Thai Elephant Experience in Umphang, Lak Province

Historically, the Thai people’s ally in work and war, at once both strong and placid, roaming the jungle smothered hills of a nation curiously similar in spirit and character to these colossal yet graceful beasts, the decline in wild elephant populations all over Southeast Asia has focused modern attention more vigorously than ever on the enduring character, survival and habitats of the Asian elephant.

We’re offering you the chance to really get stuck in; with our week long Thai Elephant Experience package in Umphang, you’ll be surrounded by trunk and tree from beginning to end, living and working ‘at the coalface’ with these undeniably inspiring creatures. Nestled in the limestone valleys of Tak Province in North-central Thailand, amidst the low mists of rice paddies (the local labour staple), soaring Burmese mountain horizons to the west, and some of the most traditional, untouched, ‘un-touristy’ Thai towns of yesteryear, where the local folk still cast curious glances at western visitors and sizzle up regional dishes from fiery track-side stalls.

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The Elephant Experience

Our elephant experience package runs from Monday to Saturday and aims to give you an encompassing introduction to what life is like working with these animals. We try to make sure you get the broadest possible experience by getting you working with elephants of all ages and genders, always in their natural habitat.

Naturally the elephants are free to roam the project grounds during the day, when you will have the opportunity to participate in a variety of activities necessary to providing good care, whilst helping to ensure the stability of the elephants’ lives here.

With rich, thick, natural jungle terrain and forested hills typical to this region of Thailand, we are lucky to be able to maintain an environment very similar to that enjoyed by the remaining few thousand wild elephants in Southeast Asia, and, with only a few elephant sanctuaries so indelibly surrounded by nature, our ability to do this is largely unique throughout the country.

The elephant care at our sanctuary is comprehensive, and we like to get participants involved with all aspects of this. From health-care check-ups and veterinary procedures, to washing the elephants in the natural lake (one of many in the areas surrounding Umphang) on our grounds, or perhaps, simply socialising with these animals, so strangely human in their own way, your responsibilities are wide ranging and aim to give a broad cross-section of elephant care experience.

In addition, with a diet of up to 180kg of vegetation daily, you can see how preparing the elephants’ intake of greens (usually a mixture of locally sourced sugarcane, banana plant or grasses) could represent one of your main daily tasks, while the routine evening ‘trek of the elephants’ back to their forest sleeping areas as the pink Thai sun drops behind the distant hill vistas, is something to always look forward to.

You will work directly with experienced native mahouts (elephant carers) who have grown up with these creatures, training them and ensuring their continued survival. Consequently, there are perhaps no people more readily in tune with the elephant mind than native Thai mahouts, and no better people with whom to experience what life with an elephant is like.

Every group will be assigned their own English speaking tour coordinator, who will be able to answer any practical questions you have about the structure of the experience or the practicalities of staying in Thailand.

Accommodation

Thailand just wouldn’t be Thailand without its bamboo, jungle shrouded cabins, looking like they’ve just popped up from the earth, just like the waxy banana plants and bending palms around them. During your stay here you’ll crash in one fully equipped with all the necessities of a rural Thai excursion: Mosquito nets, showers, and sun drenched decking for those cold Changs after a long day with the elephants.

You will receive three square meals a day, all healthy and packed full of the rich flavours Thai cuisine has become so famous for. We try and strike a nice balance between western styles and the spiced-up, aromatic local dishes of Umphang, to keep everything nice and varied.

Accommodation is shared with other experience participants, giving you a great opportunity to socialise with like-minded, elephant-loving people.

Arrival and Departure

Included is transportation to and from our base camp at Singburi; any other transportation arrangements (like international or domestic flight connections, and any internal travel to and from Singburi) are up to you, but we recommend you take your time, as there’s plenty to see in and around this region of Thailand – from the intensely religious temple towns to the south, to the free-love Rasta retreats to the north.

You can easily add on an introduction week.

Read more about the introduction week below.

Trip Frequently Asked Questions

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Price

• One week £399
• Two weeks 659
• Add on a Intro week for just 199 extra!

Dates

You can start this trip on any Sunday.