Feb 22, 2025
An Amazing place to experience these magnificent creatures - Wow what a place this is. When we decided to visit an elephant sanctuary it was important to us that the elephants were not exploited and were well looked after. This place is truly amazing and everything they do is about looking after the elephants they have rescued.
The set up of the park allows the elephants to have their own space and it is like they invite you in rather than humans just invading their space.
The tour itself is well organised and the elephants always come first. You get the chance to feed the elephants, make them some food and then get up close to them. The guides give you great information as to how they look after theses magnificent creatures.
If you want to experience these magnificent creatures and care about the way that they are treated then this is a fantastic place to visit.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Feb 21, 2025
If you only go on one trip in Koh Samui, then this should be it - it’s simply fantastic! - Everything about this place was just so well done, with a genuine respect for the 16 elephants at the heart of everything the team do. We had considered other trips but it was difficult to get comfortable with the idea of the elephants having to ‘perform’ through bathing etc. Here you get to make treats for the elephants which you offer for them, you can go inside the enclosure and pat their trunk and they may even decide to give you a hug with their trunk but it’s up to them! The skywalk is also an excellent way of additional but less intrusive interaction, where you can see them bathing, drinking or just hanging out with their mahouts (2 elephants are looked after by 1 mahout 24/7).
We learnt so much and the whole experience was top quality, from the quality of the coaches for the transfer, the snacks on arrival, absolutely delicious and generous lunch, the cafe and gift shop and the beautiful traditional buildings they are housed in. The place is very special and only set up 6 years ago just before the pandemic which has made it incredibly challenging for them; so please do support this amazing team. A special thank you to our guide, Bon, who made our visit so memorable- it really was the highlight of our trip to Thailand.
Review provided by Viator
Feb 10, 2025
Unique experience - It was a very nice and unforgettable day at Samui Elephant Kingdom. “Bon” (our German-speaking guide) showed us this great facility, explained a lot and showed us how well the elephants are doing here now. All 16 elephants come from bad and unacceptable keeping e.g. circus, “beggars” (people who walk with them all day on the beach to collect money from Touris for photos, horseback riding and the like), riding facilities, etc. We were allowed to “bake” vitamin balls and give them, feed the animals from the jetty and then still go in to them. They make sure that you treat the elephants with respect and that they are not forced to do anything. Here and there you get a kiss and/or a hug and then (if they want to) pet the giants. Then we were served the most delicious vegetarian Pat Thai on the island.
Thanks again to Bon for this great day.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Feb 9, 2025
Lovely experience & elephants well cared for - Visited here as part of our cruise so wasn’t sure what to expect. It was a fantastic experience so well organised and the lunch included was fantastic.
They don’t have people riding them or washing, etc as these animals have had a hard life so it really is about giving them a good life. Feeding them was brilliant. You got your own basket of food so you could feed any of them & all done safely. Lovely experience
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Feb 8, 2025
Loving shelter and no circus performance - We have been very hesitant to visit an elephant sanctuary because of commercial interests and forcing the elephants anyway. After our search, this turned out to be the best and it was. Everything is very relaxed and caring for the elephants with the keepers very lovingly guiding them. The elephants come after you, of course for the food we were allowed to prepare and give but that went very nice and relaxed. What beautiful animals and lovely caretakers.
Can recommend it to anyone.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jan 28, 2025
Highly recommend. Personal contact with several elephants - Close to cruise port. Ethical feeding opportunity. Experience is approximately one hour. Personal contact with several elephants. Wonderful experience for all ages. Highly recommend.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jan 23, 2025
Adventure-packed half day with elephants - Beautiful facility. Staff very friendly. And of course the elephants just like that 😉
Highly recommended, especially for children (not too small).
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jan 16, 2025
Must do activity... - Visited the Elephant Sanctuary today and have to say it was mind blowing. Decided on this one purely because of their ethical approach to animal welfare, care and conservation. Great guide, superb time feeding the elephants and lunch was a bonus. With free collection it's a no brainer. This is not a circus performance just a respected opportunity to observe these incredible beings in a safe but quite natural environment. Love your work - elephant hugs and kisses are the best...!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jan 15, 2025
I loved it - A great experience all around. Got to stand with the elephants and learned so much about them!!!! Excellent tour guide as well!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jan 13, 2025
Ethical elephant interactions - With several options locally to choose from, we decided to opt for one which just allowed you to feed the animals, as opposed to any allowing bathing etc. I’m so pleased we did, the whole thing was an amazing experience.
Cost was 3000 baht each plus tax. But that included transport to and from, and also a beautiful freshly cooked lunch.
On arrival you are “checked in” and get a welcome drink, before your brief. Our group was split into 2 and we gathered our baskets with food and headed to the skywalk. Your guide gives you information as you walk round, and then the animals come over for you to feed them, lifting their trunks to the walkway. A lovely experience.
After that, we made the “power balls” for the elephants and they come and get impatient to be fed them.
And then finally you enter the enclosure and are allowed to touch and photo the elephants, with their instructors there.
It’s very difficult to choose properly ethical animal tourism, even though they say the elephants are allowed to roam freely, clearly the handlers encourage them to certain areas for the visitors. But given that all the elephants have been rescued, and you can see how amazing their environment is for them, I think this is one of the best options I’ve ever seen to be able to interact on a level with them.
I would definitely go back.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
