Mahout Training Camp at Anantara Golden Triangle

A fantastic opportunity to interact with the elephants and learn from their mahouts

One of the Anantara’s most delightful activities is their mahout training camp. The Golden Triangle is an area where elephants have been used for transport and for agricultural purposes for hundreds of years and these magical creatures have become synonymous with this region. Elephants were chiefly used for logging but the increasing scarcity of precious teak led to the government banning commercial logging in the area. This has meant that many elephants and mahouts have been left without a viable livelihood.

The Anantara has set up a camp in conjunction with the Thai government and the Thai Elephant Conservation Centre, to ensure the protection of elephants in this area. Visitors can undertake a range of activities from a short elephant trek to a mahout training course lasting three days. Skills you will learn include feeding and bathing the elephants, driving the elephants and learning medicinal jungle plant knowledge from the mahouts themselves.

After only a day or two, you will begin to feel a bond between you and your elephant, having learnt the quirks of his or her individual personality. This is a truly hands on and unforgettable way to get closer to these majestic beasts.