Last summer on the way to Chiengmai, I stopped at Lampang and visited the National Elephant Institute. It was really a nice place to visit. It is the largest Thai elephants conserving center with good standard for domestic elephant care.

There are also tourism activities, such as, elephant show, homestay, elephant riding, trekking, and the funniest one, training to ride elephant. The elephant show is scheduled 7 days a week. And the ticket is freaking cheap. The riding is also interested but I didn’t try it last time. Next time I won’t miss it for sure.

The place won Thailand Tourism Awards for the best natural tourist spot. Today it is also a school for those who want to learn more about elephants. The students will be closed to those smart and friendly elephants and live with Thai Homestay where you will experience Thai northern life style. It’s only 10-day course that really worth the time. It’s might be your only opportunity to be that close to elephants and get to know them and learn how to take care of them.
pictures from www.thailandelephant.org

If you’re interested in the course, for more information like the cost and the schedule each day log on to the official website of this institute at www.thailandelephant.org.

What I love about the place is besides being a home, a school for those kindest big animals; it is a hospital for sick or injured elephants and a nursery for the young ones. There I realized how badly those poor things had been treated. But from now on they will have a much better life.

If you get a chance to go to the north of Thailand, don’t forget to take a quick stop and visit this elephant institute. You will fall in love with those lovely elephants. It might be the only chance to get this close to the biggest animal on land.