Today we were picked up from the hostel but a little thai man in a pick up. From here we made one stop to collect Bryanne and Chase (a couple from Canada) who were also joining is for our day with the elephants.

From here we drove for 3 hours into the jungle stopping briefly at a market to pick up food for the elephants.

We drove through a small village whilst on the look out for elephants and soon enough we spotted one through the trees.

Amazes that they were just roaming we got out be van only to be told we could just approach any of the elephants and get to know them. We did this for 30 minutes whilst waiting for another group to arrive. There were 3 big elephants and a baby and it was amazing. We could just go up and touch them and take photos and they were all so gentle!

Once the 3 remaining people arrived we got allocated an elephant per group and then had a talk about basic commands and the history of the reserve we were at.

Our elephant was Mamoon an older female elephant.

Firstly we fed the elephants and the took them down to the river to bathe them with brushes however this basically turned into a massive water fight!

Then back on land we had to get on the elephants - which for the vertically challenged like myself was interesting! However after a little help I was on and we began an hour trek to the waterfall.

At the waterfall we had lunch and then swam with the elephants. This was so magical and we spent an hour or so here.

Then we began the trek back to camp and from where we sadly had to say goodbye to our elephants whom we had spent the day with. This was so sad.

The elephants at the end of the day are not tethered as in many elephant parks but instead are set free to mooch around the reserve as they so wish. This made me happy.

We then hopped back in the vans and made our way back to town and to our hostels. Stopping on the way at a hospital so they could show us how our Money helps the community - very strange!

Back at the hostel we were absolutely exhausted so after a quick skype home we headed to bed after an amazing day!