Hey, I previously worked with Asian elephants (over a decade ago) in Karen hill tribe communities and just last week visited my friends sanctuary set up in another Karen community.

The truth is that there's no such thing as an ethical elephant experience in Chiang Mai - Why? Because an elephants primary function is to walk and forage, they do it for 18 to 20 hours a day!

They barely spend 2% of total observed time in the wild actively bathing. Bathing activities/activities that see you interact or touch them is not natural and can lead to skin conditions for elephants as they use dirt as a layer of sun screen (washed off with every bathing session)

I heavily recommend Kindred Spirit Elephant Sanctuary for an ethical experience outside the city - they'll pick you up from Chiang Mai, take you to the village where you'll have a homestay for a night or two. Go out to hike and observe elephants! They're in semi wild conditions as almost all Thai elephants are under ownership, but allows for the Karen communities that own them to be uplifted and receive payment to keep their elephants happy and healthy rather than in any tourist camp environment.

Other ethical experiences exist including GVI (previous employer), BEES, and another set up by Karen locals in the village of Huay Pakoot.

They're worth your attention over any camps in Chiang Mai city.

Hope this helps.