Activities and things to do: elephant riding
Elephant trekking in Krabi
THE elephant is seen as a symbol of the nation and a talisman for the Thai people. With their wrinkly grey skin and swaying trunk, they are a fascinating combination of brute force, gentleness and remarkable agility that inspires both respect and affection.
With elephants fast disappearing from the wild in Thailand, the best place to see these fascinating animals up close is in a trekking camp. There are only a few camps in Krabi - such establishments must follow strict guidelines as set by the National Livestock Department regarding the provision of adequate food, water and shade for their animals, as well as proper health care.
A trek will allow you to experience this first-hand, as well as the animals' natural forest environment. Carrying tourists for fun means the elephants are able to earn their keep, while living as freely as is possible: as there is not enough space to release them into the wild, and they are very costly to feed (eating up 2-300kg of food per day) the only alternatives for these gentle giants are begging, illegal logging, or inactivity in a zoo.
Trekking tours - usually an hour's ride on the elephant, combined with another sightseeing activity - are bookable through any local agent, or you can visit the camps directly if you don't wish to do the other activities on the itinerary.
The average Thailand guidebook has only a couple of pages dedicated to Krabi. We've created a whole book about the province, its attractions and where to stay. You'll find everything you need to plan your holiday and comprehensive maps and information for when you are here. Order your copy now!
To commemorate the 5th anniversary of the Indian Ocean tsunami that devastated the coast of Krabi on December 26, 2004, The Sriphong Phukaoluan Foundation has produced a DVD to raise funds to sponsor children orphaned in the disaster.