elephant safari thailand

Elephant Hills Thailand: From Floating Lodges To Ethical Elephant Encounters

Elephant Hills Thailand is an immersive outdoor experience that combines ethical elephant encounters, tented camps, and floating lodges.

Located two hours from the island of Phuket, Elephant Hills in Thailand is one of the highest-rated ethical elephant experiences in the country. Beyond that, this luxury tented jungle lodge experience combines the best of luxury tented glamping with magical floating lodges amongst the serene environment of Khao Sok National Park.

Our Elephant Hills Thailand adventure took place midway through our Thailand itinerary. We had flown down from Chiang Mai to Sarat Thani and made the hour-and-a-half trip to the Elephant Hills tented jungle camps on the edge of Khao Sok National Park by a transit van provided by the Elephant Hills resort.

We knew that we were in for something special, but we had no idea that the three days and two nights that we spent at this Thai nature camp would be among the most memorable of all of the places we visited in Thailand .

What Is Elephant Hills Thailand?

Elephant Hills is Thailand’s first luxury-tented jungle camp and ethical elephant sanctuary and rehabilitation center. The camp is situated within the bounds of Thailand’s vast Khao Sok National Park both in and near Cheow Lan Lake in southern Thailand.

This luxury Thai eco-resort is made up of two very unique camps. The Elephant Hills tented jungle camp, located in the jungles of Khao Sok National Park, and the Elephant Hills floating rainforest which sits on the waters of Cheow Lan Lake itself.

Both camps include accommodations in luxurious canvas tents with comfortable beds and all of the amenities that you would expect from a 4-star hotel room. Both our jungle stay and our floating lodge stay were among the most comfortable nights of sleep that we had in all of Thailand .

About Khao Sok National Park

Sprawling across a vast 459 square miles (739 square km), Khao Sok National Park is home to some of the world’s oldest rainforests. Dotted with magnificent limestone mountains and centered by the man-made Cheow Lan Lake, Khao Sok National Park is, quite simply, magnificent.

The lush landscapes of the park are pristine and cover a diverse range of biomes that include tropical rainforests, rolling hills, and limestone cliffs. Khao Sok has gained a reputation for having some of the most breathtaking scenery in Thailand thanks to the wide waters of Cheow Lan Lake dotted with towering mountaintops.

Khao Sok is home to some of the most incredible wildlife in Thailand including elephants, tigers, leopards, bears, and gibbons. It’s also known to birdwatchers thanks to the over 300 species of birds that call the park home, including the rare and beautiful Great Hornbill , of which we saw several.

While the landscape of Khao Sok National Park dates back thousands of years, and it has been inhabited by humans for almost 10,000 years, the scenery took a drastic turn in 1987 when the Thai government built the Ratchaprapha Dam, flooding much of the northern portion of the park and creating Cheow Lan Lake.

Khao Sok National Park is home to several jungle lodges and floating lodges that give visitors an opportunity to experience its majesty firsthand. Among these lodges are the famous Elephant Hills tent camp and floating lodge.

Elephant Hills Tented Jungle Tents

The Elephant Hills tented jungle tents are the main accommodations in the Elephant Hills eco-resort experience. Whether you’re visiting for several days, or just doing an overnight trip, this is where the entire Elephant Hills experience in Thailand starts.

From the moment that we arrived, it was clear that Elephant Hills Thailand thinks of everything. Everything from our transportation from Sarat Thani to the check-in, tours, and our transport out to Phuket was professionally organized, courteous, and handled without issue.

The main lodge on the edge of Khao Sok National Park is beautiful. The property features a community pool with jaw-dropping views of the nearby mountains, and large canvas tents setup up in a tree-top configuration where one tent is on a lower level while the other sits above it.

It’s a fabulous upscale glamping experience with stunning views, comfortable beds, a large bathroom with shower, toilet, and sink, and a wide deck to soak in the views of the mountains of Khao Sok NP.

Food at Elephant Hills

The food at the resort was delicious, but I do recommend getting to the meals early, as some of the more popular items had a tendency to run out towards the end of the meal.

The meals were almost always accompanied by a show. During our visit, local schoolchildren came to perform traditional Thai dances. It was a very similar setup to our time in the floating lodges in Kanchanaburi where we saw the Mons dance performances.

The meals are all served at the main lodge where you can find a shop, fresh water, and the list and schedules for all of the tours.

Elephant Hills Ethical Elephant Experience

The main lodge is where all of the Elephant Hills tours depart. Many visitors opt for the multi-day package that includes a visit to the floating lodges. While those who choose to stay for just one night typically spend their time at the Elephant Hills Thailand ethical elephant encounter.

The elephant experience was the highlight of our visit. We were bussed out to the Elephant Hills sanctuary, one of the most highly rated ethical elephant experiences in Thailand.

This soft adventure tour brought us up close to the elephants. We had the opportunity to watch them enjoy an extensive bath in the park’s large elephant mud pool. We even had the opportunity to prepare special meals for the elephants and feed them.

These massive animals require over 440 lbs (200 kg) of food each and every day, so keeping and rehabilitating the elephants is a lot of work. There are no elephant rides or bathing with the elephants offered at Elephant Hills. These practices are not safe for the animals and if a tour operator offers those services, you would be best served looking for somewhere else to have your elephant encounter.

My favorite experience was feeding the oldest elephant at the sanctuary. This 87-year-old cow is blind and has no more teeth, but the other elephants at Elephant Hills help to guide her towards the feeding areas and ensure that she doesn’t get lost in the free-roaming enclosure.

Elephant Hills River Float

The elephant experience at Elephant Hills is paired with a river float where guided canoes float down a scenic river past farms, jungles, mountains, and massive trees filled with monkeys. We kept our eyes open for snakes, birds, and many other beautiful Khao Sok wildlife.

The river float lasted about an hour and was a peaceful and beautiful experience that helped wash away all of the stress of the long days of travel over the past week.

Elephant Hills Rainforest Floating Camp

Deep in the bays of Cheow Lan Lake floats the second of the Elephant Hills accommodations, the beautiful Elephant Hills Rainforest Floating Camp.

We were transported to Chow Lan Lake on the morning of our second day at Elephant Hills. The hour-and-a-half drive went by in a breeze and included a stop at the massive Ratchaprapha Dam, the ambitious hydro-electric project that flooded the landscape of Khao Sok National Park creating the Cheow Lan Lake.

There are twenty tents at the Elephant Hills Rainforest Floating Camp. While children are welcome, it’s worth noting that the tents are each only designed for two people. The boys stayed in one tent while Christina and I enjoyed some privacy at the tent next door.

Each of the Elephant Hills floating glamping tents had some solar-powered electricity during the daytime. There were full bathrooms that included sinks, flush toilets, and a large shower as well. The rooms were large and comfortable with plenty of places to keep your gear.

The first part of our visit was a ride through the narrow channels and waterways between the mountaintops. It was truly impressive to see just how much water was being stored in the reservoir to leave just the tips of these huge rockfaces jutting from the water’s surface.

When Chow Lan Lake was created, it left thousands of animals that were unable to swim completely stranded on these new islands. As a result, the Thai government was forced to launch the “Gibbon rescue” where countless monkeys and other animals were moved off of islands that could not support them and brought to the mainland. Unfortunately, the rescue was not particularly successful, and many animals ended up perishing as a result of the dam’s construction.

