Lampang's Elephant Conservatory has the only elephant hospital in the world today and is the work of the dedicated forestry officials and civilians, under Royal Patronage.

Roughly an hour's drive from Chiangmai, this (500-hectare) sanctuary is much more than just a hospital. Sick and maimed elephants are treated and cared for. Rogue and ill-tempered elephants are rehabilitated. Captured wild and discarded out-of-work domesticated elephants can be looked after, all in their natural habitat. There is even an elephant burial ground.

There are elephant shows, rides and even a program for visitors to live with and learn about elephants, lovingly called the 'Mahout training program'. It actually takes years to train a mahout, but for three days, visitors can experience the day in the life of a mahout, living and eating with them, riding on the elephant's back and 'driving' an elephant.

There is a small cottage factory that makes paper from elephant dung right in the grounds. In 2007, the first-ever artificially inseminated baby elephant in the world will be born here. After years of research and trying, success is at hand. The result of this program will mean a change of fate for the entire species.

For more information:
Elephant Conservatory
Tel: +66 5424 7871- 4

Tourism Authority of Thailand Office, Northern Region
Tel: +66 5324 8604, +66 5324 8607, +66 5330 2500