Big Fun

Though most vacationers look forward to lingering in bed and breakfasting by the pool, guests at the Anantara Golden Triangle Resort typically start their day at the crack of dawn by dragging bundles of sugarcane through the jungle. The reason? They're here to learn to be mahouts, or elephant riders, and before lessons begin they need to find and feed their mounts.

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Lessons are held at a nearby camp run in conjunction with the Thailand Elephant Conservation Center. Here, mahout wannabes are put through their paces on the backs of the resort's quartet of female elephantsChampen, Lawann, Tantawan...