When we arrived at the Elephant Hills Rainforest Floating Camp, we knew that we were in for a treat. Unlike our floating lodge in Kanchanaburi, the Elephant Hills lodge was not resting on a shallow riverbed, it was truly floating out away from the shore, with no nearby village to support it.

Activities At Elephant Hills Rainforest Floating Lodge

Khao sok mountain hike.

The first item on our agenda was a mountain hike to a hilltop cave. It involved a short journey by longtail boat followed by an hour-long hike on a mountain trail. The hike was challenging due to the steep angles that we were walking, but the most notable part was just how much the high humidity of southern Thailand had us sweating. By the end, I could have rung out my shirt and filled a bucket.

The cave at the top of the mountain was awesome. We love visiting caves with our kids, and this remote spot was exactly what we love, a natural cave full of bats and cool rock formations. It wasn’t a difficult cave to explore, but it wasn’t so easy that going through it was boring either.

Upon our return to the floating lodge, we all immediately jumped into the water to enjoy the cool waters and clean off all of that sweat. We all took a swim while the sunset washed over the nearby mountains.

All swimmers at Elephant Hills Thailand have to wear life jackets that are provided by the resort. Personally, I’m not a big fan of swimming in life jackets, but I understand that this is sometimes required due to insurance reasons. Luckily, I can easily flip a life jacket over and use it as a pair of shorts, which means the jacket still keeps me afloat without getting in the way!

The next morning we woke up casually and enjoyed some more swimming before preparing for the last adventure of our Elephant Hills Thailand visit. We would spend three hours kayaking through Khao Sok National Park.

As we wound our way among the mountains we were greeted by monkeys, watched water buffalo stroll along the water’s edge, and experienced the peaceful surroundings of what is one of Thailand’s most beautiful parks.

Visiting Elephant Hills Thailand With Kids

My boys, who were 9 and 11 at the time, absolutely loved every second of their time at Elephant Hills Thailand experience. I wouldn’t say that it is the most family-friendly lodge in Thailand, most notably due to the lack of family rooms in the floating lodges, but if you don’t mind separating parents or housing kids in a separate room, it’s fantastic.

How To Explore Khao Sok National Park For Yourself?

Elephant Hills books up quickly. But if you’re not able to book with the resort itself, that doesn’t mean that you can’t experience the wonder of Khao Sok National Park for yourself.

There are some absolutely amazing day and multi-day tours of the park, and Elephant Hills is not the only floating lodge on Cheow Lan Lake. You can also find similar experiences at 500 Rai Floating Resort .

There are day tours of the park as well including this full-day Cheow Lan Lake tour that includes a longtail boat ride, a jungle hike, and a visit to one of the floating lodges. For something even more relaxing, you can join this full-day bamboo rafting experience through Khao Sok NP.

There are few opportunities in Thailand where you can completely escape the hustle and bustle of the cities and breathe pure, fresh air with no noise or light pollution to bother you. Elephant Hills and Khao Sok National Park are pure bliss.

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" No air con only fans "

" Lots and lots of bug spray! Cash-elephant hills is a cash only site Elephant hills will provide you with a water bottle and waterproof bag "

" Expect jungle camp to be a little noisy as the birds and the insects like to ‘chat’ just when you want to sleep 🤣 "

" Take some small change to tip the workers. Soft drinks and alcohol can be purchased at the bar. Tea, coffee and water is free. "

" Bring plenty of insect repellent. Drink plenty of water. Be prepared to get sweaty!! "

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ELEPHANT HILLS - Updated 2024 (Khao Sok National Park, Thailand)

Elephant Hills

Elephant hills 3-day jungle safari, a complete guide.

Nestled deep in the heart of Khao Sok National Park is Elephant Hills Thailand, the country’s first luxury tented camp. Elephant Hills offers a unique once in a lifetime experience by combining luxurious glamping accommodations with unforgettable nature and adventure tours. 

Elephant Hills Thailand is built on a passion for sustainability and conservation. Every aspect of the experience and project has been carefully considered to ensure that local people, animals and the environment are protected and supported in every way possible.

Adventures & Activities at Elephant Hills

Elephant Hills offers a wide range of immersive experiences that take you beyond the elephant sanctuary and into the natural habitat of Khao Sok National Park. Start by paddling a canoe down the winding jungle river, looking out for monkeys in the trees above. Next, trek deep into the jungle and learn about the local flora and fauna. Start the next day with a boat trip through the beautiful mangrove forests that play a vital role in supporting the planet’s biodiversity. You can even spend a day and/or night at the floating lodges on the lake. Here you can kayak around the magnificent limestone rocks that are unique to this special part of the world.

Safari Tour Options

There are several adventure tour packages to choose from. The tours range from 2 to 4 days in duration. Each package combines a selection of well organised and executed activities including kayaking, hiking and everything in between. Of course, every safari tour at Elephant Hills includes an unforgettable elephant encounter.

Elephant Encounters

Ethical, educational, and so much fun.

The elephant encounter at Elephant Hills is safe for the animals and allows you to assist in bathing them and providing lunch for them. Don’t expect to ride the elephants, as the animals here are respected rather than exploited. An elephant encounter experienced in this ethical way is definitely worth adding to the top of your bucket list  during a trip to Thailand.

The elephants are loved and cared for in a responsible way. In fact, the staff work for the elephants, and not the other way around. When you look into the eyes of the elephants here you can see that they are happy, at peace, and well looked after. You can sense the wisdom, the charm and the cheekiness.

The Elephant Hills experience

During your elephant encounter at Elephant Hills you’ll come face to face with the magnificent creatures. You will learn about the history of Elephants in Thailand, and what we can all do to help protect them. After a friendly introduction, sit back and relax as your new friends have the time of their lives playing in their natural muddy swimming pool.

Getting Involved

Let’s get messy.

After watching the elephants enjoying the water it’s time to get hands on. The elephants love to put dry dirt on their heads and backs to keep them cool under the sun. Add muddy water to the mix and you’ve got one mucky elephant! Help them get clean with a shower and a coconut husk scrub – getting wet is all part of the fun! The elephants will let you know when they’ve had enough of bath time as they wander back into the field. It’s times like this that you start to see the personalities of these beautiful creatures.

Time for lunch

Now that they’re clean, the elephants are ready for their lunch. Help to prepare a selection of healthy foods and snacks for the elephants before dispersing them among the hungry crowd. Watch out for the cheeky ones! They’ll have their trunks in your banana basket if you’re not careful. Unsurprisingly, the elephants absolutely love lunch time, and we can guarantee that you will too. Engaging with such playful and gentle creatures is a life changing experience that you won’t soon forget.

Khao Sok National Park

Khao Sok National Park is one of the oldest rainforests in the world. This protected nature reserve spans an impressive 739 square kilometres and is home to around 400 species of animals. The wildlife is so diverse. Everything from tiny ants to spectacular leopards live within the region. The land comprises of towering limestone karsts and luscious greenery, in addition to waterfalls, rivers, and a mystical lake that are all waiting to be explored.

An adventure tour with Elephant Hills gives you the opportunity to explore these epic landscapes. It’s also a great opportunity to get a feel for life in the region as you visit local markets, lakes and other points of interest.

Ethical & Sustainable Tourism

An experience at Elephant Hills is incredibly fun, but also highly educational. The team are keen to share the history of Asian elephants and their unique place in Thai history and culture. Informing and educating guests is a critical component in helping people understand the importance of conservation and environmental protection. Hopefully this will allow future generations to enjoy the biodiversity in this corner of the planet.

