Elephant Trekking in Khao Sok, Thailand

Elephants have traditionally been very important to the Thai people and have been used from everything from agriculture to war. Now elephant trekking is a very popular activity for visitors all around Thailand. It’s definitely a special experience riding atop such a powerful animal and it really helps connect with a unique part of the Thai culture.

There are many trekking companies to choose from and most have similar agendas. Anytime animals are involved, it’s important to do your research and make sure the company you select treats the animals well. In less developed areas, exploitation and abuse of animals can be a serious issue. We selected Siam Safari because they did have more focus on conservation and proper care for the animals. Even with a more respected tour company, many elephants around the camp were tethered with a short chain that allowed for very little room for movement or exercise.

We selected the full day Jungle Safari in Khao Sok because we thought it would be a more authentic experience than any of the local tours. This tour included elephant trekking and a canoe along a river that cut through the rainforest. Khao Sok is on mainland Thailand and was about a three hour minibus ride from Phuket. We spent the day with six other visitors, our driver and our guide. We wore long-sleeved trekking shirts and convertible trekking pants mainly as bug protection. Phuket is malaria-free but the mainland jungles have potential for the disease but we learned from our guide that during the day it would be too hot the mosquitoes to be out.

The guide spoke English well and had a lot of knowledge of the local floral and fauna. To get the most out of a trip like this, I think it’s important to really stay engaged – pay attention, ask questions. Often people will fall asleep or put in headphones during a long drive but they’re missing a great opportunity to tap into the local knowledge. Since we were in the wet season, the scenery was lush and green and beautiful. On the way out, we stopped at a roadside coffee shop and our guide bought some local fruits to share with us. Since we were making good time, we stopped to take pictures near a small waterfall just off the main road. The waterfall itself wasn’t particular spectacular but it was nice to be able to get out of the bus a look around for a few minutes

The first stop once we had arrived in Khao Sok was for the canoe trip. Locals from the area handled navigation on the river and we were able to just relax and enjoy the scenery. Around each bend of the river a new sight awaited us. Rich foliage would open up to reveal enormous cliffs towering above us. The guide didn’t speak English but he did have a sharp eye and was able to spot a snake curled in a tree above us. Though we were most excited to get to the elephants, we loved every minute of the canoe trip through the Khao Sok jungle. The provincial people have limited resources and we were encouraged to tip them if we were happy with the tour.

After the hour long canoe trip, we took a short trip in the minibus to the elephant camp for lunch. The meal was fairly traditional Thai fare – fresh and well prepared. There were some spicier sauces to add to for those who wanted a little heat but the dishes themselves would appeal to any palette. After the meal, the first of the elephants made their way over to us and our guide brought out some coconut that we could feed to him. Though a massive creature, the elephant had impressive dexterity with his trunk and could easy grab even small pieces of coconut. The elephant’s trunk was solid muscle with think skin and wiry hair.

We then made our way over to a small, freestanding tower to mount our elephants. The mahout, who controlled the elephant, sat directly on the elephant – just behind its head. We sat on a “saddle” that looked a bit like aluminum lawn chairs tied around the elephant’s belly. There were pads beneath the chairs to make it more comfortable for the animal but there was also a rope from the chairs that looped under the elephant’s tail that did not look as comfortable.

Once atop the massive animal, it took a minute to get used to the elephants natural swaying while so high off the ground. The mahout guided the elephant away from the tower, through the elephant camp and onto the jungle trail. The mahout used an elephant hook to direct the animal. Though the pointed metal hook looked pretty wicked, it took just a gentle touch to steer our ride.

As we entered the trail, the benefits of the Khao Sok tour compared to Phuket based options became clear. We ascended but the mountain trails through the thick foliage. The view of the untouched Thai countryside was a refreshing change from the commercial streets of Phuket. The elephants took turns leading the way as we crossed small creeks, climbed steep hills and occasionally stopped to grab some nearby plants for a snack. We had hoped to see some Thai wildlife along the trails but we didn’t spot any during the hour long trek.

Once back at the camp, a couple photos of the canoe trip and elephant trek were available for purchase for a couple hundred Baht. We got some good pictures from the canoe and from the elephant’s back but it was worth the price to get some shots of us during the activities.

We returned to the minibus and started the trip back to Phuket. Since we were on schedule we had a chance to stop at the Monkey Temple. This stop was not even an official activity on the trip but for someone who enjoys interacting with wildlife in their natural habitat, this was an exciting treat. The “temple” was actually more of an informal grouping of small alters set up in wooded area along the side of the road. When we walked out, our guide began looking for the monkeys when a lady came up selling some small nuts to feed them. One by one monkeys began coming down out of the trees looking for treats. They would walk right up to you and gently take the nuts from your hand. Eventually, a mother monkey came down with a young baby clinging to her belly. We didn’t stay long but it was still a great experience to be able to engage these wild animals on their turf. Once we left, the monkeys quickly returned to the trees. The final leg of the trip back to Phuket was pretty quiet as people rested after a long day of activity.