One of the most popular holiday destinations nowadays is the Kingdom ofThailand. Tourists have access to beautiful beaches, mountainous rain forests, wonderful food and fantastic shopping. Its a number one choice for people of all ages, on any spending budget and seeking almost any deffinately the most important, is the amount of stress a tour in the wrong environment can cause on these intelligent creatures which belong in large herds in the wild. Taking them away from their matriarchal groups, transporting them by road for hundreds of kilometres, and then forcing them to live away from their parents and perform in crowded cities or beach area is extremely cruel. Thailand elephants are highly respected creatures and should be treated accordingly so for that reason, as well as for everyones safety and enjoyment. Central Thailand is where most of the countrys ideal habitat is situated. For those considering a visit to a quality elephant camp Kanchanaburi should be near, or at the top of, everyones list. Kanchanaburi is a little west of Bangkok, and home to the famous river Kwai (Kware), the camp there is also a mahout training camp, where you can get a feel for working with the animals if you are considering volunteer work in places like Chiang mai and other areas of Northern Thailand.
Next, one needs to carefully consider what to do with the elephants for the best experience. Just handing over one dollar to a cruel handler to give the animal bananas (that the beast has probably carried around all day anyway), is not very fulfilling. Elephants trips can offer much more at reasonable prices. For elephant riding Thailand is a popular destination. There are several operations which cater for all markets. However, many are poorly run, which can lead to problems for the tourists and elephants. The best tours avoid crowds and ensure the experience for all involved is an enjoyable one. Some tours even incorporate some Buddhist culture and visit the world-famous tiger temple. This can usually be done as part of a small public group, or in your own chartered group.
So, to be sure to fully enjoy your visit to Thailand, take a few days or more away from the hustle and bustle of Bangkok or the hills and mountains in the north. Book a trip that isnt a backpacker party or for beach bums in the sun. Theres nothing wrong with any of the above, but elephant tours, or just a short visit to an
elephant camp
or lodge, will open your eyes to what wonderful creatures these are if treated properly within the tourist industry.
