A Tender-Touch Tribute: Anantara Golden Triangle Celebrates Thailand’s Gentle Giants with Therapeutic Elephant Massage
In the lush embrace of the northern Thai jungle, Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp & Resort, in partnership with Golden Triangle Asian Elephant Foundation (GTAEF), is trumpeting the arrival of Thai National Elephant Day on 13 March. This year’s festivities promise an unforgettable tribute to these majestic creatures, with a jumbo celebration that includes medical massages, a fruit feast fit for a king, craft market and cultural ceremonies that resonate with the spirit of Thailand.
Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp & Resort has been a sanctuary for 20 elephants rescued from the urban sprawl and illegal logging camps. Alongside GTAEF, they provide a haven not just for these gentle giants, but also for their mahouts and families, ensuring a future where tradition and care go hand in trunk.
On 13 March, guests and locals are invited to inaugurate the festivities with a sacred elephant blessing ceremony in the spirit house. Following their indulgence in therapeutic massage performed by elephant osteopath Tony Nevin, the elephants will be treated to a lavish fruit buffet. Over at the craft market, teeming with pachyderm-inspired artistry, guests can enrol in a Sa paper workshop. The day will culminate in a poignant environmental activity, where guests will join hands in cleaning up the grassland and riverbank, a habitat shared with GTAEF’s elephant friends. A stark reminder of the plastic plight affecting wildlife, plastic remnants found in elephant dung by the mahouts on a daily basis underscore the significance of this conservation effort.
At the heart of this year’s celebration is the pioneering ‘elephant osteopathy’ session by Tony Nevin, a celebrated wildlife osteopath who has blazed a trail in applying osteopathic techniques to alleviate musculoskeletal ailments in wild and exotic animals. Tony’s UK-based Zoo Ost veterinary clinic collaborates with Veterinary Surgeons to extend healing hands across species, boasting over three decades of experience. His innovative approach to animal osteopathy has led to the establishment of workshops and courses, including the clinical component of the inaugural MSc in Animal Osteopathy in the UK and Europe.
“Osteopathic treatment can be a boon to any creature experiencing discomfort in their body’s normal functioning. And it can be beneficial to animals of all ages, from new-borns to the elderly, across all species – because nobody is immune to musculoskeletal woes,” shared Tony.
This annual event is a heartfelt gesture from our community to the elephants, Thailand’s cherished national symbol. It’s a day to elevate awareness about elephant preservation and conservation. We’re honoured to have Tony with us, offering his expertise to ensure our elephants receive world-class care.Arnaud Béril, General Manager of Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp & Resort
Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp & Resort: https://www.anantara.com/en/golden-triangle-chiang-rai
Golden Triangle Asian Elephant Foundation (GTAEF): Facebook: GTAEF Helping Elephants and IG: GTAEF_Thailand
Zoo Ost and animal osteopathy: https://www.zooost.com
Anantara is a luxury hospitality brand for modern travellers, connecting them to genuine places, people and stories through personal experiences, and providing heartfelt hospitality in the world’s most exciting destinations. The collection of distinct, thoughtfully designed luxury hotels and resorts provides a window through which to journey into invigorating new territory, curating personal travel experiences.
From cosmopolitan cities to desert sands to lush islands, Anantara connects travellers to the indigenous, grounds them in authentic luxury, and hosts them with passionate expertise. The portfolio currently boasts over 40 stunning hotels and resorts located in Thailand, Maldives, Indonesia, Vietnam, China, Cambodia, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Mauritius, Seychelles, Mozambique, Zambia, UAE, Qatar, Oman, Tunisia, Portugal, Spain, Hungary and Italy, with a pipeline of future properties across Asia, the Middle East and Europe.
For more information on Anantara Hotels, Resorts & Spas, please visit www.anantara.com. Follow us on Facebook; Twitter and Instagram.
About Minor Hotels
Minor Hotels is a global leader in the hospitality industry with over 640* hotels, resorts and branded residences across 59 countries. The group crafts innovative and insightful experiences through its hotel brands including Anantara, Elewana Collection, The Wolseley Hotels, Tivoli, Minor Reserve Collection, NH Collection, nhow, Avani, Colbert Collection, NH, Oaks, and iStay, as well as a diverse portfolio of restaurants and bars, travel experiences, and spa and wellness brands. With over four decades of expertise, Minor Hotels builds stronger brands, fosters lasting partnerships, and drives business success by always focusing on what matters most to our guests, team members and partners.
Minor Hotels is a proud member of the Global Hotel Alliance (GHA) and recognises its guests through one unified loyalty programme, Minor DISCOVERY, part of GHA DISCOVERY.
Discover our world at minorhotels.com and connect with Minor Hotels on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok and YouTube.
*Property count includes operating properties as well as committed developments through ownership, joint ventures, signed leases and management agreements.
Contact details
-
- Mark Thomson
- Group Director of PR and Communications
- mthomson@minor.com
- +66 (0)2 365 7678
Related topics
Related news
Layan Life by Anantara Wins Spa & Wellness Design Category at AHEAD Awards Asia 2025
Layan Life was recognised for its groundbreaking approach to wellness, blending advanced medical science with Thailand’s ancient healing traditions in a biophilic sanctuary.
Anantara Stanley & Livingstone Victoria Falls Hotel Celebrates World Rhino Day on 22 September
Celebrate World Rhino Day at Anantara Stanley & Livingstone Victoria Falls Hotel with a unique bush dinner supporting black rhino conservation in Zimbabwe.
Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar Announces 4th Annual Olive Harvest Festival from 24 – 28 September 2025
Experience the 4th Olive Harvest Festival at Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar, featuring olive oil tastings, culinary events, and cultural tours from 24–28 September 2025.
The Anantara Concorso Roma – La Dolce Vita with Cars in April 2026
Anantara Concorso Roma debuts April 2026, uniting classic cars, luxury Italian design, exclusive events, and five-star hospitality in Rome.
Artistry in bloom at Anantara Chiang Mai Resort
Anantara Chiang Mai Resort is proud to showcase artists both local and global, with concerts and an exhibition lined up in the coming weeks, and more on the horizon