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On safari: Animal trips with a difference around Asia
Posted On 15 Aug 2014
FOR a chance to travel to less touristy areas in Asia and encounter wildlife, nature and local life, an animal safari is an excellent option. Elephant, camel and horse safari operators exist in places as varied as the Inner Mongolian steppe, Thailand’s northern mountains and India’s desert sands and their itineraries provide the chance to stay with nomads, sleep under the stars and enjoy varied landscapes while also getting to know your sure footed companion. Traveling with animals also slows the pace down, enabling the traveler to enter into the rhythms of local life.
Elephant bath time in Northern Thailand. Pic: Fergal Barry-Murphy.
Elephant safaris are provided in the northern regions of the country in places like Chiang Mai. Many are simply part of full-day itineraries near Chiang Mai city and are often combined with other adventures such as bamboo rafting. Such adventures are a great way to combine an appreciation of beautiful natural surroundings in northern Thailand’s mountainous landscape under the steam of a sure footed beast. For those wanting an extended experience of the elephant safari there are some operators offering longer, multi-day trips which have a few additional thrills such as swimming and bathing with the elephants and the chance to visit indigenous hill tribes and even stay with them. The pace of an elephant is best described as ambling, and so it’s also the perfect opportunity to look out for bird and other wildlife, plants, fruits and views, besides getting to know one of the world’s most gentle giants.
Another place to consider an elephant safari in Asia is in Nepal’s Chitwan National Park. Elephants are often used in India’s national parks for wildlife spotting.
Elephant safari in Chitwan, Nepal. Pic: Joanne Lane, www.visitedplanet.com
Camel safaris in Rajasthan provide an unforgettable experience of India’s rippling Thar desert and a chance to really experience rural, desert life. They also get you up close and personal with the ship of the desert, the camel, whose smelly and sometimes bad temepered personality is also memorable!
While the Thar is a desert, it is surprisingly populated and is not all rolling sand hills. For the best opportunity to see the latter, you should organise your safari around Jaisalmer, although camel safaris are possible in almost any town in the state.
Safari options and comforts can vary widely so it is wise to check exactly what is included in terms of food, water, blankets and other supplies as cheaper safaris may lack essentials you want. It can be very cold in the desert in winter and hot in summer so choose your seasons wisely: September to March is best. Things move at a slow pace in the desert and the rolling, rocking motion of a camel is not for everyone. If in doubt choose a shorter, rather than longer itinerary, but it is possible to arrange a safari for as long as you wish. Most people choose an overnight or two night option.
Some operators may organise a night time program including dancing or other local entertainment. This is well worth taking in, however make sure you schedule in a night camping in the desert with your camel guides or fellow safari friends under the stars.
Camel safaris are also offered in Ladakh in northern India. Australia is another place to undertake a camel safari, particularly in desert areas such as Alice Springs, and the famed sands of Broome’s Cable Beach.
Camel safari in the Thar desert, Rajasthan, India. Pic: Joanne Lane, www.visitedplanet.com
Asian horses were domesticated by tribes of the Mongolian steppes and today it’s still a fantastic place to explore on horseback. If you have visions of galloping across endless steppe and visiting real nomads, Inner Mongolia is the place to do it. Horses still play an important role in local culture and traveling the way the locals do, is a good way to experience both the landscapes, other animals and the people of the region particularly if you can find an operator that offers homestays.
Most horse riding trips through this region are eco friendly with camping under the stars and they also visit beautiful grasslands, forests, mountains, lakes and rivers. Sichuan and Xinjiang, where there are Tibetan nomadic communities, are also excellent options for horse safaris. Some can be arranged on arrival but many can also be booked online.
Agoda
TRAVELING with children doesn’t have to be difficult in Asia. Not only do the varying cultural delights offer interesting options for kids but there is wildlife, healthy food, affordable accommodation and excellent beach resorts and activities to keep them occupied. In addition to that, Asian cultures are excellent at including and catering for children so…>
CAMELS grace the deserts, grasslands and mountains of Asia-Pacific from places as diverse as India, China, Mongolia, Pakistan and Australia. They are much loved and even celebrated around the region for their contributions as working animals and for providing milk and meat and hair.
