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Phuket Ethical Elephant Sanctuary: A Compassionate Approach towards Elephant Tourism
4.9
378 Ratings
Paklok
Experience the first and only ethical elephant sanctuary in Phuket, where elephants roam freely across lush, tropical land. Support sustainable and compassionate elephant tourism.
Experience the first and only ethical elephant sanctuary in Phuket, where elephants roam freely across lush, tropical land. Support sustainable and compassionate elephant tourism.
Duration:
1 hour, 30 minutes
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- Phuket Elephant Sanctuary - This 90-minute program is a first-of-its kind experience in Thailand and takes ethical tourism to new heights – literally! Explore our new, 500 meter-long canopy walkway and observe rescued elephants as they roam, forage, bathe and socialize freely in the jungle below. Our tour guides will be happy to share the story of…
- Phuket Elephant Sanctuary - This 90-minute program is a first-of-its kind experience in Thailand and takes ethical tourism to new heights – literally! Explore our new, 500 meter-long canopy walkway and observe rescued elephants as they roam, forage, bathe and socialize freely in the jungle below. Our tour guides will be happy to share the story of each elephant, and to provide you with interesting facts about the largest land mammal on earth. The program also includes an opportunity to feed some of the elephants at a dedicated & safe area with a barrier, as well as a complimentary T-Shirt for you to take home. At the end of the tour we serve a refreshing iced soda and unlimited snacks from our snack bar while you can rest and enjoy the serenity of the sanctuary.
This program is available daily at the following times:
09:30 – 11:00
10:00 – 11:30
14:00 – 15:30
14:30 – 16:00
What's Included
- Complimentary umbrellas, raincoats, and mosquito spray
- Provided bottled water
- Free PES souvenir included
- Signature iced soda and unlimited snacks at the bar
- Complimentary umbrellas, raincoats, and mosquito spray
- Provided bottled water
- Free PES souvenir included
- Signature iced soda and unlimited snacks at the bar
What's Not Included
- Roundtrip Transfers - If option is not selected
- 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 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…
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.
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.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.9
(378 Ratings)
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Vacationer818578
Feb 13, 2025
Ethical elephant sanctuary - Amazing place very knowledgeable and informative staff. The opening video is very hard to watch but very necessary to show how the elephants are trained and why it is necessary to protect the elephants. Again value for money as well informative.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Zoe_h
Feb 12, 2025
Totally Ethical Sanctuary - Amazing sanctuary for elephants. There is hand feeding of fruit which lasts a few minutes. There is a walkway so that you can watch the elephants with their mahouts wander, eat and bathe at their own pace, no ropes, chains or sticks are used. You are able to walk amongst them without any touching or interference! There is a short and informative video and a lovely little gift shop. I would highly recommend this tour. The guides and mahouts are compassionate and loyal to the elephants
Review provided by Viator
Daryl
Feb 10, 2025
Elephant Sanctuary - The Phuket Elephant sanctuary is a very well run organization. They picked us up from our resort and we had a wonderful tour through their amazing facility that included feeding elephants and watching them in their natural habitat. I would highly recommend a visit.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Lulu616
Feb 10, 2025
Definitely visit - Incredible . Amazing to learn and see the elephants in a natural environment . So sad to hear their stories but wonderful to know living the end of their lives being so well looked after and as close to freedom as possible . Excellent staff full of knowledge. We had complimentary drinks and snacks . Great choice including fresh fruit . Lovely clean washrooms and a well stocked gift shop .
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Magnumbazzer
Feb 10, 2025
Finally, an ethical elephant sanctuary in Thailand - This was our 4th trip to Thailand and, finally, we have found an ethical elephant sanctuary. No rides, no circus tricks, no cruelty, just love and care for injured, sick or elderly elephants.
If you want to see elephants in an environment that is as close to the wild as you can get, then this is it. Yes, you can still get up close to the elephants and feed them but you have to wash your hands first and there is no petting allowed. All of the elephants here have been rescued from circuses, logging or cruelty and will now spend the remaining decades of their lives being cared for in a humane environment with all of their personal needs met as naturally as possible.
There are vidoes to learn about how this sanctuary is so different to all of the others, and the incredible staff will fill you in on all of the rest of the information that you need as you either walk through the forests or, as we did, take to the amazing canopy walkway which, in my opinion, is the best way to see them.
I cannot rate this sanctuary highly enough and would recommend it to all families visiting the area.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Ian_s
Feb 8, 2025
Excellent trip, you get... - Excellent trip, you get to see the elephants really close up and feed them too. The whole experience was very well organised.
Review provided by Viator
Global35866466847
Feb 4, 2025
A Must See For Animal Lovers - Properly Ethical - Very ethical, informative and touching. Staff all genuinely friendly and wanting to help visitors understand the goal of the Sanctuary and to help explain how the Sanctuary have rescued elephants from the miserable lives they would have otherwise lived.
Getting close to these magnificent animals was a privilege without causing them any stress. Highly recommended.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
980johanneb
Feb 2, 2025
One of the few truly ethical elephant reserves on the island - Phuket Elephant Sanctuary offers well-organized tours to their reserve, which is one of the few reserves on the island that has an ethical framework. Here the elephants live a good life, after being rescued from atrocious conditions.
Everything is very well arranged, from reception to transport out to the elephants, info and guided tour.
First they served a lot of different snacks (chocolates, fruits, salty nuts, etc.) and drinks (coffee, tea, water, soda). Then there was a short infofilm, before hand washing and feeding of elephants, for those who wanted to. Here the elephants walk freely and can walk whenever they want, but they stay at the feeding site because they are so happy with fruit:)
Afterwards it was the very walk, with the opportunity to sit on with a small car for those who could not walk all the way. During the walk on the pedestrian bridge and in the forest we were able to see several different elephants in close proximity. Each elephant has its own mahout (a person to whom they have a special bond), who stands nearby and watches. So it felt safe, although it was a powerful experience to watch them crack down heavy bamboo tubes as if they were small sticks.
All elephants have sad stories of violence and exploitation before they reached the reserve. Despite that, they live a good life and some have even gotten a best friend❤️
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Ahc39
Feb 1, 2025
Best (properly ethical) elephant experience ever! - It was so lovely to see the elephants behaving naturally in a near natural environment, after a hard life working. It's so sad to hear how they have been treated in the name of tourist 'entertainment'. There is no forced interaction here, but an opportunity to feed the elephants in a controlled and sensitive way.
Our guide Tour was great - really enthusiastic and knowledgeable and we learnt lots! The whole operation is very well organised and smooth. If you're considering an elephant experience whilst in Phuket, then this is the one to go to!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Debra
Feb 3, 2025
Elephant sanctuary tour - Enjoyed this experience so much. Our guide was so passionate about his love for the elephants. He knew each one of them by name. Thanks for having water , drinks , and snacks available. Thanks for the souvenir . I don’t know how , but wish we had more interaction with the elephants, My pictures and video of me feeding the elephant was one of the highlights of my trip.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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