THAILAND I


follow my guide, Choo, through the dense cloud forest of northern Thailand, which hums with insects, drips with bromeliads and is roamed by wild monkeys and `iiÀ] Ühili VoL>lÌ-LlÕi LÕÌÌiÀyiià `>nVi ÌhÀoÕ}h Ìhi canopy and a golden temple glistens from a distant peak above. Pausing on a steep mountain slope, Choo «ÕÌà > ÃilinVin} wn}iÀ Ìo hiÀ li«Ã] in`iV>Ìin} Üi½Ài VloÃi Ìo Ìhi >nim>là Üi½Ûi Vomi Ìo Ãii\ čÃi>n ili«h>nÌð Ƃhi>` ov ÕÃ] loV>l m>hoÕÌà vÀom Ìhi non-«ÀowÌ Mahouts Elephant Foundation crouch on the trail, as a large mother and baby approach, their probing trunks investigating the mahouts’ boots, caps and bags. Rescued from the tourism industry, seeking food from humans is an unnatural learnt behaviour and one that is now being discouraged – with love – by the foundation, which is on a mission to see Thailand’s elephants living wild and free. The cause works in partnership with the country’s Indigenous Karen hill tribes to develop community-based tourism models for observation-only elephant encounters. The projects are in vast areas of forest, enabling the animals to live naturally, while tourists watch from a safe and respectful distance with local mahout guides (traditionally, a mahout is an elephant’s carer, responsible for tending to the needs of domesticated elephants).


FROM TOP: Jungle Bubble Lodge, elephant-themed gate and longtail boat trip, all Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp & Resort PREVIOUS PAGE: Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp & Resort Credits: Jason Gordon Photography


Ethical approach Guests on Mahouts’ four-day Mountain Adventure have the option to stay with families in a traditional Karen village or at a private lodge, with meals taken in local homes, and the chance to learn textile and basket-weaving skills. Bookings support the foundation, which is fundraising to save six more elephants from entering the tourism industry. “We work closely with the local community to offer visitors an authentic, immersive Thai experience that LiniwÌà «io«li >n` ili«h>nÌÃ]» iÝ«l>inà >hoÕÌý co-founder and chief executive, Sarah Blaine. “The Karen people own more elephants than any other group in Thailand, and community-based tourism is a fantastic way to support them. Our hands-off, observational approach with the elephants ensures they can continue to live in Ìhi voÀiÃÌ >n` iÝ«ÀiÃà ÌhiiÀ n>ÌÕÀ>l Lih>ÛioÕÀð»


66 ASPIRE JANUARY 2025


aspiretravelclub.co.uk


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78  |  Page 79  |  Page 80  |  Page 81  |  Page 82  |  Page 83  |  Page 84  |  Page 85  |  Page 86  |  Page 87  |  Page 88  |  Page 89  |  Page 90  |  Page 91  |  Page 92  |  Page 93  |  Page 94  |  Page 95  |  Page 96  |  Page 97  |  Page 98  |  Page 99  |  Page 100  |  Page 101  |  Page 102  |  Page 103  |  Page 104  |  Page 105  |  Page 106  |  Page 107  |  Page 108  |  Page 109  |  Page 110  |  Page 111  |  Page 112  |  Page 113  |  Page 114  |  Page 115  |  Page 116  |  Page 117  |  Page 118  |  Page 119  |  Page 120