Villa Kiara Boutique Hotel
Urban Boutique Hotel
Siem Reap, , Cambodia
Deal USD $ 125 per night
Barefoot Sakau Lodge
River Guesthouse
Sandakan, Sabah, Malaysia
Deal USD $ 75 per night
The Peninsula
Urban, Luxury
Bangkok, , Thailand
Deal USD $ 185 per night
Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit
Urban Luxury Hotel
Bangkok, , Thailand
Deal USD $ 125 per night
Shangri La Bangkok
Urban Luxury
Bangkok, , Thailand
Deal USD $ 175 per night
The Heritage House & Gardens
Boutique Resort
Chiang Mai, , Thailand
Deal USD $ $115 per night
Dream Bangkok
Boutique Hotel
Bangkok, , Thailand
Deal USD $ 84 per night
Santhiya Koh Phangan Resort & Spa
Boutique Resorts
Koh Phangan, , Thailand
Deal USD $ 184 per night
Sala Samui
Boutique Resort
Koh Samui, , Thailand
Deal USD $ 225 per night
Panviman Resort
Boutique Resort
Bantai, Koh Phangan, Thailand
Deal USD $ 275 per night
The Racha
Luxury Resort
Racha Island, , Thailand
Deal USD $ 250 per night
Lebua At State Tower
Urban Luxury Hotel
Bangkok, Bangrak, Thailand
Deal USD $ 150 per night
The Sukhothai Bangkok
Boutique Hotel
Bangkok, , Thailand
Deal USD $ 190 per night
Anantara Bophut Koh Samui Resort & Spa
Luxury Resort
Koh Samui, , Thailand
Deal USD $ 125 per night
Zeavola Resort
Boutique Resort
Ao Nang, Koh Phi Phi , Thailand
Deal USD $ 210 per night
Rachamankha Hotel
Boutique Hotel
Changmai, , Thailand
Deal USD $ 150 per night
LUXX
Boutique Hotel
Bangkok, , Thailand
Deal USD $ 75 per night
The Nam Hai
Luxury Villa
Hoi An, Quang Nam Province, Vietnam
Deal USD $ 550 per night
Hotel Penaga
Boutique Hotel
Georgetown, , Malaysia
Deal 150 per night
Hibiscus Villa
Luxury Villa
Kudat, Sabah, Borneo
Deal USD $ 750 per night
Sepilok Jungle Resort
Nature Resort
Sandakan, Borneo, Malaysia
Deal USD $ 10 per night
Old Penang Guesthouse
Urban Boutique Guesthouse
Penang, Georgetown, Malaysia
Deal USD $ 10 per night
Marco Polo Hotel
Urban Luxury Hotel
Davao City, , Philippines
Deal USD $ 92 per night
Pearl Farm Resort
Luxury Beach Resort & Spa
Davao, Samal, Philippines
Deal USD $ 119 per night
Bohol Beach Club
Beach Adventure Resort
panglao, Bohol, Philippines
Deal USD $ 111 per night
Eastwood Richmonde Hotel
Urban Hotel
Metro Manila, , Philippines
Deal USD $ 94 per night
Casa Leticia Boutique Hotel
Urban, Boutique
Davao City, , Philippines
Deal USD $ 67 per night
Satrisna Home
Urban Guesthouse
Tanjung Bungah, Penang, Malaysia
Deal USD $ 125 per night
Manila Hotel
Urban Hotel
Manila, , Philippines
Deal USD $ 185 per night
Dusit Thani Manila
Urban Hotel
Manila, , Philippines
Deal USD $ 140 per night
Sipadan Kapalai Dive Resort
Beach Resort
Kapali, Sipadan Island, Malaysia
Deal USD $ 1000 per night
Sukau Rainforest Lodge
Eco River Retreat
Kinabatangan River, Borneo, Malaysia
Deal USD $ 400 per night
Casa Nicaros Hotel
Urban Budget Hotel
Manila, , Philippines
Deal USD $ 50 per night
The Poseidon House
Luxury Villa
Kudat, Sabah, Malaysia
Deal USD $ 363 per night
Abaca Boutique Resort
Spa & Wellness Resort
Lapu Lapu City , Mactan Island, Philippines
Deal USD $ 340 per night
Sangria Langkawi
Luxury Beach Villa
Pantai Tengah, Langkawi, Malaysia
Deal USD $ 530 per night
Eternity Springs Art Farm
Eco Wellness Retreat
Byron Bay, New South Wales, Australia
Deal USD $ 100 per night
Bali Dynasty Resort
