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Elephants are a very very sensitive topic in Thailand. There are many tour operators offering to get to know the animals, but the majority of them treat the elephants very poorly. I most definetly did not want to participate to any sort of animal cruelty, so I did my research…. I cancelled the trip I had originally booked after realising it wasn’t ethical, and booked a day trip with the Karen Native Tribe’s Elephants instead. BEST. DAY. EVER. (No exageration here!) spent with HAPPY and HEALTHY ELEPHANTS. Here’s how we spent the day, and why you should book this tour and not any other! (Thank me later!)
But first, here's a video of the day... |
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transportation
Transportation is included in the day package. Sun (the happiest, most enthusiastic and funniest guide ever!) and his friend, picked us up from our hotel at 7:30am, in a nice SUV with AC. We drove for about two hours in the mountains, to their village. On the way there, we had so many questions to ask Sun, about the elephants, but also about life in a Thai village. Sun is a proud member of the Karen tribe, and the first of his village to have been to University, to study languages (he speaks English and even French!) He explained to us that the people from his village are the only elephants experts near Chiang Mai, since they have been living with elephants for centuries (His 96 year old grandad still rides his elephant to the rice fields!) Everyone from his village grew up with and love elephants, considering them as members of the tribe. They know how to take care of them, and protect the specie.
The drive in itself is already an experience. The landscape is beautiful. You will drive through the forest, several villages and past many rice fields.
The drive in itself is already an experience. The landscape is beautiful. You will drive through the forest, several villages and past many rice fields.
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arriving at the village
As we arrived, six beautiful elephants and as many elephant trainers were here to greet us! The elephant trainers almost instantly gave us sugar canes and sweet corn to feed the elephants. They taught us how to ask the elephants for a hug, and of course, we took enough pictures to fill up or camera’s memory card.
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Sun had some typical Karen outfits for us to wear, all hand made by his and the elephant trainers wives. He explained to us how the shape and colours of the clothes all have a meaning.
For the next 30 minutes, we learned the elephant health check up morning routine, which we had to apply ourselves. We learned how to distinguish a healthy from a mistraited or sick elephant.
The next hour was spent bathing our elephants,… Trust me, that was hard work! An elephant trainer handed me an ace, and some sort of branch, and from sign language, I understood that I should crush the branch. Far from me the idea that I was in the process of creating a “soapy sponge” which would then be used to give my elephant a good scrub and a wash…… And when you’re done, the elephant even eats the “sponge”! 100% sustainable!
For the next 30 minutes, we learned the elephant health check up morning routine, which we had to apply ourselves. We learned how to distinguish a healthy from a mistraited or sick elephant.
The next hour was spent bathing our elephants,… Trust me, that was hard work! An elephant trainer handed me an ace, and some sort of branch, and from sign language, I understood that I should crush the branch. Far from me the idea that I was in the process of creating a “soapy sponge” which would then be used to give my elephant a good scrub and a wash…… And when you’re done, the elephant even eats the “sponge”! 100% sustainable!
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*Sun knows all the tricks for a good Instagram picture... he'll make you (and the elephant) pose, for what he called the "Christmas card picture"!
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The water was not clear and I couldn’t help think how many snakes and bugs there must be at the bottom, and I might step on bare feet. So when an elephant trainer pushed me up to sit on the elephant’s back, I didn’t say no… It’s all a matter of perspective! Sitting on the elephant didn’t seem too scary after all! The trainers throw buckets of water on the elephant (and you!) You don’t really have time to think about danger since you are too busy taking it all in!
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*And another Instagram picture...
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(The trainer gave the elephant some water to spray us by surprise)
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Our sparkly clean elephants and …. us (definely not as clean as the elephants after a good bath in muddy water!) were ready for our walk. Sun explained to us that elephants need to be walked every day. We could either ride the elephant or walk by its side. I was concerned about hurting them, but Sun made us do some math… Try to workout how much you weigh in comparison to an elephant. How much do you think that is, in percentage? Not much… in fact, around 1%. (A lot less than when you ride a horse!)
