I'm planning my first trip to Thailand for March and had some questions. I plan on visiting BKK and Phuket and am now considering Chang Mai, solely for an elephant adventure. Are there any in the Phuket region worth trying? Would it be worth the extra time and $$$ to go to CHang Mai for this purpose?

Most flights arrive from the states at midnight, how do most people transit tp Phuket? Do they overnight at the airport or start their Thai adventure in BKK? I would prefer to start in Phuket so that I can decompress and de-jetlag at a resort instead of a frenetic city atmosphre?

Can't wait to go...


AZJ

I'm planning my first trip to Thailand for March and had some questions. I plan on visiting BKK and Phuket and am now considering Chang Mai, solely for an elephant adventure. Are there any in the Phuket region worth trying? Would it be worth the extra time and $$$ to go to CHang Mai for this purpose?

Most flights arrive from the states at midnight, how do most people transit tp Phuket? Do they overnight at the airport or start their Thai adventure in BKK? I would prefer to start in Phuket so that I can decompress and de-jetlag at a resort instead of a frenetic city atmosphre?

Can't wait to go...


AZJ

While there may be some direct flights to Phuket (perhaps via SIN or other Asian cities), most of the flights come out of BKK.

I've ridden on elephants in both Phuket and Chang Mai, and thought the CM experience was far superior. In fact, the elephants I rode in Phuket looked in pretty bad shape. It's more of a safari type adventure (up hills, through the forest, rivers in CM), and I found it much more interesting.

I've flown on Air Asia to both locations, and had a perfectly wonderful time. They do have tight luggage restrictions, but very inexpensive tickets.

If you're looking to do a mahout training course (elephant trainer), there are some of those, where you sleep with the trainers family and I think you'd get much more out of the experience. I've only done the touristy 2 hour ride stuff myself.

This should help.

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=300326&highlight=dhammer53

It's my trip report from the summer of 2003.

The only elephant ride I saw in Phuket was on a par with a pony riide at a 3rd rate carnival.
For elephants, stick with the Chiang Mai area.

I'm planning my first trip to Thailand for March and had some questions. I plan on visiting BKK and Phuket and am now considering Chang Mai, solely for an elephant adventure. Are there any in the Phuket region worth trying? Would it be worth the extra time and $$$ to go to CHang Mai for this purpose?

Most flights arrive from the states at midnight, how do most people transit tp Phuket? Do they overnight at the airport or start their Thai adventure in BKK? I would prefer to start in Phuket so that I can decompress and de-jetlag at a resort instead of a frenetic city atmosphre?

Can't wait to go...


AZJ


If you have the time and want a real elephant adventure check out Elephant Safari with rafting in UNESCO World Wildlife Sanctuary (http://www.all-thailand-exp.com/unesco.htm) lots of photos also.

Randy and Ning

Thanks for the advice... I think I'm going to take Thai Airways nonstop from LAX. This will allow me to connect to HKT with minimal time in BKK arriving in HKT in the a.m. By doing this I buy myself another day, so I think I will squeeze in Chang Mai. 3 nights in HKT, 2 nights in CNX and 3 nights in BKK.

The only elephant adventures in the HKT area worth looking at are in the Krabi province, at Ao Nang. The above link looks great, but I'm looking for a day trek, not a 9 day safari.

I think I've settled on staying on Karon beach in HKt, less touristy and busy than Patong. I'm going to use hostels in BKK and CNX and sort of splurge in HKT.

Thanks again for all the advice... if there is any more, keep it coming!


AZJ

After riding an elephant in the Chiang Mai area, I'm ambivalent about the whole experience. The guides on my tour (and others I heard about) mistreated the elephants. This seems to be fairly common practice there.

On a different note, there's a movement to help the elephants there. There's a project that has the elephants painting with money going to safeguard them. Fascinating.

My planning is coming together... anyone ever heard of the Thai Elephant Conservation Center?



AZJ

The ECC is supposed to be quite good. However I have heard excellent reports of the Elephant Nature Park. See Trip Advisor and LOnely Planet. Lek the owner saves elephants that have been mistreated. Visitors help feed and wash the elephants. It is a day trip & costs around 75 USD pp, although you can stay overnight or for a week at a time. We will be going to CM for a week in April and after a lot of research have decided to go with Lek's programme for the day.
Happy travels.

