An Afternoon with the Elephants at Phuket Elephant Sanctuary

Afternoon at Phuket elephant sanctuary

Great experience in the sanctuary. The tour started with a video of the mission for the sanctuary and then we were able to go for a walk around the grounds to see the elephants a little closer and learn about each of them. It was a highlight of our trip. The sanctuary claims to be the only ethical elephant tourism spot on Phuket and it seemed to be the case. The elephants are allowed to roam around, eat and act naturally. It's really wholesome. Take trainers if you don't want to wear old socks and wellies.

Ethical elephant sanctuary in Phuket❤️

We spent a long time researching all of the elephant sanctuary’s in Phuket and decided to visit Phuket Elephant Sanctuary as it seemed to be completely ethical, with the elephants welfare being the number one priority. The sanctuary was incredible, being able to see the elephants in the wild was truly beautiful. All of the elephants are so well cared for, nobody is allowed to get too close to the elephants, you can just walk around the habitat. Hearing each elephant’s story was emotional yet heartwarming at the same time, to see that they now have a great quality of life. I hope that the sanctuary raises enough funds to soon build the elephant hospital that they need. For anyone apprehensive about visiting a sanctuary, I cannot recommend this one enough, you can really see how well looked after they all are, completely safe from harm. There is no touching, bathing etc. which is so important to check when doing your research! Incredible experience, one that we will never forget.

Amazing experience, must do.

From start to finish the while experience was amazing. The care and compassion that the sanctuary shows the elephants is moving. Arrived via car at the meeting point, checked in and transported a short 10 min drive via trucks into the sanctuary. We were greeted with complimentary snacks and drinks while we watched a 15 minute video highlighting the cruelty towards elephants in some parts of Thailand and the sanctuaries story and future plans to home these elephants so they can live a happy natural life. We were allocated out tour guide and provided umbrellas, ponchos, socks and Wellington boots due to the muddy terrain within the sanctuary. We were guided towards the elephants who were eating in the forest, being watched on a 1:1 ratio, where we were able to watch the elephants, hear their stories and informed about elephant anatomy and behaviours. You could really tell the staff and volunteers cared for the elephants. Throughout the experience there were many photo opportunities as the elephants are playful with the other elephants, where it was explained they have best friends and hang out with each other to the point where their built bedrooms are put next to each other. Towards the end of the experience we were give a fruit basket to feed the elephants. After this we were taken back to the beginning area where food had been prepared, such as pas thai, rice and curries which were all delicious. Once we were ready the drivers drove us back to the pickup point. This experience was absolutely amazing and far exceeded any expectations that I had. I would recommend this to anyone and encourage to donate to such an amazing cause.

THE place to visit elephants

This is THE place to go if you respectfully want to visit elephants. After the pickup from our hotel in Rawi Phuket we arrived after an hour. A quick checking (you need your passport number) we were brought to the park in a jeep. As it was raining we got some socks and rainboots. There are lockers to put your bags in. There were free snacks and drinks. When all the groups had arrived we watched a 16 min video explaining how the project started and why they are doing it. Then we got walking in small groups. We received a bottle of water, a rain poncho and an umbrella if wanted. We walked short distances to 1 or 2 elephants, each with there own care keeper. They are mainly eating. So amazing to see them up close. You always have to keep your distance which is very good. After an hour we got back to the start were we safely in a distance could feed 2 elephants. After this there was a delicious vegetarian Thai buffet with drinks. There is a little shop with clothes and gifts to support the work as well. Then back to the office and back to the hotel.

Wonderful experience with Elephants

Great afternoon with elephants. Guide was very knowledgeable. Great way to support the ethical treatment of elephants. Please go here (or another ethical sanctuary) and avoid places that abuse animals

Amazing

Thank you! Wonderful experience. A must do first when in Phuket. I learned so much that changed my program. Learning all the facts and about them and their suffering from abuse and torture.

