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Phuket: Hidden Forest Elephant Reserve Guided Tour with Lunch

Recommended by 98% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Phuket, Thailand
High interest
Booked 2 times today.
  • 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.)
  • Pickup offered
  • Mobile ticket
  • Offered in: English

Why travelers loved this

4.9
·
· Anita_C ·
Mar 2026
Great experience to learn about each elephant's journey and how they arrived at this ethical sanctuary. You will be able to get close enough to feed them, but no riding, touching, bathing or any other circus tricks. You can see them in their natural habitat up close. Also, a nice vegetarian lunch is provided while you watch the elephants bathe. Definitely recommend this sanctuary.
· Barry_C ·
Oct 2025
This was an amazing tours with GREAT guides. I cant say enough about how yhis team respect the elephants in their care. This was, not only fun but, very educational as well! After quickly identifying I was solo the several care takers offer to take pictures of me feeding the elephants.

Overview

Seeing elephants ethically in Thailand can be confusing, with many venues offering very different experiences. This visit to Hidden Forest Elephant Reserve focuses on observation and education in a natural, forested setting. Learn about each rescued elephant’s history and biology as you explore their spacious enclosures—an informative way to connect with these animals responsibly.
  • Enjoy insightful live commentary from a guide
  • Watch elephants bathe and graze in their natural habitat
  • A tasty Thai buffet lunch is included to keep you fueled
  • Hotel pickup makes reaching the rural location eay

What's Included

  • English Speaking Tour Guide
  • Hotel Pick up & Drop Off for area in Patong, Chalong, Nai Harn, Kata, and Karon
  • Transportation by air-conditioned van
  • Vegan Meal (No dairy, eggs, Fish or oyster sauce)
  • Educational introduction video
  • Entrance Ticket
  • Refill Water
  • Tipping
  • Bathing with elephants
  • Refill Bottle water

Meeting and Pickup

Pickup points

Select a pickup point

Pickup details

Pickup service is included in Patong, Chalong, Nai Harn, Kata, and Karon area only, please mention your hotel name and address during the booking. * Morning Tour: The Pickup starts between 08:00 am - 08:30 am. * Afternoon Tour: The Pickup starts between 12:45 pm - 1:15 pm. Our customer service will finalize the precise pick-up time and communicate it to you via email. Kindly ensure to double-check your email for updates. We recommend arriving at your hotel lobby at least 15 minutes prior to the scheduled pickup time to meet your tour guide.

Itinerary

1

Hidden Forest Elephant Reserve - Sanctuary in Phuket

3 hours Admission Ticket Included

Additional Info

  • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
  • Not wheelchair accessible
  • Not recommended for travelers with back problems
  • Not recommended for pregnant travelers
  • No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
  • Most travelers can participate
  • Not recommended for postoperative patients
  • Not suitable for those with severe knee and ankle
  • The forest trails are not wheelchair accessible
  • Baby strollers are not allowed; a baby carrier is required for infants
  • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 30 travelers

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)

Featured review

Michael_H
Excellent and ethical encounter with the elephants. Please do your research and understand how cruel some of the other elephant places are. This one is terrific ... great staff, information, grounds, etc. Only caution is there is a bit (not much!) of uphill walking. Meal at end was great while watching the elephants wallow in the water/mud. Highly recommend this experience and, should you have the means, chip in a bit extra donation or gift shop purchase at the end to help the cause.

Reviews

4.9
based on 157 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

Best elephants experience

NICOLAEDANIEL_R, Apr 2026
An exciting trip to the Hidden Forest elephant sanctuary where we had the opportunity to feed elephants,learn about them and see them in their natural environment enjoying everything offered by the employees who are 100% dedicated to their care. We also had a vegetarian meal, just like the elephants' food. 100%recommended.

Response from Host, Apr 2026

Thank you for your wonderful review. We’re delighted you enjoyed your visit to the sanctuary and the chance to connect with the elephants in their natural environment. It’s great to hear you appreciated our team’s dedication and the vegetarian experience. We truly appreciate your recommendation.

true ethical sanctuary

Anita_C, Mar 2026
Great experience to learn about each elephant's journey and how they arrived at this ethical sanctuary. You will be able to get close enough to feed them, but no riding, touching, bathing or any other circus tricks. You can see them in their natural habitat up close. Also, a nice vegetarian lunch is provided while you watch the elephants bathe. Definitely recommend this sanctuary.

Response from Host, Mar 2026

Thank you for sharing your experience! We are thrilled you enjoyed observing our elephants in their natural habitat and learning their unique stories. Our commitment to ethical, observation-only interactions ensures a respectful environment for these majestic rescues. It was a pleasure hosting you for lunch, and we appreciate your recommendation to others seeking a mindful wildlife encounter.

100% recommend

Bethany_n, Jan 2026
This was a brilliant experience. The guides were all really friendly and knowledgeable. It was important to us that we went to an ethical sanctuary (no bathing etc.). You start with a talk about the elephant sanctuary, and then you go to see them and feed them some bananas. Our group fed Bestie and Boss Lady. Afterwards, you watch them all make their way up the reserve and observe them eating at their feeding stations. We finished the day with a nice lunch watching over the elephants in the water. The best part was learning about the individual elephants and seeing their personalities! Our favourites were Granny and Princess.

Response from Host, Jan 2026

Thank you for your wonderful review. We’re thrilled you enjoyed visiting our ethical sanctuary and learning about each elephant’s personality. We’re glad our friendly guides, the feeding experience, and the lunch with a view made your day memorable.

Wonderful elephant experience

Helen_B, Jan 2026
Wonderful afternoon spent with the elephants. All the staff & carers were very friendly & informative. Lovely to see the rescued elephants in a safe & natural environment. Lunch was also very nice. The whole experience was definitely value for money. Only downside was the vehicle used for pick up & drop off, it was a very old minibus van with hardly any air conditioning, which made the 40 minute journey uncomfortable.

Response from Host, Jan 2026

Thank you for your kind words regarding our elephants and staff. We are thrilled you enjoyed the rescue environment and lunch. I sincerely apologize for the discomfort caused by the transport vehicle. We are currently upgrading our fleet to ensure journeys are as pleasant as the experience itself. Your feedback is vital for our growth. We hope to welcome you back soon!

Wonderful and genuinely ethical elephant sanctuary

Michael_H, Nov 2025
Excellent and ethical encounter with the elephants. Please do your research and understand how cruel some of the other elephant places are. This one is terrific ... great staff, information, grounds, etc. Only caution is there is a bit (not much!) of uphill walking. Meal at end was great while watching the elephants wallow in the water/mud. Highly recommend this experience and, should you have the means, chip in a bit extra donation or gift shop purchase at the end to help the cause.

Response from Host, Nov 2025

Thank you so much for your thoughtful review and kind recommendation! We’re delighted to hear you enjoyed the ethical elephant experience, our staff, and the meal with the elephants. Your support and awareness mean a lot to us, and every extra donation truly helps us continue caring for the elephants responsibly.

Solo with the elephants

Barry_C, Oct 2025
This was an amazing tours with GREAT guides. I cant say enough about how yhis team respect the elephants in their care. This was, not only fun but, very educational as well! After quickly identifying I was solo the several care takers offer to take pictures of me feeding the elephants.

Response from Host, Oct 2025

Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We’re thrilled you had such an amazing and educational experience with our caring team. Your kind words about the guides and their respect for the elephants mean a lot. We’re also glad they helped capture those special moments for you. Hope to see you again soon!

Excellent tour

Mariam_A, Aug 2025
We thoroughly enjoyed this fantastic and informative tour! Make sure to bring a hat, sunglasses, and good walking shoes.

Response from Host, Aug 2025

Thank you for your wonderful feedback! We're delighted to hear you enjoyed the tour and found it informative. Great tip about bringing a hat, sunglasses, and comfortable shoes—always helpful advice for future travelers. We appreciate you sharing your experience and hope to welcome you again soon for more amazing adventures!