Elephant Hills support several projects in the local area, with education remaining at the heart of everything they do. Current projects include funding schools, providing jobs, and protecting and conserving wildlife. These values are based on the belief that people will want to do more to protect the planet when they have the knowledge to see why it is so important to do so.

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Elephant Hills Camp

Sustainable Practices

Everything at Elephant Hills is environmentally friendly. Firstly, the camp is completely plastic-free. One way they achieve this is by offering guests a reusable bottle at the start of their stay. Further to this, rainwater catchment systems and solar-power systems are in place helping to reduce the camp’s carbon footprint. Moreover, the camp is made from locally and ethically sourced materials and has been built in harmony with the beautiful natural surroundings. As a result, as much as possible of the native plant life is maintained and can be enjoyed by all.

Luxury Tents

The tents are cleverly designed to provide all the comforts of a hotel room whilst being under canvas in the middle of the jungle. Indeed, all the wonders of camping from the fresh air to the sounds of cicadas and birds, are enjoyed from a comfortable king sized bed. The rooms include electric fans for hot nights, and en-suite bathrooms with hot water for those who like their home comforts. Complimentary bathing products made with natural ingredients ensure the surrounding eco-system is unharmed. Furthermore, the rainwater supply helps to preserve the earth’s most vital resource.

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Elephant Hills Thailand: Our Family Review + Helpful Tips & Photos

Thailand is a nature lover’s paradise and home to one of the world’s largest animals, the Asian Elephant . Although you can still see these gentle giants in the wild, Elephant Hills, Thailand, provides an opportunity for you to contribute to their care and conservation.

We knew that travelling in Thailand with kids over Christmas would be a uniquely special experience, and the Elephant Hills Resort, Khao Sok , ticked all the right boxes for our family. The main attraction was, of course, the elephants, but for us, the sustainable luxury tented camp was also an opportunity to stay in comfortable accommodation and to have an authentic jungle experience.

With several different packages, Elephant Hills is suitable for couples, solo travellers, families, friends and seniors , with options available to suit individual preferences. We chose their 4-day Nature Safari Tour.

*** Elephant Hills Thailand – Day 1 Elephant Experience & Canoe, Day 2 Cheow Larn Lake & Kayak, Day 3 Explore Mangroves & Kayak, Day 4 Jungle Trek & BBQ – Packages include 2-day, 3-day and 4-day camps ***

Elephant Hills : Overview

Elephant Hills camps are much more than just resorts with elephants. They are fully immersive experiences that aim to make you feel at one with the breathtaking beauty of nature. All of the guides are passionate about conservation and promote ethical and responsible tourism . As a result of their efforts, they have earned the title of the most ethical elephant sanctuary in Thailand.

Our primary draw to Elephant Hills was its commitment to conservation and ethical practice . Meeting the chain-free elephants, rescued from the logging and tourism trade, was the real highlight of our visit.

What was really apparent was that the wellbeing of their elephants is central to everything they do . In line with their pledge for sustainable and responsible tourism, you will never find any bathing or riding activities at Elephant Hills!

The camps all support their local communities through various eco-friendly projects and employment. In the evenings, they showcase the talents of local schoolchildren with traditional dance and music and their eco-friendly practices include waste reduction measures and minimal, energy-efficient lighting. There is a real sense of passion and commitment to positively influencing their environment and that passion is infectious!

What Is Elephant Hills ?

Elephant Hills is a group of luxury, ethically operated eco-camps in the heart of the Thai jungle. They bring together nature, adventure and guilt-free tourism in a harmonious, beautiful blend to support the conservation and well-being of Asian Elephants.

There are two elephant camps in Khao Sok (The Tented Camp and The Rainforest Camp), and one in Chiang Mai (The Bush Camp). Each setting offers distinct and unforgettable family adventures , including an ethical elephant experience, jungle safaris, kayaking, trekking, informative presentations and cultural interaction in the beautiful Thai Jungle.

It is worth noting that you will need good mobility and be over the age of four to participate in all of the activities.

Elephant Hills Tented Camp

All Khao Sok guests begin their stay at Elephant Hills tented camp in Southern Thailand. The camp has 66 tents and accommodates guests for 1, 2 or 3 nights. There are several structured activities and time to relax in the jungle setting each day, followed by evening entertainment. There is no option for an Elephant Hills single-day trip.

Guests observe and learn about the elephants’ behaviour before participating in an interactive session during their elephant experience . For this experience alone, it is truly worth visiting Elephant Hills.

Other activities include a canoe safari down the Sok River, a speed boat ride , a mangrove swamp canoe trip and a jungle trek to prepare an authentic BBQ feast. Depending on the season, you may see a variety of wildlife, including Water Buffalo, Monkeys, Boar and, if you’re really lucky, Wild Elephants!

Rainforest Camp Elephant Hills

Elephant Hills Rainforest Camp truly immerses you in the untouched beauty of Khao Sok National Park.

A traditional longtail boat will take you across the Cheow Larn Lake which is surrounded by towering limestone karsts. The camp floats amidst the lush greenery offering a unique experience for families with children over the age of seven . Activities include free access to kayaks, swimming and guided jungle treks.

Note: Whilst most packages visit the Rainforest Camp on Cheow Larn Lake, it is only the 3-day, 2-night Jungle Lake Safari that includes a stay. There are however, alternative options that offer a similar experience such as the Khao Sok National Park floating bungalows .

Elephant Hills Bush Camp

Elephant Hills Chiang Mai is the newest Bush Camp experience and is located in Northern Thailand . Their all-inclusive 2-day, 1-night and 3-day, 2-night adventures allow ethical interaction with their elephants. In this safe jungle environment near the Ping River, the rescued elephants are provided with care and the freedom to roam, much like in Khao Sok.

As well as their elephant experience, the activities on offer include kayaking, jungle trekking, learning about elephants and their mahouts and making paper from elephant poo!

Elephant Hills Thailand Review : Our 4-Day Nature Safari Experience

As we were staying over Christmas, we chose the 4-day Nature Safari at Elephant Hills to maximise our time in this unique setting.

Our experience started with a private transfer, provided by Elephant Hills, from Krabi to Khao Sok National Park. The transfer took 3 hours from our hotel in Ao Nang and included a short comfort break. Bottled water was freely available in the comfortable, air-conditioned vehicle. We arrived on Christmas Eve, where, to our surprise, the Christmas spirit was in full swing with dancing, music, decorations and food.

Day One: Elephant Experience & Canoe Safari – Christmas Eve

We arrived at Khao Sok around 1100hrs for welcome drinks before being shown to our tents (one double & one triple). We explored the camp before an authentic Thai buffet lunch with the other guests.

The transfer to our elephant experience was a short, 10-minute drive as a group of twenty guests. Once there, we watched an introductory documentary about the similarities and differences between Asian and African elephants and how humans have used them for centuries. Our guide then led us from the lodge and into the enclosure, where their resident elephants were waiting to greet us.

Although the elephants were free to roam, it was evident that they knew they would get food as they waited impatiently near the protective wooden barrier. We each prepared a meal of fruit and vitamins before hand-feeding them. This resulted in quite a bit of play as they attempted to eat it faster than we could take the food from our baskets!

Once the elephants retreated into the grounds, some bathed in the pond or scratched themselves against trees while others walked freely. We were able to observe them from a distance while remaining behind the protective barrier. Guests do not ride or bathe the elephants to ensure animal welfare. This is your only elephant encounter (average 60 to 90 minutes) so make sure you get all the pictures you want before returning to the main camp..

