As I held out a skinned banana in the palm of my hand, I soon learned that feeding an elephant is quite similar to feeding a fussy two-year-old - they will only eat what they want to eat.
The two elephants I was feeding that evening seemed to have a particular fondness for sugar, so all that tree bark I had lovingly collected before feeding time soon became a mere floor decoration!
It was a Saturday night in Thailand. In Bangkok and Phuket the streets were sure to be filled with music as tourists swarmed the colourful night markets, eagerly sipping cocktails to a background of pop music and buzzing neon signs. But where I was, in jungle-like terrain around one hour north from Chiang Mai, it was silent. Eerily so.
The award-winning BaanChang Elephant Park, ('Baan Chang’ directly translates to ‘elephant home’) looks after 45 elephants and is a sanctuary dedicated to providing these gentle creatures with the highest quality of life possible.
The company’s 'Magical Elephant Mahout Training' is a special programme that allows visitors to interact with the elephants as a Mahout, or elephant trainer, would do as part of their every day work, which includes walking with, bathing and feeding the creatures.
Serving food to elephants is immensely gratifying. It makes you feel like the popular kid at school as a mini stampede of gentle giants rush towards you to demolish the contents of your hand.
Mango, banana, pineapple… you name it, they'll eat it, pushing in front of each other to vie for the juiciest morsel. But try tempting them to a tasty sample of tree bark and, like wary toddlers, they want nothing to do with you. It’s remarkable really, how human-like elephants can be!
But dinner time was not my favourite interaction with these powerful albeit temperate creatures. The stand out moment of the evening was sharing a big bath with a group of my newfound friends (more like a pond in reality).
What resonated with me was the curiously playful nature of these gentle beasts. After scrubbing my assigned elephant clean for 15 sweaty minutes he saw fit to shower me with water from his trunk. I took it as a compliment!
Baanchang Elephant Park is a different side to the Thailand many tourists see, beyond Bangkok’s flashing lights and the flashy resorts of the beaches. But I would take an evening with my all time favourite animal over a full moon party any day!
Morocco's deserts and Atlantic coastline rewards visitors with an array of thrilling outdoor activities and socially-distanced al fresco fun, discovers Rhonda Carrier.
With few facets of our lives and world unchanged by the unparalleled impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, travel too will be forever re-shaped. Here are five travel trends predicted for 2021.
With half-term just around the corner, we look at how destinations near and far are providing educational experiences for children whilst keeping boredom at bay.
If you missed Destination New South Wales' webinars, here are six of the suppliers you could have met and some key points about their products, ranging from photography tours to one of the world's most iconic buildings.
From educational 'Dinosaur Bone Hunts' in Greater Fort Lauderdale to cooking classes in Puerto Rico, these digital experiences around the globe will prove a great way to keep all the family entertained this Easter.
In these crazy times it's more important than ever to find our 'zen' at home, so who better to take tips from than Finland, recently voted the happiest country in the world for the third year running.
During this incredibly tough period for the travel industry, it’s important we keep communication channels open, share experiences and exchange ideas...
Julie Baxter takes in Alberta's spectacular scenery from aboard the Rocky Mountaineer, eyes peeled for a sighting of a bear, elk or even perhaps a racoon.
Did you know? In Alabama you can you have Fried Chicken and Waffles for breakfast, Shrimp and Grits for dinner, and Fried Green Tomatoes anytime! Sally Parker reveals her top five facts.
Sally Parker discovers a winning combination of city and beach, nature and outdoor activities, Southern history and culture, and lots of wonderful food
As the 40th World Travel Market comes to a close, here’s a round-up of some of the top travel news from around the world, hot off the stands from the Excel.
Sasha Wood meets the inspiring ladies of Jordan’s longest-running cooperative to hear how a responsible tourism initiative offering local food and artisanal products has helped a community blossom.
Jessica Pook discovers Nevis is a world away from the other Caribbean islands she's visited. And with just one road and more goats than cars, it doesn't take her long to appreciate it.
Laura Gelder talks about rekindling her love with Greece on a trip to Kefalonia and why getting away from the beach brings the biggest rewards, if you can be bothered.
Vote for your favourites in the Selling Travel Agents Choice Awards and you could be rewarded with a stay at a new five-star property, a food tour for two or some must-have travel goodies.
Steve Hartridge admires spanning views of Philly from the brand-new Four Seasons Hotel, the city's tallest tower and now best vantage point in Philadelphia.
