FS Tented Camp | it's a (ma)hout!

an elephant playing water games — (c) 2014 by David Ourisman, all rights reserved

We're nearing the end of our trip to Thailand and Bhutan, and we have been able to squeeze in about 30 hours at Four Seasons Golden Triangle, otherwise known as FS Tented Camp. I think this picture says it all ... Yuki, one of Four Seasons' four Asian Elephants, is dousing my wife Claire with a surprise rain shower!

Four Seasons has created a unique elephant camp in the jungles of Northern Thailand, right on the border with Burma (Myanmar). In fact, the view from our tent is entirely of Burma. The highlight of your stay (for most guests), and the primary reason for a vacation here, will be the mahout training. If you love horseback riding, if you love getting up close and personal with animals, if you get an adrenaline rush from active adventure, FS Tented Camp should definitely go on your bucket list. (There are plenty of additional fascinating cultural tours for anyone not into elephants).

Four Seasons Golden Triangle is an all-inclusive resort, but book through a Four Seasons Preferred Partner (such as myself) in order to take advantage of an additional perk, a $100 spa credit. I'm looking forward to experiencing Four Seasons' spa in about 90 minutes, right after lunch!


P.S. — Our Thai Couples Massage was fabulous! Our therapists were Mimi and Yomi, and just as wonderful as the massage therapy was the setting ... an open-air massage studio in the jungle with the gentle sounds of birds and crickets.

copyright (c) 2014 by David Ourisman LLC. As affiliates of Brownell Travel, we can provide our clients with Virtuoso amenities and amenities from other Brownell preferred hotel partners including Four Seasons, Ritz-Carlton, and more. All rights reserved. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.