Our second activity was a relaxing safari canoe trip down the Sok River. The two-guest canoes were very stable, but the guides were the only ones permitted to paddle. The imposing limestone mountains and karsts are the perfect backdrop to the stunning lake and we also saw plenty of colourful birds, fish and Monkeys.

High tea was provided on our return to camp and there was time to swim in the pool before our evening meal. A Thai dance performance and cooking demonstration followed a wildlife documentary as we awaited the dinner buffet. Alongside the traditional Western Christmas food we also had traditional Thai cuisine, all topped off with a visit from Santa!

Day Two: Cheow Larn Lake & Kayaking – Christmas Day

A traditional bronze gong woke us at 0730 for a sumptuous buffet breakfast before our 60-minute transfer to the Rajjaprabha hydro dam. After taking some photos of the stunning scenery, we boarded a long-tail boat to explore the man-made Cheow Larn Lake . The imposing limestone karsts made for some impressive scenery before arriving at our destination, the Rainforest Camp , Elephant Hills.

We had free time to relax, kayak or swim at the floating bungalows before a buffet lunch. We repeated the journey to return to the main camp. Half the guests stayed overnight on the lake as part of the Jungle and Lake Camp Safari Package .

Once again, high tea and evening entertainment (a documentary, dance performance and cooking demo) were available, followed by a buffet meal.

Day Three: Mangrove Tour – Boxing Day

Following another long minibus transfer (over three hours return) to Takua Pa on the West Coast, we boarded speed boats with two other families to navigate a mangrove forest . We had several monkey and snake sightings, although the forest itself was less appealing than the jungle we had left behind.

We boarded a classic Burmese junk for lunch and explored a mangrove creek by kayak . Apart from a large spider appearing on a kayak, there was not a lot of wildlife evident, although this may have been down to the time of year. There was then time to relax on the Junk (or repeatedly bomb into the river if you are a kid at heart!) before heading back to Elephant Hills main camp.

High tea was followed by the evening entertainment (another documentary, dance performance and cooking demo), followed by a buffet meal and our final night in the luxury tented camp.

Day Four: Jungle Trek & BBQ

We headed into the jungle directly from the camp on our final morning at Elephant Hills. A short canoe crossing to the opposite river bank brought us to a guided jungle trek with the two families we spent day three with. Our guide, Tor, explained the ecology of one of the world’s oldest rainforests and showed us some huge trees that towered above the rest of the canopy. We were on the lookout for gibbons, monkeys, snakes and birds, and although we saw little wildlife, the experience was very enjoyable.

The trek brought us to a remote hut. We cooked and ate our Thai BBQ lunch . Back at camp, there was time for a shower before departing Elephant Hills.

Elephant Hills With Kids

Elephant Hills is the perfect destination for a short family holiday or an addition to a longer trip (we visited Krabi before and Phuket after). With a packed schedule of activities, elephant encounters, inclusive meals (high tea is especially good!) and the adventure of sleeping in a tent in the jungle, there is no question as to whether its worth it for families . Our kids often recall their ‘Christmas with the elephants’.

Elephant Hills is very family-friendly, from its various activities to its accommodation and staff. Our kids liked having the same friendly guide for our entire stay. Nothing was too much bother for them to try to help with.

Due to its jungle location, unfortunately, kids under four years old are not permitted to book with Elephant Hills. Also, guests must be seven years old to stay at the Elephant Hills floating camp.

Information For Visiting Elephant Hills Resort

Although Elephant Hills is an all-inclusive resort , you will pay for alcoholic drinks or tea and coffee outside of meal times.

Downtime Entertainment

Elephant Hills Main Camp has a small swimming pool available during your stay. A selection of books, crafts and board games are available from the reception area.

A well-stocked jungle bar operates for hot, soft and alcoholic drink purchases. Water was always freely available from bottled water dispensers. Reuseable personal drink bottles are also provided.

The evening entertainment starts after 1900hrs and includes an elephant and jungle documentary, local school children performing traditional Thai dances and a cooking demonstration of Thai specialities.

There are no facilities close to Elephant Hills Camps.

Tip: Consider bringing children’s entertainment and snacks for travel and downtime.

Food Buffet – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

The Elephant Hills gong sounds to summon you to your feast at meal times.

A selection of traditional Thai food and international buffet -style food is available for breakfast (07.30-09.30), lunch (to suit activities and location) and dinner (20.00-22.00). The food is locally sourced with fresh ingredients.

A high tea snack (fresh popcorn) was also available – and much enjoyed by the kids. This was especially appreciated as dinner was not served as early as they would have liked!

Dietary requirements are carefully considered and provided as a separate individual portion. All meals were labelled around the buffet. We really enjoyed the food during our stay. Christmas dinner was a bonus, but our favourite was the BBQ we helped prepare on day four. It definitely aligned with what we would expect for a luxury camp.

The main banquet hall at Elephant Hills Tented Camp was very busy for dinner. With over 100 guests, a disorganised dash for food commenced each night.

Tip: Consider bringing snacks. Although there is a good amount and variety at the set buffets, kids do get hungry outside of meal times!

Elephant Hills Tented Accommodation

Elephant Hills offers luxury tented accommodation in keeping with the natural surroundings. The spacious tents and comfortable beds have all of the comforts you would find in a decent hotel, with en-suites and a private veranda. Each tent can accommodate up to three people.

We stayed in neighbouring tents (#50 & #51) that were well located in the main camp. Apart from a few small lizards, the tents remained free of jungle critters! We felt like we were glamping in the jungle with the pleasant sounds of nature, and despite a road close to the camp, we were not bothered by road traffic noise.

Tents are similar at Elephant Hills Rainforest Camp, apart from opening onto the lake.

Best Time To Visit Elephant Hills , Khao Sok

The jungle around Khao Sok National Park flourishes as it is in one of the wettest areas of Thailand. The weather is unpredictable, with rain and sun possible on any given day . Rain showers tend to be short-lasting but can be welcome, with temperatures consistently above 25°C and averaging 35°C.

For many visitors, the best time to visit Elephant Hills is during the dry season, typically from December to April . With lower humidity, outdoor activities such as jungle treks, kayaking, and boat excursions on Cheow Larn Lake are more comfortable. Alternatively, the Monsoon Season, or Green Season, from May to October , sees fewer guests with a higher chance of spotting wildlife. Temperatures are also more comfortable. Elephant Hills Resort is good to visit all year round and your choice of when to go ultimately comes down to preference,

Mosquitoes were not an issue for us but it is always worth being prepared. Make sure you check the risk of dengue fever and malaria before you travel and pack accordingly.

We experienced some light rain during our stay at Elephant Hills in late December. It was also uncomfortably hot during some road transfers but fine for activities. Nights were comfortable to sleep in; there were fans in the tents if needed.

Tip: Take both sun protection and raincoats, whatever the time of year!

How To Get To Elephant Hills, Khao Sok

Collection and onward travel service is included in your booking. There is no option to self-drive. Guests are transported from within a 4-hour radius of Elephant Hills.

We were collected from Krabi and forwarded to Phuket after our stay. Both Journeys took around three hours.

Cost Of Staying At Elephant Hills Resort

Booking directly with Elephant Hills usually gets you the best price. This also can include a free ranger safari shirt, an additional day or free child places.

