A family of British tourists opened their porch to let elephants join them for breakfast at a sanctuary.

Footage shows the visitors, parents and their kids, walking out of their room, which led to a hut with a dining area in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

Two adult jumbos and a juvenile were waiting for them outside, along with their caretakers.

One of the pachyderms poked its head through the shed and sniffed at the guests' food arranged on a tray.

Father David Bluff said: 'We had a fantastic experience. We woke up in the morning and were greeted by the elephants while we had breakfast, and we fed the elephants as well.

'We went on a tour with our guide Tony, who was fantastic. Took us down the road to Mai Wang where there were a few more elephants and told us about them and their ages.

'Two of them then came with us for a walk through the forest and down the river, where we all bathed for about 30 minutes.

'Honestly, best trip we have done since being in Thailand.'

The British family visited the Chai Lai Orchid Elephant Sanctuary on May 12.

Elephants are Thailand's national animal and an important part of its culture and history. In the past, they were used for farming, logging, and even fighting wars.

Some elephants still live in the wild, but many are in captivity, working in tourism or living in sanctuaries. Because logging was banned and tourism has changed, many elephants are now kept in sanctuaries where they are protected and cared for.