The Bush Camp Chiang Mai

Imagine waking up in the cool morning air in North Thailand. Sipping a coffee as mist drifts between the trees, birds begin their morning chorus, and in the distance, an elephant trumpets. This isn’t just any morning. This is a Bush Camp morning.

Overlooking the Ping River in the southwest of Chiang Mai province, The Bush Camp is part of a growing movement towards more responsible tourism in Thailand. It focuses on ethical interaction with elephants, sustainable practices and support for local communities. This approach creates a more meaningful experience for visitors while still creating special memories.

Award-winning glamping

Accommodation at The Bush Camp is set up as safari-style tents rather than permanent structures. This reduces environmental impact and allows the camp to blend into its surroundings. But this isn’t conventional camping; this is luxury camping or ‘glamping’ as it’s also known.

The tailor-made tents have been constructed by local artisans with The Bush Camp prioritising sustainability and support for the Chiang Mai community. At the World Travel Awards in 2024, The Bush Camp was recognised as Asia’s leading luxury camping company. The award acknowledges the Chiang Mai resort’s ongoing commitment to best practices in luxury eco-tourism.

The Bush Camp is one of several glamping venues in Thailand and an ideal location to enjoy the benefits of slow travel. With its remote setting, you can immerse yourself in the natural environment without sacrificing comfort. You can still enjoy the convenience of hot and cold showers, electricity and Wi-Fi while enjoying your time at this outstanding resort in North Thailand.

The camp sits in a rich natural habitat that attracts a variety of birdlife, including green peafowl, and offers views of historic temple chedis set against Chiang Mai’s mountain scenery.

Elephant Hills Khao Sok
The Bush Camp Chiang Mai is a sister site of the award-winning Elephant Hills. As with Elephant Hills, the focus here is not just on a luxury glamping experience, but also on responsible tourism.

Ethical elephant experiences

For many visitors to The Bush Camp, the highlight is being able to observe elephants in a natural environment. The resort hosts an on-site elephant park where no chains are used, and the hands-off policy means only observation of the elephants is allowed. This approach means that guests at The Bush Camp can experience the elephants more naturally and respectfully.

The absence of large tour groups means a more meaningful experience with these incredible animals. Under the supervision of experienced guides and mahouts, guests can walk alongside the elephants at a respectful distance, watch them forage, and learn about their personalities and social dynamics.

Dedicated veterinarians work closely with The Bush Camp mahout team to ensure every elephant receives expert care with regular health checks and preventative treatment to keep the animals in the best condition.

Community and culture

A visit to The Bush Camp doesn’t just support elephants, it supports people. The camp places a strong emphasis on supporting surrounding communities by employing local staff, sourcing goods from regional artisans, and creating job opportunities for people in nearby areas.

It also contributes to local schools both around the camp and in Mae Sariang. These efforts help generate income locally while maintaining cultural traditions and supporting community well-being.

Where possible, meals are prepared using locally sourced ingredients, which supports nearby farmers and helps reduce the camp’s overall environmental impact.

Sustainability

The Bush Camp Chiang Mai is built around a commitment to ethical and sustainable tourism. Accommodation is designed with minimal environmental impact in mind, using low-impact structures and tented setups that integrate naturally into the surrounding landscape. The use of solar energy further reduces reliance on non-renewable resources.

Sustainability extends beyond infrastructure. Daily operations at The Bush Camp focus on reducing waste, conserving water, and using environmentally responsible materials wherever possible. At the same time, the camp prioritises support for the surrounding ecosystem and for local communities through thoughtful, low-impact practices.

Guests are asked not to bring single-use plastics to the camp and are encouraged to bring their own water bottles or borrow one from the resort, where free refill water stations are available.

Good to know

The Bush Camp isn’t for everybody. This is not for budget travellers. But for discerning visitors, The Bush Camp offers something special. Staying here for two or three days can be combined with a stay in Chiang Mai city or as part of an extended trip in North Thailand.

The resort is located around a two-hour drive southwest of Chiang Mai city. Transfers are included when you make a booking.

The resort is open year-round, with the peak season for travel in Chiang Mai being the cool season months (November-January). Seasonal haze from agricultural burning and forest fires can affect mountain views in March/April and is something to be aware of. The low season months in North Thailand are May-September/October. While you may see rain during this period, mountain views can be spectacular, and the countryside is at its best during the green season months from June to October.

For more information, visit The Bush Camp website and social media channels:
Website | Facebook | Instagram

Photos: The Bush Camp Chiang Mai Facebook page

Discover more responsible travel experiences with Responsible Thailand

You may also enjoy: