Thailand · ELEPHANT SANCTUARIES

Elephant Sanctuaries in Thailand: 15 Compared On How They Run

106 tours  ·  from $22

Standards vary widely, so the questions worth asking are the specific ones: herd size, whether chains are used, how many visitors share a session and whether riding is offered at all. These 15 are compared on that, on price and on how far out of town they sit.

Chiang Mai: Elephant Sanctuary, Waterfall & Bamboo Rafting - Cooling off at Mae Wang Waterfalls
Bamboo Rafting, Bamboo Rafting in Chiang Mai, Chiang Mai Tours, Elephant Sanctuaries, Elephant Sanctuaries in Chiang Mai, Tour Reviews, Waterfall Tours, Waterfall Tours in Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai: Elephant Sanctuary, Waterfall & Bamboo Rafting

1.Elephant Sanctuary, Waterfall & Bamboo Rafting

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

Spend nine hours outside Chiang Mai with rescued elephants at Pon Elephant Thailand. Feed bananas, walk through the forest, bathe in river pools, swim at Mae Wang Waterfalls, eat a Thai lunch, and raft down the Mae Wang River. English-speaking guides such as Nop, Paul, Yaya, and Mimi lead the day.

“This tour made our holiday! Mel was so informative, full of energy and had us laughing at every activity. We were really pleased to see how happy all the elephants were and the experience was well balanced between for seeing and interacting with the animals whilst respecting them at the same time. Would recommend to anyone who comes to Chiang Mai!”

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Chiang Mai: Elephant Sanctuary & Waterfall Group Tour - Meeting the elephants at Pon Elephant Thailand
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Chiang Mai: Elephant Sanctuary & Waterfall Group Tour

2.Elephant Sanctuary & Waterfall Group Tour

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

Travel 80 minutes from Chiang Mai to Pon Elephant Thailand in Mae Wang. With an English-speaking guide such as Beer, Yaya, Nop, or Amy, you will learn about rescued elephants, feed them, walk beside them, and help cool them in the river. A Thai lunch, seasonal fruit, and a waterfall visit complete this active day.

“Beer was a great guide, explaining everything during the way. The experience with the elephants is unique.”

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Chiang Mai: Elephant Sanctuary Feeding Program Half-Day Tour - Meeting the elephants and the sanctuary team
Chiang Mai Tours, Elephant Sanctuaries, Elephant Sanctuaries in Chiang Mai, Half-Day, Tour Reviews, Tours

Chiang Mai: Elephant Sanctuary Feeding Program Half-Day Tour

3.Elephant Sanctuary Feeding Program Half-Day Tour

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

Travel south of Mae Wang to Pon Elephant Thailand, where English or Thai-speaking guides explain elephant care, habits, and local hill-tribe ties. Feed bananas, sugarcane, and Napier grass, prepare herbal treats, and walk with the elephants toward the river. Bathing depends on the animals choosing to enter the water, so bring a change of clothes and expect a flexible plan.

“A truly unforgettable experience. This tour made me fall in love elephants even more and it was great to see them in their own habitat with tonnes of space and freedom. None of the interactions felt forced (feeding and getting in the water with them) and felt like an actual ethical elephant sanctuary as many are branded as them but aren’t. Booking was easy, meeting point straight forward to find. Bit of a delay in leaving but the transport was clean, comfortable and spacious. I liked that we were in a small group (7 I think) and the drive took about an hour. We learnt the basics about Thailand on…”

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Phuket: Elephant Jungle Sanctuary Ethical Feeding Experience - Feeding the elephants without turning them into performers
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Phuket: Elephant Jungle Sanctuary Ethical Feeding Experience

4.Elephant Jungle Sanctuary Ethical Feeding Experience

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 4,359 reviews · 1 day · from $28

Meet at Elephant Jungle Cafe for a one-hour Feed Me session at Elephant Jungle Sanctuary Phuket. An English or Thai guide explains elephant behavior, rescue stories, and safe feeding. You provide fruit or grass supplied by the sanctuary, take photos, and finish with a soft drink. Transport is not included.

“It was amazing! the guide was very funny at the start and explained everything to us. The photos came out amazing and it was truely and experience feeding the elephant.”

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Chiang Mai: Elephant Sanctuary, Long Neck & Sticky Waterfall - River bathing and what to pack
Chiang Mai Tours, Elephant Sanctuaries, Elephant Sanctuaries in Chiang Mai, Hill Tribe Villages, Hill Tribe Villages in Chiang Mai, Tour Reviews, Waterfall Tours, Waterfall Tours in Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai: Elephant Sanctuary, Long Neck & Sticky Waterfall

5.Elephant Sanctuary, Long Neck & Sticky Waterfall

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

This $63 day trip combines an elephant sanctuary, Long Neck village, Thai lunch, and Buatong Sticky Waterfall. You will prepare herbal treats, feed and bathe elephants, then climb the limestone falls. Guides such as Fluke, Amy, Tiger, and Pong are praised for clear English, humor, and careful timing.

