Thai Elephant Conservation Center

Most visitors to Thailand want to spend some time in the company of elephants, and the north of the country is the best place to do so. Though there are several elephant camps around Chiang Mai, it is worth the extra effort to reach the Thai Elephant Conservation Center, 35 km from Lampang and 65 km from Chiang Mai. It not only offers elephant shows and mahout training courses, but is also home to the country’s only elephant hospital and to ten white elephants belonging to the king.

Because it is government-run, the centre has a less commercial air than other camps, and visitors sense a genuine concern for the animals. As at other camps, you can watch the elephants bathing and then see a show displaying their skill at dragging and stacking logs. Performances also feature painting, in which the elephants hold a brush in their trunk to produce abstract or realistic works, as well as the Thai Elephant Orchestra, up to 14 elephants playing custom-made instruments.

For real enthusiasts, one-, two- and three-day homestay programmes offer the chance to spend all day with a single elephant, washing, feeding and riding it bareback through the jungle.

• Arrive in the morning to catch the elephant bathing and feeding activities and to see the elephant hospital operations when staff are most active.
• Check the center's visitor schedule in advance - guided presentations/medical demonstrations are run at set times and can fill up during high season.
• Combine your visit with the nearby Lampang attractions (temples and local museums) to make the trip from Lampang city more time-efficient.