I Went to Thailand to Earn an Elephant Trainer License!

Hello, this is Ohira from GP.

Back in March, the entire Kawamoto Team — the team I belong to — traveled to Chiang Mai to earn elephant trainer licenses.

It all started when our team was selected as “Team of the Year” and received a reward trip as the grand prize.

We wanted to go somewhere that none of us had visited before, where the cost of living was affordable, and where we could have a truly extraordinary experience. As we brainstormed different destinations, someone suddenly said, “Why don’t we ride elephants?” And just like that, Thailand became our destination.

Of course, simply riding elephants wasn’t enough for us. As event producers, we can never resist doing something interesting. Then Sakata-san casually said, “If we’re going all the way there, why don’t we actually get elephant trainer licenses too?” That single comment led us to join an elephant trainer license tour.

Under perfect blue skies, we spent an unforgettable day with elephants that were far larger than we imagined — yet had incredibly gentle eyes. It truly felt like more than just an activity. It was one of those rare experiences that stays with you for life.

Honestly, it felt like a waste to keep the memories only to ourselves. So today, I’d like to share a real report from our “Chiang Mai Elephant Trainer License Tour.”

The Appeal of the Thai Elephant Home Tour

The tour we joined was a half-day program offered by Thai Elephant Home. As of March, the cost was 2,500 baht per person, which was roughly ¥12,500.

There were two major highlights to this tour:

• You receive an official elephant trainer license with your own name on it
• Each participant rides one elephant directly

In Thailand, there are many places where tourists can ride elephants. However, many of those experiences involve attaching seats onto the elephants’ backs, which has recently become controversial from an animal welfare perspective.

This tour takes a different approach. No seats are used. Instead, participants ride directly on the elephant’s back, feeling its breathing and body warmth up close. The experience also includes activities like bathing with the elephants, making it far more than simple sightseeing. It’s an opportunity to genuinely connect with them.

From here on, I’d like to share what it was really like spending time as an elephant trainer.

Tour Flow

▶ Pick-Up by Tour Vehicle

We boarded the tour vehicle that picked us up at our hotel and headed toward the elephant camp. As we left the city behind and the scenery became increasingly surrounded by nature, the reality slowly began to sink in:

“We’re really about to ride elephants……”

▶ Arrival & Changing Clothes

Once we arrived, we were immediately given traditional elephant trainer clothing to change into. Seeing the entire team dressed alike instantly boosted everyone’s excitement.

▶ Classroom Session

Before meeting the elephants, we attended about 30 minutes of classroom instruction where we learned about elephant behavior and elephant commands. Right before interacting with them, we also participated in a prayer ritual.

Even though it was brief, that moment changed the experience completely. It no longer felt like a tourist attraction — it felt like we were about to encounter living beings with genuine respect.

▶ Feeding the Elephants

And then…… we finally met the elephants face-to-face.

In Japan, most people only see elephants from behind fences. Here, we were suddenly at zero distance.

We started by feeding them bananas.

The moment we held out baskets full of bananas, their long trunks stretched toward us instantly, grabbing the fruit almost faster than we could react. Apparently, elephants don’t actually have very strong eyesight and cannot distinguish colors very well. Instead, their sense of smell and hearing are extraordinary, allowing them to detect bananas immediately.

▶ Riding the Elephants

Then came the moment we had all been waiting for: the elephant ride itself.

Using the elephant’s front leg as a step, we climbed directly onto its back.

Since there were almost no supports or seats, you had to get on almost entirely by yourself. Once seated, the height and instability were honestly surprising. If you didn’t hold tightly around the elephant’s neck, the movement felt much more intense than expected.

Each of us rode our own elephant for about 30 minutes through the mountains.

The trail was far rougher than we had imagined. There were steep slopes where we genuinely thought, “Wait… are we really going this way?” Yet the elephants calmly continued forward without hesitation.

Feeling their strength and intelligence from directly above was incredible.

At times, some elephants would casually stop to snack on plants along the way, completely at their own pace. Those moments made us laugh and somehow made them feel even more lovable.

At one point, we even crossed regular roads while riding elephants. The surrealness of casually traveling down a public street on an elephant never stopped feeling exciting.

▶ Playing in the Water with the Elephants

At the bottom of the mountain was a river.

We entered the water together with the elephants, splashing around and washing their bodies. Once in the river, the elephants would lie sideways in the water with completely relaxed expressions, clearly enjoying themselves.

Although their bodies were enormous, their eyes were surprisingly gentle and adorable. It’s hard to imagine many opportunities in life where you can interact with elephants from such close proximity.

When the local trainers gave commands in elephant language, the elephants would lean in close, give us kisses, or even place their trunks over our heads. Every reaction made us think:

“They’re unbelievably smart… and unbelievably cute.”

▶ Receiving Our Elephant Trainer Licenses

After completing the training, we were finally able to take showers and cool down.

When we returned to the classroom area, fresh fruit like mango and watermelon had been prepared for us. After spending hours outdoors, the sweetness tasted incredible.

While eating fruit, we chatted with the local trainers. Among them were two young Japanese men.

When we asked why they were there, they told us:

“We loved elephants so much that we decided to work here.”

In Japan, interactions with elephants are generally limited to controlled zoo environments. That’s exactly why they chose to come here — a place where they could live and work alongside elephants every day.

Seeing people shape their entire lifestyle around something they genuinely love was unexpectedly inspiring.

And finally… every member of the Kawamoto Team successfully received their elephant trainer licenses.

Final Thoughts

So, what did you think?

The biggest thing I realized through this experience was that the phrase “riding an elephant” doesn’t even come close to describing it.

At first, we were overwhelmed by their massive size and powerful movements. But as we spent time with them, communicated with them, and shared the same space, it genuinely felt like the distance between us slowly disappeared — even if only from our side.

Elephants are not only powerful. They are sensitive, intelligent, and surprisingly affectionate animals. Spending time on their backs, seeing the same scenery together, was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Meeting the local trainers also left a strong impression on us. Watching people build their lives around what they truly love reminded us how meaningful and powerful that kind of passion can be.

If you ever have the chance to visit Thailand, I highly recommend considering this experience. Beyond being simply fun sightseeing, it’s the kind of memory that stays with you long after the trip is over.