“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 - Feeding time is the calmest way to start
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Krabi: Elephant Bathing Session at Krabi Elephant Shelter

6.Elephant Bathing Session at Krabi Elephant Shelter

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

Spend 90 minutes at Krabi Elephant Shelter learning elephant care, feeding the animals, then bathing and showering with them in a lush setting. An English-speaking guide leads the session, while staff take photos and share them by private link. Pickup covers Ao Nang and Klong Muang Beach, with meeting points for island and Railay visitors.

“It was short but very good time spent with elephants.,the staff was amazing”

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Phuket: Elephant Sanctuary Guided Tour with Hotel Transfers - What happens during the one-hour visit
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Phuket: Elephant Sanctuary Guided Tour with Hotel Transfers

7.Elephant Sanctuary Guided Tour with Hotel Transfers

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

Spend one hour at Patong Hill Tribe Elephant Village meeting rescued and retired elephants, preparing herbal food, feeding them by hand, and walking beside them in the hills. English-speaking guides such as Mayya, Pa, and Pule explain each elephant’s story. Choose morning or afternoon, with optional transfers from much of Phuket.

“Our tour was great. Our guide was great and knowledgable and the actual sanctuary was really open and not too commercialised as they didn’t allow you to ride the elephants just feed them and stroke them slightly as you were feeding them.”

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From Chiang Mai: Elephant Care Program and Nursery Tour - Changing clothes and meeting the elephants
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From Chiang Mai: Elephant Care Program and Nursery Tour

8.Elephant Care Program and Nursery Tour

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

Spend five to six hours at Elephant Retirement Park Chiang Mai, about an hour from the city. Feed rescued elephants, prepare medicine balls, watch their behavior, and join mud and bathing activities only when they choose to participate. Guides such as Francesco, Tin, and Disney explain elephant care, while lunch, showers, and hotel transfers keep the day easy.

“The half day experience was amazing! It was the highlight of my trip to Thailand. The staff was outstanding and passionate about their elephants. I highly recommend this excursion.”

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A Morning with the Elephants at Phuket Elephant Sanctuary - Walking the 30-acre jungle sanctuary
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A Morning with the Elephants at Phuket Elephant Sanctuary

9.A Morning with the Elephants at Phuket Elephant Sanctuary

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

Spend about three and a half hours at Phuket Elephant Sanctuary watching rescued elephants roam, bathe, and socialize without riding or handling them. Your visit includes an educational film, guided jungle walk, canopy walkway, snacks, drinks, boots, rain gear, and a Thai vegetarian buffet. Round-trip hotel transfers are available.

“This was a great tour put out by the sanctuary. Great lecture by the manager and we were provided with an excellent lunch. Highly recommended. Sanctuary driver picked us up and drove us to and back to our cruise port. He even offered to take us to The city center to shop on the way back. The tours help keep the sanctuary to be maintained.”

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From Bangkok: Living Green Elephant Sanctuary Day Trip - The journey from Bangkok to Chonburi
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From Bangkok: Living Green Elephant Sanctuary Day Trip

10.Living Green Elephant Sanctuary Day Trip

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

Spend a half-day with rescued elephants at Living Green Elephant Sanctuary in Chonburi. Feed them, walk through forest paths, hear each elephant’s story, and join them in the water if conditions allow. Guides such as Lulu, Mod, Jumbo, and Crazy Man lead the program. Transport from Bangkok and a local Pad Thai meal are available.

“Amazing time visiting the elephant sanctuary! Rescued elephants happily eat for most of the day with plenty of space and water for drinking and baths. Lunch was great.”

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Koh Samui: Elephant Sanctuary Entry and Feeding Experience - What your one hour looks like
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Koh Samui: Elephant Sanctuary Entry and Feeding Experience

11.Koh Samui: Elephant Sanctuary Entry and Feeding Experience

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 1,446 reviews · 1 hour · from $28

Spend about an hour at Elephant Jungle Sanctuary Samui feeding rescued elephants watermelon, bananas, and leafy branches. English and Thai-speaking guides explain their care, help with photos, and let the animals choose the contact. Groups are limited to 10, with no rides or washing.

“Was lovely being so close to the elephants and seeing them wander freely. Its obvious they are well taken care of”

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Phuket: Elephant Experience with Lunch or Dinner and Pickup - The ride from Phuket to the sanctuary
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Phuket: Elephant Experience with Lunch or Dinner and Pickup

12.Elephant Experience with Lunch or Dinner and Pickup

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

Spend 2.5 hands-on hours at Kerchor Elephant Family Park feeding elephants, making a mud spa, walking through the jungle, and learning Karen tie-dye methods. Guides such as Fluke and Taki keep the visit lively and safe. Thai food, drinks, photos, and round-trip Phuket transfers are included.

