phuket thailand elephant safari

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Welcome to phuket elephant nature reserve.

An Accredited, Sustainable, Award-winning, and Ethical Elephant Sanctuary in Phuket

Over 1,000 5 Star Reviews

An absolutely unforgettable experience! The outstanding staff made our experience even more enjoyable! 

Absolute gem of a place!! Wonderful to observe the rescue elephants in such a relaxed atmosphere, just being elephants.

An unforgettable and relaxing day with elephants in an amazing camp to protect them – no riding (and) no plastic!

Elephant care in Phuket is our priority

Located on 30 Rai of lush jungle land, near the tropical beaches of west Phuket, we are an ethical elephant sanctuary with a strong focus on high welfare standards for our elephants. Feed, meet, and observe our rescued elephants as they play in the mud, splash in the water, and roam our land.

Our elephant activities in Phuket aren’t just unforgettable — they’re an enlightening journey of learning, care, and adventure. Please don’t hesitate to get in touch if you have any questions about our experiences or how we operate.

Half-Day Elephant Adventure in Phuket

Short 90-Minute Elephant Adventure in Phuket

Private Half-Day Phuket Elephant Adventure

Elephant welfare is our top priority, so we follow strict guidelines for welfare, nutrition, & vet care set out by international standards.

Educational

Learn about making biodegradable paper & biogas on our elephant dung recycling program, our hydroponic vegetable & herb gardens, strict recycling policies, & utilisation of solar power.

Sustainable

We have a strong focus on visitor education, providing love and care to our rescued elephants in a sustainable manner that eliminates stress while allowing visitors to enjoy a genuine connection & experience.

No riding! No chains! No bathing! No bull hooks!

Experience elephants as nature intended.

Welcome to the Most Ethical Elephant Sanctuary in Phuket

The Phuket Elephant Nature Reserve is an accredited and sustainable elephant sanctuary located on the west coast of the tropical island of Phuket, Thailand. Founded in 2019, elephant conservation is of the utmost importance to us, and the welfare of our rescued animals is our primary focus.

What to Expect at Phuket Elephant Nature Reserve

• Meet & feed our rescued elephants
• Beautiful nature jungle hike with the elephants
• Amazing natural photo opportunities
• Lush 30 rai protected sanctuary
• Strong focus on elephant welfare & education
• Vitamin Ball preparation and cooking area. Learn about the elephant's diet and why we need to supply supplementary vitamins to our elephants (Half-Day Elephant Adventure)
• Natural water features for our elephants to enjoy
• A truly ethical experience as nature intended!
• Learn all about the anatomy of elephants, their daily lives, and how we care for them in the Elephant Life & Vet Care area (Half-Day Elephant Adventure)
• Learn how to convert dung into paper in our Elephant Dung Recycling Centre (Half-Day Elephant Adventure)
• Enjoy the Observation Deck Ban Chang Restaurant Phuket
• Complimentary Thai cooking demonstration (Half-Day Program)
• Bathrooms & lockers available
• And of course, a truly amazing experience!

Why Phuket Elephant Nature Reserve doesn’t allow bathing with our elephants

In the wild, elephants love to bathe in rivers, ponds, streams, and muddy wallows. They need space to splash, roll around, submerge, and cover themselves in mud. Elephants like peace and quiet, not loud groups of visitors throwing mud or buckets of water at them.

When people crowd around elephants, they find it very stressful. And to allow this to happen in the first place, the mahout needs to control the elephant by forcing it to stand still or lie down. this denies the elephant’s natural behaviour, instincts, and freedoms.

Bathing is also unhygienic for visitors as the elephants urinate and defecate when entering the water, which may cause eye infections and sickness. There are also accidents with people slipping in the mud which is dangerous when there is a three-tonne elephant close by.

Our elephant activities in Phuket limit contact for many reasons, but mostly so our elephants can be free of constant human touch. We want our elephants to enjoy their day just as much as you.

By standing back, you can take the most amazing photos and videos, allowing you to remember your special day with our elephants while playing your part in promoting better standards for elephant care in Phuket.

Read more on this topic in our blog Why Bathing with Elephants is Unhygienic and Unethical .

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People Also Ask About Phuket

Where can you ride elephants in phuket.

1. Patong Beach:  For wildlife enthusiasts, the area around Patong Beach is one of the most sought-after spots for elephant trekking. Being one of the longest-running trekking routes you will ride across forested hills that overlook the stunning Patong Bay. Another special feature of this safari is you can take pictures and selfies with baby elephants. 2. Chalong:  The excursions take you through the areas of northern Phuket in Chalong and Khao Sok and allow you to get an insight into the local culture of the Thai people. From short 30-45 minutes’ hurricane tour to full-day tours (4 in 1 safari) and overnight safaris (Elephant Hill Safaris), all are combined with several enjoyable activities for the adventurous tourists. 3. Kata Noi:  The exotic location of the camp in close proximity to the Kata Viewpoint with great mountain and forest views in the backdrop draws hoards of adventure lovers during the high season. The elephant safaris allow you to know about Thai culture and the history of Thailand’s national animals through interactive sessions with them. You can go for short treks on the elephant’s back into the core jungle through scenic trails and ocean views. 4. Kathu: Trek along the Chalong Bay on an elephant's back and experience the unfiltered charm of tropical forests. There are twelve healthy elephants that are taken good care of and will take you comfortably through the scenic jungle terrain. Must Book -  Phuket Packages From Bangalore

Which are the famous hiking trails in Phuket?

1. Kathu waterfall:  A series of small tarns and a short waterfall which gushes with water during monsoon is the highlight of Kathu. It is the hike up to the waterfall through forest trails and drop pools which draws tourists to visit the place. Atop the waterfall the stunning panorama of the forestland bewitches every eye that beholds the sight. 2. Khao Sok National Park:  Go for a hike along a forest terrain with thriving flora and fauna and several scenic lakes and reach the core jungle area. The biodiversity of the park consists of Rafflesia gibbons, tigers and others which offers a visual treat to the hikers. 3. Samet Nangshe Viewpoint:  Located in the outskirts of Phuket, Samer Nangshe offers views of Phang Nga Bay like no other place in Phuket. You can feast your eyes on limestone islets surrounded by mangrove forests throughout your hike. If you start your journey in the wee hours, you can witness one of the best sunrises of your life from this viewpoint. 4. Kata Beach to Big Buddha: A steep hike from the Kata Beach takes you to the Big Buddha statue which is perched atop the Nakkerd Hill. The unique feature of this statue is it is visible from various points of the island. The sunrise and sunset views from the hilltop are simply breathtaking and worth capturing in your camera. Book Now -  Phuket Packages From Delhi

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Phuket Top Attractions

Phuket Big Buddha is one of the most significant and admired landmarks in Phuket, Thailand. It is the third tallest statue in Thailand after Luangpho Yai and the Great Buddha of Thailand.  If you're planning a Thailand trip from India, exploring iconic sites like the Phuket Big Buddha can be a captivating part of your itinerary. The marvelous statue of the Great Buddha of Phuket is nestled on top of the Nakkerd Hills between Kata and Chalong. The Big Buddha Statue is structured to a height of 45 meters, while the lap of the statue is around 25 meters wide.The Big Buddha built during the year 2004 is devoted to the late King of Thailand, His Majesty Bhumibol Adulyadej. There is a tiny Buddha placed beside the large statue made from brass, which is dedicated to Her Majesty Queen Sirikit.The entire body of the Big Buddha has a layer of magnificent Burmese white jade marble that glistens in the sun. A tiny Buddha sits next to the Phuket Big Buddha which is completely made of 20 tonnes of brass. However, it has a golden color to it. Popularly known as Phra Phutta Ming Mongkol Eknakiri, the massive statue offers a 360-degree view of the island with extensive vistas of Kata, Karon, Chalong Bay, and Phuket town, thereby providing a meditative atmosphere for the tourists.The surrounding atmosphere of the Phuket Big Buddha is relatively peaceful. You can only hear the tinkling of tiny bells and the large bell going after every 7 minutes. Soft Dharma music fills the entire background of the serene atmosphere of Phuket Big Buddha. The funds of this tourist destination come entirely from the heavy donations by the visitors. At the base of the Big Buddha Statue, there is a hall that displays the history of the construction, some teachings of Buddhism, and plenty of donation boxes. You are not allowed to visit the site in beachwear, short skirts, and T-shirts containing offensive images as it is a religious place. You can also witness the novice ordination of the son of the family. It is a sign of pride for the entire family. Thus, the visitors also feel mesmerized to watch the ceremony of leaving the worldly things of life and attain Nirvana.

