Swimming with Elephants in Thailand

Have you ever thought about riding an elephant? Why not take it one step further and go swimming with elephants?

On our recent visit to Thailand this is exactly what we did, we went swimming with the elephants on the Island of Koh Chang. But we had to take that extra step in deciding to go swimming with the elephants because it does sound a bit intimidating. Swimming with large mammals that might roll over on you, could put a person in an uncomfortable situation. So at first we were looking into only doing an elephant trekking tour. That sounded pretty safe, but not as adventurous as swimming with the elephants. So that was our final decision and I am so glad we jumped out of our comfort zone.

There were seven of us in our group. I and my husband were on one elephant with a driver, called a mahout, my daughter and a good friend on another elephant with their mahout and finally a third elephant with a family of three from Australia and a mahout. The trek consisted of riding the elephants about a mile to a nearby river and once we arrived to the area that was deep enough to swim, we dismounted on a platform while the mahouts took the "saddles" off the elephants. My daughter and her friend didn't hesitate to get back on the elephant bareback and go swimming. My husband and I just stood on the platform and watched because we were still unsure and didn't want to take the plunge. They were having so much fun, there was much laughter and excitement coming from the swimming hole that we couldn't stand it anymore and got back on our elephant. The feeling of being bareback on such a large beast is overwhelming. The excitement you feel going down into the water with a rocking horse motion is unforgettable.

Riding the elephants is a fun thing to do, no doubt about it, but swimming with the elephants is an over the top experience that one will never forget. If you ever get the chance to go swimming with elephants, just go ahead, take the plunge!