Since debuting in December 2019, the Jungle Bubbles at Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp & Resort in Chiang Rai, Thailand, have become a signature experience, offering intimate and exclusive elephant encounters in partnership with the Golden Triangle Asian Elephant Foundation. The curated, safari-like experience is a great choice for travelers who want extended one-on-one time with elephants.
Shortly after checking into one of Anantara's new Mekong Explorer Suites, I was instructed to pack an overnight bag for the Jungle Bubbles. Clients can choose from two available one-bedroom bubbles (for up to two people) or a two-bedroom bubble (up to four people). I arrived at my two-bedroom bubble at 5 p.m. and was introduced to elephant best friends Ja Thong and Kam Mool.
After a few photos, the two mahouts (elephant keepers) bid me adieu for the night, so I was left alone with my new friends. A fence separates the elephants from the bubble tent, which is elevated on a wooden platform, but clients are just a few feet away, whether they’re soaking in a hot tub, reading on a daybed or enjoying dinner. (Note: Although guests stay in the spaces overnight, Jungle Bubbles are booked as an “experience" rather than accommodations, so it's added on to an existing reservation.)
Anantara Golden Triangle sits at the edge of a 160-acre bamboo forest.
Credit: 2026 Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp & ResortAnantara has 17 elephants on property: 15 females and two males. Females are usually more docile and get along better for guest activities; plus, they prefer to be in pairs, whereas male elephants like to be alone.
The Jungle Bubble Experience
Dinner is included with every Jungle Bubble booking, entailing a multicourse feast prepared by a private chef in a nearby kitchen. I had a choice between a Thai or Western menu and opted for Thai food. I was asked how spicy I wanted my meal, and I was very happy with my medium-spicy choice.
Highlights included seared tuna with roasted chile paste and crunchy sour mango salad, tofu and local herb spring rolls with chile dip, and wok-fried broccoli with caramelized macadamia nuts. Nearly all the produce is local, as well as super fresh and flavorful. Mango sticky rice and tropical fruit were the perfect dessert finale and, all the while, Ja Thong and Kam Mool were munching on their bounty of sugarcane in front of me, seemingly unbothered by my presence. Pro tip: I recommend having dinner before sunset, to better observe the elephants before it gets dark.
The writer offers a tour of her Jungle Bubble. Credit: 2026 Amber Gibson
The bubbles are well-equipped with many of the same amenities that clients would find in their room back at the main resort (think: air conditioning, minibar drinks and snacks, bath amenities, towels, robes and slippers). The shower had surprisingly good water pressure, too. There's a compression and airflow room as guests first enter the bubble, and I was cautioned not to open both doors to this room at once, or the bubble would deflate.
With a crystal-clear view of the stars, I fell asleep quickly to the soundtrack of wildlife and slept soundly. There are no blackout curtains in the bubbles, so I woke up with the sunrise, in time for a stretching and yoga session on the deck (yoga mats are provided in the bubble), before conservation biologist Maprang arrived to take me on a morning elephant walk with Ja Thong, Kam Mool and their mahouts.
Jungle Bubbles are well-equipped for guest comfort.
Credit: 2026 Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp & ResortWalking alongside these gentle giants was such a peaceful and beautiful experience — a true highlight of my trip. For the most part, I kept a comfortable distance to observe them in their natural habitat, but I was allowed to touch their trunks and feed them periodically. Their skin is so rough and leathery, and sometimes they spray mud over their backs to cool off and keep bugs away. I learned an incredible amount of elephant facts during my stay, such as that they eat up to 10% of their body weight each day and can spend some 18 hours per day eating.
What’s New at Anantara Golden Triangle
Jungle Bubbles aren't the only unique experience available for clients at Anantara Golden Triangle, which has recently added two new guest opportunities.
The property has introduced a unique new treetop dining experience.
Credit: 2026 Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp & ResortIn August 2024, the property launched Canopy, a Tree Top Dining Experience, which offers customized menus and panoramic views of the Golden Triangle area (Thailand, Myanmar and Laos). During high season, it's so popular that the basket goes up four times per day and can fit up to four guests.
The two-bedroom Mekong Explorer Tent, meanwhile, debuted in spring 2025 on a secluded hillside, offering a more off-the-grid experience from the main resort.