Old Phuket Town happens to be a place that takes you down in the memory lane on a cultural walk through some of the beautiful traditional architectures and marketplaces. The township is located on the eastern side of Phuket Island and is considered to be the capital of various shades of culture. Adding this place to your Thailand travel packages, you will get a chance to enjoy the traditional and Sino-Portuguese architecture. The township was brought into being in the 19th century and it has been able to earn a good name from the tin trade. Old Phuket township is also very much famous for being home to a number of cafes and restaurants that delight the taste buds of visitors with unique local delicacies like Dubik, Ranong, Rasada, Yaowarat, Krabi and Thalang. You will truly be amazed by the rich flavour of Thailand as well as get a chance to explore the exquisite combination of fresh ingredients and species. Old Phuket town can also be considered as a paradise for history and photography buffs. The township is home to some of the age-old structures and heritage sites giving a chance to the visitors to trace facts and capture some of the best pictures to cherish the moments.

Phuket Fantasea is located on Kamala beach and is known for its fine dining options, Thai theatre, and colorful events. This award-winning park is built over an area of 140 acres. With a Thailand trip package from India visitors can get a unique opportunity to experience Thai culture and traditions through mind-blowing and spectacular performances. The show is inspired by Thai mythology, folklore, and legends which forms the main attraction of the park. It offers a combination of 4-dimensional theatre effects, magnificent audio-visual effects, and magical illusion. The exhibition of the Legend Of Kingdom leaves you amazed with its fantastic blend of fireworks, music, and dance. The Phuket Fantasea is also quite well-known for its live street performances, cultural parades, and pageants. The carnival mascots are a main attraction of the street performances and are often seen chatting with the visitors and their kids. The park also features a plethora of exhibitions featuring traditional arts and crafts, organized by local craftsmen. The place offers a great shopping experience for the visitors at its Festival Village, participating in various exciting games while exploring the park. They can have a marvelous dining experience at the various restaurants, including the Golden Kinnaree, Asia’s biggest restaurant that has a seating capacity of 4000 people.

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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. 

Phuket Elephant Sanctuary

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A Morning with the Elephants at Phuket Elephant Sanctuary

An Afternoon with the Elephants at Phuket Elephant Sanctuary

Phuket Elephant Sanctuary Canopy Walkway Tour

Full-Day Phuket Elephant Sanctuary Tour with Lunch and Dinner

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

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

Phuket Elephant Sanctuary - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

Experience the Magnificent Elephant Safari in Phuket

Elephant safari in Phuket is not just a simple tourist attraction; it’s a journey into the heart of Thailand’s majestic fauna, a communion with nature that leaves an indelible imprint on the hearts of the travellers. Join us as we explore the remarkable features and benefits of partaking in this jungle adventure.

What Makes Elephant Safari in Phuket Unique?

1. intimate interaction with the gentle giants.

Elephants, Thailand’s national symbol, are revered and cherished. Interacting with these gentle giants is a significant highlight of the Elephant safari in Phuket. You get to feed them, bathe them, and even learn about their daily routines. This hands-on experience appeals to both children and adults, creating unforgettable memories.

2. Stunning Natural Backdrop

The Elephant safari takes place amidst Phuket’s lush green vegetation, providing a breathtaking natural backdrop. You will traverse through verdant jungles and rolling hills, taking in the panoramic scenery, which includes waterfalls, rivers, and stunning views of the Andaman Sea.

3. Knowledgeable and Caring Guides

An elephant safari in Phuket is conducted by knowledgeable guides who provide insightful information about the elephants, their habits, diet, and other nuances. They also ensure the well-being of the elephants.

Why Should You Choose an Elephant Safari in Phuket?

1. ethical treatment of elephants.

There has been increasing concern over the welfare and ethical treatment of elephants used in tourism in Thailand. Fortunately, many elephant safari tours in Phuket have made significant strides towards ethical elephant tourism. They ensure that they provide a safe, happy, and healthy environment for these majestic creatures.

2. An Adventure for All Ages

An elephant safari is a thrilling adventure that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. It’s a fantastic way to introduce children to wildlife and nature, while adults will appreciate the peaceful serenity and the joy of interacting with elephants.

3. An Opportunity to Learn

The elephant safari offers a great educational opportunity as guides share interesting facts and trivia about Thai history, culture, and, obviously, elephants.

What Can You Expect During An Elephant Safari in Phuket?

Upon arrival at the safari camp, you will be welcomed by the friendly staff who will brief you on the itinerary. You will then be introduced to the elephants and their mahouts (caretakers). You can feed the elephants, interact with them, and even help with their bath.

A typical elephant safari tour also includes a ride on the elephant’s back, taking you through the thick jungles and plantations. Some tours also offer a traditional Thai meal or snacks amidst the jungle setting.

Final Thoughts

An elephant safari in Phuket is not just a tourist attraction. It’s a chance to get up close and personal with elephants, learn about their lives, and contribute to their care and welfare. It’s a heartwarming and eye-opening experience, serving as a gentle reminder of the beauty and grandeur of nature that we often take for granted. So, make sure you don’t miss out on this remarkable experience during your visit to Phuket!

Are you ready for the unforgettable Elephant Safari in Phuket?

Every journey is a new chapter in the book of life. Make your visit to Phuket count by embarking on an elephant safari, an adventure that will stay with you long after you’ve returned home.

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PHUKET’S FIRST & MOST ETHICAL ELEPHANT SANCTUARY

Where elephants roam & bathe freely.

A Half Day Program

(morning or afternoon).

PES Canopy Walkway Program

Explore thailand's longest canopy walkway.

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Siam Safari and Elephant Trekking in Phuket

Asia , Destinations , Phuket , Thailand

Elephant Trekking is one of the top things to do with kids in Phuket, Thailand.   When visiting Thailand, you can’t help but notice elephants everywhere, from elephant motifs on souvenirs to wooden elephant statues.  Elephants are revered in Thailand, and going on an elephant safari is something that many would love to include in their travel bucket list.

However, after reading numerous comments about how unethical elephant tourism is, we were a little apprehensive.  Fortunately, the elephant camp at Siam Safari Nature Tours is an elephant camp (and the only one in Phuket and Southern Thailand) that is certified by the Royal Thai Government and follows international safety standards.

Elephant Trekking at Siam Safari

Before the ride, we were introduced to the elephants and their professional handlers (also known as mahouts).

Each elephant can take 2 persons on average, or 1 adult and 2 children, excluding the mahout.  The elephant trek is about 30 to 45 minutes through a lush jungle.

About halfway through the trek, we were treated with a fabulous view of Chalong Bay and its many islands.

Coffee Break

After the elephant trekking, a light snack of Thai coconut and corn pancakes were served together with aromatic Thai coffee or tea.

While having our coffee break, the kiddos got to see how a water buffalo ploughs through a rice paddy field.

We were also given a chance to ride on a wooden cart pulled by the buffalo.

Learning about Rice Farming

The kiddos learned a little bit about rice farming at Siam Safari.  They were able to see different stages of growth of the rice paddy fields.

They also learned the traditional way rice is processed after harvest.

After much pounding and tossing, they saw how rice grains get separated from the husks.

Thai Curry Cooking Demonstration

Next, we learned how Thai curry is prepared.

We also learned many things about coconut, from coconut husking, grating, and producing coconut oil and toasted coconut.

After the curry and coconut oil demonstrations, we visited a rubber plantation and learned how rubber tapping is done, and how the rubber sap is used to produce natural rubber.

Meet Siam Safari’s Young Elephants

At Siam Safari, visitors had the the opportunity to interact with the young elephants.  My girl was happy to be given a chance to feed the baby elephant.

The young elephants put on a show for its guests and even demonstrated their ability to paint.

We ended our memorable Siam Safari tour with a Thai buffet lunch overlooking the hills of Phuket.

Tips on visiting Siam Safari

• You can arrange book either a morning or afternoon tour. The morning tour starts at 9am while the afternoon tour starts at 2pm. Tickets can be purchased online through their official site www.siamsafari.com .
• Round-trip hotel transfers are included in the tour price.

Where to Stay in Phuket

There are plenty of hotels in Phuket.  Find available hotels and the great rates here -> Hotels in Phuket .

