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Phuket Ethical Elephant Sanctuary: A Compassionate Approach towards Elephant Tourism
4.9
497 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 offers a unique experience in Thailand, elevating ethical tourism to new levels. Discover our 500-meter-long canopy walkway and watch rescued elephants as they wander, forage, bathe, and interact freely in the jungle below. Our knowledgeable tour guides are eager to share each elephant’s story and…
- Phuket Elephant Sanctuary - This 90-minute program offers a unique experience in Thailand, elevating ethical tourism to new levels. Discover our 500-meter-long canopy walkway and watch rescued elephants as they wander, forage, bathe, and interact freely in the jungle below. Our knowledgeable tour guides are eager to share each elephant’s story and fascinating facts about the world’s largest land mammal. Participants will also receive a complimentary T-shirt as a keepsake. At the conclusion of the tour, enjoy a refreshing iced soda and unlimited snacks from our snack bar while relaxing in the peaceful surroundings 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
- Guided Walk across the Canopy Walkway
- Educational Video Documentary
- Signature Iced Soda & Unlimited Snack Bar
- Welcome Snacks and Beverages
- Umbrellas, Rain Coats, Mosquito Spray
- Bottled water
- Free PES Souvenir
- Guided Walk across the Canopy Walkway
- Educational Video Documentary
- Signature Iced Soda & Unlimited Snack Bar
- Welcome Snacks and Beverages
- Umbrellas, Rain Coats, Mosquito Spray
- Bottled water
- Free PES Souvenir
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 pioneering ethical elephant sanctuary in Phuket, where elephants can freely roam, bathe, and socialize across 30 acres of lush tropical land adjacent to the Khao Phra Thaeo National Park in Northeast Phuket. The sanctuary purchases all rescued elephants to ensure it becomes their permanent home, providing professional…
Phuket Elephant Sanctuary is the pioneering ethical elephant sanctuary in Phuket, where elephants can freely roam, bathe, and socialize across 30 acres of lush tropical land adjacent to the Khao Phra Thaeo National Park in Northeast Phuket. The sanctuary purchases all rescued elephants to ensure it becomes their permanent home, providing professional veterinary care for elderly and injured elephants. By visiting, guests support a sustainable, ethical, and compassionate model of elephant tourism, allowing elephants to live naturally. Our ethical practices have been endorsed by National Geographic, Lonely Planet, and The Guardian.
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
(497 Ratings)
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Catherinecf7357uw
Jul 9, 2025
Amazing - This was an amazing thing to do while we were in Phuket the rack the elephants are all rescued and now retired is amazing to see them looked after and living out there lives happily the staff are amazing with the elephants they have 1 person that looks after 1 elephant and that elephant picks that person they Are then together all the time. I could not recommend this enough. It’s just eye opening.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Terri_l
Jul 8, 2025
My friend and I decided... - My friend and I decided at the last minute to do this tour when we were in Phuket. We were so glad we did! You could tell that the people who worked there took good care of the elephants. Before the start of the tour, we watched a video explaining the work that they do and how the number of Thai elephants have gone down over the years. They save as many as they can. It was a great learning experience, and I even got a chance to feed one. The tour was well worth it
Review provided by Viator
Heath
Jul 7, 2025
So sad it has to be this way - I was looking for a truely ethical sanctuary and found the Phuket Elephant Sanctuary to be genuine about elephant welfare and rescue - while there are still questions in my mind about what more could be done to stop the horrific treatment of elephants instead of buying old ones who don’t serve an economic purpose for their “owners”. It’s so sad that while a place like this is doing good work, humans continue to abuse, exploit and torture these amazing creatures by doing riding tours on them, beating them into submission to perform tricks and dance or paint, or drag heavy loads of timber, logs and other items for 16hrs a day. But this would all stop if tourists took more care and researched what was happening instead of paying money to see Elephants in shows, or use them for transportation. When will we wake up? Most likely after it’s too late. The operators say they keep the elephants in stalls at night to stop them roaming into other areas, but some have questioned this and suggest they are only let out when tourists come. I’ll leave that to PES to answer.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
129roryc
Jul 6, 2025
This is an actual Sanctuary - Would highly recommend this sanctuary. It is evident that they take care of the Elephants and is not like other "sanctuarys" in Phuket that just pretend to take care of the Elephants. Our guide Yaya was really good and knowledgeable. Really good day out.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Q531vnthereses
Jul 4, 2025
Magic and nice! A center that really takes care of the elephants! - Magical experience! It's so nice to see the elephants doing so well. Well organized and nice everywhere. We chose Canopy Walkway which meant that we first got to feed an elephant and see walk across these footbridges with a guide. Alex was good at English and talked about the various elephants and their previous terrible lives, in the forest industry or in tourism. At one point we had to take a downstairs and take pictures a few meters away from an elephant. So nice to go up there and see the elephants without disturbing them. The tour was 1,5 Tim and ended with a drink and some snacks that were included in the price. It was very hot and humid so 1,5 Tim was just right. Promise never to see shows with elephants or ride them!! This is where they should live, in freedom without chains, whips and coercion. Here they have 30 hectares of jungle and caretakers who tend to them 24/7. How nice!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Blenderyuen
Jul 3, 2025
Unrushed tour of the elephant sanctuary - Seeing the rescued elephants re-homed in this sanctuary really moved me. Their stories of where they came from were really sad, but seeing them do what they want to in their own time is so beautiful. I saw an elephant (with his mahout) go into a pond on his own and wade through, just enjoying himself! I loved how the canopy tour did not feel rushed, and you can tell everyone was there to support ethical tourism.
The only thing is I would've happily joined a tour without all the extra freebies! They gave us some souvenirs in the end, which I think could be available for purchase, so the proceeds go towards maintaining the sanctuary.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Melanie_f
Jun 22, 2025
Well worth it - Alot of waiting around at the beginning but the tour was well worth the wait. The elephants are very well looked after and appear happy and relaxed. Our guide, Yaya was brilliant
Review provided by Viator
Amyby499ji
Jun 21, 2025
Eco-tourism at its best! - Awesome work these people are doing with the elephants! Eco-tourism at its best. Helping old and injured elephants find a forever home. A special mission worthy of support.
Phenomenal pictures of elephants in their natural habitat, up close and personal.
This is a must visit spot!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Sheldon69b
Jun 17, 2025
Highly recommended - Exactly what we wanted, a place with Elephants that is ethical and actually cares for the animals, sadly i have seen so many Elephants in Thailand that are chained up all day and it just makes me sad. The Phuket Elephant Sanctuary let their animals roam freely in the park in safety and feed them well, the owners have gone to great length to replicate what elephants would have in the wild such as lush green forests, mud and water for them to cool off. It was great to see them up close and for them to come over for some fruit we had for them.
Our guide also told us the history of all these animals, most of which have been rescued from cruel owners and its nice to see that these lucky elephants now have a better life.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Summer
Jun 15, 2025
Great experience, a must do! - We loved every minute of this!! The elevated platforms were perfect for observing the rescued elephants. Our guides KY and Ice Cream made the whole experience so enjoyable! Very informative and respectful of the elephants space as they roamed free through the grounds, yet still interactive. We still got to feed one of the elephants at the end with light snacks and water provided. So good!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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