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It Looked Harmless… Until I Found Out the Truth.
That’s the sentence we hear over and over again from travelers after they ride an elephant for the first time in Thailand.
They thought it was innocent. A once-in-a-lifetime moment. A way to connect with nature.
But then they learned what those elephants had been through—and suddenly, the photos didn’t feel so magical anymore.
Let’s talk about what really happens behind the scenes of elephant riding, and why saying no is one of the most powerful choices you can make as a traveler.
The Truth About Elephant Riding: A Tradition Built on Pain
To allow a human to sit on its back, an elephant must be trained.
But training isn’t just teaching. In Thailand, it usually means something far more brutal: a method called “phajaan,” also known as “the crush.”
This process is designed to break the spirit of a young elephant. Often separated from its mother as a baby, the elephant is tied up, beaten, starved, and isolated for days or weeks. The goal is to make it obedient—afraid enough to follow human commands.
This is not rare. It’s standard practice in elephant tourism.
Even if you don’t see it happening, the trauma has already occurred by the time you climb onto the elephant’s back.
