Elephant Sanctuary Phuket
Spend a fun day at Phuket elephant sanctuary, an ethical place where rescued elephants do not perform tricks or play football. In a large jungle like area with trees, ponds and hills the animals roam around free.
30 Acre sanctuary
The sanctuary is a 30 acre jungle setting with trees, hills, ponds, a freshwater lagoon and open areas bordering a national park. It’s a large enough habitat for about 25 elephants. Here the animals roam, forage for food and take baths.
Interact with the elephants
The sanctuary offers visitors an opportunity to interact with the elephants. Get to feed them, learn about their behavior and watch how they roam the sanctuary, forage and take baths in a pool. There is no riding, bathing, playing football or performing in shows here.
The elephants in the sanctuary
The sanctuary is the home of a dozen of elephants, the oldest one being nearly 70 years old. Many have injuries as a result of their past work in the tourism business or logging industry.
Elephants in the tourism business
Many of the sanctuary’s sick, old or injured animals have been abused in the tourism industry in places as Pattaya and Phuket. Though elephants are sociable animals that live in herds, they have spent their lives in solitude away from other elephants doing things like playing football, performing tricks and riding tourists on their back.
When they are young, elephants go through a very brutal training to break their spirits and make them submissive to the mahout.
The sanctuary’s canopy walkway
A unique way to observe the elephants is to walk the canopy walkway, a 600 meter long elevated walkway over the trees. Watch the elephants roam, bath and look for food from above. The walkway also provides a good overview of the sanctuary.
Elephant care
The animals are well taken care of by staff who live at the sanctuary. Apart from the huge amount of food they eat foraging, they are given a daily portion of supplementary food like rice balls and fruit. Old and injured animals get water therapy in the hydrotherapy pool. The elephants take mud baths to protect their skin.
Photography
Visitors can take photos and videos in the sanctuary. Flash photography is not allowed, since it hurts the animal’s eyes.
Programs
Several programs are available lasting from 90 minutes to a full day.
Morning program
- The morning starts with a video documentary about the sanctuary and the elephants living there
- After the video you get to feed the elephants fruit
- Then walk the trails through the sanctuary as well as the canopy walkway to observe the elephants from a distance
- The guide will tell you the background of each of the animals
- The morning ends with a vegetarian Thai buffet
- Duration is from 9:30 am until 1 pm
Afternoon program
The afternoon program is the same as morning program.
It starts at 1:30 pm and ends at 5 pm.
Canopy walkway program
- This program starts with an introduction of the sanctuary and some background on Asian elephants
- After feeding the elephants, take a guided walk on the sanctuary’s 600 meter long canopy walkway
- During the one hour walk over the elevated walkway high over the trees watch the elephants roam, forage and bath. After the walk, relax with iced sodas and snacks
- The 90 minute program starts at 9:30 am, 10 am, 2 pm and 2:30 pm
In the footsteps of giants, one day in the life of an Asian elephant
- After some refreshments, snacks and coffee, watch an educational video about Asian elephants
- Get to feed one of the sanctuary’s elephants
- Learn from the guide about elephant behavior and the way they communicate
- Then it’s time to explore the sanctuary and watch the elephants roam, forage and bath
- After a Thai vegetarian lunch, watch the elephants roam the jungle, and learn about the animal’s habitat and their role in the ecosystem
- Meet two old, injured elephants and watch how they are being treated with water therapy in a pool
- Prepare fruit and rice balls and feed the elephants
- The day ends with a vegetarian Thai dinner
- The full day program starts at 9:30 am and ends at 5 pm
Prices
Prices of the four sanctuary programs are:
Child rate applies to children 4 to 12 years old.
Children younger than 4 years enter free.
* The full day “In the footsteps of giants” program includes joined transfers Phuket hotel.
When it rains and the area is muddy, the sanctuary will provide boots to wear.
Location
Phuket Elephant Sanctuary is located in Paklok, near the North East tip of Phuket.
Opening hours
The sanctuary opens daily. The first program starts at 9:30 am.
More Phuket attractions:
Attractions in Phuket
Elephant Sanctuary Tickets
- Elephant Sanctuary Tickets
- Choice of several programs
- Optional hotel transfers