Amazing place

This is by far the best elephant sanctuary. Its all about the elephants being able to retire in peace. You will never believe what they go through and this is all about looking after them rather than abusing them. Please be mindful that even going in to bathe them should not happen, which doesnt happen here

Beautiful job

These fuys do an amazing job rescuing these elephants from touristic entertainment. Everything they do is put the elephants first. Go, book a tour, help out.

This was an incredible...

This was an incredible experience!!! Manny was great, very friendly, funny and helpful with understanding the local area on our trip to the sanctuary. The staff at the sanctuary were so kind and welcoming. They all showed so much love to the elephants!! You can see how passionate they are and how much they care for the elephants well being. The sanctuary is exactly that! It’s beautiful!! A great home for these majestic animals to live calm and peaceful lives. I enjoyed every moment and I will most definitely come back again!

Must do!!!

Absolutely incredible once in a lifetime experience!! You HAVE to do it if you’re in Phuket! It was amazing to see exactly where your money goes, but sad to hear all the stories! Thank you for rescuing and giving these gorgeous animals another fun and free life! Food is incredible and so much choice and variety- including going through each dish with me due to lactose intolerance 🥹 thank you all involved, especially our tour guide Tomas, who was very informative and a great laugh!

A great and responsible experience.

Amazing experience. I feel ashamed that 15 years ago, for my first trip in Thailand I felt for a tourist trap where they make you ride elephants in a camp. Today, I feel better experiencing a connection with elephants in a more educated and responsible manner. What I I have more interigation about is that tourist are visiting the sanctuary everyday of the year, I am not sure how this impact the peacefulness of the elephants. BUT, overall, I felt like this experience was respecting and helping the old elephants. Bonus : the food was excellent and the staff really friendly.

An Amazing Experience

Such an amazing experience! We were greeted with drinks and snacks and a short presentation on the history of the sanctuary. The tour guide was so friendly and introduced the group to all of the elephants, giving us time to watch each of them and take pictures if we wanted. We were able to feed them at the end of the walking tour and were then given a cold towel and a hot meal. Really recommend this tour to everyone who would like to see elephants happy in a natural environment!

The best experience ever!

Amazing place with amazing environment and staff! Here is the real elephant sanctuary. All rules are depending on respect to elephant natural habitat. So happy to be here and highly recommended!

A great way to give back

I have always known of the abuse of elephants. Finding out there is a place that rescues them and lets them enjoy life is so heart warming. My favorite thing was watching them eat watermelon. Even if you don’t manage to get here please consider donating.

Once and a love time e experience

This place is really special. They save elephants and treat them with the respect they deserve. Highly recommend and don’t go to the shows or where they ride them, that’s a terrible cause to support instead go here. The start was great too.

Happy Place for Elephants

My boyfriend and i really liked our trip to the Elephant Sanctuary in Phuket. The people who are working at the Sanctuary treat the Elephants with respect. In our opinion it is the only place you should go, if you want to see happy and well treated Elephants. No riding, no bathing, no forcing the Elephants to do something just for show. It was a very nice experience.

Amazing experience

We had the most wonderful experience with a fantastic guide! You get to be very close to the elephants and are informed about their behaviours, where they are from and so on. Lunch and snacks were included and we got to feed the elephants some fruit in the end. An afternoon we will remember forever. Felt very professional and serious. We will come back! Highly recommend.

À good day among elephant

It took us some time to find a sanctuary that welcome elephants in an ethical way. I think we found one with Phuket elephant sanctuary. We spent the afternoon there and WE enjoy It. We can see elephant walk around, eat, take a bath. Of course no riding, no bathing. We recommend this place.

10/10 Recommend!

Our guide was knowledgeable and taught us about the elephants and each one’s background. They do a great job at having the visitors observe from a distance. It’s one of the best things I did on my trip. All the funds go to helping the elephants so I would highly recommend coming to this sanctuary.

