Pha Pho is a quiet village situated on a large expanse of wetlands. It is rarely visited by tourists, so those looking to get away from the crowds will greatly enjoy their stay. Pha Pho has long been known for its strong tradition of training wild elephants. With the recent introduction of modern machinery and vehicles, however, the number of working elephants in the village has greatly declined. However, Ban Pha Pho still has a few elephants which are used for work and tourism.
The main activity available from Pha Pho is a one day elephant ride to Langmong Mountain. The elephant trek takes you across the open wetlands to the top of Langmong Mountain, which has a spectacular view of the area. You can also spend the day learning how to ride an elephant and how the elephants are used in daily work activities. These activities can be booked directly through the Boun Hom Guesthouse.
How Tourism Benefits the Village
The three elephants in the village are managed and owned by the villagers. All families involved in taking care of the elephants benefit directly from the fees from elephant rides. The families take turns in providing elephant rides to tourists in order to share the benefits fairly. A portion of the elephant ride fees is put into the village development fund so that the entire village benefits from tourism. All accommodation and food in the village is provided by local villagers and benefits them directly.
Accommodation and Booking
There is only one guesthouse in Pha Pho, the Boun Hom Guesthouse, which is run by Mr. Boun Hom and his family. Food and accommodation is simple and local. To contact the guesthouse call +(856) 30 534 6293. For directions to Pha Pho Village click here.
