Everytime I go to Thailand I see new tourists hemming and hawing over the elephants and if they should go ride them. The answer is NO.
The best elephant experience is Kui Buri where you are almost sure to see wild elephants, if a little bit tamed due to them stealing (and trampling/destroying) farmer's crops. The farmers were at war with them until they realized they could sell tours. Now they drive tourists into the reserve to see the elephants and it makes them enough money to offset the crop losses.
After that, the best elephant experiences are the ethical retreats where you can meet, walk beside and wash "rescued" elephants and meet then up close. Some of these places are much better than others.
The worst are the ones where you can ride the elephants. It isn't good for them and they are abused to make them allow you to ride them. And the worst of the worst are the ones with elephants who do tricks like painting. Just don't go. Please. It takes years of extensive abuse to get an elephant to do that. It isn't fun training like with dogs. It is big metal hooks and whips. I have seen this.
If you must see the elephants, I strongly recommend seeing them in the wild. Kui Buri is the easiest place to do that. Kaeng Krachan and Khao Yai are also options if you have more time to search.
PS - Oops. I thought I was writing this in the travel forum. I don't object if somebody decides to move it and deletes this note.
The best elephant experience is Kui Buri where you are almost sure to see wild elephants, if a little bit tamed due to them stealing (and trampling/destroying) farmer's crops. The farmers were at war with them until they realized they could sell tours. Now they drive tourists into the reserve to see the elephants and it makes them enough money to offset the crop losses.
After that, the best elephant experiences are the ethical retreats where you can meet, walk beside and wash "rescued" elephants and meet then up close. Some of these places are much better than others.
The worst are the ones where you can ride the elephants. It isn't good for them and they are abused to make them allow you to ride them. And the worst of the worst are the ones with elephants who do tricks like painting. Just don't go. Please. It takes years of extensive abuse to get an elephant to do that. It isn't fun training like with dogs. It is big metal hooks and whips. I have seen this.
If you must see the elephants, I strongly recommend seeing them in the wild. Kui Buri is the easiest place to do that. Kaeng Krachan and Khao Yai are also options if you have more time to search.
PS - Oops. I thought I was writing this in the travel forum. I don't object if somebody decides to move it and deletes this note.