Thansaipaiwan is a resort, elephant cafe, and Thai elephant conservation center. Let's go see it.

Let's start the trip.

We drove along, stopping at various places as we went, in our usual style. We stopped wherever we saw something interesting.



A brief overview of the Ma Prang Hills

We stopped by Kaeng Song, the suspension bridge. Even walking made our legs tremble, but the locals ride their motorbikes across it with ease.

The waterfall is flowing too strong, it's scary.

However, it is during this period that tourists are most interested in whitewater rafting.

Let's grab some lunch at Rim Gaeng before checking into our accommodation. This is our go-to spot whenever we're passing through this area.

I only know one shop in this area.



Located by the road, along the Kaeng Song River. The food tastes good.

Eating well leads to prosperity and wealth.

Tharaphaiwan, we meet again.

Let's check in now.

The staff drove me to my room. The room was located far from the lobby.

Each house is spaced far apart on the 900-rai plot, so there is a shuttle service, similar to a pickup truck.

This time, our room is the furthest out, the last one by the river.

This is our room, by the water.

Let's take a look inside. This room is the Nature Living Suite.

Oh my, how beautiful! I love the warm and gentle atmosphere.

The decoration is lovely, and I really like the color scheme.

Excuse me, I need to use the restroom.

Front of the house

Amidst the admiration for the beautiful house, a peculiar sight caught my attention by the riverside in front of the house.

Brother Elephant, are you walking around freely like this?

In reality, there are elephant handlers who monitor the elephants but do not control them. The elephants are free to roam as they please.

The mahout's duty is to cater to the elephants' every whim.

We will not be observing the elephants today, so we will take a break and relax.

Exploring the surroundings of Tharaphirom Villa, it remains as warm and beautiful as ever. I may be biased, but I love this place. I would even say that I am in love with it.

This kingdom's owner's love for all living things, from animals and people to plants, is evident in their care and respect for all life.

This is a home for birds, squirrels, or any other creature. These types of houses are scattered throughout the area, there are many of them.

Today, we are just relaxing and ordering simple dishes, one Pad Thai each, from the restaurant to be delivered to our accommodation.

The Pad Thai was delicious, I must say. I ate so much that I felt bloated afterwards.

In the morning, we took a car to the dining room building for breakfast, which is located above the swimming pool.

The breakfast buffet offered a variety of options, including ABF, rice, fried rice, side dishes, and rice porridge.

It's a pity that the delicious noodle soup from my previous visit is no longer available.

Upon inquiry, the staff informed me that the service is currently only available for large group reservations.

Regrettably, the noodles in the morning meal were the most delicious element, surpassing all other components.

When there's nothing, we eat what we have, right? It's a bit disheartening.

After enjoying a delicious meal, guests are free to explore the surroundings at their leisure. The staff informed us that on certain days, elephants visit the cafe to play in the water.

Only on some days! Go and see for yourself. If it happens, it will be around half past ten, around eleven o'clock.


You can go for a bike ride first, but I'd rather wait and cheer for the Changs.



The Elephant Cafe is located at the entrance of Tharaphirom Villa.

No sign of the elephants yet. Taking photos in the meantime. Not many people around.

It is observed that there are usually many people waiting for the elephant on holidays.

The elephant has arrived, leading the mahout.

Let's jump right in.

He played in the water to his heart's content, then turned his back on me and walked away.

Foreign volunteers David and Terry, who are helping to care for the elephants, told us that...

The elephants will return to the camp for a rest of approximately 2-3 hours. During this time, there are no specific activities planned. The focus will primarily be on providing care and attention to the elephants.

Bathing and scrubbing the skin to make it smooth and beautiful, sitting and talking with the elephant keeper, and so on.

Actually, it's more like a nanny. Their duty is to take care of and fan the elephants. 555

At Tharaphirom, there are 14 elephants and more elephant handlers than elephants. In addition, there are volunteers who come and go.