A must visit if you love elephants and care about the experience being ethical

emily_p, Aug 2025
This is a truly ethical sanctuary where apart from feeding elephants bananas at the start - - is a strictly hands off experience although you get up close, there is no touching or bathing with them. The managers and staff are passionate in a way that can’t be faked - there are numerous rescue animals at reception, and they all know the personalities and needs of each of the rescued elephants so well. I left my bag behind and contacting sanctuary, I got an email back in the time it took me to find the phone number which was answered immediately and I was reunited with my bag that evening with regular updates.

Response from Host, Aug 2025

Thank you for your wonderful review! We’re so glad you enjoyed the ethical, hands-off experience and felt the passion of our team. It’s great to hear you appreciated the care for all our rescue animals and that our staff could quickly reunite you with your bag the same day.

Free to roam

Sydney_N, Aug 2025
The elephants are treated with kindness and let be they walk were they want their is no cruelty whatsoever staff are so friendly and knowledgeable

Response from Host, Aug 2025

Thank you for your wonderful review! We are so glad to hear you enjoyed your experience with our elephants and our staff. It means a lot to us that you noticed the genuine care we have for our animals. We hope to welcome you back again soon.

Fabulous ethical elephant experience one not to miss

Gillian_C, Jul 2025
Amazing experience truly ethical sanctuary where the health and happiness of the elephant is prioritised. No swimming with or touching the elephants as they have to be trained to do this which goes against the ethicality. Still plenty of up close time with the elephant and you get to feed them and they literally walk right past you but you see them In their natural habitat. The food was delicious plenty of options for vegetarians/vegans and fussy kids. The guides are very knowledgeable and answer any question’s. Highly recommended.

Response from Host, Jul 2025

Thank you so much for your amazing feedback! We’re thrilled to hear that you appreciated our ethical approach and the opportunity to observe the elephants in their natural habitat. Respecting their space and well-being is at the heart of everything we do. We're also glad the food and dietary options met your expectations, and that our guides helped make the experience informative and enjoyable. Your recommendation truly means a lot to us. We hope to welcome you back again someday!

Book right now!!! Best trip of our holiday

Jenna_D, Jul 2025
The sanctuary is absolutely amazing! The elephants are so well cared for and free to go at their own pace and choose whether they want to bathe or not. This is an ethical sanctuary where no touching/bathing allowed, as it is not in the best interests of the elephants. You do get close to them, when you feed them a snack and you sit whilst they wander passed you up the hill. Absolute highlight of our trip, a must do experience that helps fund a truly amazing place

Response from Host, Jul 2025

It's wonderful to hear you had such an amazing experience at our sanctuary! We're delighted you appreciated our commitment to ethical elephant care, allowing them to thrive naturally. Your support truly helps us continue our vital work. Thank you for recommending us!

Best ethical elephant trip in Phuket

Colette_M, Jul 2025
Amazing day out for all the family. Educates us about how the elephant slave trade still exists 🥹 Staff and founders walked trail with lots of information…. Vegetarian lunch was delish with 3/4 cold water stops to fill ur bottle Amazing work …. Keep doin wot u do best 🐘

Response from Host, Jul 2025

Thank you for your wonderful review! We're delighted you and your family had an amazing day and appreciated learning about elephant welfare. It was a pleasure to share our work with you, and we're so glad you enjoyed the vegetarian lunch and water stops. Your kind words truly motivate us to continue our mission.

An exceptional serene experience!

Holly_J, Jul 2025
An absolutely unforgettable experience! The ethical way in which the elephants are free to roam and be themselves is just wonderful to see. The team and welcoming and informative and the lunch was delicious. Thank you for sharing your “babies” and their special sanctuary with us!

Response from Host, Jul 2025

Thank you for your wonderful review! We're thrilled you had an unforgettable experience and appreciated our ethical approach to elephant care. Our team is dedicated to providing a welcoming and informative visit, and we're delighted you enjoyed lunch and meeting our beloved elephants. We hope to welcome you back soon!

It was amazing. So...

