You Can Sleep Alongside Elephants in Thailand’s Jungle Bubbles

Let’s talk about the elephant outside the room.

Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp & Resort in Northern Thailand is offering guests the chance to spend the night under the stars alongside elephants while cozily tucked in a transparent luxury suite. 

Aptly named Jungle Bubbles, the suites feature 22 square meters of indoor floor space complete with a see-through roof, a king bed, a living area, a non-transparent bathroom, a mini bar and dinner basket, and 24-hour room service. And did I mention you have pachyderms for roommates? The Jungle Bubbles are perched on a wooden platform, offering intimate views of the gentle giants in the wild.

According to Etienne De Villiers, Anantara’s Cluster Director of Public Relations, their Walking With Giants tour also allows guests to develop a deeper connection with the elephants. He told Apartment Therapy: 

“Championing the natural joy of daily free-roaming time, accompanied by the mahouts and either a vet or biologist, the activity offers insights from scientific experts about how these intelligent creatures think and behave.” He added, “… guests can observe the elephants’ social interaction in their native habitat. The fun of either a river bath or mud playtime demonstrates just how cheeky these graceful animals can be.”

It’s also comforting to learn that, unlike more controversial attractions around Thailand, this is wildlife tourism that doesn’t force the elephants into anything they don’t want to do.

“It was the sight of one street begging elephant in Bangkok that led our company’s founder to establish the Golden Triangle Asian Elephant Foundation and the expansion of our elephant camp at Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp & Resort to provide an alternative that was clearly and desperately needed,” said De Villiers. 

“Since then we have operated a rescue rental system that gives entire traditional mahout families a sustainable income from an elephant that is already living with them—this ensures that they will not source, through breeding or wild capture, another elephant to continue their traditional way of life.”

To date, over 60 elephants have been rescued from abuse, 22 of which currently reside in Anantara’s Elephant Camp, along with their mahout families of 50 people, who receive English lessons, education for their kids, and 100% of the profits from garment sales from a traditional silkworm business.

Rates start from 17,700 Thai Baht (approximately $585 USD). You can learn more about the Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp & Resort and their Jungle Bubbles here.