Elephant Riding Thailand: Truth Nobody Told Me [2025]

I’ll be honest – during my first stay in Thailand, elephant riding was at the top of my “must do” list. Like many people, I had romantic ideas about this attraction.

Only when I saw the reality with my own eyes in pseudo–camps near Chiang Mai did I realize how wrong I was. It was one of the most overwhelming experiences of my trip – and not in a positive way.

Today I want to share with you 10 specific reasons why elephant riding in Thailand should be crossed off your attraction list. Each of these points is based on my personal observations and things I witnessed.

1. Elephants Are Not Physically Adapted to Carry Humans

When I first saw an elephant up close at a camp near Chiang Mai, I was shocked by how much its back differed from my expectations. An elephant’s spine has sharp, bony protrusions – it doesn’t resemble a “natural saddle” at all.

I observed how metal seats called “howdah” were mounted on the elephants’ backs. These structures rub against the animals’ skin, causing visible abrasions and blisters. Some wounds looked infected.

What I saw with my own eyes:

• Visible marks from seats on elephants’ backs
• Elephants trying to scratch against trees (probably due to itching from wounds)
• Metal constructions that looked heavy and uncomfortable

2. I Witnessed the “Spirit Breaking” of a Young Elephant

This was the most traumatic experience of my trip.

In one of the camps, I saw a young elephant, maybe 2-3 years old, tied with thick chains to a post. It was crying – yes, elephants cry – and a handler was using a metal hook to force it into submission.

The camp owner explained to me that this was part of the “phajaan” process – ritual taming. Young elephants are separated from their mothers and “taught” obedience through torture.

What I witnessed:

• An elephant calf tied in a position that prevented it from lying down
• Use of a sharp hook to “direct” behavior
• No access to mother or other adult elephants
• Visible stress and fear in the animal’s eyes

3. Handlers Use Painful Control Tools

During my visit to the camp near Chiang Mai, I observed mahouts (elephant keepers) in action. Each had a metal hook with a sharp end. When I asked about its purpose, I was told it was for “gentle guidance.”

There was nothing gentle about it. I saw how one of the mahouts used the hook to force an elephant to stop, driving it into the spot behind the ear. The elephant clearly reacted in pain.

Tools I observed:

• Bullhook (metal hook) – used for “guidance”
• Thick chains on elephants’ legs
• In some places even electric shock devices

4. I Learned About Illegal Elephant Trade

A conversation with the owner of one of the “sanctuaries” opened my eyes to the dark side of the industry. He admitted that some elephants were “bought” in Burma, but when I asked about documents, his answers became evasive.

Later I learned that many elephants reach Thai camps illegally – they are transported from Burma, Laos, or Cambodia. Often these are elephants caught in the wild or taken from mothers in the jungle.

Red flags I noticed:

• Lack of clear information about elephants’ origins
• Owners avoiding questions about documents
• Elephants of different sizes and ages gathered in one place
• Stories about “rescuing” elephants without specific details

5. The Living Conditions of Elephants Were Tragic

After the “show” ended, I stayed longer to observe what happened to the elephants. What I saw broke my heart. The elephants were chained with thick chains to concrete posts, with limited ability to move.

The space each elephant had was maybe 2×2 meters. No grass, no shade, no possibility of interaction with other elephants. After a whole day of carrying tourists, they were simply “parked” like machines.

Conditions I observed:

• Concrete floors without grass or earth
• Lack of access to natural food
• Limited access to water
• Complete isolation from other elephants
• No shelter from sun and rain

6. Elephants Were Forced to Work Beyond Their Strength

During my stay, I learned that elephants in this camp “worked” from 6 AM to 6 PM, seven days a week. No days off, no rest. After 12 hours of carrying tourists, they were simply exhausted.

I saw elephants that could barely stand on their feet. One of them had swollen and wounded limbs – she was clearly suffering, but was still forced to work.

