The Place
About ninety minutes from Chiang Mai, tucked into the forested hills around the Karen village of Mae Sapok, lies a place unlike anywhere else I have ever known.
Chai Lai Orchid isn’t a single resort. It’s a collection of places woven into an existing community, where nature, rescued elephants and the lives of local Karen families are closely connected.
The map will help you understand how everything fits together before I show you why this remarkable place has become such an important part of my life.
More Than a Resort
The longer I spend at Chai Lai Orchid, the less I see it as a resort. To me, it’s a community.
The elephants, the Karen families, Daughters Rising, the local villagers and everyone who welcomes guests here are all part of the same story. Each brings something unique to this place, and together they’ve created an atmosphere that’s unlike anywhere else I’ve worked.
Life moves at a different pace here. Conversations take a little longer. Smiles come a little easier. The mountains, the river and the forest have a way of reminding you that not everything has to be rushed.
I hope that, while you’re here, you’ll take the time to look beyond the photographs and the scenery. Get to know the people, appreciate the simplicity, and enjoy being part of something real, if only for a little while.
A Place That Gives Back
At first glance, Chai Lai Orchid is a beautiful place to spend time. Surrounded by mountains, rainforest and the Mae Wang River, it’s easy to understand why people come here to relax, explore and reconnect with nature.
Spend a little longer here, however, and you begin to realise that something much more important is happening.
Together, Chai Lai Orchid and Daughters Rising have created a community where tourism helps support local Karen families and creates opportunities for future generations.
Daughters Rising is a foundation dedicated to creating opportunities for at-risk young women through education, employment and long-term support. Many come from Karen communities or families displaced from neighbouring Myanmar.
Today, around 80 young women are being supported through higher education. Many choose careers in hospitality and tourism, returning to work at Chai Lai Orchid or within their local communities. The friendly face welcoming you at reception may well be one of them.
Every photography experience contributes to my monthly donation of THB 15,000 to Daughters Rising. All accommodation income from Daisy Photo Lodge goes directly to support their work.
Life Moves a Little Differently Here
There isn’t a script for a day at Chai Lai Orchid.
You might start your morning with coffee overlooking the valley before watching elephants make their way towards the river. Later, you could find yourself chatting with local Karen villagers selling handmade crafts, crossing the suspension bridge to Riverside, or simply enjoying the ever-changing views across the mountains.
Life here isn’t about rushing from one activity to the next. It’s about noticing the little moments that so often pass us by. A smile from someone you’ve just met. Children playing in the village. The sound of the river below. Mist lifting from the forest as another day begins.
It’s these simple moments, shared with remarkable people in an extraordinary place, that stay with you long after you’ve gone home.
Elephants Are Part of Everyday Life
One thing is never far away at Chai Lai Orchid… the elephants.
You might wake to find them arriving for a pre-booked elephant breakfast outside your bungalow. Later, you’ll see them making their way through the village, wandering along jungle paths or heading down to the Mae Wang River.
For me, these moments are what make Chai Lai so special. They create photographic opportunities that simply don’t exist anywhere else. Whether you’re standing beside an elephant in the river, walking quietly through the forest or sharing a peaceful moment as they wander past, every encounter feels natural, personal and completely unforgettable.
It is this place, and the people who care for it, that make those experiences possible.
There’s More to Discover
Chai Lai Orchid is only the beginning.
The surrounding mountains are home to hidden waterfalls, forest temples, Karen villages and remarkable places that few visitors ever discover on their own. Over the years I’ve been fortunate enough to explore many of them with local friends, always returning to the place that inspired it all.
If The Place has given you a glimpse of what makes this part of northern Thailand so special, I’d love to introduce you to the elephants, the experiences we share together, and the story that brought me here in the first place.
Meet the Elephants
Get to know the remarkable elephants and the people who care for them every day.
Meet the Elephants →
My Story
Discover how one visit to Chai Lai Orchid changed the course of my life.
Read My Story →
The Experiences
Ready to experience Chai Lai for yourself?
Explore the Experiences →
