Elephant Camp-Chiang Mai, Thailand

I cannot say enough good things about my experience. It was easy from start to finish - I always had a contact person ready and willing to help me with any questions or concerns that I had.

Waking up everyday to ride my elephant to the river bareback to bathe him was more than incredible. There is no cooler way to start your day! After the bathe, we would eat breakfast, then head out to do our chores, such as making/packing vitamins for the elephants, help out with the Elephant shows, help the ladies in the kitchen, and plenty of other things! There is always something to help out with, but also plenty of laid-back down time. The atmosphere is so refreshing. I really bonded with my elephant, as well as the other volunteers. I honestly cannot think of a single thing that went wrong the entire two weeks I was there. On the weekends we traveled back to the volunteer house in the city and explored the entire time. It was amazing! There are hundreds of wonderful restaurants to eat at. The Thai food is incredible. I always felt safe and so welcomed by the native people. If I could do anything differently, I would have packed lighter! You don't need nearly as much as you think. Life is so simple and easy when you are there - not a day goes by that I don't miss it. You don't want to let this kind of experience pass you by. It is life-changing and unforgettable.