Surin is a medium-sized city in the Isan region of northeastern Thailand, and the capital of the province that bears its name. It sits on the flat, dry plateau of lower Isan, closer to the Cambodian border than to Bangkok.
The city is best known for the annual Elephant Round-Up, held every November at the elephant village of Ban Ta Klang, which draws large crowds to see elephant processions and displays. The tradition runs deep — for centuries the people of Surin bred and trained elephants for the royal court, and the surrounding area is still home to the Suay people, traditional mahout families whose relationship with their elephants remains a living part of the culture.
Surin is also a centre for the jasmine rice trade and for mat-mee ikat silk weaving. The Khmer heritage of the area is visible in several ancient temple ruins nearby, most notably Prasat Sikhoraphum, a well-preserved 12th-century Khmer sanctuary about 34km east of town. The more remote Prasat Ta Muen Thom near the Cambodian border is worth the effort for those with their own transport.
The city itself is quiet and sees relatively few foreign tourists. It makes a practical base for visiting the Khmer ruins of the region, and for crossing into Cambodia via the Chong Chom border checkpoint, about 70km to the south.