Choosing the right elephant park in Thailand
Like a kid at Christmas, I didn't sleep the night before I went to the Elephant Nature Park in Chiang Mai. I was so excited and also a little apprehensive, because like any sane person I physically detest animal cruelty. This post covers: why it's important to do your research first what we did at the Elephant Nature Park how we got there from our hostel overall impressions One for the family album Do your research You'll be bombarded with elephant trips when you travel to Thailand or Laos. With most offering packages that include riding and bathing the elephants. Despite elephants being pretty big animals, it really hurts their back to have some silly ass human(s) on them - so don't add to the problem. Later in our travels, we were in Luang Prabang in Laos where every elephant package advertised riding them. Having spoke to a few travellers on the way, most seem to be against it - so I think slowly people are starting to realise that it's wrong...