Category Elephant Sanctuary Visits

Thailand · ELEPHANT SANCTUARY VISITS

The 15 Best Elephant Sanctuary Visits in Thailand

51 reviewed

There is no riding on any of these. A sanctuary morning is feeding, watching and usually a walk down to the river, and what separates the good camps from the rest is how much forest the herd has and how many visitors arrive at once. Below are the best sanctuary visits around Chiang Mai, Phuket and Khao Lak, with group sizes, prices, and how much of the day is actually spent with the elephants.

Chiang Mai: Elephant Sanctuary, Waterfall & Bamboo Rafting

Chiang Mai: Elephant Sanctuary, Waterfall & Bamboo Rafting - Who This Tour Is For (and Who Might Prefer a Different Day)

1.Elephant Sanctuary, Waterfall & Bamboo Rafting

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 9,160 reviews · 9 hours · from $60Our pick

Ethical elephant sanctuary near Chiang Mai, waterfall swim, jungle elephant bathing, and bamboo rafting on the Mae Wang River in 9 hours.

“This day was incredible, from the pick up to the drop off! We were picked up directly at our hotel. An hour drive in a comfortable air conditioned van. Our day started with amazing moments with beautiful elephants. We had the opportunity to learn about them, feed them sugar cane, take pictures, cuddle them and walk with them down to the water to give them a bath and a good scrub, which was a memorable experience for us! A good lunch was served,a walk down to the waterfall which was a beautiful site. We then proceeded to a location 10 min away to get on our bamboo raft down a…”

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Chiang Mai: Elephant Sanctuary & Waterfall Group Tour

Chiang Mai: Elephant Sanctuary & Waterfall Group Tour - Getting to Maewang: the drive out of Chiang Mai city

2.Elephant Sanctuary & Waterfall Group Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 5,780 reviews · 7 hours · from $50

Ethical elephant care at Pon Elephant Thailand plus a Mae Wang Waterfall jungle hike, lunch, and Chiang Mai transfers.

“Many thanks to my guide Oum for a wonderful morning. She was so nice and attentive. An unforgettable experience with the elefants in a beautiful setting.”

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Chiang Mai: Elephant Sanctuary Feeding Program Half-Day Tour

Chiang Mai: Elephant Sanctuary Feeding Program Half-Day Tour - The drive from Chiang Mai: hills, farms, and a slow build

3.Elephant Sanctuary Feeding Program Half-Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 4,527 reviews · 5 hours - 330 minutes · from $27

Feed and watch Chiang Mai elephants in an ethical sanctuary, learn their habits, then rinse off in the river during a half-day tour.

“Toto was great at guiding and explaining the different types of elephants and what they do in the sanctuary.Ive fell in love with elephants and will definitely be back again. The best trip so far!!Do it :)”

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Phuket: Elephant Jungle Sanctuary Ethical Feeding Experience

Phuket: Elephant Jungle Sanctuary Ethical Feeding Experience - Elephant Jungle Sanctuary Phuket, where feeding beats the ride crowd

Chiang Mai: Elephant Sanctuary, Long Neck & Sticky Waterfall

Chiang Mai: Elephant Sanctuary, Long Neck & Sticky Waterfall - How the Day Runs: Pickup, Timing, and Staying Comfortable

5.Elephant Sanctuary, Long Neck & Sticky Waterfall

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 2,262 reviews · 9 hours · from $63

Spend a full Chiang Mai day as an elephant caretaker: feed and bathe elephants, visit Long Neck village, then climb Buatong Sticky Waterfall.

“This trip is totally worth it and absolutely well worth going! Everything was just perfect. The most interesting part was interacting with the friendly elephants, which was an unforgettable experience. Our guide, Fluke, was very professional and responsible. His knowledgeable explanations and considerate planning made the trip even better. Highly appreciated!”

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Krabi: Elephant Bathing Session at Krabi Elephant Shelter

Krabi: Elephant Bathing Session at Krabi Elephant Shelter - Entering the elephant day: your pickup and arrival window

6.Elephant Bathing Session at Krabi Elephant Shelter

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 2,021 reviews · 1h 30m · from $48

Feed, bathe, and shower elephants at Krabi Elephant Shelter with hotel pickup, an English guide, and team photos shared after your visit.

“Enjoyed feeding elephants and then got to wash them. All at sanctuary were very accommodating and kids 10 and 12 had great time. Loads of photo ops and also the guides email there o n pics for free afterwards. Lovely experience”

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Phuket: Elephant Sanctuary Guided Tour with Hotel Transfers

Phuket: Elephant Sanctuary Guided Tour with Hotel Transfers - Hotel Pickup and Drop-Off in Phuket: When Transfers Save Your Day

7.Elephant Sanctuary Guided Tour with Hotel Transfers

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 2,020 reviews · 1 hour · from $41

An ethical 1-hour elephant sanctuary visit in Phuket with hotel transfers, hand-feeding, and photo time in a natural setting.

