After pickup from your Phuket hotel, travel by air-conditioned coach about 45 minutes to reach the elephant camp in the Chalong highlands.

Your guide takes you to meet the elephants and their skilled handlers, or mahouts. Learn how the mahouts train and care for the elephants, and hear about elephant conservation in Thailand. This camp is home to some of Thailand's best-cared-for elephants and has attained an award status recognizing that the elephants' food, training, living conditions and medical care meet the Thai government's elephant camp standard. While you learn about these efforts, you can touch the elephants and feed them bananas — they love treats.

After your mahout helps you climb into the basket-like chair on top of your elephant, start your trek through the jungle. As you sway through the forest on the gentle giant’s back, admire views over Chalong Bay and Phi Phi Island. After about 30 minutes, return to the elephant camp.

Next, your guide shows you around a neighboring farm. See water buffalo plowing the rice fields, and watch a rice harvest and husking demonstration. Take a short ride on a wooden cart pulled by water buffalo, and then head to an open-air kitchen to sample locally grown coffee and learn how to make Thai jungle curry. You’ll also learn how rubber is extracted from rubber trees and how coconuts are processed to make coconut milk and oil.

Once you have experienced a slice of rural life, head to Chalong Bay to board a traditional wooden junk. Glide along the water, soak in views of the tropical scenery and enjoy a buffet Thai lunch on the boat before returning to shore.

Your tour ends with drop-off at your Phuket hotel.