Phuket Elephant Nature Reserve Ethical Sanctuary

Recommended by 99% of travelers

Badge of Excellence

Phuket, Thailand

Popular pick

Booked 20+ times last week!

+46

3 hours 30 minutes (approx.)
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

Why travelers loved this

5.0

· Jessica_D ·

Aug 2026

What a lovely experience! This was truly an ethical elephant experience and you can tell the keepers really care about these beautiful animals. We helped make food balls for the elephants and saw many different ones up close and watched them eat. Our guide was very knowledgeable, we learned a lot!

· Judith_P ·

Jun 2026

This was a very interesting and informative visit to the elephant sanctuary. Our guide was very friendly and knowledgeable. I learned a lot about elephants and their personalities. Also about the treatment of elephants in the past. I would highly recommend a visit to the elephant sanctuary.

Overview

Meet and interact with elephants in an ethical way at the Phuket Elephant Nature Reserve, an award-winning elephant sanctuary. Here, elephants roam freely, and their wellbeing comes above entertainment. While no bathing, touching, or hand feeding is permitted, you still see gentle giants up close, enjoying their natural habitat. This wholesome half-day experience includes the chance to prepare elephant food—and your own lunch during a Thai cooking class.

Observe and photograph elephants in the jungle and at watering holes
Prepare vitamin balls for the elephants with the mahouts (elephant handlers)
Learn how elephant dung is recycled at the sanctuary
Support the important work of an ethical elephant sanctuary

What's Included

Lunch

Thai Cooking clase demo (Half Day Program Only)
Meet & feed our elephants with a hands-off approach
Elephant jungle nature observation
Elephant dung recycling center ( Half day program only)
Making vitamin balls ( Half day program only)
Water
Experience tour guide
Insurance

Comfortable shoes
Hat & sunglasses
Your own water bottle for our water refill station
Transport

Meeting and Pickup

Departure Point

Phuket Elephant Nature Reserve, 100/12 Moo 7, Srisoonthon Rd, Phuket 83110 Thailand

What To Expect

Phuket Elephant Nature Reserve

Admission Ticket Included

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Not wheelchair accessible
Service animals allowed
Near public transportation

Infant seats available
No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
Most travelers can participate

Supplied by

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

Traveler Photos

Gallery picture 1 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 2 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 3 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 4 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 5 (from a traveler's review)

Reviews

5.0

based on 106 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

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Great Learning Experience

John_F, Aug 2026

The Grab driver had a difficult time navigating the dirt road up to the entrance, but everything else was great. It was very interesting learning about what constituted abuse of elephants. It was fun to feed and learn about each elephant. It was a nice learning experience.

Wonderful experience at the elephant sanctuary in Phuket

Philip_C, Aug 2026

We had a wonderful experience at the elephant sanctuary in Phuket! 🐘❤️ It was amazing to see the elephants up close, feed them and spend time with them in a respectful environment. The staff were friendly, knowledgeable and clearly care deeply about the elephants. A beautiful and memorable experience that we would definitely recommend!

Ethical elephant experience

Jessica_D, Aug 2026

Beautiful creatures

Willy_E, Aug 2026

Wonderful!! You see the elephants up close. You can tell they are loved and well cared for. Such a calming and well manicured environment for the beautiful elephants.

Great experience! No touching the elephants here

Jeff_N, Jul 2026

So fun to see elephants! Just a heads up, you do not get to pet, feed or touch the elephants here. It was super fun to see them up close though!

Best solo travel experience!

Macy_H, Jul 2026

If you want pure happiness, this is the place to be. As a solo traveler I often find it hard to just enjoy but this experience was absolutely amazing! I opted for the half day with lunch and WOW- From taking you to meet each and every elephant and their backstory, to helping feed them, to even making paper, this experience was absolutely amazing. Getting to see the elephants so close while still letting them live their own way without harm was eye opening and unreal! Highly recommend for all ages !

Best way to see Elephants

Rich_V, Jul 2026

This is the best way to see Elephants up close and in an ethical way. You get to up close and get great photos of these magnificent animals. Your money goes a long way to helping this center in its mission.

More than expected

Andrew_C, Jul 2026

This was an amazing day. An excellent tour. More than expected. This was an amazing day. An excellent tour. More than expected.

A wonderful opportunity to respect and appreciate elephants

Jill_B, Jun 2026

This is a wonderful opportunity to be in the presence and respect these magnificent animals, without exploitation or causing any distress to them. The elephants are well loved and cared for and enjoy all the freedom possible within the boundaries of their enclosure. Of course complete freedom to roam in the wild would be ideal, but is restricted by their histories of burden. What a wonderful experience which we enjoyed very much! Thank you for your continued work. Hopefully more funds can be found along with another site, so that more than 6 can be supported in the future and give more of these special animals a better life, away from exploitation and distress.

