The enchanting realm of Phuket may be known for its lush rainforests and turquoise blue waters, but it also boasts a bustling nightlife, rich heritage, and interesting experiences like going to an elephant sanctuary.
Elephants are some of the most majestic creatures in the world, yet it’s rare to have the opportunity to witness them so close up in a way that supports ethical and sustainable practices.
I had the opportunity to go on some elephant tours while there, and I recommend it to any of my friends or family who are in the area. I’ve decided to come up with a guide to the 5 top Phuket elephant tours available, so let’s jump right in!
Best Elephant Tours in Phuket
| A Morning with the Elephants at Phuket Elephant Sanctuary | Phuket: Elephant Sanctuary Small Group Tour | Phuket Elephant Sanctuary Canopy Walkway Tour | |
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| Location: | 100, Moo 2,, Paklok, Thalang | Hotel pickup and drop-off included | Hotel pickup and drop-off included |
| Start: | 9:30 AM | 7:30 AM & 11:30 AM | 9:00, 9:30 PM, 2:00, 2:30 PM |
| Duration: | 3.5 hours | 4.5 hours | 1.5 hours |
| Includes: | Elephant walk, Lunch, Coffee, Fruits, Juices & Filtered Water, Boots, Socks, Umbrellas, Rain Coats, Bottled water, Air-conditioned vehicle | Elephant Care Class, elephant walk, Air-conditioned vehicle, Coffee and/or Tea, Lunch, Cooking Class | Elephant walk, Umbrellas, Raincoats, Mosquito Spray, Signature Iced Soda & Unlimited Snack Bar, Free PES souvenir, Bottled water |
Quick Answer: The 5 Best Phuket Elephant Tours For 2024
- A Morning with the Elephants at Phuket Elephant Sanctuary
- Phuket: Elephant Sanctuary Small Group Tour
- Phuket Elephant Sanctuary Canopy Walkway Tour
- Full-Day Phuket Elephant Sanctuary Tour with Lunch and Dinner
- An Afternoon with the Elephants at Phuket Elephant Sanctuary
Best Phuket Elephant Tour Reviews
1. A Morning with the Elephants at Phuket Elephant Sanctuary
- Duration: 3.5 hours
- Departure: 100, Moo 2,, Paklok, Thalang
- Departure Time: 9:30 AM
- Includes: Lunch, Welcome Snacks, Coffee, Fruits, Juices & Filtered Water, Boots, Socks, Umbrellas, Rain Coats, Mosquito Spray, Bottled water, Air-conditioned vehicle
I can’t think of a better way to spend a morning in Phuket than learning about these gentle giants in a place that really focuses on their health and happiness.
A Morning with the Elephants at Phuket Sanctuary is a comprehensive experience that was equally as educational as it was fun! If it’s your first time in the city, I can’t recommend this experience enough!
This tour, like every other on this guide, comes with a convenient hotel pickup so you don’t have to worry about booking separate transportation or figuring out how to get to a specific meetup point.
As you can probably deduce from the title, this tour starts off in the morning so you’ll have the rest of the day to explore and partake in any other activities you have planned!
Upon arrival at the Tree Top Sanctuary, we were welcomed with a tasty snack and provided with boots, socks, raincoats, mosquito spray, and umbrellas (it can get pretty wet out in the jungle).
We were given a briefing of what to expect, watching a video to give us a bit of background knowledge on the sanctuary’s efforts before heading out to see the beautiful animals.
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We got to meet many different elephants while the employees fed them bananas, pineapples, and cucumbers. They even let us feed them under supervision, which was so much fun and made me realize just how sweet elephants really are!
I enjoyed learning about why it’s so important to have these conservation efforts, as elephants around the world are in danger (mostly due to human behavior).
After spending a couple of hours out there, we fueled up on a tasty vegetarian Thai meal! Overall, it was a fantastic way to spend a morning learning about an important cause while enjoying the natural beauty and food of Thailand!
More Information & Tour Booking
100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience
2. Phuket: Elephant Sanctuary Small Group Tour
- Duration: 4.5 hours
- Departure: Hotel pickup and drop-off included
- Departure Time: 7:30 AM & 11:30 AM
- Includes: Elephant Care Class, elephant walk, Air-conditioned vehicle, Coffee and/or Tea, Lunch, Cooking Class
This next tour is a blast, and super convenient as you’ll start early in the morning and be back in time for lunch at your hotel!
The Phuket: Elephant Sanctuary Small Group Tour is not only a fun adventure, it’s also an educational experience that will show you all about how elephants behave and why sanctuaries as so important. If you’re traveling with the entire family, this is one of the best options, in my opinion.
The fact that they pick you right up from your hotel is a big plus, as the sanctuary isn’t really that accessible otherwise.
I noticed right away that our guide was serious about bringing us a wonderful experience, answering any questions we had, and sharing interesting stories and anecdotes along the way.
The vehicle we traveled in was very comfortable, with padded seating, air conditioning, and large windows to view the beautiful scenery as we cruised along.
I was already enamored by the time we got to the Lake Phuket Elephant Nursery, where we were able to watch these stunning animals as they eat and bathe in their natural surroundings.
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We fed them bananas and sugar cane, which I was admittedly a bit nervous about at first, but their sweet personalities soon disarmed me. Our guide told us all about each one, their backgrounds, how they came to arrive at the sanctuary, their personalities, and more!
The stroll through the forest with the elephants was as intriguing as it was breathtaking, and I felt I learned quite a lot about their behavior on the outing.
We then headed back to enjoy a delicious Thai lunch complete with fresh fruit while chatting about everything we just saw. It was such a fun time, while learning about the importance of these ethical environments, and of course, falling even more in love with these gentle creatures.
