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

Anyone traveling to Thailand to wash an elephant in the river is in the wrong place. Somboon operates under a strict "non-intervention" policy. The four rescued, elderly elephants are free to roam, forage for food, and bathe themselves while being observed from a respectful distance. This may sound passive, but critics report otherwise. Visitors learn each elephant's name and story, help prepare their food, visit the on-site museum, and a meal is part of the daily program.

What makes this experience so special are the volunteers. Guests often give their animals names, and the volunteers clearly know the individual characteristics of each animal and its sad story of how it came to be there. Several visitors were paired with guides who spoke their native language, indicating that the volunteers are truly international. Those who come with the right expectations will experience one of the most authentic nature encounters in the country. However, those expecting photos with an elephant's trunk around their shoulders will be disappointed—and that's exactly the point.