When is the Surin Elephant Round-up?

The Elephant Round-up is usually held over a weekend in mid to late November in Mueang Surin. It features hundreds of elephants in processions, historical re-enactments and a large open-air banquet.

Should I visit Ban Tha Klang elephant village?

Ban Tha Klang offers insight into traditional Kuy mahout life and elephant culture, but standards for elephant welfare vary by operator. If welfare matters to you, research specific projects in advance and favour observation-based experiences over rides.

Where can you buy Surin silk?

Surin city has dedicated silk shops and a weekend silk market, and many weaving villages such as Ban Tha Sawang and Khwao Sinarin welcome visitors who want to see looms in action and buy directly from weavers.

Surin Province Guide — Elephant Round-up, Khmer-Thai Silk & Sanctuaries

About Surin Province

Surin is the heartland of Thailand's Kuy elephant-keeping culture and one of the country's most important silk-weaving provinces. With a strong Khmer-Thai heritage and proximity to the Cambodian border, it offers crumbling Khmer sanctuaries, distinctive cuisine and a famously close human relationship with elephants. The annual Elephant Round-up each November is the province's signature event, while villages around Ban Tha Klang remain centres of mahout tradition year-round.

Key facts

Population: 1,378,221 (2020)
Area: 8,124 km²
Density: 170 / km²
Districts: 17
Capital: Surin
ISO code: TH-32
Airport: Surin Pakdi Airport (PXR)

All 17 districts

Buachet · Chom Phra · Chumphon Buri · Kap Choeng · Khwao Sinarin · Lamduan · Mueang Surin · Non Narai · Phanom Dong Rak · Prasat · Rattanaburi · Samrong Thap · Sangkha · Sanom · Si Narong · Sikhoraphum · Tha Tum

Top Highlights

Surin Elephant Round-up festival held each November in Mueang Surin
Ban Tha Klang Elephant Village, a long-established mahout community
Khmer-style sanctuaries such as Prasat Sikhoraphum and Prasat Ban Phluang
Surin silk, especially intricate hol and mudmee patterns sold at local markets

Getting There

Surin has no commercial airport, but trains on the Bangkok–Ubon line stop at Surin and take 7–9 hours from Bangkok. Buses from Mo Chit reach Surin in about 6–7 hours, and many visitors fly into Buri Ram and continue by road in around an hour.

Inside Surin

Districts (17)

Buachet ·Chom Phra ·Chumphon Buri ·Kap Choeng ·Khwao Sinarin ·Lamduan ·Mueang Surin ·Non Narai ·Phanom Dong Rak ·Prasat ·Rattanaburi ·Samrong Thap ·Sangkha ·Sanom ·Si Narong ·Sikhoraphum ·Tha Tum

Mapped in Surin

73 places of interest recorded in OpenStreetMap. Coverage is contributed by volunteers and varies by area, so treat these as a guide to what is mapped rather than a complete inventory.

34Temples
24Historic sites
5Markets
4Attractions
3Museums
2Viewpoints
1Family attractions

Named examples

Frequently Asked Questions

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Sources

Facts on this page last checked 1 August 2026.

1.Q380757 — population, area, districts, coordinates — Wikidata (Wikidata), retrieved 1 August 2026
2.Background reading — Wikipedia (Wikipedia), retrieved 1 August 2026Linked for context; no text is reproduced from it.
3.Official provincial website — Provincial administration (Official source), retrieved 1 August 2026

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