Seeing elephants used for tourist rides during our Thailand trip made us think more carefully about the experiences we were supporting. This article began with those observations. It has been revised on 6 November 2026 to focus on choosing an elephant visit responsibly, rather than repeating unsupported statistics or claims about individual venues.

What concerned us

During our travels we saw elephants waiting for rides and being kept on chains. It was uncomfortable to see, particularly as parents deciding what to show our children. We wanted a closer look at the welfare behind an experience that can appear harmless in a holiday brochure.

Look for observation rather than direct contact

World Animal Protection’s elephant-friendly tourist guide recommends experiences where visitors observe elephants behaving naturally. Riding, performances, bathing and other forced interaction are reasons to look more closely at a venue’s practices. A name such as “sanctuary” or “rescue” does not by itself establish good welfare.

Ask practical questions before booking

Ask how close visitors get, whether elephants can move away from people, and whether contact or performances are required. Look for clear information about veterinary care, staff training and how the animals spend their time away from visitors. If a venue cannot explain its practices, choose a different activity.

Be careful with what a video can prove

Footage can be useful, but a short clip rarely shows an animal’s whole life or a venue’s current practices. We have removed a broken video and graphic or promotional clips that were not needed to explain our point. The information used to choose a visit should be recent and clearly attributed.

For broader context, this video by Living Like Lionel was one of the independent perspectives included in our original article. It is third-party material, not a film made by our family or a current endorsement of a venue.

An opportunity to talk with children

A trip can open up useful conversations about animals and tourism. We can enjoy watching wildlife without needing to touch, ride or pose with it. Giving children time to observe an animal’s behaviour can be a memorable experience in its own right.

Our decision is to look for experiences centred on observing elephants, and to ask questions before spending money. For more of the trip that prompted this article, watch our Phuket family travel video.