One of the most popular activities for foreign tourists when they come to Thailand is to ride an elephant. I must admit, that was one of the first things that I did. I joined a jungle trek in Chiang Mai and on the second day we rode an elephant through the jungle for a couple of hours. I took this picture in Ayutthaya where you can ride these elephants around the ancient ruins. But be warned, most don’t offer seat straps and some tourists have slipped and fallen to their death before. You also need to consider the health of the elephant. They are not “designed” to carry heavy loads on their backs or walk along concrete roads. Do some research on the internet first before you decide to visit an elephant show or ride an elephant.