Morgan Taylor is passionate about nature conservation and recently joined the Elephant Hills team. Here she shares her first experiences at the new Chiang Mai Bush Camp.

I spent my first day in Chiang Mai with a truly wonderful tour guide, Nink. We explored all the major sights together: temples, markets, monuments, famous walking trails, incredible food – we experienced so much – even the huge shopping mall!

I understood Chiang Mai so much better after that day. It's a fantastic city with so much to offer! I knew I would like it, but it truly touched me deeply. I will never forget that day. A waterfall of such power that it gave me goosebumps, seemingly endless landscapes, and some truly remote paths. It was heavenly. A rural café with a lovely owner, water buffalo by the roadside, rice paddies—I get quite emotional when I think about that first day. That day will stay with me forever.

I hadn't expected the Bush Camp to impress me so much. I don't know if it was the location or the scenery, but I could have sworn I was in the middle of an African national park. The surroundings reminded me of Hwange, the Namib region, and the province of KwaZulu-Natal – all rolled into one.

The welcome here was so warm, I felt right at home. My tent was huge, and the bed and bathroom left me speechless. The air conditioning was a godsend – it was hot! Dinner was delicious, the children's performance moved me to tears, and I was overwhelmed by the atmosphere of this place – it was simply magical.

My tour guide, Nink, explained the plans for the next day, and I was really excited. I thoroughly enjoyed the evening video presentation here; I think it's important to pause and truly savor the moment.

The next day, we set off with the elephants. Our guides, Chai and Sherlee, were simply wonderful. In the morning, we had a blast making paper crafts from elephant dung. Our artwork wasn't exactly stunning, but I had so much fun doing it with Nink. The coconut pancakes were incredibly delicious, and the Thai coffee and tea were fantastic – and seeing the elephants so close was truly special.

The drive back to camp was an experience; the route was picturesque. We even saw elephants and their mahouts. Lunch was delicious and the portions were so generous; there was absolutely nothing to complain about regarding the selection and quantity.

Our afternoon was entirely dedicated to the elephants. Unlike the ones I had met in the south, these elephants bore many scars from their past. It was very moving to see them with such kind and dedicated mahouts in this beautiful setting. I thoroughly enjoyed this experience and could tell that the whole group felt the same way. A moment with the elephant cow "Mae Buap" brought tears to my eyes. I am so grateful that she has found a new home at the bush camp.

Afterwards, we walked to the Karen village. Sherlee's extensive knowledge and explanations were impressive, and I hadn't realized the scale of the place – it was truly extraordinary. I loved how much attention was paid to the details of each individual place, and we all felt warmly invited to participate and get involved.

It was something special and quite fun for all of us to try out the traditional methods of cooking rice – I was terrible at it, anyway. The cooking demonstration was more like a cooking class and very interactive. I'll never forget this experience. Everyone was so enthusiastic, especially the children; it was simply wonderful.

Before sunset, we saw even more animals on the grounds. Along the way, I was lucky enough to see three endangered peacocks – I could hardly believe it!

In my opinion, Bush Camp Chiang Mai is an absolute gem. It exudes tranquility, luxury, beauty, and warmth. Although my visit was brief, I feel like I left a piece of my heart there.

Even weeks later, I still miss it. Whether travel agencies book families, couples, or older guests, I would wholeheartedly recommend this camp to everyone. It offers something truly special in an environment that is almost impossible to put into words – it's simply a very special feeling.