With its international acts and diverse line-up, St. Kitts Music Festival is fast becoming one of the Caribbean’s top music events. Jessica Pook joins the crowd
Teetering between the California and the Nevada state line, South Lake Tahoe, is home to watersports gallore and legend’s of the deep. Jessica Pook discovers more
We asked nine suppliers at our Selling Travel River Cruise Dialogue to share their top tips on how to sell one of the fastest-growing sectors in travel. Here’s what they said…
Exploring ancient rainforest, strawberry and tea-planted highlands, idyllic beaches and a steamy city, Martin Steady finds a fascinating country and some new friends
What do you know about indigenous tourism in Canada? Julie Baxter met Keith Henry, President and CEO of the Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada and found out that there’s lots for agents to sell.
Selling Travel joined agents at the Destination New South Wales Roadshow this May in Liverpool and London, hearing what Destination NSW, national carrier Qantas and 11 top suppliers had to say about the state.
Canada’s culture-stuffed capital is partnering with its neighbouring province Outaouais in French-speaking Quebec and wants agents to know why they’re the perfect pair!
Look out for a spike in bookings to Thailand because the cast of The Only Way is Essex has just finished filming two episodes in Koh Samui for series 24 of TOWIE, hitting TV screens on March 17 (9pm, ITVBe).
From Disney's Magic Kingdom to Universal's Wirarding World of Harry Potter, The Global Group's annual conference presented plenty of Christmas magic in Orlando
The pre-Christmas discount season is upon us. We round up some of the possible Black Friday deals you could be getting for your clients to make their travel cheaper.
Voting is open for the Selling Travel Agents Choice Awards and only you can choose – but how? We look at how to identify the cream of the crop in travel, with the help of some cat and dog pictures…
Julie Baxter finds herself stranded in the rocky Channel Isles, closer to France than England, partly stuck in the past and captivated by the sea with its beautiful bays and history of savage shipwrecks.
From colourful streetlife to tracing Nelson Mandela’s steps, a stop in Johannesburg leaves a lasting impression on Jessica Pook as her South Africa journey concludes
Benjamin Coren turns his back on haute cuisine and takes a look at some of the more localised offerings available at the fast food outlets of the world...
Louis Hepworth hasn't let being Coeliac curtail his wanderlust and neither should anyone, but having a few tips up your sleeve for clients travelling with intolerances will be sure to impress...
Jessica Pook attended the launch of luxury operator Kuoni's latest Worldwide Trends Report and introduces her top picks from its 2018/19 travel forecast here.
Julie Baxter finds she can’t escape the vivid colours, smooth flavours and wild sounds of this biodiverse paradise, even when she’s on the massage table.
Underneath a thick layer of dust, Laura Gelder uncovers the Egyptian capital’s gleaming treasures – including taking a privileged peek at Tutankhamun’s golden flip-flops!
A river cruise up the Seine with Shearings transports Jessica Pook bewtween Rouen and Paris and reavels the medieval streets once stomped by Richard the Lionheart and Joan of Arc.
Las Vegas is, to many, a small slice of liberal heaven right in the middle of the desert. But beyond the always-open casinos and late-night bars and nightclubs, there is another side to the city.
The UK’s biggest B2B travel show has closed its doors until 2018 but don’t worry if you missed out, here’s our first quick-read news round-up from some of the destination stands we stopped at.
Selling Travel’s new Editorial Assistant, Jessica Pook, catches up with African specialist DMC Kamageo for an update on destinations and product covering Uganda, Botswana, Malawi and more.
Nina Farrimond heads south, taking in ancient Hoi An, the lively beach resort of Nha Trang, bustling 24/7 Ho Chi Minh and the meandering Mekong Delta on an Intrepid tour.
UK passport holders don’t have to pay a penny to enter Vietnam until June 2018, but that’s not the only reason to visit this fascinating country, says Nina Farrimond.In the first of two blogs, she explores Hanoi, Halong Bay and Hue.
Look behind the headlines and beyond the suited bureaucrats associated with the European capital and you’ll find a city which is surprisingly off-beat and reassuringly inclusive, says Hannah Wallis.
Enter a whimsical world of shimmering lights and mythical landscapes with Maria Martinez-Ugartechea, as she searches for Aurora Borealis amongst Iceland's waterfalls, lagoons and glaciers.
