In Southeast Asian countries such as Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam, it is common to find elephant riding experiences at tourist hotspots. Such trips are listed on prestigious travel websites and images of global tourists taking part are ubiquitous on social media.

In 2026, riding elephants is still legally possible in several countries in Southeast Asia, most notably Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam, as well as in parts of India and Nepal. However, there has been a massive global shift toward ethical "observation-only" tourism. Most major travel associations and animal welfare groups now strongly discourage elephant riding due to the "phajaan" (crush) training process and the physical strain on the animals' spines. While traditional trekking camps still exist in tourist hubs like Phuket or Chiang Mai, many have converted into "sanctuaries" where you can feed, wash, or walk alongside the animals instead. If you are seeking a responsible experience, look for venues certified by the Global Elephant Sanctuary Alliance. In African countries like South Africa or Kenya, the focus is almost exclusively on seeing elephants in their natural habitat during a vehicle-based safari, as the African elephant is generally considered too volatile and dangerous to be used for commercial riding compared to its more docile Asian counterpart.