Phuket Elephant Sanctuary
Phuket's first ethical, no-riding elephant sanctuary, giving retired logging and trekking elephants a forest home; visitors observe from a canopy walkway.
- Category
- Wildlife & Elephant Sanctuaries
- Entrance fee
- Guided visit only, ~3,000 THB adult / 1,500 THB child; pre-booking required, as of 2026
- Hours
- Morning and afternoon sessions by reservation
- Best time
- Nov–Apr; book the morning session for cooler weather
- Time needed
- Half day (3 hours)
About Phuket Elephant Sanctuary
This was Phuket's first ethical, no-riding elephant sanctuary, and it's the one to choose if you want to see elephants without supporting the harmful stuff. Retired logging and trekking elephants get a forest home here, and you observe them from a canopy walkway.
Crucially, it's observation and feeding only, no riding and no circus tricks or bathing shows. That's a real distinction from many of the island's so-called elephant camps, and it's the reason this one is worth your money.
You have to book ahead and it's a guided visit only. If you're weighing it against cheaper camps offering rides, skip those; this is the responsible choice.
Highlights
- Phuket's first ethical, no-riding elephant sanctuary
- Retired logging and trekking elephants in a forest home
- Observation from a canopy walkway
- Feeding, not riding or performing
Tips
- Pre-booking is required; it's a guided visit only
- Book the morning session for cooler weather
- Avoid any camp offering rides or circus tricks
- Many bookings include hotel pickup
How to get there
~22 km north of Phuket Town near Pa Khlok; ~30–40 min by Grab/taxi (~400–500 THB), or included hotel pickup with most bookings.