Ethical Elephant Jungle Sanctuary Phuket
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Are there elephants in Phuket? Yes, during our trip to Phuket in Southern Thailand, we had the opportunity to visit the ethical Elephant Jungle Sanctuary Phuket. An ethical organisation aiming to rescue mistreated elephants throughout Thailand. So if you’re looking to ride elephants in Thailand then you will need to visit one of the rough camps, as I and the Phuket Elephant sanctuary are against riding elephants! Elephants have made a massive impact on Thai culture over the years, however this hasn’t always been in the elephants best interest. Widespread abuse, poaching and deforestation has led to a decline in numbers and Asian elephants are now officially endangered species with is sad to hear.
However, by visiting Elephant Jungle Sanctuary you will get to spend the day feeding, bathing and interacting with these magnificent giants as well as tucking into some buffet style traditional Thai food, whilst knowing your money is going to a good cause. The money raised from visits, volunteers, merchandise and donations is used to help rescue more elephants, purchasing food, veterinary care and infrastructure to allow this organisation to continue to grow and save more elephants. We got to visit this awesome Phuket tourist point whilst on our way to visit the awesome Phi Phi islands.
Activities and Price of the elephant sanctuary in Phuket
Morning or Afternoon Visit at the elephant sanctuary in Phuket– the price of the elephant sanctuary for an Adult = 2,500 Baht or Child 1,900 Baht
This half-day elephant package allows guest to spend some quality time with the elephants, feeding them sugar cane and bananas and relaxing in the mud spa before cooling off in the waterfall pools. You will also learn about their history within Thai culture and gain an insight into their behaviour. You will also get to enjoy a Thai buffet-style lunch or dinner before heading back to your accommodation. This is one of the best things to do in Phuket whilst you’re here.
Pick up time for the morning session is approximately 7 am and you will arrive back at your hotel for 12 pm, so perfect for those who are limited on time. Pick up in the morning session is approximately 11 am and you will arrive back to your accommodation for 17 pm.
#One Day Walk With The Elephants – the price of the elephant sanctuary for an Adult = 4,900 Baht or Child = 3,500 Baht
Walk with the elephant’s package is a full day adventure, gaining a more detailed insight into the rescue elephants, as well as getting some hands-on experiences. Similarly to the morning or afternoon visit, you’ll get to feed to elephants and enjoy the mud spa and swim, however as an added extra you’ll get the opportunity to assist in the preparation of their natural dietary supplements as well as joining the elephants in the specially constructed outdoor elephant shower.
If you enjoy seeing Asia animal sanctuaries. You need to see the epic monkey forest Ubud in Bali.
#Overnight stay – the price of the elephant sanctuary for an Adult = 8,500 Baht or Child 7,500 Baht
This program is perfect for those looking for a once in a life time adventure. The overnight stay at the Elephant Jungle Sanctuary includes walking in the wild with the elephants, observing them in a natural habitat and learning their natural behaviours as they roam freely through the jungle. If that isn’t special enough you’ll also get to feed the rescued elephants and enjoy some down time in the mud spa and pools. Then take the rest of the evening to relax under the stars by the lakes and enjoy a fulfilling Thai dinner.
As morning arrives a hearty breakfast will be awaiting you and you can join a DIY class of learning how to make paper and soap from elephant poo, now that’s something you can’t do every day!
Where is the elephant jungle sanctuary in Phuket?
There are three different locations in Phuket, all located amongst stunning jungle, with views across to some of Thailand’s most famous beaches. The location you visit will largely depend on the activity you choose to do, the number of visitors on the day and the whereabouts of your accommodation.
Elephant Jungle Sanctuary offers free transport service in a 4×4 cab from hotels within the following areas; Kata, Karon, Patong, Kamala, Nai Yang, Bang Tao, Surin Beach and the airport. If you’re staying outside the free pick up zone, the team require an additional fee of 500 Thai baht for a return trip.
Check out the Google map below for the best elephant sanctuary in Phuket;
You could also check out the green elephant sanctuary park which is another ethical elephant sanctuary that you can visit for the day.
Elephant sanctuary photos
If you’re wondering where can I bathe with elephants in Thailand? This is one of the best places to bathe with them!
Here are some of my favourite elephant jungle sanctuary photos;
The elephant sanctuary in Phuket is ethical and the teamwork very hard to look after the elephants. This place is a true rescue sanctuary for the elephants and it’s an amazing experience to take part in looking after the elephants for just one day.
You should check out the awesome elephant sanctuary in Chiang mia on your visit to Thailand!
What to bring to the Phuket elephant sanctuary?
Here is a list of essentials that you should be taking with you to visit the elephants;
- Hat
- Sun cream
- Insect repellent
- Camera
- Spare clothes
- Bathing suit
- Towel
- Raincoat
Top Tips for the elephant sanctuary;
- Make sure you bring a camera or GoPro, preferably a waterproof one to use during the mud and river activities
- Make sure to follow Elephant Jungle Sanctuary on facebook as they also offer photography service at no extra charge and post pictures the following day
- Elephant jungle sanctuary have individual showers to wash and change after the activities as you can get very muddy so make good use of these!
- Elephant Jungle Sanctuary offers a volunteer program which helps team members to move towards understanding the culture and tradition that surrounds the domestic elephant
- Don’t worry about bringing any additional water, Elephant Jungle Sanctuary provides you with water and hot drinks throughout the day
Where to stay?
This is my best hotel to stay in Phuket – This is a luxurious hotel in Phuket for the cheap price of mid-range accommodation. Out of all the places I have stayed so far in Asia, the Centara hotel has by far been the best. However, in Phuket’s peak season, this hotel’s prices jump up to match its amazing services!
So what’s so great about this hotel in Phuket?
Upon arrival at this accommodation in Phuket, you will notice its fine decor, pleasant staff and neat landscape. Furthermore, this is probably the best hotel in Phuket with a pool. The pools are mega, they have the clearest water and are sweet for swimming in. Also, the hotel pools are catered for different types of holidays. For example, adult only pool and family pools, all pools have swim-up bars.
This is the best hotel in Asia for its buffet breakfast, what I’ve stayed at anyway. The food is out of this world! This Phuket hotel’s buffet breakfast caters for all nationalities of the world. Whether you prefer western or Asian food, you will find it here. And there is plenty of fruit, pastries, sweets, juices, coffee and tea.
This top Phuket hotel has a fun entertainment team, that provides games and stuff to do for all his family. This is done by a weekly structured timetable, that starts in the morning and goes onto the evening. Also, there is a weekly Thai street food market and Thai shows. You can also take advantage of the different times happy hours throughout the day, the cocktails are great.
Other places to visit in Thailand;
- best beaches on Koh Samui
- best things to do in Phi Phi
- best beaches on Koh Samui
- the best beaches on Koh Tao.
- the James Bond island movie tour
- Krabi night market
Check out my ultimate Thailand Travel Guide for your trip!