Elephant Hills Bush Camp Chiang Mai: Hotel check-in with elephants in Thailand is written by Jacob Gowland Jørgensen
When you love Thailand – and elephants in Thailand
I wake up and have to figure out where I am because I've been sleeping like a rock. I've been dreaming about trunks, elephant shit, and safaris.
My dreams are slowly starting to make sense the more awake I become. The day before, I had a good fill of wonderful elephant experiences, and today even more await.
Fortunately.
I'm a couple of hours' drive south. Chiang Mai in the north Thailand.
Both because I love this part of Thailand and because I'm quite crazy about elephants. And this particular combination I've heard they are local world champions in here at Bush Camp Chiang Mai, which is part of the famous Elephant Hills in Khao Sok in southern Thailand.
So now I'm here. In a huge glamping tent on a high wooden platform in the middle of an endlessly beautiful landscape down to the Ping River. And soon a big breakfast and elephants ad libitum await.
Elephants ad libitum at Elephant Hills Bush Camp Chiang Mai
There are elephants all over my glamping tent. Yes, tent and tent, because it may have a tarp on the top and sides, but there is a solid floor underfoot, a solid bathroom and air conditioning, so it feels like a kind of high ceiling open-air atmosphere-cabin with fresh air.
Really comfortable.
Elephants have crept in everywhere. Figurines, pictures and doorstops. The towels are – not surprisingly – also folded like nice little elephants on the bed.
You quickly sense a great love for the world's largest land animal. And also a great respect. Because there is no exploitation of the large animals here. On the contrary, new standards are being set for how elephants in Thailand and humans can live together.
I walk the 5-10 minutes up to the restaurant, which overlooks the river. I admire the elephant-shaped bushes, and I quickly get a safari feeling when I walk on the path and look at the landscape. You can also be driven up to the restaurant in a safari vehicle or golf cart, but it's good to get some exercise before the next part of the program: Breakfast!
Most of the guests here come from Northern Europe and Australia, so the breakfast is also a nice mix of European favorites with Thai delicacies. Sometimes served, other times as a buffet, depending on how many guests there are. Of course, with the legendary friendliness that Thailand is so famous for.
The restaurant is clearly inspired by the classic safari resorts in eastern and southern Africa, where I have traveled a lot. It is open, it is simple, and there is plenty of nature integrated into the space. Large wooden tables, beautiful stone floors and a phenomenal view with a lovely pool in front.
It's easy to feel at home here.
“Bush Camp” should be understood quite literally. It is a luxury camp far out in the bush. There are only 25+ tents, and nature as far as the eye can see. And that is precisely the quality of this place.
At Elephant Hills Bush Camp Chiang Mai you are actually in contact with the beautiful Thai nature.
A vacuum cleaner of several meters
You can choose to stay for one or two nights. I wanted the big package so I could enjoy the place to the fullest, so I decided on three days and therefore two nights. The concept is simple: It's all-inclusive, because you're in the middle of nowhere, so it makes the most sense.
On the first day, I – along with a few other guests – are driven around the area in a safari vehicle. We come to the part where the elephants are fed. They themselves walk to this area in the morning from their large area outside, where they roam freely for a large part of the day and all night.
To protect both the elephants and the guests, the elephants here are behind low wooden fences. And they are hungry! That's fair enough when you have to munch several hundred kilos a day to stay full.
Our skilled guide and his assistant tell us about the different types of food they eat. They also get extra supplementary food here, which they would otherwise have difficulty finding in nature. So with knives, axes and bowls we together create a pretty delicious elephant breakfast with, among other things, bananas, bamboo and other goodies.
And that's exactly the idea at this Elephant Hills Bush Camp south of Chiang Mai: You get to have your hands in the process of making sure the elephants are well, without it stressing the elephants in any way.
An Asian elephant can lift several hundred kilos with its trunk. I knew that before I came. But I never thought about how much suction there can be in such a trunk. It's crazy. And you can hear it. Like a local tornado from inside the animal, it sucks up all the food, and it quickly drives it into its mouth.
Yum.
I don't know how long it takes to feed the elephants. Time stands still here admiring the beautiful animals while they bring in their breakfast.
Elephant-mum.
The elephants each have their own unique story behind them. Some have been rescued from a circus. Some have been working animals in the jungle. They all have a name, and they all have a unique personality.
Here at Bush Camp, there is a resident vet who makes sure they are healthy and happy. They are weighed and their stools checked. Here they support elephant hospitals throughout Thailand, and they set new, high standards for how elephants and people can spend time together.
