Elephant experience for 60+ female, slightly infirm.

[Paul Catton]

Looking for informed recommendations based on an actual participation, for either an "off the rack tour" or a self organized private excursion.

Am not really interested in the "circus" experience with elephants painting pictures or playing football.

Tacked on whitewater rafting or zip lining are definitely out of the equation.

Would like to try and give my big sister that WOW factor, an eternal memory of being amidst roaming pachyderms, experiencing a closeness to these majestic beasts.

Her only interaction to date has been confined between bars at Chester Zoo.

(The elephants were on the confined side of the bars !)

I am neither, anti nor pro elephant riding, but would appreciate commentary based solely on personal experience.

Please no bun fights.

[Trujillo]

You want her to ride or just watch? Wash them in the river? 

 

You seem to imply that you don't think elephants kicking a ball around or painting is something that one should be either watching elephants do, or having them do. 

But the fact is, elephants do need some sort of activity to keep them not only physically active, but mentally too. Just walking on an established path with some tourists on their backs isn't really enough. 

Domesticated elephants can't just be wandering around, looking majestic. They need stimulus. This used to be in the form of hauling logs and other materials for construction or logging. Those days are pretty much gone now. 

 

Which every place you end up -- I recommend the Mae Sa camp, even though they do what you don't seem to like -- remember that in spite of the blowback you might hear online, the elephants here are well looked after and not maltreated. 

The camp on the way, and nearer to Lampang is okay, but I found the whole thing boring as could be. 

There are different programs and I think the one near Lampang has a more extensive "hands-on" selection, where you can even go for several days and learn the basics of being a mahout. Get in the water, scrub their backs, and I recall seeing at least one very old person there in the thick of things. 

[Paul Catton]

30 minutes ago, Trujillo said:

You want her to ride or just watch? Wash them in the river? 

 

You seem to imply that you don't think elephants kicking a ball around or painting is something that one should be either watching elephants do, or having them do. 

But the fact is, elephants do need some sort of activity to keep them not only physically active, but mentally too. Just walking on an established path with some tourists on their backs isn't really enough. 

Domesticated elephants can't just be wandering around, looking majestic. They need stimulus. This used to be in the form of hauling logs and other materials for construction or logging. Those days are pretty much gone now. 

 

Which every place you end up -- I recommend the Mae Sa camp, even though they do what you don't seem to like -- remember that in spite of the blowback you might hear online, the elephants here are well looked after and not maltreated. 

The camp on the way, and nearer to Lampang is okay, but I found the whole thing boring as could be. 

There are different programs and I think the one near Lampang has a more extensive "hands-on" selection, where you can even go for several days and learn the basics of being a mahout. Get in the water, scrub their backs, and I recall seeing at least one very old person there in the thick of things. 

Thanks Trujillo, for your in depth reply.

Hovever, I am not looking for perceptions or thoughts.

I first visited Maesa back in the 1980's and last visit within this milleniun with my two youngest progeny.

I have reviewed all the generic online information and reviews for elephant camps and activity etc.

I thought I provided enough specifics with variables for focussed reply.

 

[WinnieTheKhwai]

Have a look at this one.  Extremely small scale, they only allow visitors on a couple days.

 

http://www.tongbai-elephant-tour.com/ 

 

Additional info: http://www.tong-bai.com/index.php/en/ 

[Johpa]

5 hours ago, Paul Catton said:

However, I am not looking for perceptions or thoughts.

 

All the elephant camps advertise themselves based upon perceptions.  You want an environmentally proper elephant camp you can find one.  You want an elephant camp that does not have young elephants doing shows you can find one.  But for the most part the larger elephant camps  all raise their pachyderms in the same manner and share the same cohort of veterinarians. And as Winnie has linked above, there are several smaller camps up along the Mae Win where, as an added bonus, the young tourist girls do the rafting thing in their swimwear, the next best thing to a beach in all of Lanna Land although the Mork Fa Waterfall is a close runner up.

 

Slightly infirm is a bit ambiguous, but if mobility is an issue the Mae Sa camp is perhaps the most "accessible".

[Paul Catton]

6 hours ago, WinnieTheKhwai said:

Have a look at this one.  Extremely small scale, they only allow visitors on a couple days.

 

http://www.tongbai-elephant-tour.com/ 

 

Additional info: http://www.tong-bai.com/index.php/en/ 

Thanks for that one Winnie.

Looks like the the type of venture sought,

[Paul Catton]

Regrettably Winnie, I don't think 11,000 THB (the cost of 2 people, being minimal booking) is going to be justifiable on a day tour elephant excursion catered solely for one.

It isn't yet out of the ball park, and is a very good reccomendation, but would like to see alternatives, if any, within the variables given in the post

[pgrahmm]

I dont think I've ever seen a 60+ infirm female elephant......

 

.........

 

Sorry....

[1FinickyOne]

Hi Paul - - 

 

We are not elephant riders - - and it does not look like a comfortable experience anyway, lots of jolting style rocking around as it is in no way a smooth ride...

 

But, what we did enjoy very much was a couple of days stay at Sibsan Resort in Mae Taeng. We had a one bedroom cottage on the river - it was very nice and luxurious and price was reasonable though prices fluctuate greatly on agoda or booking cites...

 

Just downstream from the resort is an elephant tourist center w/typical show and rides, which we were not interested in, but we did get the benefit of htose rides coming right past our cottage. Sometimes the mahouts would bathe the elephants right outside our room and as the rides went by, sometimes the mahouts would stop and let the elephants play with us, standing on the shore - for a tip of course... but the eles would take off our hat or give us a kiss - all quite fun and playful... and the pretty natural environment made it all a much more fun and personal and memorable experience... 

 

you can pm me if you want more info... 

[cardinalblue]

Elephant nature park located in Mae Taeng but van departs CM proper...it's an ecology non abusive day experience....

 

google their website...