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About The Author

Rosie is a mummy to 3 kids. She enjoys going on travel adventures with her family. Her trips are free-and-easy, family-oriented and mostly budget-friendly.

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WELCOME TO PHUKET ECO ELEPHANT SANCTUARY PARK

Phuket Eco Elephant Park, we do concern and emphasize on Elephants ’s welfare as our core policies and first priority, No Riding, No Chains , No Abuses !!! At elephant park is where elephants can live happily and enjoy the rest of their life time, you are going to see how lovely and friendly they are.

At elephant care parks, you and family will enjoy your days like no one others because of, we do limit the amount of visitors per day, this is good for you, your family and good for our lovely elephants either, because of elephants will not get stressful by a lot of people . You and your family will have a chance to gel close to elephants and their herd , to discover how lovely they are , learn to take care them properly guided by our team meanwhile get informations about their behavior, daily life to understand them much more.

• Learn and get information, elephant ’s daily life, observing what they are happy to do during a day.
• Enjoy preparing & feeding elephants their favorite fruits, bananas water melons, pine apples.
• Learn how to take care elephants likes an elephant keeper, cool their body temperature down by shower or bath with elephants

* Our trusted elephant care park applied the “Amazing Thailand Safety Health Administration Plus: (SHA Plus+)” standards under the Tourism Authority of Thailand certification.

Easy & Relaxing Trips Happy Elephant Cares Package ( Approximately time 1 - 2 Hours )

Why do we have to take care captive or house elephants properly and we shall not ride them?

Do you know, elephants they spend time over 10 hours for getting foods everyday. For mature elephants they can eat up to 100 - 150 Kilograms per day they spend time almost 10 hours just for consuming and sleep only few hours. During a day after eating foods, elephants really enjoy bathing with their herd, the main purpose of bathing just to cool off and to enhance their skin. As they have minimal hair and sweat glands, they find it difficult to cool off under the harsh sun, take them to have a bath, it is a must do for every elephant care keepers or owners must do to ensure elephants will feel most comfortable during the day and yes this will be your unforgettable experience to try this once in your life time.

Learn and enjoy how to take care elephant properly to make the, being happier and healthier in each day, let elephants be elephants, enjoy learning how to take care elephants as an elephant keeper in a proper ways. Live Learn & Fun !!!

Suits for all ages , special for children, who would you like to experience and take care elephants. Our program available for both morning and afternoon slots. The morning program starts from 09.00 -11.00 A.M. and the afternoon program starts from 01.00 - 04.00 P.M.

Enjoy having bathing with elephants to cool them down in hot weather, it is a must do. Elephants need to cool off during a day, they do not have sweat gland on their massive body. Have bathing or get showering is the quick way to cool them off and make our big gentle giants friends are being more comfortable. This program is highly recommended for family with children, or small kids.

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Have you been dreaming of bathing or swimming with elephants in the sea ? Here at elephant park we can make your dream come true and do not worry we do not do only bathing and get pictures, you are going to help us to take care them properly as well, this will be one of your unforgettable experience s in Phuket.

Do you know ? during a day after eating foods, elephants really enjoy bathing , to cool off and to enhance their skin. Elephants may look like they are having a lot of fun rolling in the water or around in the mud, it also serves a critical purpose for them. As they have minimal hair and sweat glands, they find it difficult to cool off under the harsh sun, take them to have a bath, or mud spa it is a must do for every elephant keepers or owners must do to ensure elephants will feel most comfortable during the day.

If you do not want to go into the water or do water activities with elephants this is the easiest trip for you.

Experience and enjoy your unforgettable time with our elephants . Enjoy learning how to prepare foods for elephants , feeding, preparing them special supplements, enjoy watching elephant enjoy their eating time without going into the water. If you are looking for the trip where you and family can spend time with elephants in the easiest way of taking care elephants.

How wonderful to spend time for 3 hours with big gentle giants and their herd, you are going to discover how clever they are, and you are going to take care your big gentle giant friends properly. All the activities you do , are necessary for elephants they need it during the day. Come and spend time with us, being as elephant keepers for unforgettable experience.

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  Elephant Hills Jungle Safari  

This unforgettable three-day experience is a must-add to a Phuket, Khao Lak or Krabi holiday. Break up a relaxing beach escape with an adventure into the jungle to see more of Thailand’s diverse landscapes and meet its beautiful national animal, the Asian elephant.

You’ll have the privilege of spending time with these gentle giants at an award-winning elephant sanctuary tucked away in Khao Sok National Park. Plus, you’ll get to explore one of the world’s oldest rainforests and take a long-tail boat ride on otherworldly Cheow Larn Lake.

Recommended itinerary

Transfer to Khao Sok National Park in the Phang Nga province, passing through rural landscapes along the way. Arrive at Elephant Hills Camp, set in jungle-clad hills. After lunch, head out with a guide on a relaxing canoe ride down the Sok River. Drift past towering limestone mountains, lush jungle and ancient rainforest. Then it’s time to visit the sanctuary and meet the elephants. Learn about the conservation and responsible tourism efforts and have the rare opportunity to spend time up close with these magnificent creatures. Watch them bathe and help prepare their food while hearing about their overall wellbeing. After an adventurous day, enjoy a memorable dinner in the rainforest.

Elephant Experience at Elephant Hills Luxury Tented Camp Khao Sok National Park

Elephant Hills Khao Sok National Park

Wake to the sounds of the wild and tuck into breakfast. Today’s main activity is a trip to lesser-visited Cheow Larn Lake – a huge man-made lake with lush limestone peaks rising out of the water. Hop into a local long-tail boat to see this remarkable landscape up close – you can even swim in the warm waters. For lunch, you’ll stop at Rainforest Camp, where you’ll have some free time. Back at Elephant Hills Camp, swap stories while enjoying a delicious dinner.

Elephant Hills Rainforest Camp Cheow Larn Lake Khao Sok National Park

Khao Sok National Park

Enjoy a morning of activities and explore one of the world’s oldest rainforests on a leisurely jungle trek, where your guide will introduce you to tropical flora, and help you to spot a variety of wildlife. A buffet lunch will be waiting for you back at camp and there will be time to refresh before heading to the pier to travel on to Phuket (approx. 3½ hours by car), Khao Lak (approx. 2½ hours by car), Koh Samui (approx. 5½ hours by car and ferry) or Krabi (approx. 3 hours by car).

Blue Winged Pitta Bird, Elephant Hills Khao Sok National Park

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Luxury Travel Blog

The Unpretentious Guide to Luxury Travel

Elephant Hills tented camp in Thailand, an ethical animal experience

Elephant Hills Tented Camp in Thailand offers outdoor adventure and an ethical animal experience in a jungle setting. 

This post may contain affiliate links.

Looking for an outdoor adventure in Thailand? Elephant Hills Tented Camp, two hours from Phuket, is an award-winning luxury jungle camp that offers an ethical animal experience in a remote jungle setting. 

Elephant Hills

Turns out I’m pretty good with a machete. This comes in handy when preparing a meal for an elephant. I look up from my table at the sky. Ominous clouds are threatening, the air is hot and humid and the craggy mountains of Khao Sok National Park are hemming me in. It couldn’t feel more exotic. Now let’s just hope my elephant likes her lunch.

An ethical animal encounter

Elephant Hills Tented Camp in southern Thailand is a non-exploitive animal experience that won a Thailand Green Excellence Award for Animal Welfare in 2014, 2015, and 2016. It’s also a luxury experience, though I wouldn’t call it ultra glam. Let’s call it ‘basic luxury,’ as in comfy bed with crisp clean sheets in your tent, electricity, attached bathroom with shower, and private outdoor seating area. There is also has a central communal area with an open-air restaurant and an outdoor pool.

Things to do at Elephant Hills Camp

You won’t be spending much time at the pool. Aside from the elephant experience there are treks in the hills, lazy trips down the Sok River, Thai cooking demonstrations, cultural dance shows and elephant documentaries to see. There is also the chance to travel deep into the jungle interior to the Elephant Hills floating  Rainforest Camp at Cheow Larn Lake , one of few floating camps in the world.

The real luxury at Elephant Hills is the setting: sheer cliffs that look as if they’re dripping ink, strange karst formations and foliage as thick as a hipster’s beard.

It’s also the chance to interact with Asian elephants in a respectful way, and of having the satisfaction of knowing the resort’s 16 elephants have plenty of room to roam and forage. Each elephant has its own full time mahout , an elephant handler, so that each animal has a sense of continuity and security.

