Chiang Mai Elephant Sanctuary
BEST. MORNING. EVERRRRR!! And yes, I mean that in the "I just won the lottery and found an all-you-can-eat buffet" kind of way. Except instead of cash, I got elephants. And instead of an all-you-can-eat buffet… oh wait, no, they got that too.
How We Ended Up Here (A Lesson in Budget Brilliance)
Somewhere in the chaotic streets of Chiang Mai, we wandered into a random tourist shop, said something like, “We wanna see elephants but, like, ethically,” and BAM, $40 later, we had an entire day of epicness lined up.
So, what’s the deal? A full day of elephant shenanigans at Rai Aomgord Phu Kao Organic Farm, plus bonus visits to Wat Ban Den Temple and the Sticky Waterfall… all with transport included.
That’s less than the price of a fancy brunch back home.
Elephant Medicine 101: The Science of Poop
Did you know elephants have terrible eyesight? They see blue and yellow best, so naturally, we rocked blue jumpsuits to make ourselves extra visible. Smart, right? But here’s a more important fact: these pampered sanctuary elephants have it so good they don’t even have to forage. Sounds great… until you realise they get constipated. Yep.
Enter elephant medicine balls, our first task of the day. Imagine making a giant energy ball, except instead of fueling a gym bro, it helps a 3,000-kilo gentle giant take a dump.
Made from raw brown rice, cooked rice, bananas, sugarcane, some random bitter root, and salt…because apparently, elephants are fancy enough to require seasoning.
The Best Kind of Elephant Encounter (No Chains, No Tricks, Just Vibes)
The sanctuary is home to nine former logging elephants who, 15 years ago, traded hard labor for a life of leisure. No chains. No rides. Just endless jungle to roam, eat, and be majestic AF. We got to feed them, stroll through the jungle as they casually demolished trees like walking woodchippers, and when the heat got too much, we joined them for a bath. Yes, that means I got hosed down by an elephant. No, I did not mind.
The Great Fried Rice Debate
After all that elephant-ing, we refueled in a little hut with what was, according to Bec, the second-best fried rice of her life (her dad still holds the crown). On the Bec Fried Rice Scale™, it scored a solid 9/10. I, for one, found it highly edible and an excellent reward for a morning well spent.
The Aftermath: Smelling Like an Elephant and Loving It
By the end of the day, we were covered in mud, smelled like elephant, and had zero regrets. This was hands-down one of the best $40 I’ve ever spent, and if you’re in Chiang Mai, do yourself a favor: skip the sketchy elephant rides and book a trip to a real sanctuary instead. Your soul (and your wallet) will thank you.
Now, excuse me while I go Google “how to remove the scent of elephant from my existence.”
