I was ankle-deep in an almost dried-up river, applying mud to a baby elephant. It was an experience not many will get a chance to have. An experience that will forever be etched on my mind.

During our first visit to Thailand, we went to an elephant sanctuary. The activity included an elephant show, feeding, and riding around the forest. I didn’t know better then. Seeing the elephants shackled, poked and prodded the entire time made me feel guilty that I was part of such mistreatment.

Several documentaries have been made since our visit, exposing the terrible conditions the elephants are put through to cater to tourists. Many sanctuaries have closed, and many new ones have sprouted, promising a more sustainable and humane experience with the elephants.

We decided to have another go at these sanctuaries, hoping to share a more natural experience with the intelligent giants.

Be Informed

We booked our Elephant Day Care activity through Klook. There are several options on Klook offering the same itinerary. We booked a half-day activity.

Inclusions:

• English-speaking guide
• Lunch
• Bottled drinking water
• Round-trip transfers (Chiang Mai Old City)
• Insurance provided by the operator
• Change of clothes (Mahout uniform)

Getting to the Elephant Day Care from the Old City took a little more than an hour.

After a short orientation about the do’s and don’ts, we were given a Mahout uniform to change into and a sling bag for the elephants’ food. Lockers were provided for personal belongings.

A Bag Full of Treats

The elephants were in a roofed enclosure. We were given bananas and an assortment of vegetables to give to the elephants, who were more than eager to rid us of our supplies. Their noses extended, carefully grabbing the offerings. The little ones were a bit mischievous, snaking their trunks into our bags and looking for treats.

Our guide gave us snippets of why the elephants are in the sanctuary and some of the things they went through.

Mud, Soak and Scrub

After consuming all the food provided, it was time for a walk. The elephants were gentle, never rushing and stopping occasionally to pull on some plants to eat. Our destination was a river for a mud bath.

Several pools along the river were big enough for the elephants to lie down on but not deep enough for a substantial soak. We helped them by applying mud to their thick hides. The baby elephant seemed to enjoy this activity more than the others, refusing to get up when our guide asked us to walk back to the camp.

Arriving at camp, the elephants were herded to a small man-made pool. Here, we were able to give them a proper bath and scrub.

Clean up and Lunch

Towels were provided, but soap and other toiletries were not. The shower rooms are basic. We took a quick shower just to rid ourselves of mud. I suggest allotting some time before your next activity after the Elephant Day Care to take a proper shower in your hotel.

Pad Thai was provided for lunch. It was bland. Boiled Cassava for dessert.

Final Thoughts

This experience is an improvement from our first elephant sanctuary experience. The elephants were not made to do tricks. No poking and prodding. No riding.

As we headed back to our hotel, I couldn’t help but still feel a pang of guilt. Thinking that the elephants are made to go through the same routine twice a day, every day, one can only hope that the elephants are treated as well as our guide claims and that they are somehow content being contained in a relatively small area and confined to the same routines.