The time Jorge and I spend in Chiang Mai, Thailand for 2 nights and 3 days. One thing Jorge really wanted to do was spending time with the Elephants. We found one Elephant day camp for 1500 baht each person which including the transportation, meal, and food to feed the elephants.
The elephants camp has Song teaw (typical bus in Chiang Mai) come to pick us up early in the morning like 7 am and pick up another family at the other hotel around us.
The Song teaw ride was fun and in the past 7 years, I haven't done Song teaw ride for 2 hours. It was a bit painful and uncomfortable on the way to the elephant's village but we enjoy seeing how Chiang Mai is so green and relaxing city along the fun ride.
Finally, we are in the village. The Village is so far away from civilization but what you will see is the wood, the hut, and farming.
The Elephant day camp gave us a native shirt during the visit. They have coffee and drinks welcoming us.
There are three elephants at the village we visiting. The first activity was feeding them with banana. We have never done anything like this and you know what they are so damn cute.
The Elephants trainer told us to say "Bon" which mean " Up" in Thai, then the elephants will open their mouth friendly for the yummy banana
After having fun feeding them, We gotta play in the mud with them. I never know that elephants love mud. The trainer took them to the mud pool, spray the water at them and we had mud pool party with the elephants. You won't miss pool party in Las Vegas because this is a whole new experience in my life. Also, the staff will help us having fun by throwing us some mud. The staff there not just helping us to know elephants better but they are like new friends.
Mud pool party with the Elephants
Cleaning after the party done
Well when there is a mess, there is a cleanup. This part is a fun part. After we done mud play, We gotta clean up with the elephants in the village canal. They were so happy to be in the water. The rollover, screaming, diving, pooping and spray water to us. It was one of my best experience.
Walk to the natural pool.
After we got all fun with them, we rest at the village nearby for the waterfall. The villager selling coffee and handcrafts. I got a bracelet for 30 baths. I love how the villager lives there peacefully, away from the busy city life.
For lunchtime, they provide fried rice, stir-fried veggies, Thai omelet , spicy chicken curry, veggies chicken soup and all tropical fruit. We loved it. The view from our lunch place is green and peaceful. The tour got people from around the world like France, Australia, UK, and Panama.
The half-day tour gone so quick and we got to say goodbye to the Elephants and staff. We definitely love this local tour. They support local villager, elephants, and community to stay strong at where they originally live. Back in the day in Thailand,
I remember seeing the Elephants owner taking them to the street in the city asking people for money or selling food for them, but because of this tour we can help the Elephants to stay with nature, live happily without brutality train or chain them up also part of the camp is helping the owner feeding them which is expensive daily.
Don't do elephants riding because those are part of brutality progress of Elephant tourism. They do not treat those elephants nicely especially controlling them with the bullhook. Please stay away from them.
Lastly, the Day camp was totally fun, worth the money and time we spend. It seems like a little adventure but amazingly we were happy to choose this day camp and spend time with the elephants, but not including 2-hour ride with Song teaw.
Here is our Video
Here is the address for recommendation.
136/8 Rachapakinai rd., T.Phra Singha A.Muang
Chiang Mai, Thailand
Place to stay around old city ,Chiang Mai
