The Elephant Whisperers: Life in Northern Thailand’s Karen Hill Tribe

Nestled in the northeast corner of Thailand, Chiang Mai province is an area of natural beauty and culturally diverse tribes. One of these highland tribes, the Karen, are some of Thailand’s original elephant caretakers, having trained the animals to pull lumber from the jungle.

When logging was banned in 1989, this close personal bond between people and pachyderms began to disintegrate. Many of the elephants have been leased to tourist trekking camps outside Chiang Mai. Members of the Karen tribe have also been left searching for new forms of employment. Some villages, such as those in Doi Inthanon National Park in northern Chiang Mai, have opened their doors to ecotourism.

Getting There
Thai Airways offers flights from Beijing into Chiang Mai (the city) connecting through Bangkok. Prices start at RMB 4,000; flight itineraries start at eight hours. Eco-adventure treks into the mountainous jungles can be booked though various travel companies such as Eaglehouse.com.

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Photos: Mary Dennis