A honeymoon destination in Thailand

The ethical treatment of the elephants is one of the main reasons Elephant Hills Tented Camp and its sister camp, the Rainforest Tented Camp on Cheow Larn Lake, are so popular with adventurous honeymooners, and if I meet one more happy couple I’m going to take my solo self into a corner and cry.

But don’t worry. They’ll be tears of joy, because there are plenty of things to fall in love with at Elephant Hills besides a partner.

What’s to love about Elephant Hills Tented Camp?

The elephant experience

This gentle interaction between elephants and guests means there is no elephant riding and the elephants don’t perform tricks. Your time with them is limited to approximately  1.5 to 2 hours.

How do you interact?

You’ll be watching the elephants splash around in their mud pool (although I only saw one, as the others didn’t feel like it that morning). You’ll help scrub them down with coconut fibres to clean their leathery skin and prepare them a fresh meal.

The elephant scrub down has some complications

Armed with buckets, I’m teamed up with a middle-aged British couple to scrub down an elephant named Tidtang. Tidtang accepts the attention as her due, and reminds me of a dowager Queen Victoria getting dressed by her attendants.

The problem is the male half of the British couple. I think he has a vendetta against me. Either that or he thinks I look dirtier than Tidtang because he kept tossing buckets of water over her muddy back and on to me, leaving streaks of mud down my shirt and soaking my hair.

I try not to take it personally. It’s a mud bath , I tell myself. People pay top dollar for spa treatments like this.

Then he does the same thing to his wife. “Thanks for that,” she says, and I realize he’s just taking his scrubbing job very very seriously. I’m sure Tidtang appreciates it. (Unlike me or his wife.)

After scrubbing we watch the elephants lumber around their grassy field. Within five minutes two of the elephants – I swear one is Tidtang – take a great trunkful of rust-coloured dirt from the ground and spray it over their backs. I don’t dare look at the American man’s face. I know I’ll roar with laughter because all his hard work has gone to waste and then everyone will know I’m not a team player.

(I sometimes struggle with being a team player.)

Preparing an elephant meal

If you like wielding a machete preparing a meal for an elephant is great fun. At least it is until I split a pineapple and half of it goes flying across the room. In my defence I’d like to stress my pineapple projectile did not hit anyone, leastwise the British man, and that no animals were harmed in the process. I was just taking my food preparation job very very seriously.

Once we’ve prepared the food in our ‘human viewing area,’ which is sort of like a picnic shelter, we take our filled baskets to the wooden counter that surrounds us. The elephants trundle over expectantly. I’m holding out a bundle of tamarind, ready to feed an elephant named Moddang. Ignoring my hand, she reaches her trunk over the counter and gives me a great sloppy kiss on my breast.

“Er, that’s not a pineapple,” I said.

The blotch, combined with the mud streaks, makes me look like the world’s biggest loser of a wet T-shirt contest, but Moddang doesn’t seem to mind, not when stalks of sugarcane are involved. I don’t mind either, because not only have I had a fantastic up-close experience with the elephants, I’m one of a few people on earth who can say an elephant groped her breast.

Travel Guide for visiting Elephant Hills Tented Camp in Thailand

What is included in your package.

Packages at Elephant Hills are all inclusive. Meals, activities, transfers and accommodations are included – pretty much everything but tips and souvenirs.

Where is Elephant Hills?

Elephant Hills tented camp is in Southern Thailand about two hours’ drive from Phuket.

How do you get there?

Transfers to the camp are included in the package price and are offered from many different locations including Phuket, Krabi and even Koh Samui.

Packages at Elephant Hills

The most popular tour is the Jungle Lake Safari , a 3-day 2-night soft adventure that gives you one night at the Elephant Hills Tented Camp and one at their floating Rainforest Tented Camp on Cheow Larn Lake. If you want to stay at the Rainforest Camp book early. The remote location is a big draw for honeymooners and there are only 20 tents at the floating camp, as opposed to 35 tents at Elephant Hills.

Elephant Hills cost

Prices for a Jungle Lake Safari start at 20,372 THB per adult (about $625 USD).

Other packages:

A Rainforest Nature Safari is tailored especially for seniors and the Family Jungle Safari for families. There is truly something for everyone. Visit the Elephant Hills website for more information on packages, their charitable projects and elephants in Thailand.

Looking for more exotic places to stay in Thailand? Check out my  Sri panwa Phuket review , a  Tubkaak Resort review  and my review of Keemala Phuket .

Note: My stay was arranged by the the  Tourism Authority of Thailand . All opinions and machete slicing are my own.

Sharing is caring!

About Carol Perehudoff

A former freelance travel columnist for the Toronto Star, Carol has won more than 30 writing awards and honours. A spa and luxury travel expert, she’s written for top travel publications around the globe.

Reader Interactions

Staying at elephant Hills tented camps seems like a complete experience in itself. Great to know that elephants are cared well and they have dedicated Mahouts. I would have actually panicked and shouted if elephant would have touched me with its trunk. It is a lovely read and seems you had a great time here

It’s so good to hear about an “ethical” elephant experience in Thailand. Years ago, riding elephants was the “must do” experience there. We did that (and also got to bathe and feed the elephants). But after seeing (on safari) how differently elephants behave in the wild in Africa, we now understand that Asian elephants in Thailand really shouldn’t be ridden (they say you have to break an elephant’s spirit to get it to accept a human rider). Times are changing, and as we understand more about our fellow animal creatures who share this earth, hopefully we come to respect and treat them better… So kudos to Elephant Hills Tented Camp :-).

Thanks, Nathan. It truly is a unique experience and their sister floating tent camp is also worth checking out.

No, I wasn’t afraid of the elephants, Nathalie. Their mahout was always nearby and the elephant felt safe, so I did, too.

You’re right. Ethical animal experiences can be hard to find and to judge, Medha. It’s nice to find a few good ones.

I think Elephant Hills could be a great educational experience, Julie.

Thanks so much, Dorene. It is a kind of rustic luxury paradise in Thailand.

I loved reading this Carol, this sounds like paradise to me (even if its more of an affordable luxury getaway) and it really sounds like an ethical elephant experience, yet you can still be up close and personal with the animals. I would have loved the elephant scrubdown, even if they want to get you wet and dirtier than the elephants. Sounds like there is lots to do there culture and animals. Your easily locatable travel guide at the end with info is a nice touch!

This sounds like a dream!! I’d love to take my family to experience the elephants and teach them about the ethical ways to go about that! It actually sounds like a reasonable price and I’m all for luxury!! Lol. Great read and very valuable information for my bucket list!

I’m glad to hear of places that have ethical experiences pertaining to animals because it has become way too common to read about their ill-treatment and I always want to make sure that the experiences I choose are of places which treat animals right, that’s hard to judge many times. Thanks for bringing this one up.

This is a great alternative to the Elephant riding tours that I see everywhere. I would love to experience this, Elephant Hill really seems to care for the Elephants, which is important to me, as I don’t want to contribute towards anything that is unethical on my travels!

Thanks for bringing this place to my attention! I will definitely visit when I return to Thailand!

I’ve never been to this particular camp but I’m glad they focus on ethical treatment. Having lived in Thailand, I know many of the camps did not. This one looks great– I would be happy to recommend it!

When I was in Thailand, I went to an elephant camp. I saw how well they were treated and made the experience enjoyable. The Elephant Hills Tented Camp has a great package. $625 is such a great price for this experience. I loved how you were able to interact with the elephants. How was it to scrub the elephant? Were you afraid?

The elephants have a large area to roam in, Tanvi. I asked a mahout, who told me half a mountain. But they aren’t wild. Sadly, it’s very hard for elephants to survive in the wild nowadays.

Haha, Jennifer. He had control of the hose. I settled for exfoliating the elephant’s trunk.

wow camping with the elephants where elephants aren’t held captive sounds like a great place to interact with animals.. Your experience is amazing and also this is something offbeat that one can do when in Thailand.. Great info!

I think I would have splashed yer man right back! Then again, I suppose things might have escalated into a full blown water fight and with elephants, I suspect that humans would have lost that battle. Glad you had such a great time communing with the elephants. This sounds like an amazing experience and one that I plan to add to my travel wishlist!