We booked through an agent, which worked out to be more expensive. Costs will vary according to the time of year but are typically around £575 per adult and £285 per child (4-15) for the 4-day Nature Safari. Everything is included in the price except drinks and tips.

Tip: Consider booking directly with Elephant Hills. You’ll get the best price this way and can often find promotions for free kid’s places, a free night or a free Elephant Hills shirt.

What To Wear For Khao Sok National Park

• Shorts, t-shirts and trekking sandals are suitable for your stay.
• We wore hiking trousers and long-sleeved T-shirts in the evening and on the jungle trek. This was to avoid being bitten, but you could use mosquito spray.
• Footwear that can get wet for kayaking – like watershoes.
• Your activity bag should include your swimwear, sun protection (lotion, glasses & hat) and raincoat. Towels are provided for each waterbased activity.

Tips For Elephant Hills

Elephant Hills, Khao Sok National Park, is a dream destination to spend a night or three in the heart of the Thai jungle. To help you get the most out of your stay, follow these tips:

Tip 1 – Book Your Stay Early – A limited number of lodgings fill up well in advance. To avoid disappointment, book early. You’ll also get the best price this way and can often find promotions for free kid’s places, a free night or a free Elephant Hills shirt with certain bookings.

Tip 2 – Prepared for Mosquitoes – The jungle is hot and humid. Bring insect spray and/or clothes to cover your legs and arms. The area carries a low risk of dengue fever and malaria, but it is possible to contract it in Thailand, and you should check the latest risk before you travel.

Tip 3 – It is a Luxury Experience… In the Jungle! – Don’t expect air conditioning, a butler or insect-free accommodation!

Tip 4 – Prepare for Rain, Humidity and Sun – Take sun-cream, a sunhat, sunglasses and a raincoat. The weather can change rapidly in the jungle!

Tip 5 – Bring Cash – There is no option to pay by card at Elephant Hills. If you wish to purchase additional drinks, snacks or souvenirs, you must take cash. There is no ATM.

Tip 6 – Be Prepared for Long Transfers and downtime – All transfers are included, but expect to be on the minibus for up to an hour on some of the longer trips. The transfer from your hotel may well take several hours. Take your water bottle and perhaps a book, especially for kids. There is a lot of downtime between activities to relax, swim or socialise. A small activity station is available for kids with games. The bar closes around 2200 most nights.

Tip 7 – Take Suitable Clothing – Swimwear is essential for every activity around water. Even if you are not swimming, it dries quickly. Hiking boots are not essential but closed shoes are recommended.

Tip 8 – Don’t Expect to See Lots of Elephants – Other than during your elephant experience, you are unlikely to see elephants again during your visit.

Final Thoughts: Elephant Hills Thailand Review

Elephant Hills is a beautiful, peaceful luxury camp that delivers on its promise of an ethical, eco-friendly elephant experience.

The kayaking and jungle treks gave us a taste of adventure while providing an interesting and educational experience. Our knowledgeable guide, Tor, was fantastic and entertained us well throughout this unique Khao Sok Rainforest experience.

Meals were good and managed to satisfy all of us with a good variety of options. Having a real bed and ensuite in a tent in the jungle is a luxury!

It really was a magical Christmas for us at Elephant Hills. However, whilst we thoroughly enjoyed our time, we would have liked more time with the elephants and shorter transfer times. Elephant Hills is well worth visiting for its unique blend of eco-tourism and luxury in the stunning Khao Sok rainforest.

Tom and Katie are the owners and co-authors of Trekking The Dream, a family travel blog that helps families create their own world travel adventures. As parents, they are on a mission to inspire families to explore the world through travel adventures and make lasting memories along the way. With over 16 years of family travel experience, they've learned the ins and outs of family-friendly destinations, tips for travelling with kids and teens, and how to turn ordinary trips into extraordinary adventures.

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Elephant Safaris in Thailand

In the past, elephants in Thailand were used primarily for logging – and while some elephants are still used in this way, even more have been turned into a tourist attraction. There are elephant safaris in several areas of Thailand, although most elephant treks are concentrated around Chiang Mai , Khao Sok National Park and on the island of Phuket . Each of these locations has something unique to see, so read about each destination before deciding where you want to take your elephant safari.

Elephant safaris can vary in length from short excursions of one day to trips of up to four days or more. Which you choose depends on both the location you’re in and the tour company you decide to go with. Many tour companies combine several activities into one four-day trip, including white-water rafting, jungle trekking, checking out local craft-making, visiting villages & holy sites… Oh, and of course that all-important elephant ride! Like the duration of these elephant treks, the cost will also vary. In most cases, the cost varies most widely due to the length of the trip, but in some cases you’ll see a really low price listed because things like transportation and lodging aren’t included, so you’ll need to be sure you’re reading the fine print about tour deals before you book. You can book a short excursion of a few hours to a day for well under $100 per person (some of which include multiple activities), or you can spend $300 or more for a multi-day trek. Most elephant safaris in Thailand are going to be much less expensive than you might think, which is one of the reasons they’re so popular – even with budget travelers.

Before you book any elephant trek, however, you should stop to consider the treatment of the animals themselves. There are some tour companies which are less reputable and which overwork and mistreat the elephants – and if you book your trip with them, you are inadvertently supporting that. In order to avoid supporting such mistreatment, be sure to book with a reputable company, many of which actually use some of their profits to help sick elephants. One of the companies that has been running elephant safaris for years and that is run ethically is Siam Safari. You can check out their website for more information on their tours.

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Thailand Elephant Tours

Elephant adventures in Thailand often take place at conservation reserves near Chiang Mai , where elephants frequently live after they are rescued from harmful environments. Trips often include traveling around the region like you would on a safari, learning about different varieties of elephants and exploring the surrounding terrain. 

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7 elephant tour packages in thailand with 13 reviews.

• Kayak & Canoe

One Week in Thailand: Kayaking and Hilltribes (3 destinations)

• Coach / Bus
• Sightseeing

Treasures of Thailand

• £100 deposit on some dates Some departure dates offer you the chance to book this tour with a lower deposit.

• In-depth Cultural

Chiang Mai & Elephant Conservation 3D/2N

Our guide was amazing on Sunday. She was fluent in English but we also had a great time learning Thai with her while exploring the city. She was fun and engaging. Breakfast was ridiculously epic. The highlight for me was the chat with the monk for over an hour. The elephant sanctuary day had a rough start as when we went to the lobby a different bus came to get us then what we were told for a completely different sanctuary. Naturally we were confused when a different sanctuary was saying we should go with them. We were told Elephant Nature Park and Elephant Jungle Sanctuary was there instead. We went ahead and got in unsure if we were going to the right place. One of our members was too ill to attend the next day for the City tour because he had been soaked from Songkran the entire way to the sanctuary and back. We also got soaked the night before while exploring Chiang Mai. He broke out in a rash all over and had a fever. I personally didn’t have an issue with it, except I was unprepared and had no way to secure my belongings in waterproof bags. My jacket was ruined and stained and electronics damaged. Bamba failed to tell us about this monumental holiday in the city. We couldn’t even get dinner without getting drenched. Again - I would have been all for it if I had come prepared. We did try to explain and come to a solution with Bamba but they refused to offer any type of compensation for his missed City Tour on Sunday. They failed to take responsibility for this piece. His inability to attend was a direct result of their negligence To warn us about Songkran which is a huge city wise festival and should have been knowledge a tour company could provide to foreigners. He would have brought waterproof materials as he has health issues that require protection from situations like this. The elephant sanctuary ended up being a great day but for foreigners expecting a certain pickup. To have someone else show up can be alarming and scary. We did try to contact Bamba over the weekend as well at their designated WhatsApp number and no one even bothered to reply. Being in a foreign country can be unnerving enough and when the tour company fails to respond, it’s so disappointing. We should have just booked everything ourselves as we were left high and dry and no communication all weekend. Friday when we checked in no one even reached out or made an effort to ensure we arrived safely. The hotel they booked us at was also less than acceptable. My room had mold in the bathroom. The hallways were smelly and all the carpets were dirty - walls were not clean. We did mentioned this to them after the tour but they again said we should have told them - but without any response from Them all weekend how was this possible?? We did try. The least you can do is refund our friends UNUSED city tour on Sunday due to your complete negligence to warn us about city conditions. Your lack of communication resulted in his inability to attend. He didn’t “decide not to go” as you stated. He was literally in the bathroom sick and couldn’t leave the hotel. Please take responsibility and do the right thing here.

