Elephant Tours in Ayutthaya, Thailand

Review of the Ayutthaya Elephant Kraal Near Bangkok, Thailand

There many places in Thailand to ride, see, or interact with an elephant. You can even find them with mahoots (elephant handlers) in the middle of Bangkok (although less often these days), and offer them money for a ride and to take photos. However, not all these elephants are accustomed to tourists and many are not safe. In the city, some of these elephants go on a rampage after hearing loud noises or fireworks. Some Bangkok mahoots don't know how to deal with tourist; their elephants don't know how to react either. There are also tours that will take you deep into the Burmese jungles, but these are not for casual tourists. However there is one excellent place for a safe and fun experience riding elephants: the Ayutthaya Elephant Kraal.


Ayutthaya Elephant Kraal
About 1 hour from Bangkok is the ancient city of Ayutthaya, the former capital of Thailand. This island city contains some of the most interesting historical architecture in the country, and on its north shore you'll also find the Royal Elephant Kraal. This is the world's oldest Elephant Kraal, and dates back to the 1500s when the elephants were trained to be part of the strong Thai army, especially in the 16^th century wars against Burma. It's a conservation center and camp for Elephants, and its staff work to preserve wildlife and fauna specific to Elephants. Here they house over ninety Elephant families, including babies, and keep them well fed and cared for in a large green area.

Several elephants have been trained to interact with humans, and they appear happy to do so. You can pet them, even touch some baby elephants, and you can ride one for a short while. You may choose to just watch one of the shows, if you don't prefer to ride, interact or feed the giant animals. These elephants roam freely within the camp, so it can be a little startling at first to be sharing grounds with so many huge beasts. They are safe, but you need to follow the safety precautions given to you by the tour guides, such as not yelling or making wild gestures. Do not use a flash with your camera.

You can also choose to spend 1 or 2 nights at the preserve and share more time with the elephants. You can even help with their care, bathing and feeding, if you like. I got to see a group of elephants play football (soccer) with a few Thai kids. That was more fun to watch than a real game. You can access the park by road or by boat, depending on your tour guide. The cost, including transportation from Bangkok, is about $125 (4000 baht) for a 1 day tour and there is a $380 (12,000 baht) package for 3 days and 2 night's stay including food and accommodations. There is plenty of food served free all day, included in all packages, and it's delicious Thai cuisine, pad Thai, soups and fruit. Lots of food and drinks for everyone. Overnight stays are in traditional ancient Thai style wood houses. These are very comfortable, but of course this is not the Four Seasons. Just be prepared for the same accommodations you'd experience in a camping trip - and no air conditioning.

If you go there on your own and just spend the afternoon, the fee is only $12 (400 bt) . There are buses from the Bangkok North Bus terminal or mini vans from Victory Monument. Round trip is about $30. You can also take the train for about $7, but it is 2 hours by train as opposed to 1 hour by bus. From the train station in Ayutthaya you can take a taxi or mini van to the elephant camp.

Photo: Me with a baby elephant in Korat (4 hours north of Bangkok); I helped to wash and feed him.

Take along sunscreen and a change of clothes. You will get wet, as the elephants like to splash in water, and it's hot so you will also get sweaty. Take along loose clothing and a hat. Secure or strap on your camera - I lost mine in the lagoon. The elephants are very skilled at walking in mud or on any surface, but I was not so skilled in keeping my balance. The elephants know their terrain better than we do. Also bring some mosquito repellant. I didn't see this as a big problem, but you are still in the tropics where mosquitoes thrive and feed as the sun goes down.

See Also:

• Shark Diving in Thailand
• Largest Crocodile Farm in Thailand
• How to Avoid Bugs and Mosquitoes while Traveling

You can book a tour from any tour operator in Thailand, or book online at Elephant Stay. Enjoy your time with the big behemoths, and always respect the Elephant's space.  Wildlife is beautiful in Thailand, so don't tread on it.