The elephant is the symbol of Chiang Mai and many tourists come here to meet the famous pachyderm.  For our part, we left without seeing one because we do not support this business based on the exploitation of animals and the barbaric practices that are hidden from the eyes of tourists. If you want to see them, we recommend a safari in Khao Yai National Park, where you can observe wild elephants.  You also can visit one of the few refuges that take care of animals rescued from their trainers, like the Elephant Nature Park seems to be.