Surin Elephant Round-up
Surin's annual elephant festival in November. What happens, the ethical questions to consider and how to plan a visit.
The Surin Elephant Round-up is held every year in November, usually on the third weekend, in the north-eastern province of Surin. The province is home to the Kui (Kuy) people, who have a long tradition of capturing and working with elephants.
What happens
The festival begins with an elephant buffet, where long tables of fruit and vegetables are laid out for the elephants, followed by parades through the town. At the main show in the Surin stadium, elephants and mahouts take part in re-enactments of historic battles, demonstrations and games.
Points to consider
Shows in which elephants perform have been criticised by animal welfare groups. If animal welfare is important to you, you may prefer to visit the Elephant World at Ban Ta Klang, the Kui village where many elephants live with their mahouts, or choose sanctuaries elsewhere in Thailand that do not offer riding or performances.
Getting there
Surin is on the north-eastern railway line from Bangkok and is also reached by bus. Book accommodation early for the festival weekend.