Phuket: Hidden Forest Elephant Reserve Guided Tour with Lunch

Experience the Hidden Forest Elephant Reserve in Phuket. Meet and feed rescued elephants, take a scenic walk through the forest, and enjoy a vegetarian meal by the pond.

Duration: 3 hours, 30 minutes
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • Hidden Forest Elephant Reserve - On arrival enjoy complimentary refreshments before we watch an informative introduction video. We then meet and feed our elephants before going on a scenic walk through the forest observing and learning about their history, their stories, and their unique personalities. We don’t follow a set route, our elephants are free to roam and forage, and if our elephants stop, we stop! Relax in our Bamboo Observation Huts as the elephant’s graze, play in the mud or bathe nearby with stunning views of the forest and a view over the valley to Big Buddha.

So many fabulous photo and video opportunities!

You will end your visit with a delicious vegetarian Thai buffet at our fabulous bamboo salas overlooking the pond as the elephant’s bathe and graze nearby. Your visit directly supports our work to rescue and rehabilitate elephants. Our key focus is to educate and bring awareness to the plight of the Asian Elephant and lead by example with our ethical approach to experiencing elephants.

What's Included
  • Educational introduction video
  • Hotel Pick up & Drop Off
  • Vegetarian Meal
  • Transportation by air-conditioned van
  • Entrance Ticket
  • Refill Water
  • English Speaking Tour Guide
What's Not Included
  • Tipping
  • Bathing with elephants
  • Refill Bottle water
Additional Information

Welcome to Hidden Forest Elephant Reserve. Our breathtaking elephant sanctuary is nestled in the hills of southern Phuket and is home to four beautiful elephants who are all rescued from the tourism riding industry. They are now able to roam freely, socialise with each other, and play naturally in the ponds, streams and muddy wallows throughout our land.

After an introduction video, you will meet and feed our elephants before going on a scenic walk through the forest, stopping at our Bamboo Observation Huts dotted along the way where you can sit quietly as our elephants go about their day. We don’t follow a set route, our elephants are free to roam and forage, and if our elephants stop, we stop! They have had hard lives and they deserve the very best life we can give them. When we reach the pond, watch the elephants frolic, splash, and cover themselves in mud as you enjoy a delicious vegetarian meal freshly cooked and from local ingredients.

Location
Hidden Forest Elephant Reserve
Cancellation Policy

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

Customer Ratings
4.8
(16 Ratings)
5 stars
4 stars
3 stars
2 stars
1 star
Leedickenson
Aug 8, 2024
Excellent elephant experience - Lovelly morning with the elephants, the rescued elephants all seemed calm and enjoying their new surroundings (6 female elephants ranging from 40's to 60's i think). Everything is at the elephants pace so no chasing them around and they follow their mahouts who provide them food. Feeding them at the start with bananas and sugar cane is really nice and seeing their cheeky characters. We enjoyed watching them rolling and playing in the water and could have watched them for ages, all with some very inciteful background information from the guide at the reserve which was excellent. Lunch was provided and cooked by the mahouts family and water was provided during the trip. A very worthwhile visit with a good cause - keep up the good work.
Review provided by Viator
Edws7697sq
Aug 6, 2024
Fantastic informative experience - We were in a family group of 10 from Sydney Australia and Scotland. We spent a great morning here at Hidden Forest. Firstly learning about the elephants and the way they have been treated by man. It was quite upsetting to see the video of some of the treatment. I must admit that in the past I had visited elephant parks and had rides and watched then do tricks. I feel so guilty about this now. The owners are so passionate about returning elephants to their natural way of life. We were able to come up close to the animals and feed them but with no touching or bothering them. It was a great experience for our grandchildren. I think we all learned a great deal. The food was excellent and topped off a wonderful morning.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
C7659uujessical
Aug 2, 2024
Absolutely recommend! - With the many offers of Elephant Sanctuaries, it is hard to choose the right place. I am very glad that we ended up here. Such a special place where 6 elephant ladies can enjoy their well-deserved retirement. Animal welfare comes first. A lot is explained and you can feed the elephants. Otherwise, the animals move freely on the grounds and you can observe them up close. Highly recommended!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Helena_h
Jul 25, 2024
Enlightning - Great and value for money. Its amazing what team is doing to rehabilitate the elephants that was exploited and tortured to submission. Viator need to advovate more of the ethical elephant sanctuary so that us human stop supporting the abuse
Review provided by Viator
J6634kzraymondh
Jul 20, 2024
Amazing Guide - Informative and interactive guide with elephants. The owners are doing great stuff to let the elephants live a natural life. I would definitely recommend visiting if you have a passion for animals and their welfare. The food was also amazing.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Laurentd2814vx
Jul 4, 2024
Amazing ethical elephant experience - An amazing morning visit to one of Phuket's truly ethical, no touching/bathing sanctuary's for elephants who have been exploited for tourism for 50+ years of their lives. It was an eye opening experience with these gentle giants and so amazing to see them finally roaming freely, playing in the river together and just being elephants - especially after seeing people riding elephants on the way up to big Buddha which I can’t believe still happens in 2024! So glad that we picked this place to spend our time & money as a lot of places claim to be ethical, yet still let you bathe & touch the elephants. All of the staff here were very informative and all round amazing, you could tell how much they love the elephants/animals in their care & how they were genuinely lovely human beings. The lady who runs the reserve and completed our tour was amazing & I am in awe of the amazing work she is doing for these lovely animals. Please please book this place you will not regret your decision!! A bonus is the lunch they offer was amazing, even better that you get to enjoy it whilst watching the elephants play in the water. They will also pick you up & drop you back off at your hotel. Couldn’t recommend this place enough!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Resort45590366029
May 29, 2024
Just amazing. - Loved it. A great experience to see these amazing beasts in a natural environment. Totally ethical, no touching, no swimming with, just watching them as nature intended. Russell our guide and owner is so passionate about his elephants. The Hidden Forest Elephants is a must see if you care for these creatures as much as I do
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Helen
May 16, 2024
Incredible afternoon - What an amazing experience! The elephants are loved and well cared for and this is obvious by their demeanour. We loved learning about the positive impact of Hidden Forest Elephant Reserve on the elephants in their care and we look forward to visiting again in the future and hopefully there will be more happy and contented elephants enjoying their retirement.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Bruks_a
Apr 3, 2024
Sanctuary - This was a very peaceful and gentle way to interact with the elephants. Creating awareness of the issues that these animals have to deal with in Thailand.
Review provided by Viator
Gemma_a
Mar 22, 2024
Know elephants in the most respectful atmosphere - It was an amazing experience, great place to know more about elephants and how to treat them with respect and no as a show. I hope more people know and visit this kind of places instead of riding camps
Review provided by Viator
Select Date and Tickets
up to 15 guests
1 Adult
September 2024
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
Today