Elephant ride at Patara Elephant Farm

One-day itinerary: Mahout Training at Patara Elephant Farm

Country: Thailand

1 Day

Chiang Mai, Thailand: You will be met in the lobby of your hotel at 7:30 a.m. and transferred to the Patara Elephant Farm outside of Chiang Mai. At the farm you will be given your training outfit and a brief talk on working with elephants before heading into the bush to find them.

As the day goes on you will hear all about elephant farm management and the breeding program taking place at the Patara Elephant Farm. You will meet the elephants and learn to approach them and work with them from the ground and to take them to the river for their morning bath.

After a short ride to a local temple you can learn about elephants in Buddhism and the Thai’s ancient relationship with these traditional beasts of burden. Around mid-day you will set off for a ride through the jungle to some waterfalls where you will enjoy a picnic lunch and a swim with your elephant in the falls.

Return to the camp in the afternoon and say goodbye to your new friends before being transferred back to your hotel.

Note: Journeys Within’s one-day itinerary ideas are some of our favorite one-day activities – many of which are exclusive to Journeys Within. We do not book these one-day itineraries by themselves, but only as part of a full tour package.

Family adventures in Thailand with elephants

Thailand Songkran Festival Tour

Country: Thailand

10 Days | $2,845

10 April 2016  Bangkok: Arrival Arrive in Bangkok where you will be met by your guide and transferred to your hotel. Meals Included: None Overnight at Riva Surya Hotel – 1Double Premium Riva Room 11 April 2016   Bangkok: Riverside Public Transport City Tour You will be met by your guide at your hotel at 9.00am before joining a river express boat along the river to the flower market. Enjoy the sights and smells before taking a lively tuk-tuk ride to Wat Pho …

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Kayaking the hongs near Phuket, Thailand

One-day itinerary: Hongs by Starlight

Country: Thailand

1 Day

This unique tour, set up by the highly acclaimed John Gray’s Sea Canoe, highlights one of the most beautiful and unique locations in the world – Phang Nga Bay. Phang Nga Bay has witnessed a rapid growth in tourism in the past 20 years, not just for its pristine white beaches but also for its unique topography. The 400km-wide area is decorated with a display of uniquely-formed limestone karst islands, some just an outcrop of rock, others with low-lying land and beaches. Often likened to Guilin in China, or the magical Halong Bay in Vietnam, one of Phang Nga’s most appealing and captivating attractions are the ‘’hongs’’ , or lagoons, which lay hidden within the islands. It was these hidden worlds set among the towering limestone karsts that we went in search of with the Hongs by Starlight team.

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Songkran Festival Thailand

Thailand Songkran Festival Tour for Families

Country: Thailand

10 Days | $9,500

The Thai New Year festival of Songkran is a great family-friendly way to get your feet wet (literally) with the traditions of Southeast Asia. This 10-day tour is designed to fit into an extended spring break vacation and will take families to some of Thailand's most iconic destinations. Start in Bangkok where you'll experience the nationwide water fight that is the Songkran festival. Next, head north to Chiang Mai where you'll explore temples and take part in the Patara Elephant Farm's Elephant Owner For A Day program. Finish up with a relaxing stay on the beaches of Phuket.

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