🔄 Updated 21 Jun 2026
If there's one event that puts Surin on the map for people across Thailand, it's the elephant festival. Its full official name is the Surin Elephant Round-up, held every year in mid-November. This is when mahouts from the Ban Ta Klang elephant village and the surrounding area walk their elephants into the city. The atmosphere is nothing like an ordinary day — you'll see elephants walking down the street, elephants standing and eating fruit in the middle of town, and the whole province out and about for it.
The festival splits into two main parts. The first is the elephant fair, a market of local products that runs the whole length of the festival from morning until 9pm. The second is the elephant show in the arena, which only runs for a couple of days — that's the headline event, and you need a ticket for it. We'll break each part down clearly.
When is it on, and what time?
The Surin Elephant Festival sticks to mid-November every year. It usually starts mid-month and runs for a bit over ten days. The most recent edition (2025) ran from 15 to 26 November, with the elephant fair market open daily from 9:00am to 9:00pm. The big arena show only runs on two days — the Saturday and Sunday in the middle of the festival — with the morning round starting around 8:30am and finishing by midday.
- Elephant fair (local market) — runs the whole festival, 9:00am–9:00pm, free entry
- Elephant buffet (feeding the elephants) — usually held on the Friday before the show day, in the morning, free to watch from the roadside
- Elephant show — Saturday–Sunday, morning round, around 8:30am–12:00pm, ticket required
Check the dates before you travel
The dates shift year to year, and the actual show day may not line up with the first day of the festival. Before you book transport or a room, double-check the announcements from the Surin provincial page or TAT Surin so you don't miss the show.
Want more out of Surin? Book tours & activities
Booking online ahead on Klook or GetYourGuide is usually cheaper than the gate and skips the queue. Pick only the experiences you actually want — prices and availability are shown live on each site.
The highlights — what's there to see?
Each activity has its own appeal. Some need a ticket, others you can just stand at the roadside and watch for free. Here's a rundown of what each one is.
The elephant show
The festival's headline. Hundreds of elephants in a single arena, with a re-enactment of catching wild elephants, a historical war-elephant procession, elephants playing football, elephants stepping over people lying down, and elephants following commands. It's the show with the most elephants gathered in one place.
The elephant buffet
Feeding the elephants at a long table down the middle of the street — fruit and sugarcane laid out for a hundred metres, with elephants walking up to eat side by side. It's a sight you won't find anywhere else, and it's free.
The elephant parade
Beautifully decorated elephants march in procession with their mahouts, joined by Kuy and local Khmer folk performances. It winds through the city centre, with the whole province lined up on both sides of the road.
The elephant fair
Surin's market of local goods — silk, OTOP products, Isan food, souvenirs, and silverware. It stays open until 9pm, with a concert stage and various contests at night.
Honestly, if you've only got one day and a tight budget, just catching the elephant buffet in the morning and wandering the elephant fair in the evening gives you the full festival vibe without buying a ticket. But if you want to see the most elephants in one place, the arena show is the part worth paying for.
Elephant show tickets — how much, and how to book
The arena show is the only activity you pay for. Tickets are split by seating zone, with prices roughly around 250 THB and 350 THB per seat. The higher-priced zones sit closer to the arena with a better view, and some years the ticket comes with a snack set.
- Roughly 250 THB ticket — general grandstand zone, full view of the show
- Roughly 350 THB ticket — closer to the arena, better view, some years comes with a snack set
- Book ahead online through the province's elephant show ticketing system, or ask the Surin provincial office at 044 512 039
Tickets sell out fast at peak
The show days fall on a Saturday and Sunday and get very busy, so the good zones go first. If you're coming specifically for the show, booking online ahead of time is a surer bet than buying at the gate — and get to the arena early, because the show round starts in the morning.
The history — why Surin is the elephant city
The bond between the people of Surin and elephants comes from the Kuy people (also called Suay), who settled this area long ago. The Kuy have been skilled at catching wild elephants and raising them since ancient times, to the point that elephants became part of their lives and beliefs. Ban Ta Klang in Tha Tum district is the elephant village where mahouts live alongside their elephants like family members, and it's the source of the elephants that come to the festival every year.
The first elephant festival was held on 19 November 1960 in Tha Tum district. At the time it was a celebration for the new district office, with a demonstration of elephant catching. People were so interested that, as the elephant display became more widely known, the committee moved the show into Surin city itself, which was easier to reach. In 1962 the cabinet approved it as a national annual event, and the Surin Elephant Festival has run continuously ever since.
What makes this festival special is that it isn't just a show — it's a real gathering of mahouts and the elephants they've shared their lives with. Many travel a long way into the city for it every year. It's a piece of local culture you'd be hard pressed to see in any other town.
How to get to the Surin Elephant Festival
The elephant arena is in Surin city itself and isn't hard to reach, but it gets crowded during the festival and rooms fill up fast. Planning ahead makes the trip a lot easier.
- Train — there are daily Bangkok–Surin services; get off at Surin station in the city centre and walk or take a short ride to the arena
- Bus — several daily coaches run from Mo Chit to Surin, taking around 7–8 hours
- Plane — fly into Buriram and transfer to Surin in about 1.5 hours; this is the fastest way
- Driving — about 450 km from Bangkok, roughly 6 hours; parking in the city is tricky during the festival
Book your room now
Mid-November is Surin's high season — hotels in the city fill up and prices climb every year. Once you know the exact dates, book your room several weeks ahead to get a better rate and avoid having to stay far out of town.
More to see nearby on the same trip
Since you've come all the way to Surin, it's well worth stretching it into a two- or three-day trip — the area around the city has the elephant village the festival starts from, old Khmer temples, and silk-weaving villages to drop by.
Ban Ta Klang Elephant Village
The source of the elephants that come to the festival. See how the mahouts and elephants actually live together all year round, not just during the festival.
SilkBan Tha Sawang silk village
A centre for high-end gold-brocade silk weaving — Surin's most famous souvenir, which you can buy straight from the source.
Sights roundupThings to do in Surin
A roundup of sights around Surin — Khmer temples, reservoirs, and photo spots to keep your trip going.
Plan a full Surin Elephant Festival trip, from where to stay to what to eat
See the Surin travel guide →