 4, 2020
You can contact the staff at Green Hill. They may have someone they can recommend. We were at Kalaw and they had a driver pick us up from the hotel. But Inle is further out.
Good luck! It is a wonderful experience!
Written January 5, 2020
ciao! come ci si arriva? il loro servizio di trasporto è l'unico modo?
Written December 15, 2019
Hello, is the Elephant Reserve suitable for All Age Groups? Kindly let me know before I go ahead and make the bookings.
Thank you!
Written December 27, 2018
Yes..reckon it fine for all age groups. Need to take care around such large creatures, but trained staff with you at all times, and safety a priority for them. A truly memorable experience. Have a great time.
Written January 2, 2019
Hello, I would like to visit Green Hill Valley Elephant Camp in January 2019. How can I arrange a stay there. There will be 3 of us (3 women) - we thought of 3 days (2 nights) stay with trekking and visiting the Elephant camp. Does anybody know how much it might cost per person?
Thanks in advance for your help,
Olga
Written December 13, 2018
Hey guys
I am so interested in experiencing and participating bathing and feeding these sweet animals
Can anybody tell me please the best way to get there from either Yangon or Bagan?
does the tour pick u up at the hotel u are staying? or u meet them there? what is the closest town to stay overnight and visit the elephants green valley place?
any info would be more than appreciated, please, thanks a lot
Sebastian
Written May 17, 2018
Hi Sebastian,
Hope it’s not too late to answer your question...
Elephant Camp is closest to Kalaw, to the best of my knowledge.
I visited the camp with a couple of travellers I met in Kalaw and we organised taxi to get us there and back (think it was around 45min ride).
I don’t see an easy way to get there from Yangon, at least not for a day, neither from Bagan.
Visiting The Elephant camp is pretty much whole day activity so it would be good to stay overnight somewhere close.
Also, important to know is that they have limited number of entries per day (less than 10, I think) and it is import at to check availability and book a visit.
It’s amazing experience and I highly recommend it, but plan it careful to avoid disappointment.
All the best,
Vera
Written June 24, 2018
¿cómo contratasteis la actividad? y que precio tiene?
Written February 27, 2018
¿cuánto cuesta la entrada incluido el desplazamiento? ¿qué duración tiene la actividad?
Written February 26, 2018
Hola! Con gusto te respondo.
Desde Kalaw es un viaje en carro por buena carretera de 1 hora aproximadamente.
Con 5 horas que estes en el campamento es suficiente y lo disfrutas al máximo. Nosotros estuvimos de 10am a 4pm.
Written February 27, 2018
dmorales816
Plantation, Florida
Hello. My daughter and 2 friends want to visit. How long was the program? They have to be back at the bus station the same day as the program by no later than about 630-7pm. Would they have enough time? They would get to park by about 9 am. How did you get to/from the camp to bus station?
Written February 17, 2018
We hired a driver from Kalaw and back (he waited for us in the parking lot)
We were back in Kalaw by daylight so before 5:30
Written February 25, 2018
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