I had a really great...

Alison_F, Jun 2026

I had a really great experience here, I did the tour with lunch and got to cook some thai food after visiting with the elephants. Glad it is a no-touch, no-bathing sanctuary, which makes it better for the elephants

Elephants Then and Now

Judith_P, Jun 2026

Truly Ethical

chimere_m, May 2026

This was such a beautiful experience! My guide was super knowledgeable and I really enjoyed my experience! All the elephants seemed well taken care and the handlers were attentive. If you are looking for a true ethical experience this is definitely the place!

Wonderful experience from start to finish!

Deb_G, May 2026

What a wonderful place! From start to finish, this was an incredible experience like no other. My guide, Porsche, was so knowledgeable and really took the time to educate me about these beautiful creatures. I thought she had been doing this for years, and she shocked me when she said she'd only been there 2 months! I got to cut fruit and vegetables for the elephants, and then we fed it to each of them. We also prepared vitamin balls (elephant sushi) and made paper from elephant dung. Just when I thought it current get any better, Porsche did a cooking demo and prepared for me a wonderful meal of Tom Yum soup and Pad Thai, both of which were delicious. I am so glad the operators were able to change my 90 minute tour to the half day at the last minute. Well worth the time and money to support this group. This is a don't miss experience.

It’s worth it to see

Connie_G, May 2026

You get to be close to elephants. Elephants were very happy and friendly. Everyone was very informative and helpful. What an excellent experience.

Great experience

Jhelissa_B, May 2026

We had the most incredible half-day experience at the Phuket Elephant Nature Reserve! Our guide, Porsche, was absolutely fantastic, knowledgeable, friendly, and made the whole tour engaging from start to finish. Plus when we couldn’t get a taxi home she helped us book when at the end even though they had closed. We loved making food baskets and fun “sushi balls” for the elephants, and it was amazing to see how they recycle elephant dung in such a sustainable way. The Thai cooking class at the beginning was great and the reserve were very accommodating for dietary requirements. The reserve is clearly dedicated to the elephants’ wellbeing, and you can feel the care and respect in everything they do. It’s a completely hands off approach, so no bathing the elephants or touching them, which was a must when we were booking this tour as a lot of reserves claim their ethical but still allow people to touch the elephants. Highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting Phuket, it was one of the best things we did in Thailand

Must visit

Irina_K, May 2026

If you’re visiting Phuket and want a truly meaningful animal experience, I can’t recommend the Elephant Nature Reserve Sanctuary enough. From the moment we arrived, it was clear this place genuinely puts the elephants first. There’s no riding, no performances—just respect, care, and space for these incredible animals to live peacefully. You can feel the difference immediately. We had the chance to walk alongside the elephants, feed them, and watch them interact naturally—bathing, playing, and just being elephants. The staff were knowledgeable, kind, and clearly passionate about what they do. They shared each elephant’s story, and you could tell these animals are not just cared for—they’re loved. Everything was well organized, clean, and thoughtfully run. It didn’t feel commercialized or rushed at all, which made the experience even more special. If you’re going to visit elephants in Thailand, do it the right way—this is the kind of place that deserves support. An unforgettable experience for all the right reasons.

If you’re going to go to...

Alex_P, Apr 2026

If you’re going to go to any sanctuary I would go to this one. The caretakers clearly love elephants and respect them so much. I loved supporting a great cause and learning all about elephants. I think the 90 minute session was perfect

Response from Host, Apr 2026

Thank you so much! "If you're going to go to any sanctuary I would go to this one" — what a powerful, clear recommendation! We're deeply grateful you're encouraging others to choose us! What really touches us is your observation that "the caretakers clearly love elephants and respect them so much." You're absolutely right — that love and respect is completely genuine. It's not just their job, it's their calling. They've devoted their lives to these rescued elephants. We're so glad you loved supporting a great cause and learning all about our elephants! Education and rescue work go hand in hand — understanding why sanctuaries matter helps transform elephant tourism. Thank you for visiting and for your strong recommendation! 💚 We'd love to welcome you back anytime. With gratitude, The PENR Family

Great ethical elephant...

Courtney_T, Apr 2026

Great ethical elephant experience! Would highly recommend if ethics are your priority. Plenty of great interaction and picture opportunities because you get to prepare their lunch and are very close to the elephants but you are not allowed to touch the elephants at all. Wonderful experience!

