Seek Sophie, Labuan Bajo, Komodo (2026)

08/05/2026

Before we started Seek Sophie, we thought ethical elephant tourism just meant no touching, no riding, no bathing. We didn’t realise how complicated ethical elephant tourism actually is.

We didn’t know that chains can be necessary in certain situations. We didn’t know how risky it can be to speak out about ethical elephant tourism in some countries, or why so many people stay quiet. And we didn’t realise that many places marketed as “ethical” aren’t at all, but are backed by big marketing budgets and strong local connections.

To understand ethical elephant tourism better, we spoke with one of the most experienced elephant conservationists in Thailand. They asked to remain anonymous. Speaking openly about elephant tourism, especially when it challenges common practices, can lead to harassment, or much worse.

This conversation gave us a glimpse into just how complex ethical elephant tourism really is. We’re sharing it here for anyone who wants to understand what’s really going on behind the scenes.

To read the full article, head to our link in bio 🐘

05/05/2026

Most of us grew up thinking that touching an elephant and feeding it - is normal.

But here’s a reminder that as long as you’re allowed to get close enough to an elephant to touch it, something cruel was done to it to make that possible.

It’s called “the crush” - calves being forcefully separated from their mothers, beaten and broken until they are “tamed”. It’s how you get an elephant to stand still for a photo. Or tolerate a bathe.

And what truly being ethical means is: no human contact. Not performing for human entertainment. Just watching them from a respectful distance and letting them be elephants 💚

If you want to meet rescue elephants in one of Thailand’s truly ethical elephant sanctuary, check out our upcoming Elephant Retreat + Lovely Farmstay - link in bio 🐘

30/04/2026

Meet Yidan, the heart behind one of the cosiest little farmstays in Thailand.

Yidan grew up in the countryside in China, but somehow found herself in the fast-paced corporate life. When Covid hit, it gave her a moment to pause, and she kept thinking about the slower, simpler life she used to love.

A few years on, she’s now built a new life in Chiang Dao in Northern Thailand. Her days look very different: farming, caring for rescued animals, and working side by side with locals.

We’ve visited her a few times now, and every visit leaves us feeling inspired. Not just by the how nice it is waking up to mountain views and dogs and cats around, but also how she supports the village, through her farmstay and the amazing work she does with animals in the area.

If her story speaks to you, come meet her on our next community trip to Chiang Mai!! Link in bio to book now.

29/04/2026

Tucked away in the quiet mountain town of Chiang Dao is one of the cosiest farmstays you’ll ever find.

Built from bamboo and surrounded by mountains, it’s home to dogs, cats, ducks, chickens, pigs - and even a few goats - all cared for by .

She used to live a fast-paced life in Bangkok and travelled around the world for work. Now, she’s built something very different here - a permaculture farmstay where life slows down.

You’ll wake up to misty mornings, spend your afternoons by the river or in hot springs, forage ingredients straight from the garden to cook together, and just reconnect with nature and yourself.

It’s simple, grounding, and the kind of place where conversations go a little deeper.

We’re heading here for a small girls-only community trip (this is our last community trip for the year!). So if you’ve been craving a nature reset, this might be it.

🐘 𝗘𝗹𝗲𝗽𝗵𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗥𝗲𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁 + 𝗟𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝗛𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘆 (𝗚𝗶𝗿𝗹𝘀 𝗢𝗻𝗹𝘆) - only 3 spots left!
📅 𝟮𝟳 𝗠𝗮𝘆 - 𝟭 𝗝𝘂𝗻
🔗 𝙇𝙞𝙣𝙠 𝙞𝙣 𝙗𝙞𝙤 𝙩𝙤 𝙗𝙤𝙤𝙠

28/04/2026

This is one of the most impressive waterfalls we’ve seen to date that is truly life changing and a must visit in Indonesia. Tumpak Sewu, popularly coined as the Niagara Falls of Indonesia is one of the most popular hiking trips on . We love it because it feels like a true adventure, and it’s still pretty untouched 🥰

Here’s what to expect!

𝗗𝘂𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: It takes around 30–45 mins to get to the base (around 2 hours round trip!).

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗹 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲: Expect slippery spots, some steep climbs, scrambling over rocks, crossing rivers, plus bamboo ladders and metal bridges along the way.

𝗧𝗼𝗽 𝘁𝗶𝗽𝘀:
💦 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝘄𝗲𝘁: Between the stream crossings and waterfall mist, your hands will get dirty and your shoes soaked, so pack accordingly! Wear water shoes with good grip and quick-dry clothes. A dry bag for your phone/camera and a change of clothes for after can come in handy too.

🌋 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗽: Best way to see Tumpak Sewu is to pair your trip with Mt Bromo and blue flames Mt Ijen. You’ll need 4D3N for all three spots - starting from Bali, Surabaya or Yogyakarta.

It’s not the easiest hike - but if you love adventure like us, it’s 100% worth it!!

Link in bio to book now :)

24/04/2026

Mae Kam was called “aggressive” and “dangerous”. But she’s not a bad elephant. She’s a brave elephant, fighting for her freedom.

Elephants are highly intelligent and emotionally aware animals. They feel deeply. They remember. They grieve. So when Mae Kam started throwing people off her back, we didn’t see an aggressive elephant. We saw a broken and hurt animal who had reached her breaking point.

She was chained for 18 months, until conservationists Burm and Emily came along with a wild idea... What if they could retire Mae Kam? For three years, Mae Kam lived free from work and abuse - until her owner wanted to take her back.

Thailand has a complex relationship with its elephants. They are deeply respected, often seen as symbols of strength and blessing. But this respect exists alongside a difficult reality for many families who own elephants. They are very expensive to care for, and families often have no choice but to rent them out to camps, where they end up suffering more.

