A Morning with the Elephants at Phuket Elephant Sanctuary
Overview
Available languages
3 hours 30 minutes
Mobile ticket
Phuket Elephant Sanctuary is the first and only ethical elephant sanctuary in Phuket where elephants roam around, bathe and sozialize freely across 30 acres of lush, tropical land bordering the Khao Phra Thaeo National Park in North East Phuket. We buy all rescued elephants to ensure that Phuket Elephant Sanctuary is their final home, and we offer professional veterinary care for old and injured elephants. By visiting us, you are supporting a sustainable, ethical and compassionate approach to elephant tourism where elephants have the freedom to live naturally. National Geographic, Lonely Planet and The Guardian have all endorsed our ethical approach.
Additional Info
Wheelchair accessible
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Specialized infant seats are available
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What‘s Included
Roundtrip Transfers - if options is selected
We provide bottled water but appreciate if you bring a refill bottle.
Guided Walk through 30 Acre Sanctuary and across the Canopy Walkway
A delicious Thai vegetarian lunch buffet with over 15 choices.
Educational Video Documentary
Socks, Boots, Umbrellas, Rain Coats, Mosquito Spray
Welcome Snacks and Beverages
Roundtrip Transfers - If option is not selected
Meeting and Pickup
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
What To Expect
A morning with the elephants is an eye-opening and inspiring experience. Following a scenic drive along a local village you will arrive at Phuket Elephant Sanctuary, a picturesque jungle dotted with ponds, wide open fields and hillsides for the elephants to roam around. Your visit starts at our Tree Top Lounge, where we will show you a presentation and educational video to prepare you for your encounter with the elephants, and to help you understand why they need to be protected. We then follow them down into the jungle. By keeping a safe distance and watching them from our Observation Salas, the elephants have the freedom to express their natural behavior, from bathing and playing in our pond to socializing with each other. The program ends with a delicious Thai vegetarian meal.
Options
Program + Shared Transfers
Pickup included
Program Only (No Transfer)
Transfer NOT included: Please meet in Paklok office at Phuket Elephant Sanctuary. Select Transfers option for transportation for pick-up/drop-off
Reviews
1,575 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Great experience!
Shay W,
Nov 28, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Fantastic experience with this sanctuary. They genuinely care for their elephants and are trying to be as ethical as possible. Great experience and I’d tell anyone this is incredibly worthy.
Absolutely a can’t-miss activity if you love animals!
Cindy H,
Nov 24, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00The Phuket Elephant Sanctuary is a place you can thoroughly enjoy without guilt or feeling tourist-trapped. All elephants are rescued from either the logging industry or giving ignorant humans rides. They are cared for at the onsite elephant hospital and by their own mahout who is with them all the time. The sanctuary has developed an amazing system to process guests through while thoroughly respecting the animals. They start with a video that shares how the sanctuary got started and how we humans should behave around them. I didn’t see a single person try to circumvent those rules. We got to feed them and then observe them going about as normal an elephant day as possible for domesticated beasts. It made me happy to think my attendance was benefiting the rest of these animals’ lives! Our guide, Ice Cream, was the best. She shared just the right amount of information and rounded us up in a gentle manner. She took tons of photos and was clear about the quirks of each elephant, who to get closer to and who to avoid completely. As an added bonus, the sanctuary provides clean socks and boots to wear as well as breakfast, snacks and lunch! You can watch elephants from a distance from the seating on the rim. We were fortunate to see two monitor lizards swimming and one coming ashore! If you would like to see elephants in someplace besides a zoo or outside of being exploited by humans, The Phuket Elephant Sanctuary is for you. I loved elephants before, and now my admiration for them is so much greater. Cannot recommend highly enough!!
Amazing
571kaitlini,
Nov 23, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00A great way to learn and experience Elephants in nature while being ethical! 10/10 would visit again if I had a chance! All tours and souvenir shop products help provide for the elephants!
Phuket elephant sanctuary
aprile556,
Nov 21, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00A day I’ll never forget 🐘💛 Phuket Elephant Sanctuary rescues elephants from hard lives and lets them finally live in peace. No riding, no tricks — just compassion, freedom, and love. So grateful places like this exist. 🌿✨
Great Experience
N7053WBvanessap,
Nov 20, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Very good experience. We learnt so much from our guide concerning the Elephants. Even the children were amazed by the way the sanctuary gives a second life, chance of living in good environment for old elephants. The staffs are very friendly and pay attention to small details to make you feel at ease. Strongly recommend a visit to Phuket Elephant Sanctuary.
Unforgettable Ethical Experience at Phuket Elephant Sanctuary
642danyp,
Nov 20, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We visited Phuket Elephant Sanctuary as a family and had a truly unforgettable experience. It was heartwarming to see how well the elephants are cared for in such an ethical and respectful environment. The sanctuary focuses on giving the elephants freedom and peace, with no riding or forced bathing, which we deeply appreciated. Our guide explained that bathing can be stressful for the elephants, so instead, we observed them in their natural routines — walking, eating, and socializing — without interference. The staff were incredibly kind, knowledgeable, and professional, making sure everything was well-organized and comfortable for visitors. It was a meaningful experience for all of us, especially for the kids, who learned so much about animal welfare. Highly recommend this sanctuary for anyone visiting Phuket who wants a responsible and touching encounter with these gentle giants.
A great ethical elephant experience, ran by experts.
H7901AUdanl,
Nov 20, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00A brilliant walking tour where we fed the elephants, saw how they are cared for, watched them in their habitat and had a lovely vegetarian lunch after. Can’t say more about how they are treating the elephants and educating people about why this type of ethical tourism is the way forward.
A must see in Phuket!
ehlbkk,
Nov 19, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Fantastic place for abused and injured elephants to live out their lives in peace and nature. They are such beautiful gentle giants.
Loved this - such an amazing morning.
Clare R,
Nov 19, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00What an incredible place, a wonderful way to have a close encounter with elephants whilst their welfare is kept as a priority. The lunch was exceptional - I’m a vegetarian so was amazed by the choice but my meat eating husband who was fully prepared to starve also really enjoyed it. An amazing morning that I would thoroughly recommend. Thank you.
Fantastic!
Mark B,
Nov 19, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Great experience, friendly staff and I really got a sense of the ethical importance. Great to see these hard worked animals enjoying love and retirement
From THB 3,000.00
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Operated by Phuket Elephant Sanctuary