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Thailand Trip Expert

All about Thailand travel

The 4 Best Places to See Elephants in Phuket

If you are travelling to Phuket, Thailand, and want to see elephants roaming around freely in their natural environment, head to one of the island’s elephant sanctuaries. One can spend a morning or an afternoon walking amongst these majestic giants, learning about their important link to Thai culture. 

The best places to see elephants in Phuket are the Phuket Elephant Sanctuary, near Paklok, the Elephant Retirement Park, near Bangtao Beach, the Elephant Jungle Sanctuary, near Naithon Beach, and the Phang Nga Elephant Park. Do not support places that offer elephant rides or shows.

Many places in Thailand have elephants, but not all of the places offering tourists elephant experiences are ethical to visit. When booking your elephant encounter, make sure you support a place that puts the welfare of these beautiful animals first. It is magical spending time with elephants in a quiet, peaceful environment. 

Elephants in Phuket

The Asian elephant is indigenous to Thailand. A century ago, when Thailand was still called the Kingdom of Siam , there were around 100 000 elephants . Elephants were domesticated and used for work and for war. They played a key role in Thai society.

Today, Thailand has about 3800 domesticated elephants and about 3000 wild elephants. Phuket is home to 235 of these elephants – the exact number is known because the large pachyderms all need to be registered on a government database. 

Visit an Elephant Sanctuary or Retirement Park

One will see elephants everywhere you go in Thailand. They are, after all, the national symbol of the country. Elephants have played an essential role in Thai culture and society for hundreds of years. 

When visiting Phuket, one should definitely plan to experience an encounter with these majestic beasts because it is fascinating to learn about the mahouts’ – traditional elephant keepers – deep relationship s with their elephants. 

Unfortunately, the popularity of elephant tourism has led to animal rights issues , so one needs to be very selective about which places you go to spend time with elephants. 

It is best to visit elephant sanctuaries or retirement parks , where riding and shows are not offered, and the animals’ welfare is the top priority. These places strive to educate people from around the world about ethical elephant tourism, elephant poaching and the plight of elephants in the logging and trekking industries .

What to Do at an Elephant Sanctuary

All the elephant sanctuaries and retirement parks in this article offer either half-day or whole-day tours. Visitors can choose to spend either a morning or afternoon with the elephants.

There are many different, interesting activities to do at elephant sanctuaries:

• Observe elephants and their fascinating behaviors while they play together, feed on vegetation, bathe in the mud, or go for a swim.
• Go on jungle walks alongside the elephants .
• See how mahouts prepare the elephants’ daily feed .
• Help feed the elephants and give them their dietary supplements.
• Observe the mahouts perform health checks on the elephants .
• Volunteer to help the sanctuary by planting banana trees for the elephants to eat .
• Pose for photos alongside the elephants (strictly no flash photography).

Some but not all places allow visitors to bathe the elephants with mud and swim with the elephants.

Sanctuaries and parks offer the following educational activities:

• Video presentations teach visitors about the history of elephants in Thailand.
• English-speaking mahouts and park guides talk to visitors about the plight of Asian elephants and one can learn individual rescued elephants’ stories.
• Guides and mahouts also teach guests about the key role that elephants play in natural ecosystems and the importance of elephant conservation.

If you get hungry after all the activities, all the sanctuaries and parks offer guests a buffet-style lunch consisting of traditional home-cooked Thai foods, snacks, and refreshments (coffee, teas, water, soft drinks). 

Things to Bring to an Elephant Sanctuary

Remember to take the following items with you when you visit the elephants:

• A hat and sunscreen . You will be spending a lot of time in the sun, so come prepared with protection.
• Insect repellent . There are loads of mosquitos in the jungle.
• Comfortable walking shoes . Wear shoes that are good for walking around on uneven terrain. They might get muddy, so avoid wearing your white sneakers!
• Bathing suit and towel . Depending on where you visit, you may have the opportunity to bathe the elephants or swim with them. 
• Change of clothes . You will get really messy if you join the elephants for a mud bath, so it is best to pack a second outfit.
• Camera . Elephant sanctuaries and parks have photographers available to get the perfect shot of you and the elephants, but it is always nice to bring your own camera so that you do not miss out on any photo opportunities. Do not use your flash! 

The Four Best Places to See Elephants in Phuket

The following places provide wonderful experiences with elephants and are 100% committed to ethical elephant tourism practices:

• The Phuket Elephant Sanctuary , near Paklok.
• The Elephant Retirement Park , near Bangtao Beach .
• The Elephant Jungle Sanctuary , near Naithon Beach.
• Phang Nga Elephant Park in the small, rural village of Phang Nga.

The Phuket Elephant Sanctuary

Dedicated to the ethical treatment of elephants, Phuket Elephant Sanctuary is a fantastic place to see elephants that are at peace in their environment. Tourists can watch the animals from a safe distance , playing, bathing, and relaxing in the forest.

This sanctuary strictly prohibits touching the elephants, flash photography , and does not offer elephant rides or shows . The welfare of the animals is of the utmost importance, and guests to the sanctuary need to respect the animals.

The Phuket Elephant Sanctuary’s residents have all been rescued from abusive lives in the elephant trekking, logging, or circus industries. The sanctuary’s operators genuinely care about creating a tranquil habitat for the retired elephants to live out their days in dignity. 

One can spend either a morning or an afternoon exploring the 30-acre sanctuary. Admission fees are $45 for children under 12 and $91 for adults . This includes 3.5 hours of exploring the sanctuary, observing the elephants, walking alongside them, feeding them fruits , and enjoying some refreshments and snacks at the Tree Top reception area.

The sanctuary also offers whole-day tours , private tours , and they run a volunteer program for tourists who want to spend a lot more time with the elephants and actively contribute towards their conservation. 

The Elephant Retirement Park

This Park offers tourists the opportunity of seeing and spending time with their rescued elephants in a wonderful, natural environment where the animals’ welfare is the top priority .

The Park is home to eight elephants that were all rescued from lives in working captivity. They can now live out the remainder of their lives in peace and dignity at the Elephant Retirement Park, where they will never experience abuse or riding again. 

Visitors can roam around the park with the elephants for either a whole day or for half a day , watching them graze on the lush jungle vegetation, and go for a swim in their spacious pond. Tourists can also experience feeding the elephants their favorite treats.

The admission fees for a half-day tour are $55 for children under 10 and $79 for adults . This includes 3.5 hours of time with the elephants, lunch, snacks, and refreshments, access to knowledgeable, English-speaking guides, transfer to and from your accommodation and a free Elephant Retirement Park T-shirt. 

One can opt for longer tours. There is a day-long program , an overnight program , and even a weekend-long elephant volunteering experience where one can be fully immersed in the elephants’ world.

The Elephant Jungle Sanctuary

Started in 2014, Elephant Jungle Sanctuary is an eco-tourism project that is dedicated to ethical elephant tourism in Thailand. They use their platform to educate tourists and local people about the Asian elephant’s plight.

The sanctuary is located in a beautiful part of the island, with jungle and beach views . They use all the money made from visitors and donations to rescue more elephants, care for them, and provide them with a safe environment in which to spend their lives.

Visitors to the sanctuary will be guided by mahouts, who speak English, and can tell one about how the elephants are cared for, elephants’ role in Thai culture, and the histories of individual animals.

Half-day tours are $58 for children under 10 and $76 for adults . These prices include pick up and drop off at your hotel or accommodation, a buffet meal and refreshments, and fruits to feed the elephants. 

There are also overnight packages , and a day-long tour where one can hike through the jungle with the elephants while they forage. 

On the tour, one can watch the elephants go about their daily business, feed them, bathe them, and even go swimming with the elephants ! There us a professional photographer who can snap pictures of you while you fully immerse yourself in the experience. 

Phang Nga Elephant Park

Phang Nga Elephant Park is about an hour’s drive outside Phuket . This relatively small, family-operated elephant park is located in the tiny rural village of Phang Nga where people have been living alongside elephants for 150 years . Here, thirty mahouts live with their elephants and their families, caring for them and promoting elephant welfare.

Phang Nga Elephant Park supports ethical elephant tourism . Their animals live in a relaxed, quiet environment and visitors are invited to experience the elephants in a respectful way. They use their education center to teach tourists and locals about the importance of elephant conservation.

Admission fees are $88 for children under 14 and $149 for adults for a 4 to 5-hour tour of the park. A traditional Thai lunch, and transfers to and from your accommodation are included in this price. Shorter 2-hour tours are also available . There are no overnight stays offered.

