Phuket Elephant Sanctuary: An Ethical Elephant Experience in a Tropical Jungle Setting

Experience the first and only ethical elephant sanctuary in Phuket, where rescued elephants roam freely in a tropical jungle setting. Support sustainable and compassionate elephant tourism. Endorsed by National Geographic, Lonely Planet, and The Guardian.

Duration: 3 hours, 30 minutes
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • Phuket Elephant Sanctuary - 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…
What's Included
  • Bottled water
  • Boots, Socks, Umbrellas, Rain Coats, Mosquito Spray
  • In-vehicle air conditioning
  • Welcome Snacks, Coffee, Fruits, Juices & Filtered Water
  • Lunch
What's Not Included
  • Roundtrip Transfers - If option is not selected
Additional Information

Phuket Elephant Sanctuary is the first and only ethical elephant sanctuary in Phuket where elephants roam around, bathe and socialize 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…

Location
Phuket Elephant Sanctuary
If you selected Program Only (No Transfer), please meet us at our office in Paklok 30 minutes before the start of the program. Parking is available.
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.9
(1364 Ratings)
5 stars
4 stars
3 stars
2 stars
1 star
Natalie_r
Apr 25, 2025
Outstanding experience. - Absolutely outstanding experience. Was so amazing to get up and close to the elephants. Feeding them was the highlight. Highly recommend .
Review provided by Viator
Matt
Apr 25, 2025
Phuket Elephant Sanctuary - This elephant sanctuary is amazing! Would have to be one of the best experiences ever! Got to feed the elephants and got to experience them closely. They are in forest area that is closest to their natural habitat whilst being rehabilitated and looked after extremely well. They have built a hospital for all elephants in Thailand that can be sent there to receive free medical care that is paid for by people that attend.. this place is just absolutely amazing. This is a place that elephants can retire from the horrible life they had before as a result of the Thailand tourism trade and timber labor, all the elephants have a sad tale to tell. The sanctuary has also adopted 6 dogs that roam freely. One dog called ‘Spot’ followed us around periodically and enjoyed the company and pats.. I honestly can’t thank this sanctuary enough for the experience and the hard work they do to make the world a better place for elephants. And special thanks to Dennis as our tour guide for the day.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Omar_t
Apr 25, 2025
Unforgettable experience - Visiting this elephant sanctuary was one of the most moving and meaningful experiences of my travels. From the moment we arrived, it was clear this was a place dedicated to the ethical care and protection of these beautiful animals. The sanctuary provides a safe, natural environment where rescued elephants can live freely, without chains or riding. Watching them roam, play in the mud, and interact with one another was both heartwarming and eye-opening. We got to feed them and walk alongside them.
Review provided by Viator
Rllevine
Apr 24, 2025
An Ethical Sanctuary - The Real Deal! - This is like an elephant's old folks home. They rescue (purchase) elephants that are no longer desired by industry and entertainment. Often they have been mistreated and abused. Here they are rehabilitated and live out the rest of their lives in a natural setting. Ethical eco-tourism at its finest!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Alaskanjean
Apr 24, 2025
Not zoo like! - Go! Not zoo like! Humane care & informational. Annie & team are the best! Care with respect & affection! Feeding, bathing…paper from poop!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Bryn2025
Apr 24, 2025
Go here! It’s a fabulous experience! - We had a fantastic morning learning about the great ethical work this sanctuary does and met the beautiful elephants up close. Booking online via tripadvisor was super easy, we opted for including transfers which was air conditioned and took around 30mins from our resort at the Laguna. Lovely welcome and super knowledgeable guides, the focus is clearly on the elephants well being - one of the reasons why we chose this trip. The lunch (included) had a great vegetarian choice, and offer of snacks/toast/drinks on arrival also. The highlight was feeding the elephants up close. Highly recommend a visit, we loved it!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Highfx
Apr 24, 2025
A Truly Ethical and Unforgettable Elephant Experience – A Must-Visit in Phuket - If you're planning to see elephants while in Thailand, do it the right way, and The Elephant Sanctuary in Thalang is exactly that. This sanctuary is ethically run and dedicated to rescuing elephants from cruel tourist industries, where they’re ridden, bathed for entertainment, or used for photo ops. Here, the focus is entirely on the elephants' wellbeing, and it shows in every detail. From start to finish, the experience goes above and beyond expectations. The value for money is outstanding, transfers are included, and you're treated to a delicious meal that’s fresh and full of local flavour. But the real highlight, of course, is the elephants. These animals are majestic, gentle, and deeply moving to be around. Many have heartbreaking backstories, rescued from years of exploitation. You can see the emotional scars, particularly in the only male elephant, who still struggles with groups due to past trauma. The sanctuary gives them space, love, and patience, and you can really feel the respect that flows both ways. The guides are fantastic, fun, engaging, and incredibly informative. They share each elephant’s journey and explain how the sanctuary operates, all with a genuine passion that’s infectious. You get the chance to see, touch, and feed these incredible animals up close, but always on their terms. It’s intimate, emotional, and inspiring, unlike anything you’ll experience at so-called "elephant parks", which continue to exploit these beautiful creatures under the guise of tourism. If you truly care about animals and want to support a place that is doing things right, this sanctuary is where your money should go. It's a educational, and humbling experience that we’ll never forget.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Trek39409566200
Apr 24, 2025
Beautiful Rescue - The history of elephant rescue by this organization was amazing. Meeting these beautiful creatures and learning their stories was difficult but seeing how content and cared for by the rescue was joyful. I highly recommend this adventure.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Michelle
Apr 23, 2025
A wonderful day out ! - An amazing day. Would definitely recommend for an ethical visit to see such beautiful creatures. We went in the morning and our guide was Ice. She told us about where the elephants came from and how they lived with their Mahoot at the sanctuary. A must see trip on Phuket.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
W7374qiannl
Apr 23, 2025
A great experience - A great experience, you can see the love and passion for these rescued older elephants during your visit. Whole experience was amazing, seeing our 14 month old grandson feed an elephant is something we will never forget. Staff were amazing and thank you to Tour who was our guide, who gave us so much information and didn’t rush us at any time.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
From $90
up to 10 guests
1 - Adult
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience (local time).