• 10% deposit on some dates Some departure dates offer you the chance to book this tour with a lower deposit.

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Independent Highlights of Cambodia & Thailand

Chiang Mai & Elephant Experience

Once again the Intrepid guides were fantastic. Knowledgeable, helpful and friendly - experts in what they're there to do! However, I was disappointed with the package tour. It was a 3 day tour, but all up, guides assisted for a total of maybe a day and a half. Much of the time was spent self-exploring, which I don't mind, but to pay an amount for 3days seemed a bit extreme. The accommodation was lovely, perfect in fact, even though they were unaware of any of my tour details. I had to do a lot of extra research to ensure I was getting the most out of my time in Chiang Mai, with no suggestions of places to visit or how to get there from Intrepid. Love Intrepid, but could've done this one on my own.

Western Thailand Highlights with Elephants Care

Our group of nine (teenage children and adults) spent about 5 days with Noom touring Thailand - we loved every single minute of our trip and give credit to Noom for being the perfect guide. He was knowledgeable, professional, polite, and a lot of fun to be around! He made our trip SO EASY! We never worried about anything, literally. He knew everything there was to know about all of the places we visited, he took us to delicious restaurants, he paid great attention to details so every experience we had was very special, he made sure we were always safe, and he went over and above to make all of our tours and experiences the very best! Noom helped make what would have been a nice trip an absolutely fabulous trip, and we would recommend him and his tour company, to anyone!

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Thai National Parks

Kui buri national park, private tour | kui buri elephant safari | half day.

Kui Buri National Park is known to be the best place in Thailand to spot elephants and relatively good chance to spot gaurs, and that sometimes in big herds. Gaurs are the biggest cattle species and the fourth biggest land-mammal species in the world. Other possible sightings during the tours include sambar deer, banteng and wild boar.

Due to strict regulations this half-day wildlife safari tour doesn't include any hiking activities apart from leaving the vehicle for short walks to viewing areas, we will only be allowed to do safari driving. During our tour we scan the forest edges on grassland areas known to be prime elephant habitat in hope to see mainly elephants and/or gaurs.

Tour itinerary

From 2:30 pm till 5:30 to 6 pm

Wildlife tours in Kui Buri National Park are strictly regulated and limited to certain hours. After a mandatory registration we will get assigned an open-air vehicle with driver and an assistant. The tour will begin by driving slowly into the reserve on the main dirt road north heading to the main grassland areas. While driving slowly, we will search for any wildlife including birds or any other smaller/bigger animals.

Our first stop will be a viewing area where we leave the vehicle in hope to spot wildlife, mainly elephants. We will later on continue to the next viewing area at the end of the road, best known for spotting gaurs, but also elephants and sometimes bantengs.

During the tour, your guide will give you information about the habitat, wildlife and history of the park.

The type of assigned vehicle is an open-air pick-up truck driven by locals. It is the Kui Buri National Park's policy to let locals do the driving, a policy that showed to be a success in reducing the poaching in the park.

Copyright Kosin Sukhum

Copyright Ton Smits

Copyright Thai National Parks

Where & When?

Kui Buri National Park lies about 1.5 hours driving distance from Hua Hin and nearly 4 hours from Bangkok. We can offer private transfers from Bangkok, Hua Hin or other destinations. The park is open all year round.

Tour details in short:

• Duration: half day
• Type: Private tour
• Price: 1,050 to 3,500 Baht per person
• Group size: 1 or more people
• Grade: Easy
• Transport: Safari vehicle
• Start: 2:30 pm
• End: 5-30 - 6 pm (depending on time for sunset)

What to bring:

• Rain clothing
• Insect repellent
• Sunblock lotion

Our half-day safaris are private tours. You'll be accompanied by an English speaking licensed guide and no other people will join you; the best way to explore Kui Buri Wildlife Watching area!

Tour rates include:

• Entrance fees
• English speaking guide
• Drinking water

Send enquiry

Reviews from our guests

Rated 4.78 /5 based on 101 customer reviews

By: Julie COLEMAN | posted Fri 16 Feb, 2024

5 / 5 stars

We loved our trip to the National park to see the elephants and we had a wonderful guide, Som who was very helpful and pointed out lots of things to us on our trip. So lucky to see a herd of wild elephants towards the end of the day. A magical day which we will always remember.

By: Karsten Andersen | posted Wed 7 Feb, 2024

A very interesting and exiting day, with a lot of views of elefants and gaurs. We were blessed with a very good guide (Som) and we had a very good day - all the time and money where spent in the right place. Thanks a lot.

By: annemarie mekenkamp | posted Sun 4 Feb, 2024

Very well organized. Friendly and helpful guide. Would recommend

By: Matthew Woolf | posted Sun 28 Jan, 2024

Brilliant tour that was well organised by TNP. Great wildlife watching (how many other places are you pretty much guaranteed to see wild Asian elephants with every visit), and loved having a local private guide who was able to tell me about the history of the park, how her local community has lived alongside elephants for decades, the wildlife the community lives alongside etc, and elephant behaviour. 10/10 brilliant day

By: Jeremy Pauli | posted Fri 26 Jan, 2024

We didn’t see many elephants and they were far away. Despite this, our guide Som was always trying to help find the best angle for me to take photos and was always in communication with others trying to find more animals. You could tell she loves being out there in the park and I would gladly take more tours with her

By: Nikki | posted Sun 21 Jan, 2024

We loved this tour - plus our guide (who spoke English)! A great experience if you're in the Hua Hin area.

By: Denise Wagener | posted Fri 12 Jan, 2024

Wonderful! Song was a fantastic tour guide!! And we were so lucky to see elefants, even a baby!!! Thank you for everything!!

By: Asher Teren | posted Wed 3 Jan, 2024

Our guide was fantastic. She was very friendly, interesting and knowledgeable. We saw lots of elephants and other fauna and flora.

By: Karen James | posted Sun 31 Dec, 2023

Fantastic experience. We were met by Som, who is incredibly knowledgable about the park, birds and animals. We were lucky enough to see several wild elephants in different locations throughout the park, lots of birds. The whole tour was a highlight of our holiday.