Visitors get the whole elephant care experience, including preparing their food , and learning about traditional Thai herbal medicine used to keep the elephants healthy. 

One can walk alongside the animals through the jungle, feed the elephants, swim with them in a rock pool , and help them by planting trees and other food crops for the elephant. 

The Importance of Ethical Elephant Tourism

It extremely expensive to keep elephants in captivity. Due to their large size, they require a lot of vegetation to graze on. They cost about $40 per day to feed – that is more than 3 times the minimum wage in Thailand. Elephants also need veterinary care and space to live.

In the past, the only way that mahouts could afford to keep their elephants was to send them to work in the logging or trekking industry , or to take them to urban areas to perform and beg for money . 

As the tourism industry in Thailand boomed, so did the popularity of elephant tourism . People from all over the world wanted to go to Thailand to experience these giant animals face-to-face and ride on their backs. 

Mahouts offered tourists elephant rides, jungle treks, and circus-like shows where elephants would be dressed up and made to perform tricks. While this work covered the cost of feeding the elephants, it also involved cruel training practices to ensure that elephants are safe around tourists. 

In recent years, these animal rights abuses have been highlighted in the media and tourists now shy away from elephant tourism in Thailand , which is deemed unethical and undignified for the animals. 

While increased awareness regarding the cruel treatment of elephants is positive for the species, the loss of income from tourism has meant that many mahouts are forced to send their elephants back into the logging and trekking industries . The additional impact that the Covid-19 pandemic had on the Thai tourism industry is causing widespread joblessness for many domesticated elephants. 

Elephant sanctuaries and retirement parks, that rescue elephants from a hard life of working captivity rely on the income from tourists to care for their residents and to rescue more elephants . By visiting these places, paying to spend time with the animals, and even donating money, one can support elephant welfare and conservation in Thailand. 

Elephants in Captivity 

It is cruel for any wild animal to be forced to live in captivity, but especially for highly intelligent and emotional mammals, like elephants. However, due to widespread deforestation and destruction of the jungle – the elephants’ natural habitat – there is nowhere to release the animals back into the wild. 

It is illegal to capture wild elephants for domestication and illegal to release domesticated elephants into the jungle where they will compete with wild populations. However, wild baby elephants are still routinely poached in the jungles of Myanmar and smuggled over the border into Thailand to be sold into captivity. 

Elephant sanctuaries and retirement parks are the kindest, most natural places for domesticated elephants to live in Thailand. They keep elephants safe from the cruelty and abuse of the logging and trekking industries. 

To contribute towards elephant conservation and support their ethical treatment, do not support any elephant parks or camps that offer riding, bathing in the ocean, or elephants performing any unnatural behaviors .

The island of Phuket is home to 235 magnificent Asian elephants. These creatures are indigenous to Thailand, but sadly the species has been exploited by the logging, trekking and tourism industries. 

There are four highly reputable, 100% ethical elephant sanctuaries and parks in Phuket that tourists are encouraged to visit:

All these places offer guests the experience of seeing elephants up close in a natural, tranquil setting where they are not required to perform any tricks or give people rides . 

Visitors can go on half-day, day-long, overnight, and even weekend-long tours of the sanctuaries. One can see how the mahouts care for the animals, help to feed them, bathe them, and even swim with them. 

Tourists need to be very selective of the elephant parks and camps they visit in Thailand. Many do not uphold the values of ethical elephant tourism and these places should not be supported.

By visiting ethical elephant sanctuaries and parks, one can contribute to the elephants’ welfare and to the conservation of Asian elephants in Thailand. The elephant sanctuaries and parks rely on admission fees to pay for the animals’ food, housing, and medical care, so by visiting them you directly support the elephants .

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Elephant Hills Thailand – Our Experience, Review & Tips

By Author Jurga

Posted on Last updated: April 14, 2024

Are you looking for a truly unique travel experience in Thailand ? Something different than the busy cities, crowded markets, ornate temples, or popular vacation islands… Or maybe you stumbled upon our website when looking for sustainable tourism or ethical animal experiences in Thailand? On our recent trip to Thailand, we discovered a place that ticks all these boxes. Find out!

When researching our Thailand trip itinerary, we were also looking for a bit more unique, yet typically Thai travel experience that would make our vacation more memorable. We were looking for something really special and offbeat, but had no idea what exactly… Till we stumbled upon Elephant Hills Resort in Khao Sok National Park .

No matter whether you are looking for beautiful nature or animal encounters, whether you are interested in an exclusive honeymoon getaway or a very unique family trip… you’ll find it all at the Elephant Hills luxury resort. Find out!

Disclosure: We received a discount for our stay at Elephant Hills , but this article wasn’t part of the agreement and is not sponsored. It’s a place that we fell in love with, the best experience of our 2-week trip in Southern Thailand . I want to tell you all about it, because I think it is one of the absolute best things you can do in Thailand!

Khao Sok National Park – what to expect

Planning a trip to Khao Sok might look a bit overwhelming at first. After all, this National Park is nothing but a giant rainforest; hundreds of square kilometers of jungle. You will find untouched nature, stunning scenery with mountain formations typical to Asia, and rainforests that are home to more animal species than you could ever imagine…

There are many ways to discover Khao Sok National Park , including lake tours or  organized day trips (usually from Khao Lak). But if you take the time to look at the map, you’ll see that this place is huge, so in one day you’ll hardly scratch the surface…

If you only have the time for a short day trip to Khao Sok, then, by all means, book a day trip. If you are interested in an ethical elephant experience, take a look at this amazing day tour . It will be worth it! However, if you have a few days to spare, consider staying inside the Khao Sok National Park and getting to know this unique place a bit better.

For the most unique experience in Khao Sok National Park, I strongly suggest that you look into one of the different tour options offered by Elephant Hills . All you have to do is show up; they will take care of all the rest. (If you find this option too expensive, see if you can find a suitable multi-day tour here – either way, don’t miss Khao Sok).

Below, you can read all about our experience at the Elephant Hills . It’s a full review of our 3-day Elephant Hills tour Jungle Lake Safari with kids and I’m sure it will give you a good idea of what to expect. Find out!

Elephant Hills luxury resort – the gem of Khao Sok National Park

Our trip to Elephant Hills resort started in Krabi where we were picked up for a 2,5 hr transfer to the Elephant Hills luxury camp. All Elephant Hills tours include transfers to/from the wide surroundings, including places like Phuket, Khao Lak or Krabi, but also from Khanom, Surat Thani, or Don Ak Pier (with direct access to Koh Samui). 

From the moment they pick you up till the minute they drop you off again – everything is thought of and extremely well organized.

The trip we booked, Jungle Lake Safari , is probably the most varied of all the Khao Sok itineraries offered by Elephant Hills. The entire trip was just 2 nights/ 3 days, but a variation of activities and accommodations made it feel much longer. We spent one night at the Elephant Camp and one night in the Rainforest Camp – luxury floating tents on Cheow Lan lake. 

Our first introduction to Khao Sok National Park was the main lodge of the resort, Elephant Camp. It’s located in such a spectacular setting and reminded us of safari lodges in Africa. And just in case you get worried, this place isn’t a camping, but a wonderful glamping experience.

Elephant Hills tented accommodations are really luxurious. They have comfortable beds, private bathrooms, and even terraces with chairs and hammocks. In addition, there is a big main area with a restaurant, bar, souvenir shop, and also a small swimming pool.

After checking in into our luxury tents and a plunge in the pool, we had the whole afternoon for some amazing activities in Khao Sok National Park.

Ethical elephant experience in Thailand

Without a doubt, one of the main highlights of the stay at the Elephant Hills is meeting the elephants . Elephant Experience includes a short introduction to Asian Elephants and the history of elephants in Thailand. This is followed by interaction with Asia’s largest wild animal: feeding the elephants and observing them bathing in the mud pool.

In the past elephants were mainly used to transport heavy logs. However, when elephant labor was forbidden in Thailand in 1989, thousands of animals were left homeless. As you can imagine, the cost of keeping an unemployed domesticated elephant that eats some 250 kg of food and drinks 200 liter water per day is just too high… 

We were told that tourism helped to preserve Asian elephants from extinction. However, even nowadays, many elephant sanctuaries in Thailand keep their elephants chained and offer elephant riding experiences to tourists. Elephant Hills is very different!