Signs of exhaustion I noticed:

• Elephants swaying on their feet from exhaustion
• Visible wounds and abrasions on limbs
• Heavy and irregular breathing
• Lack of energy even for the simplest movements

7. Elephants Were Completely Socially Isolated

Elephants are herd animals that live in matriarchal groups in nature. In the camp, each elephant was kept separately, without the possibility of natural interaction.

I observed how elephants tried to get closer to each other, but the chains wouldn’t allow it. One elephant reached out with its trunk toward another, but couldn’t reach it. It was heartbreaking.

Behaviors indicating loneliness:

• Attempts to approach other elephants
• Monotonous swaying (stereotypy)
• Making sounds toward other elephants
• Visible frustration and sadness in their eyes

8. Tourists Were Overfeeding Elephants Unhealthy Food

I saw how tourists, one after another, fed the same elephant bananas and sugar cane. Within an hour, one elephant probably received 20-30 bananas – that’s kilograms of sugar!

The keeper explained to me that elephants get this “additional” food from every tourist, but their basic diet remains the same. The result? The elephants were overweight and clearly unhealthy.

What I observed:

• Elephants receiving dozens of bananas daily
• No control over the amount of additional food
• Elephants refusing normal food (leaves, grass)
• Visible problems with weight and health condition

9. Older Elephants Were Neglected

In the corner of the camp, I noticed an older elephant who was clearly sick. He had problems moving, but no one was taking care of him. When I asked about him, I heard that “he doesn’t work anymore, so he’s waiting.”

Later I learned from a local animal protection organization that old elephants are often abandoned in the jungle when they become “unprofitable.” After years of life in captivity, they can’t survive on their own.

The sad reality of old elephants:

• No veterinary care for those unable to work
• Left to their fate when they stop earning money
• Inability to return to their natural environment
• Death from hunger or predators

10. The Price Doesn’t Reflect the Real Costs

For a 30-minute elephant ride, I paid 1500 baht (about $45). That’s a price for which you can eat delicious meals in Thailand for a week or find very decent accommodation for several nights.

But the real price of this attraction is much higher – elephants pay it with their entire lives. It was money for suffering, in the creation of which I unknowingly participated.

The real cost of elephant riding:

• Emotional: trauma of elephants and their offspring
• Physical: injuries, infections, premature death
• Social: destruction of natural family bonds
• Environmental: reduction of wild elephant populations

Real Sanctuaries – Where Elephants Can Be Elephants

Fortunately, my Thai adventure didn’t end with unpleasant observations. I also visited Elephant Nature Park near Chiang Mai – a place that showed me how ethical elephant tourism can look.

Elephant Nature Park – My Real Discovery

This place changed my entire perception of elephants. Founded in the 1990s by Lek Chailert, the park is home to over 80 rescued elephants. The difference was visible from the first moment.

What I saw in a real sanctuary:

• Elephants freely roaming a 100-hectare space
• Natural behaviors: river bathing, mud play
• Elephants in family groups, caring for each other
• No chains, hooks, or other control tools
• Visible joy and peace in the animals’ behavior

Elephant Jungle Sanctuary – Alternative in Other Locations

From my research, I also learned about Elephant Jungle Sanctuary, which has branches in different parts of Thailand, including Phuket and Koh Samui.

This project supported by local communities shows that ethical tourism can also be a source of income for residents.

Why this place stands out positively:

• Elephants could freely walk away when they had enough contact with humans
• Education about natural elephant behaviors
• Support for local mahout families transitioning to ethical practices
• Transparent information about each elephant’s origin

My Lesson – When Tourism Becomes Harmful

My trip to Thailand taught me that not every tourist attraction is what it seems. My experience with elephant riding was a painful lesson about how important conscious travel is.

Today, when someone asks me about Thailand, I always tell this story. Not to discourage travel, but to show how we can travel better – with respect for local communities and animals.

Real sanctuaries exist and do amazing work. By supporting them instead of pseudo–camps, we can contribute to real change in elephants’ lives.

Do you know other examples of tourism that harms animals? Share your experiences in the comments.

If this article opened your eyes like my experience opened mine, share it with other travelers. Together we can change tourism for the better.

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