More Information & Tour Booking
100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience
3. Phuket Elephant Sanctuary Canopy Walkway Tour
- Duration: 1.5 hours
- Departure: Hotel pickup and drop-off included
- Departure Time: 9:00, 9:30 PM, 2:00, 2:30 PM
- Includes: Umbrellas, Raincoats, Mosquito Spray, Signature Iced Soda & Unlimited Snack Bar, Free PES souvenir, Bottled water
This next tour takes you right into the heart of Thailand’s thick, green jungles for the chance to connect with some of the most majestic animals on earth.
The experience is led by professional guides and conservationists who know just about everything there is to know about the sanctuary and surrounding environment.
The Phuket Elephant Sanctuary Canopy Walkway Tour celebrates the intelligence of elephants while promoting their well-being and protection.
I, like probably most people, have seen elephants before at zoos and settings where they’re more controlled.
However, I’d never had the chance to see them roam freely in a forest sanctuary, where I was able to see them in their element: foraging, bathing, eating, and interacting with each other, naturally.
I naively didn’t know much about the challenges elephants have to deal with, as well as responsible tourism, but I’m so grateful I now have a better idea.
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Everything about this tour was convenient, from the hotel pickup and drop-off to the included umbrellas, raincoats, mosquito spray, and unlimited snacks and soft drinks.
They even offered us free PES souvenirs, which was the perfect addition to an already amazing tour. In addition, there are a ton of different start times available so you can choose which works best into your itinerary!
The sweet elephants are so beautiful and I was happy to be able to help feed them while our guide told us some interesting facts, including how they’re the largest land mammal on the planet!
The park history itself was also fascinating, and we got to watch a short documentary at the beginning of the tour that helped us understand even more about elephants. Overall, this was a great day that I’d recommend to anyone, of any age or interest.
More Information & Tour Booking
100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience
4. Full-Day Phuket Elephant Sanctuary Tour with Lunch and Dinner
- Duration: 7.5 hours
- Departure: Hotel pickup and drop-off included
- Departure Time: 9:30 AM
- Includes: Boots, socks, umbrellas, raincoats, mosquito spray, snacks, coffee, fruits, juices & filtered Water, air-conditioned vehicle, bottled water, free PES T-Shirt, vegetarian Thai lunch & dinner
This is by far, the most comprehensive, “full-fledged” elephant sanctuary tour of its kind in Phuket. You’ll get to learn all about elephants, conservation efforts, the sanctuary, and enjoy a delicious lunch and dinner.
The Full-Day Phuket Elephant Sanctuary Tour with Lunch and Dinner is fun for anyone who’d like to get a better idea of how important Thailand’s natural environment and conservation efforts are to its wildlife.
I will say, be prepared to have your heartstrings tugged at, as part of learning is also watching the informative video at the beginning about what so many elephants go through on planet Earth.
These are such incredibly sweet, gentle animals, and I got a glimpse into how intelligent and noble they are, watching them roam freely around the stunning sanctuary grounds.
Our guide did a fantastic job, teaching us all about these special creatures, through the clear passion and love she has for them. My personal favorite part of the day was fixing the food for the elephants and hand-feeding them right up close!
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I learned about how the sanctuary takes care of injured and mistreated elephants, which made me feel a bit bittersweet.
I also enjoyed walking up on the elevated walkways throughout the forest canopy and the walk through the trees, which offered incredible views!
Throughout the day, we enjoyed complimentary soft drinks, but we were even served a delicious lunch and dinner. Both were more traditionally Thai dishes, though I’m a huge fan of the local cuisine and was happy to revel in the diverse flavors in such a beautiful location.
I’d recommend this tour to families, solo travelers, couples, and anyone who has a passion for animals.
More Information & Tour Booking
100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience
5. An Afternoon with the Elephants at Phuket Elephant Sanctuary
- Duration: 3.5 hours
- Departure: Hotel pickup and drop-off included
- Departure Time: 1:30 PM
- Includes: Dinner
How do you feel about going on a tour that National Geographic, Lonely Planet, and The Guardian have all endorsed?
Well, you can now with An Afternoon with the Elephants at Phuket Elephant Sanctuary! Covering over 30 acres of tropical rainforest, we got the chance to see firsthand how these old and injured elephants lived happily with top-notch treatment from the staff.
This is one of the tours that only has one start time and it’s at 1:30 pm, so it’s perfect if you have plans in the morning or at night and want something to fill your afternoon with.
Of course, this isn’t a “filler” tour where you’re just checking off boxes – rather, it’s an educational, immersive experience that will likely make you see elephants differently.
This, like most others on this guide, do include a convenient hotel pickup so you don’t have to deal with booking separate transportation.
The guides did a fantastic job at letting us be “a part” of the experience by feeding the elephants and learning all about them, without intruding upon them or putting them into potentially stressful situations.
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After all, this sanctuary is there to keep the animals happy and healthy while supporting their mission of compassionate and ethical elephant tourism. Oh, and do yourself a favor and make sure you visit the little cafe in the back, which is delicious!
After we learned all about the gentle giants, we took a break to enjoy a delicious buffet dinner filled with all kinds of traditional Thai dishes – most of which, I’d never had before.
It seems crazy to say, but it was actually the best dinner I’d had that week, and I’d already visited a lot of yummy restaurants. If you’re looking for a different activity or simply a good alternative to going to dinner at a traditional restaurant, this is the top option!
More Information & Tour Booking
100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience
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The A Morning with the Elephants at Phuket Elephant Sanctuary is our Editors Choice for the best Phuket elephant tour