Update: Elephant Hills have recently contacted us to say that even the elephant-washing experience has now been discontinued. So your experience will be slightly different than when we visited and which is described in this article.

The 12 elephants that live here are mostly domesticated animals that have been adopted when their owners couldn’t keep them anymore. The oldest elephant is 75 years old and the youngest just 13.

Elephant Hills has won multiple awards for sustainable tourism and animal welfare. From everything we saw and read about this place, they seem to take pride in how they treat the elephants. The animals live in a big protected area in the middle of Khao Sok jungle, where they roam freely.

Of course, you have to remember that these are domesticated animals in captivity and not in the wild. But you have to keep in mind that none of these elephants would be able to survive in the wild and tourism money helps to preserve Asian elephants from extinction.

After meeting the elephants and watching them bathe, we went on to prepare some food for them. Kids loved feeding the elephants ! And boy, they do eat… Buckets of pineapples and bananas were empty in no time.

One of the most special experiences for us was washing the elephants. Scrubbing an elephant’s trunk while standing eye-in-eye with her was a surreal experience, one I’ll never forget. This is such a wonderful way to interact with the elephants, a thousand times better than sitting on an elephant!

Once again, this is no longer available (and it’s probably better for the elephants too, especially considering the exponentially growing number of tourists).

Anyway, if you are looking for an ethical elephant experience in Thailand, you’ll be glad to know that people at Khao Sok are really doing their best!

Canoe safari through the jungle of Khao Sok NP

Our second activity at the Elephant Hills was a canoe safari on Sok River . It’s a real jungle with snakes lying in the trees and all… I was really glad we had a local guide to do the paddling for us. In the meantime, we could enjoy the scenery without having to worry about bumping into any snakes along the river shore.

I didn’t really know what to expect from this canoe tour, but the scenery blew us away. Completely different than anything else we have ever seen! And so untouched, that it’s almost surreal.

I don’t think I have ever been to a place that felt as remote and at the same time full of life as Khao Sok National Park. You almost feel as an intruder in this untouched jungle. You’re constantly surrounded by so many animals, but most of the time you can’t see or even hear them. And yet, you are very well aware that they are there…

New Year’s Eve at the Elephant Hills

Our first evening at the Elephant Hills was the 31st of December and we had no idea what to expect. I mean, the jungle isn’t really a place where you’d find loud parties and fireworks…

There was also a short movie about the Elephant Hills, a Thai cooking demonstration, and girls from a local school came to perform a few traditional dances. If I understood it right, this is something you’ll experience at the main camp of Elephant Hills every evening. It’s their way of giving back to the local community – the children that are performing here all get paid. It’s a great way for the kids to earn some pocket money and also to practice their English.

The resort really did their best to turn it into a special evening for all the guests and staff. There were beautiful food buffets decorated for New Year and all kinds of little details that made the dinner more festive. They even let the bar open past midnight, whereas it normally closes at around 10 pm. And yes, there were fireworks, but not organized by the resort – they said they’d never do it as it scares the jungle animals to death. However, there are quite some local villages nearby and so also fireworks in the jungle…

To tell you the truth, we never made it till midnight since the kids were exhausted from all the activities. On top of that, there was another very active day waiting for us the next morning…

Waking up in the jungle

Luckily, we went to bed somewhat in time the previous night, because the jungle really wakes up at dawn !

The gibbons seem to be up first and they are loud! So we were also wide awake around 4am. I quickly got used to the sounds of the jungle and could still get some sleep, the kids didn’t even notice anything, and my husband went on to finish reading his book…

If you are looking for peace and quietness in its literal sense, then the jungle is probably not the best place to be. But if you are looking for a unique place where you can escape from the hustle and bustle of your everyday life and busy tourist destinations, then you’ll love staying in Khao Sok National Park!

A visit to a local market

On the second day in Khao Sok National Park, we were set to drive to Cheow Larn Lake. As I said, the park is huge and the lake is quite far from the main lodge. So to break the long drive, they stopped for a short visit at a local market in Takhun.

It was quite fun to see a truly local market. Our guide bought one of those pink ‘hundred-year’ eggs that there for sale everywhere here, so we could try one.

From what I understood, it’s kind of marinated and the egg turns completely black inside and pink on the outside. The taste was something in between jelly and pickles… Let’s just say, we didn’t immediately feel the need to rush and buy some pink eggs ourselves.

Cheow Lan Lake

Cheow Larn Lake was formed after building a dam and it’s huge (185km 2 (71 sq mi)! The scenery here is really beautiful, you’d never think it’s a man-made lake…

The little harbor at Cheow Lan Lake (sometimes also Cheow Larn lake) reminded me of any other touristy place in Asia. There were big buses and tour groups of people coming for a boat ride on the lake. It felt like the most touristy place in the entire Khao Sok National Park and it was hard to believe that this place is a gateway to the beautiful remote glamping experience we were expecting to find…

But the moment we stepped into a long-tail boat and took a somewhat different route than most of the other boats, we were back in the untouched jungle.

Rainforest Camp – Elephant Hills’ floating tents accommodation

Deep in the jungle, along the shores of the lake, was our accommodation – Elephant Hills Rainforest Camp .

It’s not like any lodge we have ever stayed at. This luxury tented accommodation is floating on the lake! It was love at first sight – one of those places that are so special that you know you’ll remember it for years to come.

There are 20 tents at the Rainforest Camp, each with a terrace with incredible views. It’s glamping at its absolute best!

Every tent is equipped with a double bed, a shower room, and a toilet. If needed, they can put an extra bed and accommodate 3 people in a tent, so we had two tents for our family of 5.

There isn’t all that much to do here, but that’s exactly what makes this place so unique. No TV, no radio, no Wi-Fi – so you can really unplug and just enjoy the moment… They do have a restaurant with a bar and some board games in case you get bored.

We spent hours kayaking on the lake and spotting monkeys in the jungle. You can also jump right into the lake straight from your terrace and go for a swim.

The lake is swarming with huge fish and the kids just couldn’t resist feeding them. Afterwards they would jump into the water trying to catch the fish with their bare hands… Kids had so much fun here – our twins spent the entire afternoon feeding the fish and swimming among them…

Good to know: There are several floating camps in this area . If you are mostly interested in this part of the experience, then you’ll have more options to choose from. For example, our friends recently spent some time at the 500Rai Floating Resort . Here you can read about their experience staying at this Khao Sok floating bungalow .

Update: One of our readers told us that they were warned by their doctor about some type of parasite (that can cause schistosomiasis and other diseases) in the waters of this lake. But hundreds of people go swimming here daily and have no issues (and neither did we). After reading more , I found a list of 20 diseases that one could potentially be exposed to in this and other major lakes and rivers all over Thailand. So it’s your decision if you want to go swimming here. Frankly, once you start reading about all the possible risks anywhere in the world, you will never want to leave your house again…

Jungle trek in Khao Sok National Park

Next on the program was jungle trekking , deep in the rainforest of Khao Sok National Park. Since there was no way we could get the younger boys out of the water, my husband stayed in the floating camp with them. And he was happy to relax and do nothing :).

In the meantime, my older son and I decided to join an organized jungle trek with our guide and a couple of other guests.

A long-tail boat brought us to a hiking trail not too far from the Rainforest Camp. Two local guides joined us on this jungle walk and gave us some explanation of the plants and the animals we saw around us.

Most jungle animals actually sleep during the day, so we didn’t see any monkeys or bigger wildlife here. But we saw frogs, spiders, some birds, and a big variety of very interesting plants. We were also deafened by the noise of cicadas and other animals – there was no doubt we were in the rainforest.

The short but rather steep hike ended at a huge cave. We had seen many stalactites and stalagmites caves all over the world before, but visiting a cave in the wilderness was a totally different experience.

There were no explanatory panels or lights here. We were each given a small pocket light and went deep inside the caves. It’s quite slippery here, so you really need to wear shoes with a good grip.

The last cave we visited was pitch dark and full of bats. We switched off the lights and stood in complete darkness with shrieking bats all around us… It’s difficult to describe how it feels to explore a place like this; it’s something you really have to experience for yourself!

Glamping at its best

Probably the best moment of our stay in Khao Sok was waking up to the most spectacular sunrise at the Rainforest Camp . The jungle was wide awake and we could hear gibbons in the distance, but the lake was completely quiet. Like a mirror, reflecting the beautiful morning light and the stunning scenery around us.

Sitting there on the terrace of our tent watching the world quietly wake up – it’s as good as it gets!

