The Elephants Of Chiang Mai

When I planned my trip in Thailand, I decided to do a hike with the elephants. I had read good things about the Elephant Nature Park online and in the Lonely Planet. I really wanted to do something respectful of the elephants.

Choose Well Your Tour

I had read awfull things about elephant riding, so I wanted something else. Some companies offering to feed the elephants and bathe with them also had had bad publicity, because they were keeping elephants attached when tourists were not there, and caused the animals to feel distressed. So, I did a lot of research to try to go where elephants would not be abused.

The Elephant Nature Park

Elephant Nature Park seemed (ans still seems) like a good option. They have a big park, but also partner with smaller elephant owners to teach them how to earn money with tourism otherwise than by riding the elephants. I had waited a bit too long to book, so I was in a smaller place rather than the park. But I was not disappointed at all, it was an incredible experience and it was actually less expensive.

A Hike With The Elephants Of Chiang Mai

A minibus came to pick us up from our respective hotels and hostels, and took us to the “farm”. We met the elephants and fed them sugar canes, we had lunch, and then we did a hike with the elephants. In order to make them follow us, we each had a bag of bananas. They wouldn’t hesitate to put their trunk in the bags to try to grab them. After that, we prepared balls of rice, banana and salt to feed them. Before giving the balls to the elephants, we went to bathe with them.

Elephants are incredibly gentle and considerate. They would always pay attention to us, to make sure they wouldn’t hurt us. I felt very calm and relaxed when I was next to them.

To know more about the Elephant Nature Park, click here.

To see more photos of Thailand, you can visit the gallery Thailand.