If you want to avoid walking on elephants’ backs for ethical reasons, Thailand still has plenty to offer. Several elephant sanctuaries and care centers in Thailand remain open to tourists. Although riding an elephant isn’t on the list of fun activities at these elephant sanctuaries, you’ll be mesmerized just by watching the giant mammals play in the water and feed them bananas.
Elephant Nature Park, Chiang Mai
Elephant Nature Park is a care and rehabilitation center for elephants in Kuet Chang, Pattaya. A guided park tour includes insight into the elephants’ backgrounds and valuable time to feed them and learn about their natural habitat. They endangered Asian elephants.
Boon Lott’s Elephant Sanctuary, Sukhothai
The Boon Lott Elephant Sanctuary is located in the rural village of Baan Tuek in Sukhothai, northern Thailand. It has been a constant on the list of the top ten wildlife sanctuaries in the world for the past few years. The refuge promotes the idea of caring for and conserving elephants by teaching them to revive in their natural habitat. The mahouts at the shelter look after the elephants, and unlike most places in Thailand, the majestic elephants at Boon Lott Elephant Sanctuary are not cruelly treated or chained. For accommodation, you sign up for a teak cottage amidst the sanctuary’s rich conservation area. There’s nothing quite like waking up to the Sound of elephants, and that’s precisely what BLES offers, a royal Thai elephant experience.
Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand
Friends of Thailand Wildlife Foundation operates a wildlife rescue center and elephant sanctuary in Thailand’s central Phet Buri province. It offers a one-day educational tour for tourists that bills itself as a “meet, greet and feed” experience for rescued animals. Please note that while this amount does not include transport costs, you are free to pay the additional costs and make arrangements yourself. The Refuge Center is open daily, and it is necessary to book your visit in advance by producing the official Thailand Friends of Wildlife Foundation website.
The Welfare of Thai Elephants
Suppose you see any form of violence against elephants anywhere in Thailand. In that case, you can contact foundations such as Friends of the Asian Elephant and the Golden Triangle Asian Elephant Foundation, who are persistent in changing the situation of domesticated wild elephants in Thailand’s Tourism Industry of Thailand.
Best Time to Take an Elephant Ride in Thailand
On the third weekend of November, Thailand hosts the famous Surin Elephant Roundup in Surin Province, where majestic Thai elephants parade and their mahouts demonstrate the beast’s physical abilities. And Hula-Hoop, with his trunk, is simply superb. So if you want to have an elephant experience like never before, you must visit Thailand at the end of November.