We skipped the morning shower and jumped into the lake instead. I could definitely get used to mornings like this…

Kayaking and wildlife

After breakfast, we took kayaks once again and set to explore the lake and the jungle on our own. We didn’t see many animals that morning, but back at the camp, we saw a couple of monkeys playing on the lakeshore.

Just before we left, we also saw a couple of gibbons swinging from tree to tree just next to the Rainforest Camp. That’s how it often goes with wildlife – you find it when you least expect it…

I also regretted I didn’t take my zoom lens, so I only have this picture of a monkey, taken from our kayak, just next to the camp.

Saying bye to the Rainforest Camp and the Elephant Hills

The Jungle Lake Safari package we booked at Elephant Hills included just 2 nights/ 3 days and so the morning at the floating Rainforest Camp was also the last one of our stay… Despite the fact that we had to leave in the afternoon, everything was so well organized that the morning felt like a vacation day rather than ‘pack your bags and get out of here in time for the check-out’ experience.

As I said, we had a very relaxing morning, followed by a quiet breakfast and kayaking. Afterwards we still had plenty of time to go for another swim in the lake, take a shower, pack our bags, and have lunch.

After lunch, a long-tail boat came to pick us up and bring us back to land, where there was a minivan waiting to bring us to Phuket.

We spent just two nights at the Elephant Hills, but it felt like a real vacation in itself. These three days were the absolute best of our two-week stay in Southern Thailand. A unique place and an experience we will never forget.

Elephant Hills with kids

In case you wonder if Elephant Hills is the right place for a family holiday, I hope that our experience already convinced you that it definitely is. Your kids will absolutely love unique tented accommodations and all the fun activities here.

Elephant Hills is a very family-friendly place , but it’s also a place in the jungle with lots of outdoor activities, therefore they don’t allow kids under 4 years.

Please also note that children have to be at least 7 years old if you want to stay at the Rainforest Camp. A floating tents camp in the middle of the jungle is definitely not the best place to bring a young child. 

If you want to stay at Elephant Hills with younger kids, you can choose from two other tours that they offer, which don’t include a stay at the Rainforest Camp. Here you can find all the practical information about the available tours .

What to wear and what to pack for Khao Sok National Park

• We wore shorts, t-shirts, and trekking sandals all the time. It was perfect for pretty much all activities. 
• Water shoes or flip-flops are really handy for kayaking.
• UV t-shirts are nice to have for kayaking and swimming, especially for kids who stay in the water for a long time.
• You should always pack your swimwear, sun hat, sunglasses, and a rain poncho or a light rain jacket as well.
• For the jungle trek, it might be nice to have long pants (just remember that it’s HOT) and walking shoes. We hiked in shorts and sandals and it was just fine.
• Don’t forget sunscreen lotion and mosquito spray.

Practical information for visiting Elephant Hills in Khao Sok National Park

• It rains a lot in Khao Sok National Park – it’s a real rainforest. The park is at its wettest in the heart of the rainy season, between June and November… Probably the best season to visit is from January to April, but you can expect rain any time of the year. We had dry weather all three days, but apparently, it’s more an exception than the rule. 
• If you are traveling in high season, especially around New Year, you have to book your stay at the Elephant Hills months in advance.
• Please keep in mind that all the activities you do at the Elephant Hills happen in a small group of 15-20 guests and local guides. For the rest, there is nothing around you, just an endless rainforest.
• We expected to find many mosquitoes in Khao Sok NP, but were positively surprised that there were fewer mosquitoes here than on some of the islands we came from. Still, we used mosquito spray all the time.  
• There is no ATM at Elephant Hills and they don’t accept credit cards for on-site payments. So make sure you bring some cash for drinks and souvenirs. Food and all activities are included in your stay rate. Drinks and souvenirs are quite cheap, pretty much as in most mid-range hotels in Thailand.

Here is a beautiful video of the Elephant Hills resort in Khao Sok NP. Take a look – it will give you a good idea of what to expect.

TIP: Wondering how to plan a trip to Thailand, but are not sure where to start? Here you can find our 2-week Thailand island hopping itinerary . It covers all the must-see islands in Southern Thailand and, of course, the Elephant Hills. Take a look for tips and inspiration on how to plan your own dream trip to Southern Thailand!

Some travel inspiration & information for Bangkok:

• Bangkok in 1 Day
• Where to Stay in Bangkok
• Bangkok Canal Tour

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Paige Humphrey

Monday 14th of August 2023

I only have a day trip to see the Elephants but I want to make sure we book an ethical elephant experience, I found the experience below, please could you inform me whether this tour would be?

@Jurga, thank you! Riding Elephants has always been a big no for me, its not fair and not what they should be doing, in my opinion its no better than the logging industry! However, I know these tours offer a win win for the Elephants and tourists as we get to interact with them and they get the funds to be looked after, I just want to ensure I'm giving my money to a company that takes good care of their elephants and support the companies that care so they can rescue more! I hope this makes sense, it just makes me sad when animals are exploited/ uncared for and it's not something I wish to see ever, but especially on my honeymoon! Thank you for your advice :)

Hi Paige, it's always a bit of a difficult question what is ethical or not, and the definition of that is a thin line. It all comes down to animal welfare and how they are treated. This tour looks amazing and - among other things - you also get to interact with elephants. They say that you can bathe with them, feed them, etc. and it looks ok to me. Let's hope that the people running the place also treat them well, but that is something you'll never know 100% as a tourist. Also, bathing (with) elephants or even feeding them is something that could be interpreted in any way, depending on how often and how it's done... However, as I said in this article, elephants that you meet in these places have been 'domesticated' for decades after the whole industry that exploited them for heavy labor collapsed. They are much better off now than when they had to pull heavy longs, plus, they could never survive in the wild anymore. So offering experiences like this is usually the only way to be able to support them. So while everyone will have different opinions on what is ethical, I'd say read the tour description and the reviews carefully and decide for yourself whether you feel comfortable taking a specific tour. Just please don't do tours that offer riding on elephants. Have a great trip!

Sunday 19th of March 2023

I'm glad i came across this post as I started researching these tours. Did you go in December? I want to book for December but their website only goes to October 31 and their website is confusing; one part says they're open year round, 1 part says tours through Oct. Thank u for any insight!

Monday 20th of March 2023

Hi Su, yes, we visited in December - at New Year. And yes, as far as I know, they are open all year and the holiday season is the busiest time. The best way to find out when they start bookings and ask any questions you have is to simply send them an email and ask.

Friday 24th of February 2023

Wow! My gang and me are visiting Elephant Hills just for 24hrs in June, but your write up on it has really made me excited about our trip there. Thanks also for the tips on kit to wear etc...🙂👍

Sunday 26th of February 2023

Glad to help. Enjoy your trip, Rob!

koen de boeck

Saturday 31st of December 2022

Hello, after reading your rave review we will also go to Kao Sok in January 2024. We are a family of 5 with 3 kids, they will be 9-11-13 in 2024. I am still hesitating a bit to take your 3 day-trip or else the 4-day trip including the mangroves. any ideas on that?

Thursday 5th of January 2023

Hi Koen, the 4-day trip is a bit different not just because of the mangroves but because you don’t stay in the floating camp (just visit it for a day). For us, that part of the experience was the most memorable, and it was also the main reason we opted for the 3-day trip. Check all the itineraries on their website and pick the one that looks right for your family. You can’t go wrong either way! Our kids still talk about this place as one of the best travel experiences ever.

Friday 9th of April 2021

How early did you book? We will be there around January 10, 2022 and I am not sure how early I should book.. thanks!

Saturday 10th of April 2021

Hi Samantha, I had to dig deep in my emails to find this. :) We traveled at New Year and we booked this stay in May, so about 7-8 months in advance. I also see that the dates we initially asked were not available, so they offered us other alternatives and we rearranged the rest of our trip so that we could stay at KhaoSok (and I'm very glad we did). If you are certain about your travel dates, I'd book it soon. On the other hand, everything is different these days and January 10 is already past New Year which is the highest season, so it might be easier to secure a reservation even on shorter notice. But that also depends on how many tents you need. It will always be easier if you just need one rather than two, as we did. The biggest issue now is the uncertainty with covid, so if you do book, ask them about the cancelation policy, just in case. PS Just today, we were talking about our stay at Elephant Hills. It's such a special place, one of those experiences that you'll remember for many years!