Beach Resort
Kuta, Bali, Indonesia
Deal 132 per night
Club Bali Hawaii
Beach, Adventure
Anyer, Bali, Indonesia
Deal USD $ 90 per night
Desa Seni
Boutique Spa Resort
Canggu, Bali, Indonesia
Deal USD $ 125 per night
Alila Ubud
Boutique Retreat Resort
Ubud, Bali, Indonesia
Deal USD $ 163 per night
Long Life Hotel
Urban Budget Hotel
Hoi An, , Vietnam
Deal USD $ 28 per night
Grace Hotel Beijing
Urban Boutique Hotel
Beijing, 798 Art District, China
Deal USD $ 135 per night
Life Heritage Resort Hoi An
Urban Retreat
Hoi An, , Vietnam
Deal 131 per night
Princess D’Annam Resort & Spa
Boutique Resort
Binh Thuan, , Vietnam
Deal USD $ 250 per night
Evason Ana Mandara Hideaway
Luxury Beach Resort
Nha Trang, , Vietnam
Deal USD $ 200 per night
Victoria Chau Doc Hotel
Boutique Hotel
Chau Doc , , Vietnam
Deal USD $ 125 per night
The Terraces
Boutique Hotel
Kanatal, Uttarkhand, India
Deal USD $ 240 per night
The Orchid
Urban Boutique Hotel
Beijing, Gulou, China
Deal USD $ 110 per night
The Quay
Urban Retreat Hotel
Phnom Penh, , Cambodia
Deal USD $ 70 per night
Luang Prabang River Lodge
Urban Budget Hotel
Luang Prabang, , Laos
Deal USD $ 40 per night
Royal Bay Inn Angkor Resort
Urban Hotel
Siem Reap, , Cambodia
Deal USD $ 60 per night
Knai Bang Chatt
Beach Resort
Kep, , Cambodia
Deal USD $ 115 per night
City Inn
Urban Budget Hotel
Vientiane, , Laos
Deal USD $ $60 per night
Independence Hotel
Luxury Beach Hotel
Sihanoukville, , Southern Cambodia
Deal USD $ 130 per night
Amanjaya Pancam
Urban Retreat Hotel
Phnom Penh, , Cambodia
Deal USD $ 100 per night
Sala Luang Prabang
Urban Budget Guesthouse
Luang Prabang, , Laos
Deal USD $ 50 per night
La Residence d’Angkor
Luxury Hotel
Siem Reap, , Cambodia
Deal USD $ USD $285 per night
Settha Palace Hotel
Urban Boutique Hotel
Vientiane, , Laos
Deal USD $ 150 per night
Wanderlust
Urban Boutique Hotel
, , Singapore
Deal USD $ 158 per night
The Mercer
Designer Luxury Hotel
Hong Kong, Sheung Wan, China
Deal USD $ 200 per night
The Club Hotel
Urban Boutique Hotel
China Town, , Singapore
Deal USD $ 188 per night
L’Hotel Nina at Convention Center
Urban Budget Hotel
Hong Kong, The New Territories, China
Deal USD $ 100 per night
Hotel Fort Canning
Urban Hotel
, , Singapore
Deal USD $ 240 per night
Marina Bay Sands
Urban Hotel
Marina Bay, , Singapore
Deal USD $ 341 per night
Hullet House
Urban Luxury Hotel
Hong Kong, Kowloon, China
Deal USD $ 500 per night
Hotel De Edge
Urban Designer Hotel
Hong Kong, Sheung Wan, China
Deal USD $ 100 per night
Sunrise Nha Trang Beach Hotel & Spa
Luxury Beach Resort
Nha Trang, Khanh Hoa province, Vietnam
Deal USD $ 134 per night
Maya Ubud Resort and Spa
Mountain Luxury Retreat
Ubud, Bali, Indonesia
Deal USD $ 295 per night
Batu Karang Lembongan Resort
Luxury Beach Resort
Nusa Lembongan, Bali, Indonesia
Deal 230 per night
Bon Ton Resort
Beach Luxury Villa
Pantai Cenang, Pulau Langkawi, Malaysia
Deal USD $ 250 per night
Clove Hall
Urban Boutique Hotel
Georgetown, Pulau Penang, Malaysia
Deal USD $ 180 per night
The Secret Sanctuary Boutique Cottage
Boutique Guesthouse
Kuching, Borneo, Malaysia
Deal USD $ 35 per night
O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat
Boutique Resort
Canungra, Queensland, Australia
Deal USD $ 200 per night
Argonauta Boracay
Beach Boutique Hotel