Thanks to all... I've decided to take DeeElles advice and go with the Elephant Nature Park. I wish I could have gotten into the ECC but there was no availability.

I've also booked into the Andaman Seaview Hotel in Phuket, the WaiLai Inn in Chiang Mai and unfortunately got stuck with a priceline bid at the Holiday Inn Silom Road in Bnagkok. Any comments on those?

Leaving soon so it's all coming together!! I'm flying Thai Air nonstop from LAX, returning to JFK - that should be an adventure in itself.


AZJ

Thanks to all... I've decided to take DeeElles advice and go with the Elephant Nature Park. I wish I could have gotten into the ECC but there was no availability.

I've also booked into the Andaman Seaview Hotel in Phuket, the WaiLai Inn in Chiang Mai and unfortunately got stuck with a priceline bid at the Holiday Inn Silom Road in Bnagkok. Any comments on those?

Leaving soon so it's all coming together!! I'm flying Thai Air nonstop from LAX, returning to JFK - that should be an adventure in itself.


AZJ
HI Azj
Hope you enjoy Elephant Nature Park. We are taking our 3 yr old so no doubt will be an adventure. We are also staying in Phuket and BKK. Shops off Silom Road are s'posed to be good for clothes/jewellery. Perhaps we will cross paths. Have heard the Andaman Seaview is great ...
Cheers..

The Elephant Conservation Park is nothing short of AMAZING. I feel guilty for even contemplating going to any other Elephant "camp." All the other camps and tour sites actually employ elephants that have been mistreated into submissions so that they can perform tacky deeds for unsuspecting tourists.

It was not only an incredible experience, but the efforts that Lek and her volunteers are putting forth are impressive. This was THE highlight of my trip to Thailand and cannot wait to go back. I am contemplating a week volunteer experience at the park.

I only wish more people knew about Leks park!! Spread the word!


AZJ

Went to the ENP for the day in April. It was absolutely fantastic and the absolute highlight of our month trip to Thailand. Without doubt the most magical place on earth and the story of the elephant in Thailand is so well told and experienced that we plan to return to volunteer for the week.
We took our 3+ yr old and the guides and mahouts looked after us all extremely well. We washed and played with the elephants and it was an experience to remember. Food was excellent, hygiene and amenities basic but quite good even for those used to 4/5 star accommodation.
Thank you to forum members for recommending this park. It is a conservation park and the elephants roam freely in the park surrounded by the natural beauty of the jungle/hills. It is close to the Burmese border.
We are so glad we visited this beautiful place. The founder, Lek is trying to assist the Thai people to change the traditional training and "taming" practices that are unfortunately used on the Thai elephants.
What a fabulous trip.
Cheers

I was thinking of going here (or someplace similar, maybe it was a conservation center one) during my trip this winter. The one thing I was a little wary about was bathing the elephants. I'd love to do it! But I'm wondering about the watering hole where it is, and if splashing around and getting wet with the water is safe enough. I'm not sure what sort of riverborne illnesses there are, but I seem to have some vague recollection of extra dangers if you're in the water. Did you have any issues with that? Is it just a hypochondriacal worry of mine?

Ebell
When we visited ENP, the washing of the elephants occurred in a river that flowed through the property. I was a bit concerned about possible diseases for my 3 yr old, however the water was clear and running and we suffered no ill effects whatsover. However in Phuket we all contracted ear infections from the pool.
Cheers
Dy

Had a great time learning about the elephants and the history of how they've been trained in the past. I commend Lek and her efforts at trying to bring about a change in perspective of how to protect the animals and still run a successful camp. Unfortunately, Lek was not available but we had an equally compelling presentation from Michelle.

We had the same trepidations about getting into the river without knowing what sources of pollution exist. Then we said to ourselves "screw it" and jumped in with the majestic animals. When else would we get this chance to be this close, especially in a humane manner? Granted, the elephants do drop their feces directly into the water. However, you only walk in about knee-deep. There is soap and water back at the complex to help wash off if needed.

We would gladly do it again and wished we'd stayed for the overnighter!

siamrivers.com

Great set up, very professional, excellently done...