A trip to cosmopolitan Los Angeles reveals a city with a surprisingly wild side. Sheena Adesilu explores beaches, shopping malls and mountains in urban California.
Amelia Glean packs her trunk and swaps the nightclubs and neon of Bangkok for a Magical Elephant Mahout Training Course in the jungles of north Thailand.
Scaling an active volcano isn't everyone's idea of fun but Lombok’s Mount Rinjani provided James Gray with a lofty challenge as well as pause for thought on adventure tourism’s environmental impact.
Cities aren’t always the best place to be on a hot day but Ellie Smith discovers that Sydney is made for sunshine. If you're looking for some cool ideas for summery Sydney then read on.
Jessica Pook tramps a well-worn route up one of Ireland’s most celebrated mountains and discovers you should always be prepared for the weather, and lows as well as highs.
Ben Coren tries out Airbnb for the first time on a trip to Birmingham and discovers it's not as bad as he thought. Find out why he thinks all travel professionals should experience it - just once.
Been to Berlin? Had enough of Hamburg? Carly Hacon explores one of Germany's lesser-known cities, Dusseldorf, and shares five fun things you can do for under five Euros!
The fair city of Dublin is known for its musical pubs, heavy-drinking locals and literary legends. The Irish capital can be a tourist trap and the Pound to Euro exchange rate isn’t great at the moment but here’s how to enjoy yourself, even if your bucket list has a budget.
Ben Coren muses on the ‘hipsterisation’ of his favourite airport terminal and recalls a simpler time when you could browse for CDs and eat a normal burger before your flight.
The Palm Beaches in Florida has been a hot holiday destination since the late 1800s, but in 2017 this retro-cool vacation spot has been ramping up its offerings with some exciting new openings!
Laura Gelder examines why it’s the little things which delight when it comes to cultural exploration. Why book a city tour when you can visit the loo or supermarket for nothing?
...and those who do not travel read only a page. On the 20th anniversary of World Book Night, Laura Gelder looks at how literature can inspire and inform travellers.
Julie Baxter explains why getting ripped off will be the most enduring and endearing memory from her trip to the steamy jungles of Southeast Asia and how tourism is a life force for Cambodia.
Abu Dhabi's profile had risen steadily over the last few years and 2016 saw some notable achievments. We quiz Nabeel Al Zarouni from the Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority on what agents can expect in 2017.
Famous for farming and being flat, Saskatchewan wasn’t the obvious first-stop for a first-timer to Canada, but Laura Gelder soon discovers there is more to the prairies than meets the eye.
Panama is Central America’s glitzy high-rise hub and has long lured tax-avoiding millionaires, but did you know it has an old town to rival Havana and a jungle on its doorstep?
Julie Baxter savours the flavours of Asia onboard the Eastern & Oriental Express, travelling from Bangkok to Singapore. Warning: do not read if you’re hungry!
A word used all-to-often in travel marketing, what exactly does authentic mean in the context of a destination? Can you tell what is and isn’t? Does it matter?
Julie Baxter walks the medieval ramparts of this beautiful hilltop city in Languedoc, southern France, searching for the romantic knights and tortured witches of her imagination and finding much more than she bargained for.
At this year’s ABTA Travel Convention there was lots of chat about traveller personalities and how defining them can help you sell better. Laura Gelder asks: are we segmenting or just stereotyping?
Travel Uni and Equator Learning have merged to create a ‘mega-platform’ for travel training with over 80 courses. Find out the benefits of training and just what's on offer.
Missed our Selling Travel Dialogue on Oman? Never fear because we summed it up here. Read on to find out what the sultanate can offer your clients and how you can harness new flight routes from Oman Air.
Fuelled by apfelstrudel, bratwurst and beer, Julie Baxter checks out the German capital’s suave and eclectic mix of historic monuments and creative spirit and traces the shadows of a turbulent past.
Elegantly crumbling, grandly colonial, colourfully Caribbean and quintessentially Colombian, Cartagena was the face that launched Colombia into mainstream tourism. Discover why it's so irresistible.
Fishing can be a chilly pastime at the best of times, but what about when it's through a hole in the ice? Our intrepid editor tries his hand at ice fishing in Alaska's Mat-Su Valley near Anchorage.
Travel trend spotters constantly talk about authenic experiences but when it comes to Canada, how many travellers have First Nation culture on their itinerary? Find out why they should and how to find it.