Well worth it. Highlight of our trip

Quality experience. Highly recommend. Deeply moving to hear the stories b of the mistreatment of the elephants locally and the work put in by those at this sanctuary to look after them. Very good hospitality with drinks/snacks and delicious lunch incl in the price and shuttle service from PES office to the site.

Great experience

Such a great experience, learnt a lot about the history of elephants in Thailand as well as elephant welfare which really added to the experience. The food was great, the pick up service to the sanctuary was smooth, and our tour guide (I think it’s KT, sorry if it’s not!) was absolutely amazing, he was funny and knowledgeable. Really learnt a lot in a fun way. Highly recommend!!

Amazing

This place is outstanding. Was lovely to see all the elephants roaming around freely. No bathing just learning all about why they were there . Was heart breaking to hear some of there story’s . All the staff were amazing and you could see how much they loved these elephants. We had a beautiful meal at the end of the day Truly amazing experience

Ethical Sanctuary!

If you’re going to any elephant “sanctuary” go to this one! It’s like a big retirement/rescue home where the elephants just eat and walk around freely. The intro video at the beginning nearly had me crying. All of the elephants in Phuket have been badly abused their whole lives. The few elephants at this sanctuary have been rescued from the tourist industry and all you do is feed them and take pictures. You don’t make them do anything they don’t want too. Lovely vegetarian buffet and snacks buffet! Very hot but they give out umbrellas.

Great time!

We loved this afternoon with the elephants. They seem very well cared for and getting to feed them was a great experience. The food for lunch was also delicious and provided many options.

Experience elephants in their natural habitat

Excellent care for the elephants in this rehabilitation home, no tricks or gimmicks at all. Guide was an extremely passionate volunteer and the food provided was exceptional.

An amazing experience!

This place was amazing, they treat the elephants so well and ethical - and the whole experience was absolutely beautiful. Our tour guide Rita was super helpful and friendly, and made it so fun

The best and most ethical way to see these beautiful creatures!

I did a lot of research on ethical elephant sanctuaries in Phuket and ended up following advice from Lonely Planet and going with PES who were described as "the first and only ethical elephant sanctuary in Phuket". This was made obvious when I realised they don't allow bathing with the elephants as many of the other places do. As amazing as I'm sure it is to get into the water with them, my research showed that it is not enjoyable for the elephants and therefore not entirely ethical. At PES, these beautiful creatures had so much space to roam and be themselves without being confined to small spaces. We were taken around in very small groups to see the elephants so they were not being crowded by tourists and the only interaction we had with them was at the end to feed them fruit (the elephants eagerly made their way to the feeding station on their own as they knew it was time for snacks!). One moment that really stood out to me was when we were taken over to a body of water to see an elephant in the water and when we got there the elephant was done and getting out. No one was forcing the elephant to stay in there so the tourists could watch them, it was very apparant that these elephants are not forced to do anything and are allowed to roam freely and happily without being a "tourist attraction". The experience was really wonderful and it was so nice to see these happy, retired elephants being treated with love and compassion. The video shown to us at the beginning was quite emotional and really made you understand how awful elephant exploitation is in Thailand. Also worth noting that we were picked up and dropped off at our hotel, and they provided us with snacks at the beginning AND a full vegetarian buffet meal at the end. Highly recommend, I wouldn't go anywhere else to see elephants in good conscience.

Wonderful experience! This is a must visit in Phuket!

Everything about this tour was wonderful. The staff were all friendly and welcoming. There was a nice presentation at the beginning which was heartfelt and informative. Getting to see the elephants and learn about them in an ethical manner was why we chose this tour. The light lunch at the end was a nice touch to the end of a great experience. Thomas our guide was great!

Phuket Elephant Sanctuary Experience

One of the other tour group members captured on video an elephant who suddenly approached very close to my future daughter-in-law and myself. The mahout was nearby, so we weren’t in any danger; in fact, we were amused by the incident. Also, my son wanted to tell you that the buffet was the best food of our week long Phuket stay!