Response from Host, Apr 2026

Thank you so much for this wonderful review and strong recommendation! "Great ethical elephant experience!" — exactly what we strive for! What really moves us is your statement: "Would highly recommend if ethics are your priority." That's 𝗲𝘅𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗹𝘆 the message we need travelers to hear — if you prioritize ethics, PENR is where you should go. Thank you for making that so clear! We love your observation: "Plenty of great interaction and picture opportunities... very close to the elephants but you are not allowed to touch the elephants at all." That's 𝗲𝘅𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗹𝘆 the balance we work so hard to achieve! You don't need to touch elephants to have meaningful interactions, capture amazing photos, and create lasting memories. Proximity and respect working together. Thank you for understanding and appreciating our no-touching policy while still having a wonderful experience! We're so grateful for your support! 💚 We'd love to welcome you back anytime. With gratitude, The PENR Family

You DONT get to touch the...

Eyad_A, Apr 2026

You DONT get to touch the elephants. No riding elephants. It's more of a family educational experience, not necessarily fun for groups of friends . ( I booked thinking I would get to ride but it was genuinely my mistake I guess) . Other than that it's informative and involving.

Response from Host, Apr 2026

Thank you for your honest review and for acknowledging the misunderstanding! We want to be very clear: 𝘄𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗱, 𝗮𝗱𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗱, 𝗼𝗿 𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗽𝗵𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝗯𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗼𝘂𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴. Our name — "Phuket Elephant Nature Reserve 𝗘𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝗮𝗻𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘆" — our website, our booking descriptions, and all our materials explicitly state that we are a 𝟭𝟬𝟬% 𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘀-𝗼𝗳𝗳 𝘀𝗮𝗻𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘆 with no riding, no bathing, and no touching. 𝗪𝗛𝗬 𝗪𝗘 𝗗𝗢𝗡'𝗧 𝗔𝗟𝗟𝗢𝗪 𝗧𝗛𝗘𝗦𝗘 𝗔𝗖𝗧𝗜𝗩𝗜𝗧𝗜𝗘𝗦: Riding elephants requires brutal "breaking" training as babies, causes spinal damage, creates chronic pain, and forces submission through fear. Bathing tourists with elephants causes stress, crowds them, and removes their agency. Hand-feeding creates pressure and anxiety. These activities harm elephants — physically and psychologically. We will never compromise our elephants' wellbeing for tourist entertainment, ever. 𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗪𝗘 𝗗𝗢 𝗢𝗙𝗙𝗘𝗥: Educational, observational experiences where you learn each elephant's rescue story, prepare their food, and witness natural behaviors in a peaceful environment. It's designed to be meaningful, informative, and respectful — exactly what you experienced. We're genuinely glad you found it "informative and involving" despite having different expectations! And we truly appreciate your honesty in acknowledging it was a booking mistake rather than blaming us for something we never promised. 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗙𝗨𝗧𝗨𝗥𝗘 𝗩𝗜𝗦𝗜𝗧𝗢𝗥𝗦: If you want to ride, bathe, or touch elephants, PENR is not the right choice. If you want to support genuine ethical elephant care and learn why those activities are harmful, we'd love to welcome you. Thank you for visiting and for your honest feedback! With respect, The PENR Family

Beautiful experience!

Elizabeth_V, Mar 2026

Such a great experience! Our guide was very kind and knowledgeable and you can tell they really love their elephants!

Response from Host, Apr 2026

Thank you so much! We're thrilled you had a beautiful experience with us! Your guide will be so happy to read this — and you're absolutely right, that love for the elephants is completely genuine. It's not just their job, it's their passion and calling. Thank you for visiting and supporting our rescued elephants! 💚 We'd love to welcome you back anytime. With gratitude, The PENR Family

This experience was very...

LanJericha_F, Mar 2026

This experience was very enjoyable. Our guide was very knowledgeable and personable. We were able to experience the elephants as they roamed the property freely. It was clear they were happy and well cared for. You should definitely book!

