Elephant Hills Adventure
For breakfast the next morning we were blown away by the choice on offer from an array of juices and tropical fruit to eggs on demand and a rather tempting hot selection. Naturally, we had to try everything! With sea views from our table and such delicious food it was hard to leave but it was time to look around the resort. The Layana Resort and Spa is adults only which is perfect for couples and honeymooners to relax and the grounds are perfectly manicured with flowers and palms. We travelled in early October which is still green season but we had fantastic weather – visibility over to Phi Phi island and crystal clear sea. After a dip in the sea it was time to test out the spa - are you even in Thailand if you don’t have a traditional Thai massage? It was then time to take a scenic sunset cruise. The Layana put out tasty nibbles and drinks for us to enjoy whilst we cruised through the mangroves, spotting monkeys jumping into the water and finishing up at Saladan, where we went for local seafood and a dab of shopping.
Our two nights here were up and the next destination for us was the magnificent Elephant Hills in Khao Sok National park. As soon as we arrived they efficiently kitted us out with our refillable water flask and got us ready for the first experience – kayaking down the Sok river. We experienced the smells and sounds of the leafy jungle for the first time as we passed through slowly by kayak; a rumble of monkeys, trickling water falling and tropical bird song; I even saw a stunning kingfisher swoop past! It was interesting to find out the naming of this camp is due to the hills being shaped like elephants – and they really are! This was our transport to reach the elephants… and there they stood, all majestic. The afternoon was spent interacting with these gracious creatures. First we learnt about how they came to be at Elephant Hills. These elephants were once used in the logging industry which when became banned in 1989 and they were left unemployed. Though, by this point they could not survive in the wild and left these poor animals to be exploited in the tourism industry so have been rescued and live peacefully in the national park at Elephant Hills, which receives 100% rating for its animal welfare, as well as the World Legacy Award for Sustainable Tourism. There’s no riding the elephants here – it’s ethical and respectful towards them instead. So the next task was to prepare their food and feed them. One elly was blind and you had to stroke her trunk first to let her know you were ready and she really melted my heart. Then for the wet part – bath time! I’m not sure who got wetter, me or my elephant! It was such a magical experience and our elephant began to dance with me as I washed her trunk. I could have stayed here all week but back at the camp our evening entertainment was waiting for us. The resort founded the Elephant Hills Children’s project and welcomes children from local schools to perform Thai dancing for guests. It supports young children by improving their English and gives them a little extra income to support their studies. The group introduced themselves in English and we were lucky to have our photograph taken with them at the end.
We stayed for three nights, had a day floating around mangroves and lake swimming followed by a visit to the Elephant hills rainforest floating camp, which when staying on the 2 night safari you get to sleep overnight on floating tents. It was remarkable to learn the species of wildlife they have living wild in this national park. As well as being an eco friendly resort, Elephant hills also have a wildlife monitoring project where motion triggered cameras hidden in the jungle to help the nearby wildlife sanctuary. When staying at the floating camp you will be staying in close proximity to threatened and endangered classified species like wild Asian Elephants, Malayan Sun Bears, Gaurs, Asiatic Black Bears, Clouded Leopards or Malayan Tapirs. We had an unforgettable experience and left educated on the wildlife surrounding us in the jungle of Khao Sok.
To reach our final stop we took a luxury minivan an hour west to Khao Lak and reached the blissful resort of the Devasom. The name of the resort “Devasom” is derived from two Sanskrit words – “Deva” meaning angels and “Ashram” meaning residence. Sitting between the lagoon and the sea, this was certainly a residence suitable for angels. Each room with a sea view, some with jacuzzi balconies and others with private pools, there is something to suit everybody. As I entered my room I could not believe my eyes; the penthouse, Sky Suite, on top of the hotel with two bedrooms each with jacuzzi and a 17m private infinity pool overlooking the Andaman sea. It would have been tempting to spend all the time in the suite but we had a long stretch of sandy beach to explore, complimentary stand up paddle boards and a double-infinity pool at the beachfront. It was time to fuel up after an action-packed few days and the food here did not disappoint. Even the hotels signature cocktail was exceptional; made from butterfly-pea flower creating this purple-blue potion! Close-by was the night market, Bang Niang. It’s your typical Thai affair, full of interesting smells from the street food, colourful attire and trinkets perfect for souvenirs and only a short tuk-tuk home to the luxury of our suite. The resort was welcoming for couple and families and is a place I felt I could stay for a extended length of time and truly unwind. However, after a week of luxury with our travel counsellors family, it was time to head home to our own families and share our passion for this wonderful country with them. At London Heathrow it was time to bid farewell to an absolutely amazing group of ladies who it was a delight to experience this trip with but it won’t be long until we are reunited again.