Jaipur Elephant Village: Elephant Rides and Cultural Experiences

Your journey starts with a gentle introduction because trust matters. You will discover how elephants identify people by smell, voice and energy. By petting it quietly, whispering into its ear and looking in its eyes, you get the elephant to relax around you.

That initial interaction alone sets the pace for the whole experience and will provide you with your first understanding of elephant feelings and behaviors.

Elephants have sounds, body language and even subtle signals they use. In the class, you are taught the mahout basics, how to tell the elephants’ mood and read its signals, and how to respond. I mean they’re so intelligent and articulate, it’s amazing when you see really how they are.

They say nobody denies them anything more than love ? and elephants are believers in that too. Feed them on their favorite foods and discover all about their diet, eating habits and day to-day life. This is one of the most simple and most delightful ways to connect with a Jaipur elephant.

Working with natural, skin-safe pigments, learn to make traditional elephant paintings. Create your own patterns or choose from the classic ones. No artistic talents needed- -sketches help with outlines. This activity is a celebration of culture, creativity and fun interaction.

Instead of the traditional elephant riding in Jaipur with heavy saddles, Elefantastic provides a brief, bareback ride that allows you a more immediate bond with the elephant than you ever thought possible. You will also learn how mahouts perch on the elephant’s neck and issue soft verbal commands.

(Participation is optional and subject to the behavior of the elephants as well as the comfort level of the guests.)

In the late afternoon, take a bareback ride to a nearby elephant lake. Here, you’ll bathe and scrub elephants, washes scrub and play with elephants as they relax in the water. It is often the highlight moment - a moment of laughter, splashing and true connection.