I would like to hear from anyone who has taken a ride on an elephant in Thailand. Where did you ride the elephant, how long was the ride, what did you like or dislike about the experience. Thanks for your input.<BR><BR>royboy

We went on two short rides when we were in Thailand 2 years ago. <BR><BR>The first was at a popular elephant camp outside of Chiang Mai. The ride followed bathing of the elephants in a river and a show and was about 45 minutes through nearby forest. The highlight of this ride occured when our guide indicated to me that I should come down off the chair on the elephant and ride it "bare back". <BR><BR>The second was from a village on the Mai Kok river near Chiang Rai. It was a very scenic 1/2 hour ride away from the village out amongst the rice fields.<BR><BR>On both occasions our guide took pictures of us with our cameras, including the time when I rode bare back.<BR><BR>You should note that this is a VERY touristy thing to do and there will probably be other posters that have concerns about how well the elephants are treated, etc. I do not recommend taking long rides (on treks) as I have heard that it can be quite uncomfortable after a while.

I believe the training farms and rides are in fact saving the elephants of Thailand in a large part. They have no real work to perform anymore and life in the wild is pretty much nonexistent. Our kids loved it (outside Chiang Mai), as did we.

Craig:<BR><BR>Do you happen to know what the name of the camp was? We will be in Chaing Mai in October and are not sure which elephant camp to visit. I remember reading somewhere (but cannot remember now) that there is one you can ride and bathe the elephants. Also take an ox cart ride, and go down the river on a bamboo raft all in one place. I know it touristy, but who knows if we will ever get back there. Thank you.

I have been on the elephant ride, followed by the river raft trip twice at the Cheng Dao camp outside Chiang Mai. While it is touristy, it is great fun for kids. The ride is on a wooden bench that is not very comfortable, but it's not long enough to really matter. Our kids loved it when the bamboo raft nearly fell apart under us as we floated down the river, eating lunch. We were also treated to a very special viewing of some elephants who not part of the show that day, being bathed by their mahouts down the river away from the camp.

We went on a trek from Ruammit Karen village, on the banks of the Mai Kok river, near Chiang Rai.<BR><BR>It was a 6km trek that lasted about 80 mintes. <BR><BR>The scenery was wonderful, we walked along narrow paths, sometimes they felt too narrow for a large elephant!<BR><BR>We climbed and descended a hillside which was hard work on us, as well as the elephants, but the whole experience was unforgettable.<BR><BR>One of the highlights of our trip!<BR><BR>Feel free to read more about my day in my travelogue. (Day 8)<BR>______________________________________<BR>My Thailand Travelogue & Photos<BR>http://www.bangor.ac.uk/~fos007/fb2b.htm<BR>Bangkok,Chiang Rai,Phuket,Krabi,Phi Phi<BR>

pjr-the one we went to was in Mae Sa about 16 km (10 miles) north of Chiang Mai. Chiang Deo is about 70 km from Chiang Mai but as the above poster says, may have more to offer.

Thank you Craig for getting back to me. Colin I have read your travelogue awhile back and enjoyed it very much. We are staying three nights at the Baan Boran Hotel, and will keep in mind the elephant treks in that area also.

We went to the Maetaeng Elephant Conservation Park. Do not go in a big bus tour; the three of us were in our van with driver and guide. After the tour buses had left, we were given VERY large brushes, bottles of shampoo, and our choice of elephants in the river - we chose the smaller ones. It was a ball.<BR>Then did the rafting, bullock ride, etc. Do not go to the Monkey farm (somewhere else). It is cruel.<BR>If you want to read the elephant part of my journal, let me know.

Jean, thank you for your post. That is the one I was trying to think of. I found their web site and it looks like it will be fun. I will keep the monkey farm in mind, I have read other accounts about it not being very good.