The elephants here roam freely within a 900-acre sanctuary, following their natural instincts without any restrictions.

The owner's responsibility is only to supervise. They don't come to the coffee shop every day. Whenever you want to play in the water, just come.

Some days, they wouldn't come even if we wanted them to. We waited for two days, and only saw them at this spot on one day.

Please note that if you visit Chang Cafe with the expectation of seeing elephants, there is no guarantee that you will encounter them. We kindly ask for your understanding in this matter.


Let's go see the elephant enclosure.

There's not much here, just a quick stop to rest and bathe the elephants.

The mahout is secretly handsome.

Let's talk about elephants for a bit.

Currently, Thungyai Naresuan Wildlife Sanctuary has transformed its elephant corral into a Thai elephant conservation center.

To provide elephants with a life similar to their natural habitat, with volunteers from both Thailand and abroad to care for them.

The sanctuary provides behavioral consultation for elephants. Some of the elephants here were rescued, while others were born and raised at the sanctuary.

Every elephant is tethered with a chain, albeit a very long one, extending tens of meters. Each day, the elephants leave the camp in the late afternoon.

The handlers will guide the elephants into the forest, where they will be tethered with long chains, allowing them a degree of freedom to roam.

The mahout will remain nearby, out of sight of the elephant, but within a distance that allows for immediate intervention if necessary.


Upon waking, the elephant is released from its tether and allowed to roam freely along its desired path.

The official informed me that one day in the future, when the elephant has become accustomed to living in the wild without concern.

All chains will be permanently removed from the elephants' necks.


The 900-rai Praiwan family's estate is a kingdom of elephants.

A small portion of the space is allocated for accommodation, while a small portion is dedicated to a cozy café.


The rest is a forest, a real forest for the elephants to live happily.

At four or five in the afternoon, it was time to send the elephants back into the forest. We followed David and his team into the forest.

As you can see, these are all officers and volunteers.

Let's pretend to be tourists for a bit, just for fun. 5555

The once mischievous little one has grown up. Still playful and mischievous, but now also a bit of a prankster.

They liked to playfully run towards us, causing us to scatter in amusement.

Stay in the forest, all elephants. The keepers will come to untie you in the morning.

After the group dispersed, we returned to our room and ordered a light meal, as usual.

The light rain lulled me into a deep sleep.

Waking up early to take a walk and take photos along the way. Another thing we like is the beautiful light here.

The abundance of trees creates a soft, dappled light that filters through the branches in the morning and afternoon.


A brief glimpse into the activities on the Khek River.

The Traiprawayun family has been trying to persuade us to go whitewater rafting for several rounds now.

However, I am unable to swim and would not want to be a burden to others if I fell into the water.

Let's observe the villagers from afar.


After a refreshing walk to clear my lungs, I had breakfast and returned to my room to pack my belongings for the journey home.

Farewell to the elephant care volunteers who looked after us throughout our trip in this kingdom.

However, I couldn't help but come back to the cafe to see the elephant one more time before leaving.

I waited until noon, but there was no sign of him. He's not coming today, so I'm going to head back. I'll come again when I have the chance.

Elephant watching activities for tourists have a cost per person, but we are unsure of the exact amount.

When we visited last year, this activity was not yet open to the public. I understand it is now available, so anyone interested should inquire directly.

The rainy season is here, and with it comes the opportunity to go whitewater rafting on the Khek River. There are packages available that include both accommodation and rafting activities.

The price is unknown. Please contact the resort directly.


**** The Venerable Phra Maha Sompong Talaputto emphasizes the importance of not harming any animals, including venomous and non-venomous snakes.

All animals, big or small, are protected and must not be harmed. If you encounter an unwanted animal, please inform a staff member. Do not harm or destroy any animals under any circumstances.

I would not recommend this if you are unable to accept it.


This concludes my trip. Thank you for visiting my post.

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