Phuket Elephant Sanctuary

I love animals and while traveling I get so excited seeing exotic animals and elephants are one of my favorites!

While in Phuket I googled and researched to find the best sanctuary to see the glorious Asian elephants, and I found it! Phuket Elephant Sanctuary is the most ethical elephant sanctuary in Phuket, and they are working to become even more ethical. They have built Thailands longest canopy walkway above ground and are expanding it so that eventually we can admire the enormous animals from above while the elephants can roam freely and unbothered. There are a lot of places with similar names as the Phuket Elephant Sanctuary, even ones that will offer elephant rides and doesn’t treat them well so please don’t be fooled. Do your research, and you will probably end up at Phuket Elephant Sanctuary and have an amazing day! It was definitely a highlight of our trip for me, I was just so happy all day. Here’s some info from their websites:

Phuket’s First & Most Ethical Sanctuary Where Elephants Roam & Bathe Freely

Bordering the Khao Phra Thaeo National Park, the Phuket Elephant Sanctuary offers a true final home for overtired elephants who have suffered from working long hours in the logging and tourism industry. As the first ethical elephant tourism experience in Phuket, we rescue sick, injured and old elephants, welcoming them back into their indigenous habit.

The Freedom and Happiness for the elephants are our top priorities. We offer full-time veterinary care, 30 acres of lush, tropical land for the elephants to roam, forage, bathe and socialize, and a dedicated team to prepare supplementary food and look after the wellbeing of the herd.

Your visit supports our work and guarantees to leave you inspired, transformed and in awe of these majestic animals.

Our visit to the sanctuary started with some complimentary snacks and drinks while watching an informational video. It told the story of the founder, his history in the tourism industry and how badly elephants are being treated all across Thailand. We also got to see how the elephants at the sanctuary were rescued (bought from tourist attraction sites) and transported to Phuket Elephant Sanctuary. After this we were each given a water bottle and offered an umbrella as protection from the sun before going into the jungle to meet the elephants.

I was so excited to see all the magnificent, retired ladies of this sanctuary! All elephants in this sanctuary are female and the first one we met was an old lady actually floating around in the hydrotherapy pool while picking up fruit from the poolside with her trunk. Floating! Haha, I’m still amazed! The other girls were roaming around in the jungle bathing, eating and just doing their thing while we walked around and watched from a safe distance. Our amazing guide passionately gave us all their stories, both from before they came to the sanctuary and about their new everyday lives after being rescued. I was a little jealous of the mahouts who are the young men working close with the elephants as their keepers every single day.

After this oh so hot, but incredible tour of the sanctuary’s jungle it was time to feed these massive creatures. It was honestly so much fun! But also a little terrifying being so close to such a giant and feeling the strength of her trunk. Elephants are such beautiful, gentle giants. I am in love. When the elephants were fed it was time for us humans to enjoy a lovely vegetarian meal. We could also support the sanctuary even more buy purchasing lots of elephant stuff at the souvenir shop named after their first rescue, Kannika. I will admit I went a little crazy in there, and I was smiling the whole time!