Jacqueline_M, Jun 2025
It was amazing. So educational and important to learn about the cruelty these beautiful creatures have faced. You get to feed the elephants and observe them in their habitat and it’s amazing wow

Response from Host, Jun 2025

Thank you for sharing your experience! We're so glad you found it both meaningful and memorable. Learning about the elephants' past and seeing them in a natural, respectful environment is truly powerful. Feeding and observing them is a moment you’ll never forget!

Bad service!

Ranee_K, Apr 2025
I was really excited about this experience and seen as we didn’t even arrive at Port till 8 AM. It was nice to find an activity that I was sure I could make it off the ship for. I was notified the day before that the pick up time would be at 8 AM which I could not make and would not have booked. Had I known that I was unable to see this as you can’t use your phone while on the ship and have to be away from the ship, so when I turned my phone on when I got to the port, they told me that the pick up time was 8 o’clock not 930 so I was unable to go . I was there on time for a 930 pick up now. They are refusing to refund me for this trip that I didn’t get to take be careful with this tour. Shame on them. I will be disputing this with my credit card company.

Response from Host, Apr 2025

Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We're truly sorry to hear about your disappointment and understand how frustrating it must have been to miss an experience you were looking forward to. We’d like to clarify that we sent the pickup time information immediately after your booking via the Viator messaging system. The confirmed pickup window of 8:00–8:30 AM was clearly stated in that message. We kindly encourage you to review the communication within your Viator account for reference. We completely understand that cruise ship schedules and limited internet access can make it challenging to receive real-time updates. However, as this was a shared tour, all participants were required to be at the meeting point on time to ensure a smooth experience for everyone. We’re genuinely sorry that you were unable to join the tour, and we regret that a refund cannot be issued in this case due to the no-show and the policies agreed upon at the time of booking. Once again, we truly regret the inconvenience and appreciate your understanding.

Very informative and...

Coraline_D, Apr 2025
Very informative and friendly staff! I did my research hoping to have found an ethical rescue versus the tourist attractions that don’t necessary care for the elephants so much. This organization definitely seems to care and allow them to be elephants after having been rescued.

Response from Host, Apr 2025

That's wonderful to hear! We truly appreciate you taking the time to research ethical elephant interactions and for recognizing our dedication to the well-being of our rescued elephants. We're so glad you found your visit informative and enjoyed our friendly staff. Thank you for your kind words!

Hidden Hills Elephant Reserve

Dom_B, Apr 2025
What an amazing experience this is. To see the Elephants so well cared for and the tour guides having so much knowledge just made for a fantastic morning! We couldn’t recommend this highly enough!

Response from Host, Apr 2025

Thank you so much for your wonderful feedback! We’re absolutely delighted to hear that you had such an amazing experience and that our team’s knowledge and care for the elephants made your morning so special. Your kind words truly mean a lot to us. It was a pleasure having you with us, and we’re so grateful for your recommendation. We hope to welcome you back again in the future for more memorable adventures!

Unforgettable Experience

massielbattcher, Mar 2025
What an amazing experience to be able to hang out alongside these beautiful elephants that have been rescued to live the last years of their lives living their best life! You can feel that everyone that works there are so dedicated and love what they do. We learned so much about the horrors of elephant cruelty and their mission in rescuing these intelligent animals. I was truly humbled by the experience. The tour was awesome as we moved from the feeding station to the rest of the viewing stations throughout the sanctuary. They offered cold water as you move up the mountain to the last station which is where lunch is served. At that last viewing station you get to enjoy an amazing vegetarian lunch while watching the elephants bathe in their pond. I suggest wearing sneakers as going up and down the mountain can be slippery. I also suggest bringing bug spray. They have a gift where their proceeds go to their sanctuary. This was truly an amazing and unforgettable experience. It's good to know that there are people who care for these animals out there.

Response from Host, Mar 2025

Thank you so much for your thoughtful and kind review! We’re thrilled to hear that you had such an amazing and humbling experience at the sanctuary. It means the world to us that you could connect with the elephants and learn about their journey, as well as the important work we do to provide them with a better life. We are incredibly proud of our team, and we’re glad you felt their dedication and passion for the elephants. Your detailed feedback about the tour is greatly appreciated, and we’re happy to know you enjoyed the journey and the lunch while watching the elephants. Thank you for your thoughtful suggestions and for supporting our sanctuary through the gift shop. We truly appreciate you taking the time to share your experience, and we hope to welcome you back again for another unforgettable visit.