Our sparkly clean elephants and …. us (definely not as clean as the elephants after a good bath in muddy water!) were ready for our walk. Sun explained to us that elephants need to be walked every day. We could either ride the elephant or walk by its side. I was concerned about hurting them, but Sun made us do some math… Try to workout how much you weigh in comparison to an elephant. How much do you think that is, in percentage? Not much… in fact, around 1%. (A lot less than when you ride a horse!)
*Here's a picture of me failing at graciously climbing up my elephant. I'll spare you the video.
Our sparkly clean elephants and …. us (definely not as clean as the elephants after a good bath in muddy water!) were ready for our walk. Sun explained to us that elephants need to be walked every day. We could either ride the elephant or walk by its side. I was concerned about hurting them, but Sun made us do some math… Try to workout how much you weigh in comparison to an elephant. How much do you think that is, in percentage? Not much… in fact, around 1%. (A lot less than when you ride a horse!)
*Here's a picture of me failing at graciously climbing up my elephant. I'll spare you the video.
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After an amazing 45 min – 1 hour ride in the forest, we arrived at the village. There was a beautiful lunch waiting for us in the shade, on banana leaves, cooked by the women of the village.
The village is self sufficient: They grow everything themselves, which I find amazing. I couldn’t believe the food that they managed to cook, with very little kitchen ustensils. They even made fried chicken! (Better than your KFC!) It’s safe to say we ate a lot.
The village is self sufficient: They grow everything themselves, which I find amazing. I couldn’t believe the food that they managed to cook, with very little kitchen ustensils. They even made fried chicken! (Better than your KFC!) It’s safe to say we ate a lot.
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Lunch time!
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After lunch, Sun and his team taught us how to make medicine for the elephants. Of course, it's 100% natural made of fruit, herbs and spices that they grow themselves.
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100% organic and homemade medicine balls (secret recipe!) for elephants. These are given to them everyday.
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We then gave the leftover food to our elephants, together with the medicine we had just prepared, and gave them a nice refreshing shower.
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Sun gave us each a DVD with LOTS of amazing pictures he took during the day! (Most the pictures on this article were taken by Sun) and it was time to head home.
*The elephant trainers were walking next to us and carried our shoes and bottles of water the whole time
* There are super new and clean toilets every step of the way.
* The trainers constantly offered to take pictures for us, and credits go to them for holding my GoPro the whole time!
*The elephant trainers were walking next to us and carried our shoes and bottles of water the whole time
* There are super new and clean toilets every step of the way.
* The trainers constantly offered to take pictures for us, and credits go to them for holding my GoPro the whole time!
On the way back, I still had so many questions to ask Sun… We drove past the rice field where his grandad was working. I asked if we could say hello, and he didn’t hesitate to stop the car and show us around the rice field! Sun put some rice in my hand and before I knew it, I was planting some rice with his family!
Note: This was not included in the tour. However, you can book a 2 day tour which may include rice planting (depending on the season). I just thought I should include it in this article, as it reflects really well the whole team’s attitude throughout the day. Genuine pride to share their culture, and not just a tourist trap! These types of experiences are what I love most about travelling!
Note: This was not included in the tour. However, you can book a 2 day tour which may include rice planting (depending on the season). I just thought I should include it in this article, as it reflects really well the whole team’s attitude throughout the day. Genuine pride to share their culture, and not just a tourist trap! These types of experiences are what I love most about travelling!
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** As I was asking Sun about education in his village, he explained how he hoped the next generation would be able to get higher education, and that the profit made with these tours will be put towards education for all the children in the village.
details about the tour
The tour includes transportation from and to your hotel, drinking water, lunch, insurance, and a DVD with high res pictures from the day.
Price: 3000 Bahts / person, if you share an elephant (one elephant / 2 people) or 4500 Bahts / person if you want your own elephant.
How to book: Click here to visit their website and book a tour.
This was truly a magical day and I really hope to be back one day! If you are in Chiang Mai for a whole day, you must arrange to experience it for yourself, and please say hi to Sun and his team for me!
Price: 3000 Bahts / person, if you share an elephant (one elephant / 2 people) or 4500 Bahts / person if you want your own elephant.
How to book: Click here to visit their website and book a tour.
This was truly a magical day and I really hope to be back one day! If you are in Chiang Mai for a whole day, you must arrange to experience it for yourself, and please say hi to Sun and his team for me!
let's keep in touch! Find me on social media |
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