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

Phuket Elephant Conservation is a family-run elephant camp in Thalang, in the north of the island. According to the camp, it is run by a sixth-generation family with over 160 years of elephant experience. Groups are limited to one to four people per elephant, and a portion of the booking revenue benefits the free elephant hospital run by the Southern Thailand Elephant Foundation. Elephant riding is not permitted.

The half-day elephant experience costs 2,900 baht and lasts approximately three and a half hours. It begins at 8:30 a.m. or 1:30 p.m. and starts with a presentation about domestic elephants. This is followed by dung paper making, a walk through the elephant village, a view from an elevated walkway, watching the elephants cool off under a rain shower, and preparing food balls. The experience concludes with a cooking demonstration and a Thai lunch. Shorter visits include a two-hour program for 2,000 baht and a one-hour feeding followed by a walk for 1,200 baht.