Great experience!...

Augusto_B, Mar 2025
Great experience! Elephants are treated respectfully by the sanctuary. Would love to come back in the future.

Response from Host, Mar 2025

Thank you so much for your wonderful feedback! We're thrilled to hear you had a great experience and that you appreciated our commitment to the respectful treatment of our elephants. It's truly rewarding to know you enjoyed your time with us, and we would be delighted to welcome you back in the future. We appreciate your kind words and look forward to seeing you again.

A Must Do Experience

Robert_B, Mar 2025
This was an inspiring experience visiting this elephant rescue park we learned so much about elephants that we didn't know from the circus or other elephant parks. There was some up hill walking to follow the elephants doing their thing, but the pace was slow with several places to rest while watching the elephants. The Thai lunch was Fabolous.

Response from Host, Mar 2025

Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We're thrilled to hear you found your visit to our elephant rescue park inspiring and that you gained valuable insights about these magnificent creatures. We're delighted you appreciated the slow pace of the tour, allowing for rest and observation, and that you enjoyed our Thai lunch. Your positive feedback about the overall experience is truly appreciated. We hope to welcome you back again soon!

Beautiful Elephant Sanctuary

Richard_S, Feb 2025
It was great to support an ethical elephant sanctuary. I never fed an elephant before and it felt amazing to do so in such a humane way. It was awesome to observe the elephants in their habitat and going about their normal activities. The views from this sanctuary were gorgeous. You could see the Big Buddha statue from the sanctuary.

Response from Host, Feb 2025

Thank you so much for sharing your experience with us! We're thrilled to hear that you had such a meaningful visit to the sanctuary. It's wonderful to know that you enjoyed feeding the elephants in a humane way and had the chance to observe them in their natural habitat. We're also glad you loved the stunning views, especially of the Big Buddha statue! Your support for ethical sanctuaries like this one makes a big difference, and we're grateful to have been part of your unforgettable experience. We hope to welcome you back in the future!

Hidden Forest best Elephant experience

Michael_T, Feb 2025
Very educational and up close with these amazing animals. Guides very knowledgeable and helpful. Food was amazing!

Response from Host, Feb 2025

Thank you for your wonderful review! We're so happy to hear that you had an educational and up-close experience with the elephants. It’s great to know that our guides made an impact, and we’re glad you enjoyed the food as well. We hope to welcome you back soon for another memorable experience!

Amazing experience

Kim_C, Feb 2025
Truly ethical experience with rescued elephants. The staff clearly are very passionate about the amazing work that they do. It’s very humbling to hear the sad lives that these beautiful animals were subjected to prior to being rescued to live out the rest of their lives in peace and tranquility. A wonderful experience that we will always remember. We felt very lucky to be able to watch these elephants interact with each other and to enjoy the food we were able to give them and then to watch them bathe in the water.

Response from Host, Feb 2025

Thank you so much for your kind words and for sharing your experience with us. We are so glad to hear that you had a memorable and meaningful time with the rescued elephants. Our team is deeply passionate about the care and well-being of these beautiful animals, and it’s heartwarming to know that their journey touched you as well. We truly believe in providing a peaceful environment where the elephants can thrive, and we’re grateful that you had the opportunity to witness this. Your support means the world to us, and we hope to welcome you back for more unforgettable moments in the future.

Totally ethical elephant sanctuary

Kathleen_J, Feb 2025
Brilliant experience very educational staff are lovely. Seeing the elephants doing what they want to do. Totally ethical. No touching no bathing with the public no riding you are allowed to feed them bananas under strict rules. No overcrowding them. Highly recommended. Lunch is lovely overlooking where the elephants can plunge into the water pools if they wish. The walking around the site is quite steep at times and very hot.

Response from Host, Feb 2025

We're so glad you had a brilliant and educational experience with our elephants! It's wonderful you appreciated our ethical approach and the elephants' freedom to just be elephants. We understand the terrain can be challenging in the heat, and we appreciate your understanding. Thank you for the high recommendation!