“The tour was really lovely. Got picked up at the exact time they told me they’d be here and the transportation was air-conned. The tour guide was really nice and everyone we interacted with seems to genuinely care for the elephants which was lovely to see. Learnt a lot about elephants and their backgrounds, as they are all rescued. And we’re also told that the money we paid for the tickets goes towards the food and medicine for the elephants which I was pleased to hear. Would highly recommend this tour as it is very interactive with the elephants. We made food for them, got to feed them and also…”

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From Chiang Mai: Elephant Care Program and Nursery Tour

From Chiang Mai: Elephant Care Program and Nursery Tour - Pickup in Chiang Mai, Ride to Mae Tang, and What Happens After You Change

8.Elephant Care Program and Nursery Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 1,899 reviews · 5 - 6 hours · from $53

Meet rescued elephants in Chiang Mai, feed and care for them, then enjoy a mud spa and Thai buffet lunch with ethical, close-up fun.

“This was absolutely amazing, a real bucket list experience. The people there (tour guides) absolutely made the trip too. Definitely recommend.”

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A Morning with the Elephants at Phuket Elephant Sanctuary

A Morning with the Elephants at Phuket Elephant Sanctuary - From pickup to the treetop lounge: snacks, gear, and a real orientation

9.A Morning with the Elephants at Phuket Elephant Sanctuary

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,693 reviews · from $97Top rated

Ethical elephant viewing in Phuket, plus a Thai vegetarian buffet, treetop canopy photos, and optional hotel transfers, all in 3.5 hours.

“Absolutely loved this place. The shuttles were super organized. How you were put into groups was very methodic and they definitely knew what they were doing. The food was a little bland but still good. The elephants were amazing and you could tell how loved they are. If you are wanting to see elephants in Phuket, this is the only place I would recommend.”

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From Bangkok: Living Green Elephant Sanctuary Day Trip

From Bangkok: Living Green Elephant Sanctuary Day Trip - Mo Hom clothing, before you step into elephant territory

10.Living Green Elephant Sanctuary Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 1,541 reviews · 3 hours - 450 minutes · from $57

Ethical elephant sanctuary day trip from Bangkok. Feed, walk and bathe elephants, learn conservation, and eat Pad Thai.

“We were warmly welcomed and invited straight to lunch. After that, we were free to explore for a while. Then the program started and we learned a lot about the elephants. After the introduction, we fed them and later went on a long walk with them. The view was amazing and the whole place was in a beautiful area. 🐘🌿”

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Koh Samui: Elephant Sanctuary Entry and Feeding Experience

Koh Samui: Elephant Sanctuary Entry and Feeding Experience - Watching Elephants Roam: Social Behavior, Mud, and Relaxed Moments

Phuket: Elephant Experience with Lunch or Dinner and Pickup

Phuket: Elephant Experience with Lunch or Dinner and Pickup - Kerchor Elephant Family Park: Your First Steps on Site

12.Elephant Experience with Lunch or Dinner and Pickup

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 1,387 reviews · 4h 30m · from $67

Phuket elephant conservation day with hotel pickup, mud spa, jungle walk, Karen culture, tie-dye, Thai buffet, and digital photos.

“Great activity. Transfer on time. We spent 3 hours with the elephants, feeding, petting, washing them. The guide was really nice. And the meal at the end hit the spot.”

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Koh Samui: Elephant Sanctuary and Jungle Tour with Lunch

Koh Samui: Elephant Sanctuary and Jungle Tour with Lunch - Namuang Waterfall 1, quick refresh and what to do about muddy water

Samui: Elephant Nutrition and Care Education Experience

Samui: Elephant Nutrition and Care Education Experience - Getting There Smoothly: Hotel Pickup and How the Timing Works

14.Samui: Elephant Nutrition and Care Education Experience

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 1,223 reviews · 2 hours · from $32

Learn ethical elephant nutrition in Koh Samui, prep natural food with staff, and watch calm feeding at an elephant nursery.

“We were really apprehensive about booking anything elephant related. However Noi was the perfect tour guide and was so welcoming & demonstrates such a passionate care for the elephants and educates you so well. Staff put elephants needs and care first such as a new elephant isn’t to be touched as they train them to get used to people etc.”

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3-in-1: Doi Inthanon Tour, Elephant Sanctuary, and Trekking Trail

3-in-1: Doi Inthanon Tour, Elephant Sanctuary, and Trekking Trail - Doi Inthanon: Thailand’s highest mountain, plus royal pagodas