By: Christianus & Eline | posted Mon 25 Dec, 2023

Great experience. We were very lucky to have guide Som and local guide June to escort us during our stay. They were very knowledgeable and good conversation . We saw dozens of elephants and gaurs during a pleasant wild safari drive. The park was well maintained and the viewpoints as well. Driver Jay was excellent driver with professional attitude. It was worth it and pay a bit more for arranging the drive and transport from the hotel and back via thainationalparks.com :)

• (+66)086-9241-245
• Open Everyday
• [email protected]
• Reservation

• Raised: $2860
• Goal: $5000

Half Day - Elephant’s Heaven

Half Day Elephant’ Heaven:  is the First Step of Baanchang Elephant Care Project with the standard of “Elephant Conservation in Action” under the name of “Kanta Elephant Sanctuary”  A half-day package to KANTA ELEPHANT SANCTUARY offers visitors an enjoyable opportunity to spend quality time with elephants in their natural home, as well as gain an insi...

Full Day - Elephant’s Day Ca...

A Full - Day Elephant's Day Care offers visitors the opportunity to get to know each of the remarkable elephants and gain a special understanding of their daily lives and behaviors ( Plenty time with Elephants ) Activities: Feed, Cook Herbal Food for our Elephant, Roaming with Elephants in our Natural field, Enjoy bathing with Elephants, Enjoy Playing with our baby Elephants. ITINER...

A Change for the Better : No Elephant Riding Activity at Baanchang Elephant Park

Baan Chang Elephant Park is a small Thai family-run Park. Our family has cared for elephants for over 30 years, with each generation learning something new about the Asian elephant and their welfare. The Park is like a typical small, rural Thai village, where sixty people live and work together with our Elephants.

Animal welfare is paramount at Baan Chang Elephant Park. We consider that responsible and ethical elephant tourism will help to save the Asian elephant, but requires the highest level of care and husbandry. We are AGAINST unnatural and abusive practices and strive constantly to improve animal welfare and to promote education with the standard of “Elephant Conservation in Action”

We are determined to provide our elephants with the highest quality of life possible and our strong belief in human-elephant interaction is what makes Baan Chang Elephant Park so special. Our visitors are able to have a life-enhancing experience with these magnificent animals and learn about them in a natural and relaxed environment.

A Change for the Better :

An ethical and sustainable eco-tourism Elephant Sanctuary in Chiangmai. Animal welfare is at the heart of Baan Chang Elephant Park. We believe that education and the commitment to achieve the highest levels of care and husbandry are the best way to help save the Asian elephant.

No Elephant Riding Activity at Baanchang Elephant Park As there is concern about the welware, quality of life and well-being of elephants around the world, especially in Thailand; We “ Baanchang Elephant Park” agree to no longer offer elephant riding activity. This big move is aimed at providing our elephants with better living conditions, more independence and most importantly, better mental health. The removal of the elephant riding activity will also benefit tourists themselves as risks and dangers during elephant ride will be reduced. However, we will still continue our unique highlight activities at our elephant park, including allowing tourists to learn about elephant’s way of life and the relations between the elephants and their caretakers also known as mahouts, from the past to the present. Visitors will still have opportunities to interact with the elephants, gain knowledge and understanding about elephants through every program at our park. We ensure that visitors will be happy and impressed with what we have to offer. Thank you for your support.

How you can help us

Just call at (+66)089-6355-206 to information data, elephant lasted.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Do you take credit / debit card? Yes we do. However there is a surcharge : Visa 3% / Master % and Amex 6 % What should I bring on the tour?  Cameras, sun lotion, insect spray, sung...

THE IMPORTANCE OF ELEPHANT CONSERVATION

The IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) has listed the Asian Elephant as endangered with a decreasing population.  It is very difficult to accurately count elephant popul...

ETHICAL ELEPHANT TOURISM

At Baan Chang Elephant Park we strongly promote ethical elephant tourism and here’s why: In 1989, the Thai government banned logging in protected areas, basically closing all remaining natura...

Review from customer

I did the full day tour which including the poo poo park, very interesting to say the least! Once we got to the park we visited the two new babies and fed them, walked 5 different elephants and then bathed them. Quite a lot of information was shared of these beautiful animals.

TripAdvisor

Feeding, walking and washing elephants all before lunch - amazing experience!! The pleasant pickup from the hotel and friendly and helpful guide were a great start, but to see the elephants being well looked after and being able to interact with them naturally was amazing. Definately recommend Baanchang.

It was amazing, feeding, bathing, playing with the elephants. The tour guide was really kind and take great pictures with our camera.

Photo Gallery

Guide: guide tum, date of tour: 2024/04/17, date of tour: 2024/04/16, guide: puza, date of tour: 2024/04/14, date of tour: 2024/04/12, date of tour: 2024/04/09, date of tour: 2024/04/07, date of tour: 2024/04/06, date of tour: 2024/04/05, date of tour: 2024/04/04, date of tour: 2024/04/03, date of tour: 2024/04/02, date of tour: 2024/04/01, date of tour: 2024/03/31, guide: vinai, date of tour: 2024/03/30, date of tour: 2024/03/29.

JUNGLE LAKE SAFARI – 4 Days & 3 Nights

JUNGLE LAKE SAFARI – 3 Days & 2 Nights

Elephant Hills Rainforest Camp in the beautiful Khao Sok National Park, Thailand

One of the only luxury floating tented camps in the world.

Elephant Hills Rainforest Camp is floating on Cheow Larn Lake right in the heart of Khao Sok National Park. It is close to popular beach destinations like Phuket, Krabi and Koh Samui, yet the peace and tranquility you experience out there feels like out of this world.

20 Luxury Safari Tents, directly placed on the emerald green waters of Cheow Larn Lake, provide an intimate base for you to explore Southern Thailand’s tropical rainforest. Fully furnished with an en-suite bathroom with hot/cold water shower, a solid self-made double bed (or two twin beds), electricity and a lot of small details to guarantee the comfort you desire, Rainforest Camp is the perfect place to explore the stunning jungle lake it floats on as well as its surroundings. To protect nature, Rainforest Camp is designed in a highly responsible and sustainable way by using solar and wind energy and using a unique waste management system.

“ A not to be missed experience A wonderful place to visit. The tents were comfortable and had everything you would expect in a good hotel. We were there for 4 days. The organisation was phenomenal. ”

“ Lake visit and floating camp was our highlight We really enjoyed our 3 day 2 night day trip sandwiched between stays in a hotel in Khao Lak. It was wonderful to meet the older elephant ladies and stay in the jungle. ”

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Book our Exciting Jungle Lake Safari Tour!

Elephant Hills hosts two luxury tented camps in Khao Sok National Park, offering a well-rounded variety of tours. An overnight stay at Rainforest Camp is included in both Jungle Lake Safari tour packages, but cannot be booked individually. All Elephant Hills tour packages include and start with the unique, award-winning Elephant Experience and an overnight stay at The Elephant Camp :  Interact with Asia’s largest land animal and learn more about this endangered species from professional, English speaking and TAT-licensed tour guides.

JUNGLE LAKE SAFARI – 4 DAYS & 3 NIGHTS

JUNGLE LAKE SAFARI – 3 DAYS & 2 NIGHTS

On Day 2 of your Jungle Lake Safari, transfer out to Rainforest Camp for a night Relax and dip into the lukewarm water of the lake right from the porch of your tent. Enjoy the breathtaking scenery, explore the lake with your own kayak and spot the wildlife of the world’s oldest evergreen rainforest. Book your Rainforest Camp tour package here and let us take you on a once in a lifetime journey.