Thankfully, Mae Kam now lives freely at (and has been for the past 13 years!), where she spends her days foraging in the forest with her best friend Mae Dok. She’s happy, flappy, and thriving.

Mae Kam’s story is just one of many in Chiang Mai. If you want to meet her (and other rescued elephants) in a way that truly respects them, come join us on this trip.

🐘 𝗘𝗹𝗲𝗽𝗵𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗥𝗲𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁 + 𝗟𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝗛𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘆 (𝗚𝗶𝗿𝗹𝘀 𝗢𝗻𝗹𝘆)
📅 𝟮𝟳 𝗠𝗮𝘆 - 𝟭 𝗝𝘂𝗻
🔗 𝙇𝙞𝙣𝙠 𝙞𝙣 𝙗𝙞𝙤 𝙩𝙤 𝙗𝙤𝙤𝙠

22/04/2026

Happy Earth Day! Swipe to see one of our favourite places on earth 💚

This is Tanjung Puting in central Kalimantan - one of the largest strongholds left on earth for orangutans. We’ve travelled to some very far corners of the earth, but something about this place feels different. It feels like entering another world.

And it’s quickly become the most heartwarming and soul-affirming trips we’ve been on. Seeing these gentle, intelligent and complex creatures in the wild is life changing.

But places like this are fragile - about 60% of the forest has been degraded. The forests around the national park are constantly under pressure from being converted into palm oil plantations.

What really moved us was meeting locals and conservationists who are trying to protect what land is left. Some are involved in reforestation. Some used to work in palm oil and are now tour guides committed to protecting the park. But the most powerful efforts happening on the ground is how locals are using their income from tourism to slowly buy up land around the park - so it can’t be cleared.

At , we want our travels to mean something. And Tanjung Puting is a beautiful reminder that places like this still exist in the world - and that tourism and dedicated local communities are part of what keeps them protected 💚

📸📹: .ly

19/04/2026

The best place to see wildlife is in the wild. The next best is to visit a truly ethical sanctuary where the needs of the animals come first 💚

If you love wildlife, and are looking for an experience that helps you slow down, ground and connect more deeply with nature - this trip is perfect for you.

You’ll spend two days at a truly ethical elephant sanctuary, alongside some of Thailand’s most respected conservationists. Thailand has many “sanctuaries”, but very few are genuinely humane. Here, there’s no riding, no bathing, no performances. You’ll observe rescued elephants as they move freely through the forest - eating, exploring, interacting - and learn their individual rescue stories from the people who care for them.

Spending 2 days here will completely change how you see wildlife. When we say this trip is good for the soul, we really mean it!

🐘 6D5N Elephant Retreat + Lovely Farmstay (Girls Only)
📅 27 May - 1 Jun, limited spots left,
✨ Link in bio

16/04/2026

𝟯 𝘀𝗽𝗼𝘁𝘀 𝗹𝗲𝗳𝘁 - our (maybe) last Komodo trip of 2026 is happening in a month! 👀

We’ve been to Komodo 25+ times and no one knows Komodo better than us.

So, we designed a trip for curious travellers like us - travellers who don’t just want to tick off a bucket list, who want to go much deeper.

We planned every tiny detail for months:
- 𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘹𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘒𝘰𝘮𝘰𝘥𝘰 𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨?
- 𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘭𝘺 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘳𝘦-𝘪𝘮𝘢𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘔𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘨𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘢𝘪 𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘶𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴?
- 𝘏𝘰𝘸 𝘥𝘰 𝘸𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘭 𝘨𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘴 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘪𝘯 𝘢 𝘮𝘦𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘧𝘶𝘭 𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘒𝘰𝘮𝘰𝘥𝘰?

This trip is honestly the most special way you can ever experience Komodo.

Link in bio to book this 8D7N Komodo trip! Only happening 14-21 May - 3 spots left.

14/04/2026

Komodo is honestly one of our favourite places, and being a (mostly!) girls team, doing a girls only trip here just felt like a no brainer.

For our second community trip, we brought 12 strangers on a Komodo girls trip together, and it ended up being such a special one.

We had a few upgrades this time too. A local guide who lives in Wae Rebo joined us, and it really changed how we experienced the trip, getting to learn about local customs in such a grounded, meaningful way. We had a beach dinner under the stars that felt extra magical under a glowing full moon, and we also got to support a local school and plant corals, which made the whole trip feel like it was giving back in a small way too.

But what we keep thinking about most is how quickly everyone opened up, bonded, and had the space to become their silly selves. That really is the beauty of a girls trip :)

And a huge shoutout to our boat crew for taking such amazing care of us the whole time!! You made us feel so safe, so looked after, and so at ease out at sea.

We’re heading back again on 14 May with another Komodo community trip. This time it’s a mixed group, but the same itinerary. If you’ve been thinking about it, come join us. Link in bio 🤍

13/04/2026

When we first planned our Mount Kinabalu trip years ago, we were a little overwhelmed.

There were so many different packages at completely different prices, and we couldn’t tell what the difference was. When we finally decided on a date, we realised we booked too late because we were a big group going in peak season. And also… is it actually very hard?? So many questions!

But after actually doing it, a lot of things were way more straightforward than we imagined. Swipe to see some basics that helped put our minds at ease before the hike.

If you’ve been wanting to hike Mt Kinabalu, this is your sign to book a stress-free Seek Sophie Kinabalu experience, link in bio!

Seek Sophie

08/05/2026

05/05/2026

30/04/2026

29/04/2026

28/04/2026

24/04/2026

22/04/2026

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13/04/2026

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