Elephant camps
Pachyderm fun
Although elephants can be seen at many tourist spots in Thailand, to learn more about these fascinating creatures it’s best to visit one of the camps in the hills of the north around Chiang Mai.
Activities on offer vary from camp to camp, so check out each place carefully before deciding. They include elephant bathing and feeding, elephant shows and in some cases elephant rides. For an immersive experience, sign up for a mahout training course of several days.
The Thai Elephant Conservation Center, on the road between Chiang Mai and Lampang, offers all these activities and also houses an elephant hospital. For a full day with your own pachyderm friend, Patara Elephant Farm is hard to beat.