Full-Day Phuket Elephant Sanctuary Tour with Lunch and Dinner
Description
During this inspiring, interactive and informative experience, you will spend many wonderful moments observing our rescued elephants, gain in-depth knowledge about their sophisticated means of communication, and learn about their natural habitat and the important role they play as a keystone species in our ecosystem. The program includes joined roundtrip transfers as well as a light breakfast, vegetarian lunch and dinner, and cold drinks and refreshments throughout the day. Phuket Elephant Sanctuary is the first ethical elephant sanctuary in Phuket where elephants roam around, bathe and sozialize freely across 30 acres of tropical land bordering the Khao Phra Thaeo National Park in North East Phuket. 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 endorsed our ethical approach.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Your morning starts with a video presentation on the history and plight of Asian elephants, after which our tour guide will take you to explore our 30-acre sanctuary to observe the elephants as they roam, play and bathe freely. The morning ends with a delicious vegetarian Thai lunch. We then teach you about the intricate communication patterns of elephants and explore their natural habitat to learn more about their role as a keystone species in our ecosystem. Next, you will meet some of the gentle giants at the hydrotherapy pool and observe them enjoying their time in the water. Finally, you will help to prepare supplementary elephant food and enjoy a vegetarian meal yourself to end the day. The program includes 2 meals, soft drinks, water, juices, coffee and a complimentary T-Shirt.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
This program includes shared roundtrip transfers within Phuket Province, with pickup and drop-off at the same location. Your exact pickup time, up to 90 minutes before the tour, will be confirmed in advance.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Reviews(93)
The animals were gently attended and were allowed to be elephants without ever being exploited. I spent a lot of time at the animal hospital, as I am a veterinarian, and I was so impressed with the high-quality medical care. My guide, Rudy had an encyclopedic knowledge of and of and a passion for elephants and was able to answer all of my questions. This was a highlight of my trip to Thailand
Phuket Elephant Sanctuary is absolutely amazing. We chose this particular sanctuary for their hands off (elephant's well being first) approach. The canopy walkway was a wonderful way to see the elephants in the natural setting they now live in thanks to being rescued by the sanctuary. The full day program was educational and fascinating. We walked through the sanctuary on the walkway but also were allowed to be on the ground to watch the elephants at a distance with a guide. We prepared food, that we later were able to watch as each elephant's mamout fed them. We learned about elephant behavior, their health, and the dangers these beautiful animals face. The program was so informative and we plan to use that information to spread awareness about the ethical treatment all elephants deserve. I will never forget this experience. Thank you PES for your work and for allowing us to be a small part of it.
Beautiful experience to learn what the elephants go through: it is sad but also hopeful that these people are really helping the elephants to live as they should after their abuse. Absolutely no feeding, no bathing no touching the elephants, just watching them be themselves. The food provided is amazing. 100% recommended
Life changing experience. We did the volunteer full day program and I can’t recommend it highly enough. To be able to experience the elephants up close and know they are living their best life in this sanctuary was one of the best things I have ever done. Buffet lunch and dinner was delicious. The staff was beyond friendly and helpful. Rudi, our guide, made the day one we will never forget next time I return I would love to volunteer for longer.
Such an incredible experience!!! We loved our day at the elephant sanctuary! Our guide Ice was amazing, she had so much knowledge about all of the elephants! You can see they are well cared for and fully worth the money to attend! Food was also fresh and a great mix of Thai food. We would definitely recommend a full day, you see so much and learn too! Thankyou for an amazing day!
Such a rewarding experience to see the love and care for the elephants in a spacious environment. Our guide Rudi was amazing and knowledgeable.
My experience here Volunteering at the Phuket elephant sanctuary has been one of knowledge and growth! Firstly Everyone here that has helped and supported us have been wonderful and super kind: giving us cold towels and guiding us if we are lost or confused. Second learning about how elephants are culturally and economically important to Thailand helped me understand that they are trying to save these elephants from conflicts. The caretakers take very good care of the elephants and have continually showed compassion and dedication in everything they do. I highly recommend visiting this sanctuary to learn more about the elephants role in this world and to have fun?
This Sanctuary was an incredible experience that let me interact with the elephants in an awesome and safe way. These gentle giants deserve to live out their lives in peace and pleasure and this experience does just that. I was able to observe them in their natural habitat and watch the interaction freely with the wildlife and nature.
I loved visiting this elephant sanctuary! You can really tell how ethical the place is. The elephants have lots of space and freedom, and they all seemed relaxed and happy. The mahouts clearly care deeply about them and treat them very gently. The elephants were amazing to see up close, and you can tell they’re well cared for. The food was also really good and everyone was so kind. Such a great experience!
My full-day visit to the Phuket Elephant Sanctuary was one of the most memorable and meaningful experiences of my trip to Thailand. From start to finish, everything was incredibly well organized, educational, and inspiring. What stood out most to me was how clearly the sanctuary prioritizes the welfare of the elephants. Unlike many places where elephants are used for riding or performances, this sanctuary allows them to live freely and naturally in a large, beautiful jungle environment. It was amazing to see these rescued elephants roaming, bathing in mud pools, and interacting with each other in such a peaceful setting. The guides were fantastic. They were knowledgeable, passionate, and clearly cared deeply about the elephants. Throughout the day they shared the stories of each elephant, explaining where they were rescued from and how the sanctuary helps them recover and live comfortably. Hearing those stories made the experience even more powerful and meaningful. One of my favorite parts of the day was watching the elephants during feeding and bath time. Seeing them up close while they enjoyed their food and cooled off in the water was incredible. The sanctuary keeps a respectful distance so the elephants remain comfortable, which I really appreciated because it shows their commitment to ethical tourism. The facilities were also excellent. The observation platforms gave great views without disturbing the animals, the food provided during the tour was delicious, and transportation was smooth and convenient. Everything felt very professional and thoughtfully planned. Overall, the full-day tour at Phuket Elephant Sanctuary is something I would highly recommend to anyone visiting Thailand. It’s not just a tour—it’s an opportunity to learn about elephant conservation and support a place that truly cares about these incredible animals. It was a beautiful, educational, and unforgettable experience that I will always remember.
