By Rama Gaind
Khao Sok has the largest area of rainforest in southern Thailand and basking in this mighty location are two special accommodation and holiday adventure sites.
First is Elephant Hills Main Camp, Thailand’s first luxury tented jungle camp, and the other is Elephant Hills Rainforest Camp, a luxury floating site in Cheow Larn Lake. Both are equally enticing: one that offers an elephant experience, the other an opportunity to become one with nature.
Elephant Hills experience
Glimpses of rural life, passing small villages, rubber and palm plantations and a canoe safari down Sok River open up a whole new world in Surat Thani province that sees the start of Khao Sok National Park
Elephant Hills Main Camp is Thailand’s first luxury tented jungle camp that uses to advantage the tropical forest environment. Here you’ll find all the comforts of a hotel with a rainforest right outside the tent flap!
Hear you hear bullfrogs croak and cicadas sing from your surprisingly bug-free tent. The morning alarm call of gibbons rouse you from slumber. Dawn in Khao Sok is something special: the first rays of light imbue the sky, a pink hue that stretches out over craggy mountaintops.
International marketing manager for Elephant Hills Jonathan Chell elaborates on the highlights of the elephant trekking experiences, the largest land animal in this part of the world – and much more.
It’s fascinating to learn, as you interact and learn, about the life of Thai elephants, the mahout and the elephant conservation project. There are 17 elephants located here; and only 3000 elephants left in Thailand.
You’ll also get great joy in participating in a ‘hands-on’ experience, getting up close and personal with the elephants, assisting the mahout with food preparation, planting, feeding and their daily bath. This is a once-in-lifetime chance to experience the Asian elephant.
Rainforest Camp Cheow Larn Lake
Elephant Hills Rainforest Camp luxury floating tented camp, in the heart of the 162sqkm Cheow Larn Lake in the heart of Khao Sok National Park, is paradise found!
Opened only in January 2011, there are 10 comfortable camps in the midst of total seclusion. Home to wild elephant, hornbill, the rare Asian ox, various monkey species, myriad reptiles, amphibians and floral species, wake up to the sounds of the forest and the call of gibbons.
Participate in an exceptional safari on the lake with its 100 islands. Explore the rivers that cut through some of Thailand’s mangrove forest by dinghy with outboard motor, view birdlife, make time to swim in the emerald waters, get closer to the environment with self-paddle canoes through the klongs and channels of the lake.
Become one with the galaxy as you star gaze and search for wildlife on the banks of the lake on a night safari.
You will feel bereft for words as you look on with awe and admiration at the magnificence of nature, feeling dwarfed at times by the towering landscape that surrounds you – on land and on water. You are now at one with nature. A unique experience!
Rama Gaind was a guest of the Tourism Authority of Thailand with accommodation in Khao Lak hosted by Kasemkij Group and 3Days Elephant Experience and Lake Safari hosted by Elephant Hills Luxury Tented Camp, Khao Sok.
DETAILS BOX
Getting there
Contact the Tourism Authority of Thailand, Sydney, on (02) 9247 7549 or visit www.tourismthailand.org
Fast facts, visit: http://www.tourismthailand.org/about-thailand/
Flight details
Thai Airways International flies 42 flights a week between Australia and Thailand
with easy connections to Thai’s domestic network; twice daily from Sydney and
Melbourne, daily from Brisbane and seven-a-week from Perth (including three non-stops to Phuket). Connections are also available with Bangkok Airways domestic network.
Check out: www.thaiairways.com.au
Elephant Hills Thailand
Thailand’s first luxury tented camps
Email: [email protected]
