Why should you go there and how do you do it right?

This show is divisive, and I think you should know that before buying a ticket. It takes place in the sprawling Nong Nooch Tropical Garden in Na Chom Thian and is usually offered as part of a park package rather than being sold separately. Many visitors are thrilled: elephants paint, play football, engage in tug-of-war; there's a proper stage with lighting and a program; the show lasts about half an hour; and the trainers seem very close to the animals.

Many others left the park. Reviewers report protruding thorns, some partially covered with fabric, elephant hooks hidden behind yellow cloth and inserted behind the ears and under the neck, and one instance of a baby elephant being beaten to force it to perform tricks. These are not vague complaints, but specific and recurring ones. If ethical wildlife tourism is important to you, I advise you to skip the theater altogether and instead spend the day in the gardens and sculpture areas – that's where the park is at its most beautiful anyway.