Koh Chang Elephant Trekking and Tiger Kingdom

After leaving Ko Phi Phi on our final day by ferry {about a 90 minute journey}, we traveled back to the Southern portion of the mainland to Phuket, Thailand for the day to explore Koh Chang Elephant Trekking. We were careful to research this company, as some are known to mistreat the animals. Happily, Koh Chang fully earned its Trip Advisor recommendation! The animals looked healthy and well cared for! The trainers guided the elephants through the jungle paths with Thai voice commands and by gently tapping the elephant's forehead with the heel of their foot. 

It was wonderful to play, feed bananas, and take a ride {20, 30, or full hour treks for 1,000 baht} on these gentle creatures. We were even able to slide forward out of the saddle, and sit on the elephants neck for a part of the walk! It was a bit like trying to balance on a solid bubble...but I was amazed at how measured and careful the elephants walked along on the narrow paths. The tour guides stopped to take plenty of pictures for us. 

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 {Getting ready for our trek.}

{Each elephant received a bath after the trekking with guests. Here is a squeaky clean elephant}.

{Our guide on "Pancake's" neck/head guiding him along the trails. No shoes on the elephant!}

 {A baby elephant we spotted while walking along.}

 {Rachel and Kari on their elephant. She was a fifteen-year-old female elephant with a Thai name I can't pronounce.}

 {Feeding some bananas to Pancake after the hike. I bought a whole basket for 50 baht.}

 {Classic Lukey face. I love him.}

 {He wasn't so interested in me this time haha :) }

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After the elephant trekking, we went to Tiger Kingdom in a less remote area, about 30 minutes away. Here, we {like many tourists to Phuket} took a risk and some amazing pictures with tigers for 1000 baht. While the tigers were kept in secure cages with their trainers, we entered a cage with about six tigers, and they are still wild animals even being adjusted to people and regular interaction. My pictures are with a "medium" sized tiger {felt like a large tiger to me!} It was a bit sad to see the tigers being kept purely for others' entertainment. The experience of being near such a dangerous wild animal was an incredible rush, and even more scary in person than I expected. 

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In our pictures, you will see that we are often near the backside of the animal. This is because if you approach the tiger near his face, he will think you are being either aggressive or playful. Both could end badly! You must approach from behind and put a firm hand on the tiger's back. Being timid will feel ticklish or seem as if you are fearful of the tiger. Also no good.

 {Camera shy}.

{Luke with a tiger.}

 {Lukey and I}

 {And Luke again..he had no fear!}

RAWR

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