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Tours / Ethical Elephant Sanctuary Experience

Wildlife & Nature

Ethical Elephant Sanctuary Experience

No riding. No shows. Just retired elephants.

⏱ Half day · 4 hours ★ 4.9 (2,140 reviews) available

About this experience

This is a working sanctuary, not a tourist camp. The elephants here are former logging and trekking animals, most in their 40s and 50s, now living out their retirement in forested enclosures. Your visit funds their food and veterinary care. You will prepare their food baskets, walk with them through the jungle at their own pace, and watch them cool off at the mud pit and river — all with the herd never chained and never ridden. Groups are kept small and a mahout and an English-speaking guide stay with you the whole time.

Highlights

  • Strict no-riding, no-bullhook, no-performance policy
  • Prepare food and hand-feed the herd
  • Jungle walk beside the elephants
  • Help at the mud spa and river bath
  • Vegetarian Thai lunch with a view over the valley

Itinerary

  • 08:00
    Pickup
    Minibus from your hotel up into the Paklok hills.
  • 09:00
    Welcome & briefing
    Meet the guides, learn each elephant's story, change into sanctuary shirts.
  • 09:30
    Feeding
    Prepare baskets of banana, pineapple and sugar cane and feed the herd.
  • 10:30
    Walk with the herd
    Follow the elephants on their morning forest walk.
  • 11:30
    Mud spa & river
    Help scrub and rinse the elephants at the water hole.
  • 12:15
    Lunch
    Thai vegetarian buffet, then transfer back.

What's included

  • Hotel transfers
  • Sanctuary entry & donation
  • English-speaking guide
  • Sanctuary shirt
  • Vegetarian Thai lunch
  • Water & coffee
  • Insurance

Not included

  • Gratuities
  • Private photographer
  • Souvenir photos (available at the shop)

Pickup & meeting point

Pickup 07:15–08:15 from Patong, Kata, Karon, Kamala, Bang Tao, Phuket Town and Chalong. Northern beaches on request.

Meeting point: Sanctuary reception, Soi Palai, Pa Khlok — or hotel pickup.

Cancellation policy

Free cancellation up to 72 hours before the visit. Inside 72 hours the donation portion (800 THB) is non-refundable. No refund inside 24 hours.

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