Standards that are recognized by animal organizations and the Thai state, and that they are trying to introduce elsewhere in the country. Because the elephant is an incredibly important part of Thai culture, and therefore you should naturally also experience elephants in Thailand.
That's why we're here on the animals' terms. Of course, there's no elephant riding or other circus antics that stress the animals. And if you've ever met an elephant in the wild, you'll also know that this enormous animal demands respect. So it gets that here.
Shit and apple slices
Out of respect for the animals, you keep a reasonable distance from them. On the other hand, you can paint on elephant poop… And it's not every day that you can do that. An elephant is a vegetarian, and there are a lot of plant fibers in the feces. It can then be boiled, dried and used as a canvas for art, so of course we have to try that.
It turns out that my artistic abilities are as limited as they usually are, but it's fun to try, and the local guide team is a constant source of knowledge, help, and hilarity. And once again, you're part of the process, which can be enjoyed by everyone – regardless of age.
In Elephant Hills Bush Camp Chiang Mai there is also a “Karen village”. The Karen people live on both sides of the border between Thailand and Myanmar, and are a traditional people for whom elephants have often played a big role. Here lives a family who shows us how to sort rice, make clothes, etc. We learn about their small temple in front of the house, and traditions, and we are – of course – also allowed to try ourselves.
The highlight for me, however, is the gastronomic aspect, namely my favorite from the Thai street kitchens in the east: Kanom Krok.
The little coconut apple slices are amazing. And I volunteer to make some, because it's too rare that I get to make real apple slices. The Thai version consists of two different types, which you then put together afterwards, and they are heavenly treats.
Yum again.
Eat – or think about eating
In Thailand, there is a motto that goes something like: You either eat – or you think about what to eat! And that makes perfect sense in a country that has such proud food traditions and where the quality is so high.
After nibbling on coconut apple slices, it was soon time for dinner. The chef and guide showed off one of my other favorites, Pad Thai, and gave tips on how to make the dish while they cooked in front of all the guests.
While we ate the delicacies, which had also been supplemented by several other dishes, there was a singing and dancing show with children and young people from the local village, which Elephant Hills Bush Camp Chiang Mai supports in various ways.
For dinner I naturally had to taste the national beer “Chang”, which of course means elephant…
It was a pleasant evening before I headed for the tent, full, because now it was time to dream about elephants.
Living with elephants in Thailand
The next day started with even more elephants. They had to have breakfast, we had to learn more about them, and then they had to bathe. They can do that themselves, but seeing – and hearing – the joy of an elephant having a party in a large pool is an experience of a lifetime.
It also cost a couple of wet shirts to a couple of guests who underestimated how much water an elephant can splash up when it throws itself in the water. Again, we were very close, but not too close, so we got the experience, and they got the peace of mind to live a good elephant life.
We could already tell the difference between the elephants on day two, where “the hungry one” and “the shy one” both got plenty of food from us.
At one point I made eye contact with one of the elephants. We were on opposite sides of the low wooden fence, talking together with curious looks.
We drove the safari vehicles back for lunch and the last part of the experience at Elephant Hills Bush Camp Chiang Mai.
Mai Tai at sunset at Elephant Hills Bush Camp Chiang Mai
Traveling is also about relaxing. And swimming. When you grow up on an island, you often have a special relationship with water, and I do too.
Luckily, the Bush Camp has a really nice pool – with a divine view of the river. And in 28 degree heat it’s a perfect combination. My last afternoon was spent with a good book, cold drinks and pool until the sunset told me it was time for dinner.
As the sun moved, it was as if the view changed. The flow of the river, the shadows of the mountains and the whole natural experience right there in front of me was one big scene. Simply beautiful.
In the background lies a small village and a beautiful temple. And there is not a single eye to be seen. The only thing you hear are the sounds of nature, and occasionally a friendly soul asking if you would like more to drink.
You can get used to that.
Elephant Hills Bush Camp Chiang Mai is also ideal for families with children, as it combines luxury glamping with child-friendly experiences such as elephant encounters and jungle safaris in tranquil surroundings.
Have a nice trip to a sustainable and responsible hotel in Thailand.
Have a nice trip to Bush Camp Chiang Mai – Elephant Hills in the land of elephants Thailand.
Here are 5 amazing experiences at Bush Camp Chiang Mai – Elephant Hills
- Feed the elephants
- Experience the bathing elephants
- Meeting the local Karen family
- Gain insight, knowledge and fun experiences with guides and staff
- The view of the Ping River
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6: Koh Lao Lading at Krabi
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Did you know: Here are 7 of the best local food markets in Denmark!
7: Green Market in Copenhagen
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