Guest User
February 14, 2025
We had 3 nights All-inclusive (excluding alcohol) here - we could easily have added a couple more nights on. The hotel is set in huge grounds, and arriving there is really good. If you can, book the Explorers arrival - where you do the last bit by long tail boat, and are met by elephants to walk you up to the hotel! We didn’t do it, but others said it was great. The hotel itself doesn’t have elephants wandering about (unsurprisingly - but some people met thought it would, from the photos). Instead you get an activity per night that you can use. Walking with Giants was great - literally going for a walk with a guide, 3 elephants and their Mahouts. They explained it is a charity and they rescue elephants and their Mahouts (along with their families) from big cities and bring them to love on the grasslands. Great experience, and very educational. We also did an activity where we made up food balls for the elephants, (bananas/rice/seeds) and then fed them to the elephants. Then we ‘helped’ shower them. Again - lots of explanation, that the food gave essential vitamins etc to the elephants, and they were rotated round. Great fun and really well run. We did a village/temple afternoon with a long tail boat ride - again it was excellent - a great guide (wish I could remember his name) who was really knowledgeable and great fun. Finally we did a paid for trip out for an hour in a pair of motorcycle and side cars - Royal Enfield 1901 models. Which I would highly recommend. The drivers (no they don’t trust you) were really good guides too. The food was excellent. Breakfast lunch & dinner - a mixture of a la carte and buffet (you could choose or mix & match) - really relaxed with the dining room overlooking the jungle, with the grasslands and elephant down below. The swimming pool was cold! That said, it was bearable. And the service everywhere was impeccable and friendly. Rooms were great - ask for a top floor room for a better view - our middle floor was obstructed by a big tree. Great place to stay - wish we had an extra day or 2.