The Experiences
Find the Experience That Suits You
Everyone arrives at Chai Lai Orchid looking for something a little different.
Some guests simply want to spend time with the elephants and return home with an extraordinary collection of photographs. Others want to go deeper — exploring the jungle, river, waterfalls, Karen culture and some of the remarkable places that have become part of my own story in Northern Thailand.
My Signature Experiences give us the time to do exactly that. Choose from a half-day or full-day experience, an overnight stay at Daisy Photo Lodge, or spend two days discovering even more with The Chai Lai Experience.
If you have less time, my Elephant Photo Sessions offer a more focused experience. From a twenty-minute Morning Call to a complete two-hour session, you can choose the time and settings that work for you.
Couples and families are very welcome, and larger groups of 10 or more can contact me to arrange a private experience designed around the group.
Already Visiting Chai Lai?
If you’re joining one of Chai Lai Orchid’s own experiences, it may also be possible to add a photography session with me.
This is particularly easy to arrange if you’ve booked a private Chai Lai experience.
Contact me and I’ll let you know what we can arrange. →
A Few Things to Know
- Chai Lai Orchid is built on a steep mountainside, with uneven paths and river settings that require reasonable mobility.
- Most experiences begin at Chai Lai Orchid.
- The Chai Lai Experience begins with collection from your accommodation in Chiang Mai.
- Need help getting there? I can put you in touch with our trusted local driver.
Never Had a Photo Session Before?
Never had a professional photo session before? Most of my guests haven’t.
With more than a decade of experience photographing people and working around the elephants at Chai Lai Orchid, I’ll help you relax and get the very best from your session.
Fun · Fascinating · Memorable
Signature Experiences
Daisy Photo Lodge
Experience
Overnight · Morning
A private overnight experience in a lodge designed entirely around photography.
The Half-Day
Experience
The Full-Day
Experience
Full Day
Go deeper with elephants, jungle, river, Karen culture and a hidden mountain temple.
The Chai Lai
Experience
2 Days · 1 Night
The most complete journey through the places, people and experiences I love most.
Elephant Photo Sessions
Short on time?
My Elephant Photo Sessions are focused photography experiences designed around the elephants and some of my favourite settings at Chai Lai Orchid.
Choose anything from a 20-minute Morning Call to a complete two-hour session, depending on how much time you have and what you’d most like to experience. Fun and, fully directed for fabulous results.
Staying at Chai Lai Orchid?
Morning Call
20 minutes · THB 4,500
Make the most of your morning elephant visit with a short photography session in and around your accommodation.
Elephant breakfast food is included with your room. Extra food can be ordered the night before — more food, more time, more shots!
50+ edited photographs · Reels
Grass Hut & Elephant Family
3 elephants + food · 50–80+ edited photographs · Reels
River & Riverbank Session
A focused photography session combining walking and portraits along the riverbank with the full elephant experience in the river. Perfect if these are the two settings you really want without moving on to a longer session. I’ll be there to make sure we get the very best from every moment.
100+ edited photographs. Reels
30-Minute Elephant Session
Choose from walking and portraits or the river with one elephant or, photos with baby Pajae and her Mama, plus a few walking or portrait photos with the big elephant. James will help you make the most of your session.
Elephant + food · 100+ edited photographs · Reels
60-Minute Elephant Session
Choose two settings and enjoy more time with the elephants — walking and portraits, the river, mother and baby, or the grass huts with the elephant family. I’ll bring out the best in you and the elephants!
Elephant + food · 150+ edited photographs · Reels
The Complete Elephant Session
The most complete of my focused elephant sessions, with time for:
- Morning Call at your accommodation if you’re staying at Chai Lai Orchid
- time with the baby elephants
- jungle settings with one of Chai Lai’s larger elephants
- walking with the elephant
- natural portraits together
- photographs with the elephant in the river
Basically, you bring yourself — I’ll take care of the rest!
Elephants + food · 200+ edited photographs · Reels
How to Book
With the exception of Daisy Photo Lodge, all Signature Experiences and Elephant Photo Sessions are booked directly with me.
Email: james@dlc.photo
WhatsApp: +66 89 429 6487
The Elephant Photo Sessions have set durations, but wherever possible I’m happy to be flexible. If there is a particular elephant, setting or combination you’d especially like to experience, tell me when you contact me and I’ll see what we can arrange.
Daisy Photo Lodge is booked directly through Chai Lai Orchid, with the Daisy photography experience included in the price.
Still Undecided?
All experiences include Reels and a large selection of beautifully edited photographs.
| Experience | What You Get |
|---|---|
| Signature Experiences | |
| Daisy Photo Lodge Experience Overnight THB 9,950 |
|
| The Half-Day Experience Half Day THB 18,500 |
|
| The Full-Day Experience Full Day THB 29,500 |
|
| The Chai Lai Experience 2 Days / 1 Night THB 56,500 |
|
| Elephant Photo Sessions | |
| Morning Call 20 minutes THB 4,500 |
|
| Grass Hut & Elephant Family 20–30 minutes THB 7,500 |
|
| River & Riverbank 45 minutes THB 8,000 |
|
| 30-Minute Elephant Session 30 minutes THB 7,000 |
|
| 60-Minute Elephant Session 60 minutes THB 12,500 |
|
| The Complete Elephant Session up to 3 hours THB 14,500 |
|