Response from Host, Apr 2026

Thank you so much for this wonderful review and strong recommendation! We're thrilled you had a very enjoyable experience! Your guide will be so happy to read about being knowledgeable and personable — creating that warm, educational atmosphere while sharing their genuine passion for the elephants is exactly what we strive for. What really touches us is your observation that the elephants were roaming the property freely and that "it was clear they were happy and well cared for." That happiness and freedom — after everything they've been through — is exactly what sanctuary life should look like. When elephants are comfortable, well-cared for, and free to make their own choices, that contentment really does shine through. Thank you for your "you should definitely book!" recommendation! Visitors like you who recognize and appreciate genuine ethical care are helping spread the word about what elephant sanctuaries should be. We're so grateful for your support! 💚 We'd love to welcome you back anytime. With gratitude, The PENR Family

Elephant Sanctuary

Wendy_S, Mar 2026

Make sure you’ve got sun cream water and comfortable shoes - water can be bought and lunch is provided - beautiful sanctuary where the elephants roam free and are well cared for - prepared food for them and even fed the elephants - highly recommend this trip

Response from Host, Apr 2026

Thank you so much for this wonderful review and strong recommendation! Your practical tips are so helpful for future visitors — sun cream, water, and comfortable shoes are definitely essentials! And yes, we have water available to purchase and provide lunch as part of the experience. We're thrilled you found our sanctuary beautiful and recognized that our elephants roam free and are well cared for! That freedom and quality care is exactly what these rescued elephants deserve after everything they've been through. We're so glad you enjoyed preparing food for them and placing it for the elephants to eat! That hands-on participation — without hand-feeding directly — creates such a meaningful connection while respecting their space and reducing stress. Thank you for your strong recommendation and for supporting our mission! 💚 We'd love to welcome you back anytime. With gratitude, The PENR Family

Nice ethical sanctuary

RaduDaniel_V, Mar 2026

Great and ethical way of experience the greatness of the elephants. Extremely welcoming people. It is really a hands off experience, but you are never too far from the beautiful "ladies".

Response from Host, Apr 2026

Thank you so much! We're thrilled you recognized our ethical approach and that our team made you feel extremely welcome! Creating a warm, friendly atmosphere while maintaining our commitment to hands-off elephant care is exactly what we strive for. What we love most about your review is this perfect description: "It is really a hands off experience, but you are never too far from the beautiful 'ladies'." That's exactly the balance we work so hard to achieve! Proximity and respect working together. You don't need to touch elephants to have powerful, close encounters with these magnificent animals. And "ladies" — what a lovely, respectful way to describe our rescued elephant queens! 💚 Thank you for choosing ethical elephant tourism and for supporting our mission! We'd love to welcome you back anytime. With gratitude, The PENR Family

Best Experience in Phuket

Rekha_C, Mar 2026

Amazing experience at this rescue and rehabilitation center. Up close and personal with the 6 elephants they have on premise. I thought we would be observing from afar, but they are free roaming. You are just a few feet away while they are being fed. Preparing food for them and then getting to watch them eat it was a true pleasure. And you feel like the care given is quite good. These animals each have their own personality and some are relatively newly to the reserve.

Response from Host, Apr 2026

Thank you so much for this wonderful review! "Best Experience in Phuket" — what an incredible honor! To stand out among all your Phuket experiences means everything to us. We love that you were pleasantly surprised by how close you got! So many people expect to "observe from afar," but our free-roaming approach means you're just a few feet away while the elephants eat, explore, and simply be themselves. That proximity — when elephants are comfortable and choosing to be near you — creates such powerful, authentic encounters. We're absolutely thrilled that preparing food for them and watching them eat was a true pleasure! That hands-on participation creates meaningful connection without any exploitation. Your observation that "the care given is quite good" means so much to our team. They work tirelessly every single day to provide proper nutrition, veterinary care, and genuine love to these rescued elephants. And thank you for noticing that each elephant has their own personality! You're absolutely right — Lotus, Bow, Thonglor, Nong Tang, Mae Boon Lai, and Tub Tim are all unique individuals with distinct stories, needs, and temperaments. Understanding those individual differences is fundamental to genuine sanctuary care. You're also correct that some are relatively new to the reserve — our most recent rescues, Tub Tim (December 2025) and Mae Boon Lai (February 2025), are still settling into their new lives of freedom and peace. Thank you for choosing ethical elephant tourism and for supporting our rescue and rehabilitation mission! We'd love to welcome you back anytime. 💚 With gratitude, The PENR Family

Great Inexpensive Tour!

Robbin_S, Mar 2026

The 90 minute tour is great you get to learn about the elephants and feed them. The tour guide takes your picture with. The elephants are treated ethically...no rides, etc

Response from Host, Apr 2026

Thank you so much! We're thrilled the 90-minute tour was great for you! It's wonderful you got to learn about our elephants and their stories while preparing food for them to eat. And we're so glad your guide helped capture those precious photo memories! Thank you for recognizing our ethical treatment — "no rides, etc" is exactly what sets us apart! We will never compromise our elephants' wellbeing for tourist entertainment. We're also grateful you found it great value! We work hard to keep our tours accessible while maintaining the highest standards of elephant care. Every cent goes directly toward supporting our rescued elephants. Thank you for visiting and supporting our mission! 💚 We'd love to welcome you back anytime. With gratitude, The PENR Family

Great way to learn about Elephants

Doug_H, Mar 2026

Such a great experience! The elephants are the star of the show but all are treated really well. This is a hands off experience but you will get to see the elephants up close and personal.

