Pattaya Elephant Jungle Sanctuary Day Trip: A Review From Bangkok

So, you’re thinking about swapping the hustle of Bangkok for, in some respects, a heartwarming day with elephants in Pattaya? Very, very cool! Visiting an elephant sanctuary in Thailand can be an absolutely unforgettable thing, yet it’s really vital to do your homework to pick an area where these, kind of, huge cuties are really taken care of. I am talking about no riding, no forcing them to do things they don’t naturally would do, just generally an amazing, respectful vibe. I have visited the Pattaya Elephant Jungle Sanctuary on a day trip from Bangkok and thought I would share what that trip was like!

Why Choose Pattaya Elephant Jungle Sanctuary?

Alright, you may ask yourself, with tons of elephant places out there, just, like, why choose this one? Very, very, truly a point! From what I could find, the Elephant Jungle Sanctuary chain — and they do have spots in Chiang Mai and Phuket, too — really puts the well-being of these beautiful elephants front and center. It’s pretty much a joint project alongside some of the local Thai communities, and, honestly, the sanctuaries aim to give the elephants a good space to recover after any of their harder times and, actually, just to live out the rest of their lives in a peaceful location. No forcing elephants to do tricks, or that thing when humans ride them, here! It looks as though the goal is to let you get to know the elephants in a way that doesn’t put the animals’ comfort at risk. In short, they are amazing to these animals.

What to Expect on Your Day Trip

So, anyway, what’s the day shaped up to be when visiting? So, depending on what package you get, almost like your trip begins very early, usually around 6:30 – 7:00 AM for transport from Bangkok. A lot of packages have a mini bus pickup. The ride to Pattaya is that typical thing, around two to three hours, usually, and it really depends on the traffic leaving Bangkok, so you’re, usually, able to sit and catch up on lost sleep or look out the window as the views begins to change! A bit, when we got closer to the sanctuary, you’re able to really feel it getting greener.

Meeting the Elephants: An Unforgettable Introduction

When arriving at the sanctuary, it is amazing, honestly, to walk towards these elephants and see the lovely spot that became their homes. You get briefed, or at least hear something quickly, on the history of the sanctuary and get a brief reminder on interacting safely and respectfully, that I liked very, very much. Soon after the briefing, the great moment: You actually get to meet these gentle giants up close! I recall feeding them bananas and sugarcane. I was thinking that the feeling was surreal! You tend to observe how they eat. Also, as a matter of fact, that time with the animals gives you a chance to, basically, begin to know their personalities, it’s great.

Mud Spa and Bathing Time: A Fun, Ethical Experience

Then you join the elephants in a, kind of, mud spa! It might be something you are able to remember. You coat them in mud (that assists with, that is, protecting their skin from the sun) and next, go to the river for a bath. Very, very entertaining watching them roll around and splash, and actually getting soaked whilst cleaning them. The group gets to assists to clean the elephants with these large scrub brushes! I felt like I was actually helpful, which it might have been the intent, for reals! So, clearly keep that bathing suit or clothes you are comfortable getting really grimy!

Lunch and Reflection: Enjoying Local Cuisine and the Scenery

After getting fun and a bit grimy getting clean you enjoy some really delicious vegetarian Thai food. A pretty good and simple pad thai! So, that bit is normally a moment to wind down, snack a little bit, and process that wonderful event from what happened.

Saying Goodbye: Cherishing the Memories

Alright, following lunch, it can be the thing of getting time to spend another, brief chunk, getting to observe them and wave before you jump back in a car back to Bangkok. So, that part, as a matter of fact, can be somewhat sad, yet you almost certainly can leave with a sensation of gratitude. Very, very probably a visit where I got to learn, connect and feel the positive, uplifting vibes around such a gentle animal.

Making an Ethical Choice: What to Look For

Now, to do with the ethical questions I mentioned at the top, there are a lot of steps you might have, if the animal rescue spot you see is a legit safe one. Here are a few key things to see when you decide.

• Riding isn’t Allowed: This is such a large indicator. Like your elephant’s backs just basically are not created to deal with humans riding, for real.
• Training is About Positive Reinforcement: Ethical sanctuaries might just not employ any practices, in particular, harsh ones, which injure the animals, or pressure the animals to act weird, out-of-the-ordinary or not nature-fitting. Very, very many will depend on the reinforcement of what you like through feeding!
• They do Provide the Chance to Educate Yourself: Really Good spots should always tend to provide good info on elephants — how they move in the jungle, what sort of troubles they come up against and precisely, almost, what you can potentially do in helping them out!
• Elephants May Just Roam Free: Just See when elephants possess as big of space possible to meander about to, for reals, almost appear like real wildlife in the wild. You almost might want to ask, just like, how they make sure the animals don’t merely disappear out into some uncharted jungle, yet the sanctuary should have some suitable responses concerning safety, that’s real.

Booking Your Trip: Tips and Recommendations

Alright, want in to an elephant day trip? A bit! First off, plan this bit far ahead. Such reputable and well-looked after centers don’t just remain a mystery that’s out there and usually require to, so to speak, book the spots up in the far reaches of days and weeks. So, do seek and see spots like Elephant Jungle Sanctuary, research reviews very closely, plus find the group who are dedicated and great at ethics, transparency about that treatment the elephant do get!

• Booking: Reserve your visit beforehand and book for an early time in that day!
• Packages: Do seek the one that matches all the tasks that catch you the most (like yours scrubbing mud on it!).
• Think: Please plan, when to purchase what for what is likely that type trip, also that that trip will become, I’m talking bug repellant or sunscreen to, so to speak, capture what is right and moral from all places like that for the planet (and make an assessment of to avoid disposable plastic!).