A Morning with the Elephants at Phuket Elephant Sanctuary
Overview
Available languages
3 hours 30 minutes
Mobile ticket
Phuket Elephant Sanctuary is the first ethical, 100% hands-off 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
Italian speaking guides are available for the Half Day “A Morning with the Elephants” program on Wednesdays and Fridays only
French speaking guides can be requested as a language preference, subject to guide availability, but cannot be guaranteed.
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 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
Program + Shared Transfers
Pickup included
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
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Reviews
1,851 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Outstanding family outing with purpose
Leah W,Jun 26, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This experience was well worth the money to see this beautiful creatures up close while knowing they are being treated ethically. We learned so much! Rudi was an excellent tour guide and the service from start to finish from all was warm and thoughtful.
Great experience and worth every cent
712mellisam,Jun 25, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Wow. What can I say, this tour is so worth the money. It was such a great experience and our tour guide Rudi was amazing. If you're lucky enough to get Rudi then you are all set. Would do this again for sure the way they care and are passionate about elephants is phenomenal. It's not a job for them it's a passion. Thank you so so much fir sharing them with us... our group also had a great bunch of people. Do yourself a favour and do this tour when you're in Thailand.
Loved it
277virtualg,Jun 22, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Absolutely beautiful. I am happy to support this ethical sanctuary so they can continue their good work.
True elephant sanctuary...
Tiffany S,Jun 22, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00True elephant sanctuary experience. Let’s start with pick up. The driver was on time and very courteous, he even stopped at 7/11 because my friend really wanted a redbull. The experience there was amazing, the Elephants are free roaming and all rescues, you can get close enough to enjoy it but far enough that they can still do their thing. It did say on the booking that we’d get to feed the elephants, that recently changed so that was the only issue I had. Overall 5/5
Probably the only elephant sanctuary I would recommend in all of Thailand.
turenej,Jun 19, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Very informative, though it was sad to hear the cruel treatment some of their resident elephants came from, but I'm so happy there is an ethical sanctuary helping these beautiful creatures. This is probably the only elephant sanctuary I would recommend to visit in all of Thailand. Side note, the food provided was amazing!
Best thing we did in Phuket
mattbJ9604LU,Jun 17, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00It was an absolutely amazing experience. The sanctuary is very well run and thought out, the vegetarian lunch was delicious and our guide Rudi was brilliant and very knowledgeable
AMAZING EXPERIENCE! Elephants just being FREE!
David B,Jun 16, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00The Phuket Elephant Sanctuary was an absolutely incredible experience. It was heartbreaking to learn how horribly so many elephants have been abused since the rise of tourism in Thailand. We saw it ourselves, first hand, in Bangkok. Here, at the sanctuary, they’re treated with such amazing compassion and respect. The people here really care a tremendous amount about the wellbeing of the elephants. And it was such a joyous experience to be among these happy thriving animals. Being just a few feet away and seeing the emotional intelligence in the eyes of these gentle giants Is something I will never forget. Everybody that comes to Phuket should come here and see how we can coexist on this earth. Do not give your money to business that exploit animals for photo opportunities, or interactive rides or performances. Do not reshare social media posts of people visiting those places. Those animals are kept in chains and cages, the birds and lizards are fed barely enough to keep them alive, the tigers are drugged so they won’t attack, elephants that give rides or perform tricks or make paintings aren’t having fun! They’re being forced through physical torture. All of the elephants here are rescued from abusive situations, and they have a magnificent new lease on life. Here they are happy and thriving, being allowed to just be elephants. Not slaves, not performers, not an amusement park attraction… just elephants. In the wild. Simply being allowed to be.
Awesome experience
PurcellT2,Jun 15, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00It was an incredible learning experience for us all. Awesome your guides very knowledgeable about the elephants.
Truly ethical and amazing sanctuary.
Freddie B,Jun 10, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Amazing elephant sanctuary. I research for a long time to find a truly ethical sanctuary and landed on this. We were very happy to find this place was entirely focus on elephant well-being which was pleasing and comforting to see. The elephant hospital they’ve built is a true testament to this. Thoroughly enjoyed this visit and recommend it to any tourists hoping to see elephants while also respecting and caring for these beautiful animals. Elephants should not be ridden or bathed with and this sanctuary made sure to uphold this and treated the elephants with the upmost care.
Phuket Elephant Sanctuary -Chang wat
Zeist1970,Jun 4, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00It has been a wonderful experience and it is so worth it to do the morning tour! The guide was super friendly and knowledgeable! The vegetarian buffet lunch was also very nice. All the proceeds are going back in to the sanctuary. The sanctuary is very respectful to the elephants and therefore does not allow feeding or touching the elephants in order to mimic their natural habitat. Would definitely recommend doing the 3.5 hour tour! Boots and socks are provided.
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Operated by Phuket Elephant Sanctuary