Winter Break Travels (Day 8)

 Elephants

I have no words to describe how incredible this day was.  

Located in the verdant hills of Northern Thailand, Elephant Delight is home to a small group of elephants who live in a beautiful natural setting. The elephants who used to do logging and elephant riding are now enjoying a more natural existence where they can interact as a herd. The elephants spend their days foraging on the hillside and in the forest eating natural vegetation and also like to play in the mud pit and walk downhill to the river to cool off, play, and drink. The elephants also receive some fruit and vegetables including bananas and sugarcane. - https://www.asianelephantprojects.com/elephant-delight/

We started by preparing some food (sugar cane and bananas) and feeding the elephants to allow them to become more comfortable with being around us.

Once they were comfortable, we walked with them through the "jungle" to prepare vitamins for them.

We then walked with the elephants down to the water to bathe them.  Water was freezing and walking on rocks with bare feet was challenging, but soooo worth it.

A quick ride back up the river to meet our van to drive back to Chiang Mai.

Our hotel is called The Experience "Walking Street", because it is on Walking Street because of the famous Sunday Walking Market. After a long day with elephants, we spent the evening at the market.

The perfect finish to a perfect day