Such valuable work is being done here - we can only recommend coming here

It was absolutely fantastic. Everything is super organized, the guides are totally friendly and the most important thing: the elephants are treated really well. They are allowed to move freely, are cared for, healed and allowed to live as naturally as possible. No riding, no communal bathing or anything that goes against the elephants' nature. There is also great vegetarian and vegan food. We are happy to support Sanctury Farm in saving elephants with our visit! It is so sad to hear what the rescued elephants have had to endure. Thank you for your important work!

Amazing ethical elephant sanctuary

Amazing afternoon. Not overcrowded and our guide was very knowledgeable. Buffet dinner and snacks were amazing. The video at the beginning of the tour was sad to watch as it explained how the elephants were mistreated. If you are going to visit an elephant sanctuary please visit this one.

Amazing day

It was a beautiful day seeing these animals in there natural environment and free to be able to move around. Definitely an ethical sanctuary and hopefully they can rescue many more

Amazing apart from the Transfer

It was An amazing experience highly recommended the only negative was the Transfer driver who was very rude & clearly hated his job . I was the first to be collected then on the second pick up he was waiting on the wrong location for over 30 minutes . It was so hiot in the van & when I suggested he called to the office he said “ be quiet mam and got angry , same on the return he was very agitated . So I would not use this transfer company again .

Best day ever!!

Yesterday we had the most amazing experience with these beautiful animals!! The trip is well organised, and the staff friendly and efficient. Seeing the work they do and the way they love and care for the elephants is fantastic. The early buffet Dinner was so tasty and snacks and drinks were provided. I learnt so much about my favourite animal from our tour guide and I would not go to any other place in Phuket other than a sanctuary after hearing how badly these stunning creatures have been treated for tourists and plantations. I would 100 percent recommend this trip for any age and ability.

Afternoon with the elephants

Beautiful walk with the elephants, learning about the kind relationship between the keeper and elephant, as well as each elephant’s rescue story.

It was too hot. But the...

It was too hot. But the tour was fine. I appreciate the history of the sanctuary as well as how te rescued animals are cared for.

An incredible experience in a beautiful environment with stunning animals

An absolutely incredible experience to be in a beautiful environment with these stunning animals. We did the afternoon tour, arrived a little early but enjoyed the cafe at the back. A quick truck ride took us to the beautiful sanctuary. You get to have a very small sized group tour with a ranger to the elephants and stay at a respectful distance as you learn about them. Our guide, KT was brilliant and we learnt so much. Afterwards we got to enjoy a delicious vegetarian buffet of fantastic food! A wonderful day.

Amazing day

This trip was truly amazing and definitely worth booking. We were sceptical about just how ethical the elephant sanctuaries were in Phuket, with many claiming to be ethical, but we were very happy with our choice. On arrival, you are offered an abundance of snacks/water/soda and watch a short (and emotional) video to learn about the history of the elephants. We were then split into small groups to walk around the grounds and observe the elephants swimming and eating. The guides were very knowledgable. We were then given fruit baskets and had the opportunity to feed the elephants. The day ended with a beautiful vegetarian buffet, the food was excellent. Would definitely recommend this trip.

Once in a lifetime experience!

Getting up close to such majestic creatures was such an incredible experience. Our guide was great and shared a little bit about each elephant as we encountered them. Getting the opportunity to feed them was truly unforgettable! Could not recommend more!

The best experience

Amazing, great staff, heart warming, elephants wonderful, so sad they can't save more so give generously . There was a baby elephant that was sheer delight

Amazing experience and ethical too!

