Heartfelt Connections at Patara Elephant Sanctuary

Thailand is a magical place, and it’s no surprise that it’s on the bucket list for many. One of the best kept secrets hides in plain sight: the city of Chiang Mai. Everywhere you turn, you will want to say “Wow” for there are so many breath-taking things to see, especially if you love cultural richness and natural beauty. With no crowds to block you from sightseeing, here it’s not about getting to a place “first”, it’s about being present.

Wildlife encounters are heavily commercialized in many places, but my experience was different in Chiang Mai. Stepping slightly off the well traveled path of visiting temples and street markets we took a drive through the hills of Chiang Mai to something refreshingly different. The Patara Elephant Sanctuary gave us an experience centered on care, compassion, and connection. The caregivers and conservationists spend time with a very small group of people because you don’t just observe from the outside. They walk you through the life of a mahout, an elephant caregiver. Everyone in the group gets a one-on-one session with the elephant, this is why the groups are limited.

You help with things such as bathing, feeding, health inspections and more. Of course, there is someone there with you to assist and guide you the entire time, but the time spent with the elephants allows you to understand how intelligent and beautiful these creatures are. In that short amount of time, I could see how how over time you learn to have a true connection with these creatures as you build trust through gentle interactions and meaningful participation. I walked away with a deeper respect for nature’s gentle giants in addition to undemanding the importance they have in Thai culture. Being an elephant care taker for a day was a highlight of my trip to Chiang Mai—definitely spend time venturing outside the city to experience it.