Late last year, I spent a month volunteering at Northern Thailand’s Elephant Nature Park, located 45 minutes from Chiang Mai, in a lush valley by the Mae Taeng River. This was truly one of the most amazing experiences of my life. Every day was spent working on projects like building fences and huts and collecting food for the 35 elephants who call the Park home. Almost all have been rescued from terrible situations.

There was Mae Boon, who’d lost part of her hind leg in a mine explosion on the Burmese border, and Medo, whose back had been broken in a mating session forced upon her by her handlers. My favourite elephant, Max, was a huge fellow with sad, thoughtful eyes who had been made to beg on the streets of Bangkok for over twenty years. Here, at the Park, these amazing animals can finally have a sense of freedom; to live in an environment without leg chains and away from abusive humans.

If you love animals, and are looking for a unique holiday experience, you really can’t go past the Park. It’s hard work, but it’s bloody rewarding

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