Worst company to book

Dr_s, Dec 2024
We were told and paid for pick up and drop nothing was organised and we were blamed for not sharing location were we told we are coming with cruise and gave them everything

Response from Host, Dec 2024

We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience you experienced regarding the pick-up and drop-off arrangements. It’s disappointing to hear that communication fell short, especially after you had provided all the necessary information. We understand how frustrating this must have been, and we deeply regret that this caused confusion and inconvenience for you. Your feedback is very important, and we will review our processes to ensure better coordination in the future. Please contact our customer experience team via daytours@discova.com so our team could investigate this further if you have not done so.

Amazing experience while respecting the elephants

Marta_J, Dec 2024
Great experience! If you want to see the elephants in an ethical way, this is the place to go. We had amazing time without touching or bathing the elephants which is unnatural for them. You can chose this tour and be at ease that they are very well taken care for and not used for tourism.

Response from Host, Dec 2024

Thank you for your thoughtful review! We're so glad to hear that you had a great experience with us and enjoyed seeing the elephants in a natural, ethical environment. It's wonderful that you appreciated our approach, and we’re proud to offer a sanctuary where the elephants are cared for in a way that respects their well-being. Your support means a lot, and we hope to welcome you again for another amazing experience!

a TRUE elephant sanctuary

Lindsey_C, Nov 2024
Hidden Forest is a wonderful elephant sanctuary. No riding, no touching, and no bathing. This is an incredible experience to see rescued elephants living in peace. The staff is very informative and they do a great job with the tour. Going through viator was seamless from communication to being picked up and dropped off at our hotel.

Response from Host, Dec 2024

Thank you for your kind words about Hidden Forest and your experience with Viator. We're thrilled to hear that you enjoyed the opportunity to see these magnificent animals living peacefully. It's our goal to provide authentic and ethical wildlife experiences. We hope to welcome you back again soon!

Take in and appreciate these wondrous creatures!

Louisa_G, Nov 2024
Really seeing these beautiful creatures in their own space, eating when they want to, walking, bathing, living freely and happily with their family, and learning about their journey - there are no words to describe how amazing and enlightening this experience was.

Response from Host, Dec 2024

Thank you for your kind words and for sharing your wonderful experience with us! We're thrilled to hear that you were so moved by the elephants' natural behavior and the opportunity to learn about their journey. It's our mission to provide authentic and ethical wildlife encounters. We hope to welcome you back again soon!

Ethical Elephant Sanctuary

kellischneider16, Nov 2024
Such an amazing experience! No touching, riding or bathing — this place is very ethical and the elephants are free to roam around. We were able to feed them but not touch them. Wish I could go again soon!

Response from Host, Nov 2024

Thank you for sharing your experience with us! We’re so glad to hear that you had an amazing time at the sanctuary and that you appreciated our ethical approach to elephant care. It's wonderful that you had the opportunity to feed the elephants and observe them in their natural, free-roaming environment. We’d love to welcome you back again soon for another unforgettable experience with these incredible animals!

Very glad I experienced this

Deana_S, Nov 2024
Elephants seem to be treated very well. Great to learn about their stories. I do suggest explaining the day a bit better for those who aren't able to walk as well. Lots of shade, water and delicious food. It would also be a good idea to make some kind of pamphlet with information about each elephant and a QR code for those who would like to donate to this great cause! Or maybe a social media page where we can keep up with our new elephant friends :)

Response from Host, Nov 2024

Thank you for your thoughtful feedback! We’re glad to hear that you enjoyed learning about the elephants and that they were well treated. We appreciate your suggestion to provide clearer information for guests with mobility concerns and will work on improving that. Your idea for a pamphlet with elephant details and a QR code for donations is fantastic, as is the suggestion for a social media page to keep in touch with the elephants. We’ll definitely consider these ideas to enhance the experience. Thanks again for sharing your insights—we look forward to welcoming you back soon!

From $99.00

per person

up to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)

Book ahead!
On average, this is booked 27 days in advance.

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