Had an absolutely delightful tour through the sanctuary. You may even be driven to and from your accommodation if you‘re staying in the Phuket province. Staff provides snacks and drinks before the tour. They also provide iced towels to cool off and a Buffet with many delicious options after the tour. I recommend the Massaman Curry. They also provide you with water, parasols and boots for the duration of the tour. Before the tour starts, a video is presented about the founder and the sanctuary and their goals. It is heartwarming to see how much these people care for these animals, which are so often abused for profit in the region. Staff is very mindful towards the elephants as well as the tourists. At the end of the tour, you get to feed the elephants, which was one of the coolest animal interactions I‘ve ever had! The tour guide was very friendly and informative. He showed us all elephants and gave info, such as their names, age, what they had to endure before being rescued, etc. They are still trying to expand. As of writing this review, an elephant hospital is under construction to be able to treat illnesses such as cancer or cataracts. If you‘re a fan of animals and are searching for an ethical option in Thailand/Phuket, this is definitely the place to go!

The most amazing ethical elephant experience

We were blown away at not only the set up of this sanctuary but the interaction we had with the elephants that was ethical and not at all harmful/demeaning. While I know the idea of getting into the mud with elephants is fun for the gram, it’s not preferred and I think Phuket Elephant Sanctuary makes sure to follow as many ethical treatment standards there are. So please support this place and have fun with their beautiful elephants!

Ethical and Magical

This sanctuary inspired us all! Ethical Elephant tours are the only way to go and PES is an ethical and compassionate haven for some of earth’s most magical beings. Please go! Run don’t walk… this is worth going to Thailand for alone (the country is incredible and this sanctuary literally was our favorite thing)! It gives me hope in humanity and will literally open hearts and minds! Such a FUN experience for all ages!

Well organized tour

Well organized tour. They had lunch and snacks for the group which was unexpected. Loved their story and advocacy work and their commitment to treating elephants right.

Must do!

This was an amazing experience. We got up close and personal with all of the elephants and learned about where they came from. There should be more sanctuaries like this one. There was also plenty of food and snacks and they provided cold towels at the end to refresh yourself.

Great day to see some happy and free elephants!

Great experience. It was very sad to see how people in the touristic industry treat elephants but it amazing that sanctuaries like this save as many elephants they can and tmwe can all raise awareness and support only ethical places!

A must if you want to show your support in stopping unethical unkind treatment of these beautiful animals.

A great combination of education and experience. The pre-visit presentation is honest about the CEO's conversion from unethical to this sanctury. From the brutality inflicted on elephants used in entertainment, tourism and logging...and the care and love these elephants are shown in the twilight of their years. I liked the fact that we were divided into small walking groups, each with a guide. We quietly walked around the sanctuary, often only a metre from the elephants experiencing them in their natural environment whilst bathing, eating and socialising. But the highlight of the visit was feeding time...what an honour...a memory I'll always treasure.

Amazing and ethical experience!

Amazing experience! The sanctuary is a lovely place and the elephants are cared for and have freedom as they should! It was great to see them up close and not ride them or force them to bathe with you! Highly recommended experience! Also all the stuff and the guides are super nice! I am happy we can support such a pla e and hopefully more elephants can be saved from the brutal tourist industry in Thailand!

Magical ethical elephant experience

A wonderful experience, was really impressed by the facility and thought for the elephants welfare. Pleasantly surprised by the amazing vegetarian buffet, some of the best Thai food we've had!

I signed up for the wrong program, but it turned out well

The staff sid a good job and the facility is very impressive. The only real interaction with an elephant was when we had the opportunity to feed two of them. But we received a nice education about Elephant abuse and the rescue work the Sanctuary is doing to care for the elephants which were all older elephants who had worked in logging or circuses. I would have liked more information up front about what to wear, what to bring, and what we would be doing while we were there. As it turned out, I had thought I had signed up for a similar Sanctuary where visitors can help muddy and bathe the elephants. As a result, we all had bathing suits in and towels and extra clothes with us that we didn't need. Last note...after we learned how much and how often elephants peed and pooped, we figured it was good that we didn't have to get in the water with them.