“It was a great experience. The elephants were well cared for and having such interactions with these mighty creatures was one of a kind. Would definitely recommend”

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Koh Samui: Elephant Sanctuary and Jungle Tour with Lunch - Na Muang Waterfall: a short first stop
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Koh Samui: Elephant Sanctuary and Jungle Tour with Lunch

13.Koh Samui: Elephant Sanctuary and Jungle Tour with Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 1,328 reviews · from $57

Spend six hours exploring Koh Samui by 4WD, with stops at Na Muang Waterfall, I Love Elephant Samui, Secret Buddha Garden, and Wat Teepangkorn. You’ll prepare food for elephants, feed them under staff supervision, ride rugged mountain roads, and eat Thai food at a mountain restaurant. English-speaking guides such as Emma, Fifa, and Lucy lead departures.

“It was an absolutely fantastic day. Very natural, and it was wonderful to see the elephants enjoying rolling around in the mud. I would really recommend this tour to anybody, it’s a great thing to do”

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Samui: Elephant Nutrition and Care Education Experience - From Koh Samui hotel to Elephant Home
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Samui: Elephant Nutrition and Care Education Experience

14.Samui: Elephant Nutrition and Care Education Experience

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

Spend about two hours visiting Samui Elephant Home, Koh Samui’s first elephant nursery. An English-speaking guide, often Noi, explains each elephant’s story, diet, and care. You’ll prepare food from bananas, pumpkin, sticky rice, and herbs, then feed the elephants in a calm setting. Hotel pickup, drop-off, and insurance are included.

“Ko Samui Elephant Home is highly recommended! Being here and connecting with the elephants was truly amazing. Having the chance to be part of their care and to touch their lives felt unforgettable. It’s a place that shows genuine respect for nature and animals, and the experience left me deeply moved. I wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone visiting Koh Samui.”

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3-in-1: Doi Inthanon Tour, Elephant Sanctuary, and Trekking Trail - Meeting the elephants at Living Green Sanctuary
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3-in-1: Doi Inthanon Tour, Elephant Sanctuary, and Trekking Trail

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

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,087 reviews · from $48

Spend a long day outside Chiang Mai visiting Living Green Elephant Sanctuary, Thailand’s highest mountain, the King and Queen Pagodas, and Pha Dok Seaw Waterfall. You’ll feed elephants, hike with a local guide, eat Thai food, and sample coffee in Ban Mae Klang Luang. Guides such as John, Jon, Rainbow, and Note have been praised for their care and clear explanations.

“Great 1 day experience, very recommended. Early wake up so be ready (7am start). Starts with an elephant sanctuary which is great, you feed the elephants, go with them to the river etc. Second is a temple very high up which is beautiful. Third one is a hike across the jungle where you end up in a small village that cultivate coffee among others, and you try the locally harvested coffee. Great experience overall! We came back around 7pm. Lunch was included, also transportation right from (and to) your hotel.”

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New in Elephant Sanctuaries

★ 5.0Chiang Mai Chapulin Elephant Care and Sticky WaterfallFrom $389 reviews
★ 5.0Chiang Mai Half Day Elephant Sanctuary Observation and WaterfallFrom $5888 reviews
★ 5.0Chiang Mai Elephant Sanctuary Observation and Bamboo RaftingFrom $6144 reviews
★ 4.5Chiang Mai ATV White Water Rafting and Elephant Sanctuary Full-Day TripFrom $1388 reviews
★ 5.04 in 1 Elephants Long Neck Rafting and Sticky Waterfall TourFrom $88126 reviews
★ 5.0Chiang Mai 3 in 1 Zipline, Elephants and Sticky WaterfallFrom $12029 reviews
★ 5.0Inthanon, Elephant Sanctuary Observation & WaterfallFrom $8133 reviews
★ 5.0Chiang Mai 1 Day: Elephant Sanctuary, Waterfall & Bamboo RaftingFrom $7719 reviews
★ 5.0Private Tour to Kanchanaburi Death Railway and Elephant HavenFrom $22015 reviews
★ 4.5Ethical Elephant Watching Tour From Bangkok & PattayaFrom $1159 reviews
★ 5.0Living Green Elephant Sanctuary Experience near Bangkok & PattayaFrom $5576 reviews
★ 4.5Erawan Waterfall and Elephant care from Bangkok -Private TourFrom $2038 reviews
★ 4.6Happy Hour Feed and Rain Shower with ElephantFrom $3750 reviews
★ 4.7Guide Tour to Patong Elephant SanctuaryFrom $4571 reviews
★ 4.9Guided Tour to Elephant Sanctuary with TransfersFrom $4540 reviews

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