No trip to Thailand is complete without seeing some elephants. Although the best way to admire these magnificent creatures are in the wild, like in Khao Yai National Park, it’s not always possible – especially when you’re in an island like Phuket. However, the next best thing you could do is visit an ethical elephant sanctuary. Unlike many tourist attractions that offer elephant rides or shows, sanctuaries allow you to have an enriching encounter with elephants where they are respected and cared for. If you’re worried about finding an authentic elephant sanctuary, then you’re in the right place. We’ve listed down the 7 most ethical elephant sanctuaries in Phuket where you can meet and greet these magnificent giants.
Phuket Elephant Sanctuary
This sanctuary is one of the best, focusing on elephant rescue, rehabilitation and retirement. Set in a lush forest, you’ll find Thailand’s longest canopy walkway where you can observe the elephants roaming, eating, and bathing in their natural habitat. The sanctuary does not allow any type of interaction with the elephants, aside from admiring them from a distance. They have a strict 100% hands-off interaction policy to ensure that the animals are as comfortable as they would be in the wild.
In fact, this particular sanctuary has been endorsed by National Geographic and World Animal Protection. Phuket Elephant Sanctuary’s mission is to provide abused Thai elephants with the opportunity to live freely in a natural environment without human interference. For those of you who wish to contribute in elephant conservation efforts, this sanctuary also offers volunteer programmes.
Green Elephant Sanctuary Park Phuket
Situated near Surin Beach, the Green Elephant Sanctuary Park Phuket abides by European Elephant Protection laws. Their facilities are designed with the elephants’ comfort in mind, allowing them to rest in the shade and cool off in mud baths when it gets too hot.
During your visit here, you get to feed elephants and experience a mud spa alongside these majestic giants. You can also cool off under an elephant-sized shower or bathe together in a large freshwater pool. When you’re done playing and interacting with the elephants, you can enjoy a delicious buffet with an array of authentic Thai dishes.
Bukit Elephant Park
Beside the beautiful Khlong Kata reservoir, you’ll find Bukit Elephant Park, an elephant sanctuary that offers a lush and spacious home for elephants to roam freely. You’ll find plenty of open space, ponds, streams, and rivers where the elephants love to cool down and spray water from their trunks. This sanctuary does not offer elephant rides nor bathing. Their focus is on the elephants’ welfare and they want them to roam freely as they would in the wild.
While you may not be able to bathe with the elephants, the park does offer other activities such as learning about traditional rubber tapping techniques from local farmers, and learning how to make fresh coconut milk and using it to cook a traditional Thai dish. Overall, this is a great place to observe the Thai elephants and see how they interact with one another.
Elephant Jungle Sanctuary in Phuket
The Elephant Jungle Sanctuary organisation has established camps across multiple Thai provinces, including Phuket, Pattaya, Koh Samui, and Chiang Mai, through its elephant rescue mission. This is a great place to visit if you want to learn more about the horrors of the elephant tourism industry as they educate visitors about how retired elephants in Thailand are rescued and given a new home.
You can participate in different kinds of activities such as feeding and showering with the majestic giants. You can also learn how to make natural medicine for the elephants that are used for stomachaches and indigestion. There is also a restaurant that serves authentic Thai cuisine, where you can cap off your day with some fresh coconut juice. There are three branches of the Elephant Jungle Sanctuary in Phuket, namely: Kathu, Thalang, and Bangtao. You can visit whichever is closest to your accommodation.
Phuket Elephant Nature Reserve
Set within lush jungleland on the island of Phuket, the Phuket Elephant Nature Reserve is another sanctuary that should not be missed. With scenic forest backdrops, the reserve offers visitors a special opportunity to interact with and support rescued elephants. You can observe the elephants roaming freely and foraging naturally within their habitat. The welfare of the elephants is a top priority here – they are neither ridden, chained nor forced to perform unnatural acts.
Educational talks are provided on elephant conservation and the sanctuary works hard to ensure the well-being of the animals in their care. You can experience preparing herbal medicines for the elephants, alongside the resident mahouts, and learn about the recycling and usage of elephant dung as fertilizer. To top it all off, you can also enjoy complimentary Thai cooking demonstrations and feast on the meal you just prepared while enjoying views of the elephants.
Elephant Wildlife Sanctuary Phuket
The Elephant Wildlife Sanctuary in Phuket provides a caring home to rescued elephants from the tourism industry. Here the dedicated and loving staff ensure the elephants’ needs are met to the highest standard. Visitors are welcomed to see these gentle giants in their natural habitat, where they can roam freely and form close bonds with their mahouts.
The sanctuary prioritises the elephants’ well-being, so all the activities are tailored to making them feel comfortable and cared for. Activities for guests include preparing natural medicine and feeding. You can also assist in giving the elephants a thorough bath, using river water to cool them down in the tropical climate. For an extra treat, join the elephants’ mud spa – they absolutely love being coated from trunk to tail! The day can be rounded off by using aromatic oils to gently massage the elephants, helping relieve tension and putting smiles on their faces.
Tonsai Elephant Care Camp
The Tonsai Elephant Care Camp is a family-run elephant sanctuary in Phuket. Visitors are warmly welcomed by the friendly owners into an uncrowded sanctuary. On some days you may be lucky enough to book a private tour to the camp, where you can interact with elephants aged between 4 and 70 years. Each elephant has their own endearing personality that will make you feel connected to them in a special way.
This is one of the few ethical sanctuaries in Phuket where elephants can roam freely and is just 1 kilometre away from the beautiful Patong Beach. The family takes excellent care of the elephants’ welfare, and they have lots of family-friendly activities that guests with kids will enjoy. Aside from interacting with the cute elephants, you can also try a family cooking class where you get to learn how to make an authentic Pad Thai.
So there you have it, the best ethical elephant sanctuaries to visit in Phuket. Now you can experience these magnificent creatures up close, learn about their intelligence and emotions, and contribute to their wellbeing – all without supporting unethical practises.