Response from Host, Apr 2026

Thank you so much! We absolutely love your description: "The elephants are the star of the show but all are treated really well." That's exactly our philosophy! The elephants are always the focus, always the priority, and they're treated with the dignity and respect they deserve after everything they've been through. We're thrilled you had a great experience! Your observation that it's "a hands off experience but you will get to see the elephants up close and personal" captures exactly the balance we work so hard to achieve. Proximity and respect truly can coexist when elephants are comfortable and free to be themselves. Thank you for choosing ethical elephant tourism and for supporting our rescued elephants! 💚 We'd love to welcome you back anytime. With gratitude, The PENR Family

Great way to see the elephants!

Natasha_B, Feb 2026

Very knowledgeable guide & a very ethical elephant sanctuary. No feeding, touching, riding or bathing with the elephants. Highly recommend!

Response from Host, Apr 2026

Thank you so much for this wonderful review and strong recommendation! We're thrilled you found your guide very knowledgeable! Our team is passionate about educating visitors on elephant welfare and each elephant's unique story. What really touches us is your clear understanding of our ethical approach: "No feeding, touching, riding or bathing with the elephants." That's exactly what sets us apart! We will never compromise our elephants' wellbeing for tourist entertainment, ever. Thank you for choosing ethical elephant tourism and for encouraging others to visit! We'd love to welcome you back anytime. 💚 With gratitude, The PENR Family

Always Choose Ethical

Arjun_L, Feb 2026

This is the only type of elephant experience you should go to. Completely ethical and all elephants there are fully rescues. And this is a great experience for seeing the elephants where they live and how they are cared for. 90 minute experience was all we needed.

Response from Host, Apr 2026

Thank you so much for this powerful review and incredible advocacy! "Always Choose Ethical" and "This is the only type of elephant experience you should go to" — what a strong, clear message! We're deeply grateful you're using your voice to educate others about why ethical elephant tourism matters. You're absolutely right that we're completely ethical and all our elephants are fully rescued from exploitation, abuse, and hardship. We will never compromise their wellbeing for tourist entertainment, ever. We're so glad you found it a great experience seeing where they live and how they're cared for! Witnessing the quality of care, the freedom they have, and the peaceful environment they now call home creates such meaningful understanding of what sanctuary life should look like. And we're thrilled the 90-minute experience was all you needed! It's designed to be comprehensive yet efficient — perfect for getting the full story without overwhelming. Thank you for choosing ethical elephant tourism and for strongly encouraging others to do the same. Advocates like you who spread the "Always Choose Ethical" message are helping transform elephant tourism across Thailand! We'd love to welcome you back anytime. 💚 With deep gratitude, The PENR Family

so so so good great...

Liam_r, Feb 2026

so so so good great chilled vibe and the elephant have 10 star 🌟 care all around my family loved the talks

Response from Host, Apr 2026

Thank you so much! "10 star care" — we love it! 🌟 Our team works tirelessly to give these rescued elephants the absolute best, and knowing your family could see and feel that level of care means everything to us. We're thrilled you loved the chilled vibe and that your family enjoyed the talks! Creating a relaxed, educational atmosphere where everyone feels comfortable and engaged is exactly what we aim for. So glad you had a "so so so good" experience! 💚 We'd love to welcome your family back anytime! With gratitude, The PENR Family

Amazing experience

Terronisha_S, Feb 2026

Porshe made our experience exceptional! It was so cool to learn all about the elephants. You can tell this place is a safe haven for them! Highly recommend!

Response from Host, Apr 2026

Thank you so much for this wonderful review and strong recommendation! Khun Porsha (Porshe!) will be absolutely thrilled to read this! Making your experience exceptional is exactly what our guides strive for, and she clearly loves sharing her passion and knowledge about our elephants. What really touches us is your observation that "you can tell this place is a safe haven for them!" That's exactly what we work so hard to create every single day — a peaceful, safe sanctuary where rescued elephants can live with dignity, freedom, and proper care after everything they've been through. We're so glad you found it cool to learn all about the elephants! Thank you for visiting and supporting our mission! 💚 We'd love to welcome you back anytime. With gratitude, The PENR Family