About Surin

Surin is the capital of Surin province, located in northeastern Thailand, making it an ideal base from which to explore the rest of the country and South East Asia. Famed for its spectacular elephant round-up in November each year, Surin also has a host of renowned ancient Khmer ruins to explore and local crafts to enjoy, including some of the finest quality silk in Thailand.

Surin is a growing destination for more adventurous travellers to explore but remains an unspoilt, fascinating part of Thailand which lets visitors experience Thai life away from the tourist crowds.

Attractions
Elephants: Surin is known as the Province of Elephants, thanks to its large pachyderm population. Elephants living in the villages surrounding Surin are very much part of everyday life, with their own living quarters as part of the family home. Each November Surin celebrates its love of elephants with the Elephant Roundup, when literally hundreds of elephants descend on the city for a host of parades, games and demonstrations of traditional mahout skills. However, the elephants can be seen at any time of year by visiting one of the local villages. Remember to take a bunch of bananas...

Ancient Khmer ruins: Surin boasts a host of spectacular Khmer ruins, similar in architectural style and beauty to Angkor Wat in Cambodia. The most famous of Surin's ruins is Phanom Rung, which has been lovingly restored and attracts visitors from all over the globe. Exploring Surin's nearby ruins makes for fascinating excursions to the local countryside.

Traditional handicrafts: There is a large array of villages around Surin making a plethora of traditional handicrafts. Surin silk is particularly prized for its quality, while local silversmiths can produce virtually any item to order. Best of all, buying direct from the villages helps support local people directly and is also a memorable shopping experience in itself.

An Ideal Base For Exploring Asia
Surin is located near to the borders of both Laos and Cambodia, making it ideal as a base from which to explore both countries. Surin also has comprehensive travel links with the rest of Thailand, making it easy to visit Thailand's many attractions.