Surin, in Northeast Thailand, offers a profound journey through ancient traditions, majestic elephants and lush landscapes. Far away from the tourist crowds, a world of authenticity unfolds here, where Thailand is palpable in the temples, villages and rice fields. A place where nature and culture come together in harmony and beauty.
Elephant Nature Park in Chiang Mai is being hit by severe flooding, with animal rescuers scrambling to rescue elephants and other animals. The park is cut off by floodwaters and landslides, and communications are down. Staff are working around the clock to save as many animals as possible, despite the life-threatening conditions.
Koh Chang – the must-see elephant island
Koh Chang is more than worth it. It is the largest island in the Gulf of Thailand and the second largest island in Thailand after Phuket. It is beautiful and largely unspoilt with long white sandy beaches, crystal clear water, forests and waterfalls. There are more than 50 large and small islands nearby.
Now I'm going to address a controversial topic in this blog, so delicate souls brace yourselves or squeeze all four eyelids tightly together. Don't say afterwards that you weren't warned.
I want to spend a week in Surin in July. Would there still be villages where many residents own or maintain an elephant? Is this correct? What else is there to experience/see? Can you also recommend me any guesthouses or hotels?
Wat Chang Lom, an outsider in Sukhothai
Wat Chang Lom is part of the immensely large Sukhothai Historical Park, but is outside the most visited and very touristy part. I had already explored the Historical Park at least three times before discovering this temple ruin by chance on a bike ride from the resort where I was staying.
Khao Yai National Park (video)
Khao Yai is the oldest national park in Thailand. It received this protected status in 1962. This park is definitely worth a visit with its beautiful flora and fauna.
Koh Chang: Tranquility and pure nature in Southeast Thailand
The word chang means elephant in the Thai language. Koh Chang therefore stands for Elephant Island (koh = island). It is one of the larger islands of Thailand, located in the southeast in the Gulf of Thailand and belonging to the province of Trat.
Travel to Mae Hong Son, an undiscovered treasure in the north of Thailand. Surrounded by misty mountains and rich cultural traditions, this province offers a unique combination of natural beauty, adventure and spiritual depth. Discover the secrets of this fascinating region, where every turn reveals a new wonder.
Thailand, a tropical paradise in Southeast Asia, is known for its beautiful beaches, rich culture and delicious cuisine. But did you know that the country is also home to an incredible diversity of wildlife? In this article, we take you on a journey of discovery through some of the most fascinating animals that live in Thailand's forests, grasslands, mountains and coastal regions.
Discover Thailand (13): National Parks
Thailand is rich in beautiful nature and has some of the most impressive national parks in Southeast Asia. These parks are an important part of the Thai landscape and offer a unique opportunity to admire the country's fauna and flora.
Forest giants and corona
I have a healthy dose of awe for elephants. The jungle on the opposite side of the Mun flowing next to our house is settled by the mahogany, the elephant drivers, used to graze their animals for a few days and so I have come to know the pachyderms well, especially the daredevils, who occasionally Cross Mun to skillfully loot my banana trees. Like my four-legged friend Sam, I can't get enough of these majestic forest giants and they fascinate me enormously.
The power and strength of the elephant
In the Thai Elephant Conservation Center in Lampang you can get a lot of information about elephants in the pavilion that opened not so long ago.
On Friday, March 13, a special holiday will take place throughout Thailand. This is when the entire country celebrates National Elephant Day.
Christmas-decorated elephants distributed gifts and sweets to students at Jirasartwitthaya School in Ayutthaya province.
The drama of the six drowned young elephants that ended up in the waterfall Haew Narok (Khao Yai) was even world news. Fortunately, there is now also something positive to report. A female elephant and her calf managed to free themselves.
You have been able to read all about the drama of the six elephants, who fell into a waterfall 50 meters below in Khao Yai National Park in Prachaburi and lost their lives, on numerous websites from all over the world. The unfortunate story is further supported by many photos and videos on YouTube.
Somboon Legacy: a newly opened hands-off elephant sanctuary
We are Somboon Legacy, a newly opened hands-off elephant sanctuary. This means that our visitors do not touch the elephants. We are a 3 hour drive from Bangkok.
Elephant suffering
It is more than twenty years ago that I met Soraida Salwala, founder of the FAE (Friends of the Asian Elephant) and also doctor Preecha Phaungkum of the elephant hospital in Lampang (see also: www.friendsoftheasianelephant.org).
Elephants and religion
"Elephants were not only used in wars and for heavy work in forestry, but are also considered sacred in Thailand." My excellent guide in the Elephant Conservation Center in Lampang continues her story, after which she explains some religious aspects.
Reader tip: Karen's Tribe native elephants
Can I give you a tip? We had a great experience with the Karen people in the mountains of Chiang Mai. I would like to share this with people who do not like mass tourism and want to spend a day or two with elephants in an environmentally and animal-friendly way.
We want to visit an elephant shelter in Thailand (non-commercial)
We are going to Thailand next month and are planning the trip. We would also like to visit an elephant shelter, but absolutely no commercial places where elephant rides are offered or shows with painting elephants. Can someone give a tip for a 'normal' shelter camp where the elephants can see and possibly feed. Does this exist on Koh Samui or near Pattaya? Or do you have to be in the North for that?