Hagdan, Boracay Island, Philippines
Deal USD $ 120 per night
Anggun Boutique Hotel
Urban Boutique Hotel
Kuala Lumpur, Bukit Bintang, Malaysia
Deal USD $ 75 per night
Soria Moria
Urban Retreat
Siem Reap, Old French Quarter, Cambodia
Deal USD $ 40 per night
La Villa Battambang
Boutique Guesthouse
Battambang, Rattanak Srok, Cambodia
Deal USD $ 55 per night
The Apsara
Urban Boutique Guesthouse
Luang Prabang, Luang Prabang Province, Laos
Deal USD $ 75 per night
Salana Boutique Hotel
Urban Boutique Hotel
Vientiane, Wat Chan , Laos
Deal USD $ 100 per night
Villa Santi Hotel
Boutique Hotel
Luang Prabang, Ban Wat Sene, Laos
Deal USD $ 90 per night
TenFace Bangkok
Boutique Hotels
Bangkok, Pathumwan, Thailand
Deal USD $ 87 per night
Villa Lomchoy
Luxury Villa
Chaweng, Koh Samui, Thailand
Deal USD $ 275 per night
Hintok River Camp @ Hellfire Pass
Rivers Glamping
Kanchanaburi, River Kwai, Thailand
Deal USD $ 125 per night
Luang Poj Boutique Hostel
Boutique Guesthouse
Ranong, City Centre, Thailand
Deal USD $ 13 per night
The Chedi, Chiang Mai
Luxury Boutique Hotel
Chiang Mai, Chang Khlan, Thailand
Deal USD $ 250 per night
Villa Blubambu
Luxury Spa Villas
Seminyak, Bali, Indonesia
Deal USD $ 115 per night
Santi Sari
Luxury Guesthouse
Goris, Bali, Indonesia
Deal USD $ 200 per night
La Residence Hue
Boutique Hotel
Hue City, Tha Thien-Hue, Vietnam
Deal USD $ 118 per night
Ana Mandara Villas Dalat Resort & Spa
Luxury Resort
Dalat, Lam Dong, Vietnam
Deal USD $ USD $175 per night
Hotel G
Urban Boutique Hotel
Beijing, Sanlitun, China
Deal USD $ 170 per night
Tiger Rock
Luxury Boutique Guesthouse
Pangkor Island, Perak, Malaysia
Deal USD $ 200 per night
The Opposite House
Urban Luxury Boutique Hotel
Beijing, Sanlitun, China
Deal USD $ 330 per night
The T Hotel
Urban Designer Hotel
Hong Kong, Pokfulam, China
Deal USD $ 150 per night
Hotel ICON
Urban Luxury Boutique Hotel
Hong Kong, Kowloon, China
Deal USD $ 335 per night
Hotel 1929
Urban Boutique Hotel
Singapore, Chinatown, Singapore
Deal USD $ 136 per night
The Scarlet Hotel
Urban Boutique Hotel
Singapore, , Singapore
Deal USD $ 200 per night
New Majestic Hotel
Urban Boutique Hotel
Singapore, Chinatown, Singapore
Deal USD $ 196 per night
Rohet Garh
Luxury Boutique Hotel
Rohet Garh, Rajasthan, India
Deal USD $ 100 per night
Padmini Niwas
Luxury Hotel Test
Mussoorie, Uttarkhand, India
Deal USD $ 33 per night
Orange County
Boutique Luxury Resort
Coorg, Karnataka, India
Deal USD $ 380 per night
Old Harbour Hotel
Luxury Boutique Hotel
Fort Kochi, Kerala, India
Deal USD $ USD $185 per night
Nilaya Hermitage
Boutique Luxury Hotel
Arpora, Goa, India
Deal USD $ 397 per night
Maneland Jungle Lodge
Adventure Resort Retreat
Sasan Gir, Gujurat, India
Deal USD $ 65 per night
House of MG
Urban Boutique Hotel
Ahmedabad, Gujurat, India
Deal USD $ 92 per night
Hotel Bougainvillea
Budget Boutique Guesthouse
Anjuna, Goa, India
Deal USD $ 15 per night
Fort Tiracol
Luxury Boutique Hotel
Tiracol, Goa, India
Deal USD $ 172 per night
Fort Chanwa Luni
Luxury Boutique Hotel
Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India
Deal USD $ 130 per night
Fernhills Palace
Luxury Boutique Hotel
Ooty, Tamil Nadu , India
Deal USD $ 235 per night
Carlton Plaisance
Luxury Hotel
Mussoorie, Uttaranchal, India
Deal USD $55 per night