Images from the Rainforest

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Elephant Hills

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RAINFOREST CAMP ELEPHANT HILLS CO.,LTD

170 Moo 7 Tambon Klong Sok, Panom District, Suratthani, 84250 Thailand Telephone: +66 5200 1186 / +66 5200 1196 Fax: +66 5200 1186 / +66 5200 1196 Ext. 14 Email : [email protected]

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From 34,000 THB per adult, all inclusive.

From 22,410 THB per adult, all inclusive.

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Welcome to Hidden Forest Elephant Reserve

 feed, walk with, learn about &   observe our beautiful elephants , we are a genuine ethical elephant sanctuary in phuket co-founded by elephant specialists kong and louise rogerson, opened in nov 2023. ​ visit our stunning forest hidden away in the south of phuket and meet our four gorgeous rescued elephants who previously worked in the logging and riding  industries. ​ our sanctuary is peaceful and we keep our visitor groups small. you will have an incredible experience feeding, walking with, learning about and observing our elephants in their natural habitat and as they play in the ponds and graze in our forest. ​ we look forward to welcoming you into the magical world we have created for these beautiful endangered animals that we are dedicated to protecting. .

Visit our beautiful elephant reserve in Chalong, Southern Phuket

40 minutes from Patong

30 minutes from Karon and Kata

30 minutes from Phuket Town

20 minutes from Rawai

15 minutes from the Big Buddha Hill

A genuine ethical elephant sanctuary

Our breathtaking elephant sanctuary is nestled in the hills of southern Phuket and is home to six beautiful female elephants who are all rescued from the tourism riding industry. They are now able to roam freely, socialise with each other, and play naturally in the ponds, streams and muddy wallows throughout our land. After an an introduction video, you will meet and feed our elephants before going on a scenic walk throug h the forest, stopping at our Bamboo Observation Huts dotted along the way where you can sit quietly as our elephants go about their day. We don't follow a set route, our elephants are free to roam and forage, and if our elephants stop, we stop! They have had hard lives and they deserve the very best life we can give them. Step into our world, a true paradise forest home for elephants, and also a safe haven for an abund ance of wild birds with daily sightings of eagles soaring the skies, egrets swooping to the pond, and butterflies and dragonflies dancing in the breeze. We can't wait to show you the magic we have created for our elephants here at Hidden Forest.

Why We Don't Offer Bathing With Our Elephants 

In 2016, our co-founder, Louise Rogerson brought the first non-bathing project to Phuket. She holds a firm belief that elephants should enjoy their time bathing and playing on their own, and not with humans crowding around them.

Bathing freely allows elephant s positive mental and physical stimulation after a lifetime working hard and being controlled.  Wild elephants bathe in rivers, ponds, streams and muddy wallows without human interaction and this is exactly what our rescued elephants should enjoy too.

Elephants need space to splash, roll around, submerge, play, socialise, and cover themselves in mud and they are perfectly capable of doing this without  people in the water or mud crowding around them. It is not only dangerous but also very stressful for the elephants as it inhibits their natural behaviours and the mahouts must control the elephants so nobody gets hurt.  It is also unhygienic to bathe with elephants as they urinate and defecate when in the water, and people may suffer from eye or skin infections and sickness. 

Bathing with elephants does not put the welfare of the elephants first. We want our elephants to enjoy their day just as much as you, which is why we do not offer this activity at Hidden Forest. 

The video of Ton Oi really says it all! Imagine if there were people in the water with her, she wouldn't have any freedom to wade through the pond, fully submerge herself, play with the reeds and clumps of roots, and she certainly wouldn't be able to chase away wild egrets! You may also notice the silence in our video too. There aren't crowds of people bathing with or rubbing mud on the elephants, instead there is nothing but the silence of the forest... just as it's meant to be for elephants. 

KokChang Safari Elephant Trekking

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Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

KokChang Safari Elephant Trekking - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

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Thailand Elephant Tours & Trips

Do you want to touch a real elephant in Thailand ? Not riding an elephant, but taking care of them in their nature habitat, swimming with elephants and awesome jungle walks. UME offers ethical elephant experiences in Chiang Mai , Pattaya and Phuket , together with must-see landmarks over Thailand. Discover Thailand with an ethical elephant experience, which you'll remember for a lifetime. Say "hi" to this lovely creature now!

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How to enjoy elephant adventures in Thailand?

Elephant adventures in Thailand often take place at conservation reserves near Chiang Mai, Phuket，Bankok where elephants frequently live after they are rescued from harmful environments.

Initiatives are being taken to foster a more meaningful relationship between elephants and man, going beyond their usual trekking and elephant safari tours in Thailand.

We will provide you elephant tours in Thailand with an great opportunity to observe the elephants and to understand them. If you happen to love animals and want to establish a warm and friendly bond with the elephants, then Thailand is the ideal destination.

The Thai Elephant: National Symbol of Thailand

These majestic creatures have played an important role in our history and have contributed immensely to Thai culture . A symbol of strength, durability and longevity…a true reflection of Thailand!

13 ethical elephant sanctuaries in Thailand

Are you still looking for an authentic elephant experience?Let us check out  these responsible elephant sanctuaries tours that offer a natural and ethical way to see these incredible gentle  creatures!

Elephant Nature Park . Elephants at Elephant Nature Park (Shutterstock) ...

The Surin Project . ...

Boon Lott's Elephant Sanctuary. ...

Friends of the Asian Elephant Hospital. ...

Elephant Haven . ...

Burm and Emily's Elephant Sanctuary. ...

Elephants World . ...

Samui Elephant Sanctuary

Wildlife Friends Foundation

Phuket Elephant Sanctuary

Elephant Hills

Phang Nga Elephant Park

Into the Wild

So, Let us encounter a wonderful Thailand elephant tour program!

Do you know some of these interesting facts about Thailand elephant?

Are you excited to fall in love with elephants in Thailand ? Visiting Thailand presents perhaps your first opportunity to touch,by no riding them, We are here to present you the interesting quick facts before we go for a Elephant tour in Thailand .

Their living habits

Pregnant for Years

Baby elephant has a long childhood

Elephants can use tools

Elephants really do grieve like us

The only mammals that can't jump

Elephants use dirt as sunscreen – clean or dirty?

Big stomach

Strong family bond

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Elephants are important in tourism in Thailand

I believe many tourists visiting Thailand presents perhaps first opportunity to ride with elephant. But many of them are now aware of the harmful effects of elephant tourism . Animal welfare groups suggest avoiding elephant rides completely. Captive elephants may have been poached from the wild, “broken” through abusive means to accept riders and live in poor conditions as they are used for profit. Fortunately, there are now several moral parks and shelters where you can interact with elephants in a harmless environment.

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Destinations

• Southern Thailand
• Northern Thailand
• Kanchanaburi
• Koh Phangan
• Thailand Honeymoon
• Festival & Party
• Thailand Golf Tours
• Thai ladyboy
• All-inclusive Thailand
• Chiang Mai Elephant
• Phuket Elephant Tours

Travel Styles

• For Couples
• Singles and Solo
• Young Adults
• Small Group
• Elephant wildlife
• Off the beaten track

Tours From Thailand

Travel Guide

• Thai Elephant
• Elephant Sanctuaries in Thailand
• Elephant Jungle Sanctuary
• Elephant Nature Park
• Elephant Sanctuary Chiang Mai
• Elephant Sanctuary Phuket
• Elephant Sanctuary Bangkok

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