Montri cherishes fond memories of these days at the site that is now the Phuket Elephant Sanctuary. The Elephant Nature Park in Chiang Mai is a highly recommended elephant sanctuary in Thailand. Visit the most ethical elephant sanctuary in Phuket, Elephant Jungle Sanctuary. The sanctuary is solely committed to preserving an ideal living environment for the elephants; as a result, they only permit tourists to travel in small groups. Animal care and proper treatment of animals are the main concerns of all sanctuaries. 18 Jun. If it rains (heavily), would families with young children be able to visit still? If you opt for one of their daily tours, you can enjoy glimpses of the magnificent giants strolling amidst the lush green surroundings and being wild at heart again. Feed the elephants. the logging industry carrying logs as heave as her own body. They focus on creating an ethical elephant experience for tourists, without elephant riding and chains. This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher, During this inspiring, interactive and informative experience, you will spend many up-close moments with our rescued elephants. She has been living here for the past 5 years now and through Thailand Nomads, she shares her experiences and insights about the must-visit places in Thailand. Price: 2600 Baht for adults, 1800 Baht for children below 10 years old. This was such a unique experience and a must-do if you are visiting Phuket. These guys have earnt their rest! From feeding the elephants to being tour guided through the sanctuary, we had 'Yaya' (apologies about the spelling) who was brilliant! However, the Elephant Nature Park in Chiang Mai is a highly recommended sanctuary that provides a natural and ethical environment for elephants. Nestled amidst the stunning natural beauty of Phuket, Thailand, the Phuket Elephant Sanctuary stands as a shining example of ethical elephant tourism. Phuket has a number of elephant sanctuaries that, sadly, are not true sanctuaries, but rather they use elephants as a tourist attraction, and I worried that PES may be one of them. You won't be able to ride elephants or watch them do tricks at a sanctuary. Phuket's Most Ethical Elephant Sanctuary | Located in Paklok| document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Hi! Many ethical elephant sanctuaries in Phuket also have rivers and pools on-site, and when elephants arent eating they like to get wet! We spoke with holiday companies, wildlife charities and NGOs to help us form our stance on elephants and tourism. If you want more time here though then theres always the option for a 2- or 3-day course on elephant care! But I have to admit that I was a little bit nervous about visiting beforehand. This place which borders the Khao Phra Thaeo National Park was the first to introduce the concept of ethical elephant tourism. If you get to interact closely with the elephants, whether its by bathing them, swimming with them, and particularly by riding them, it is NOT an ethical sanctuary, but rather an elephant camp. Interacting with the elephants was inspirational and a must do to add to anyones bucket list. 3-4 hours. Im Teresa, and Im on a mission to explore the world through responsible cultural and adventure travel, and through deeper, more meaningful local experiences. Dee Lerd is 61 years old and had a hard life. Since elephants are among the most sociable animals, spending time with these magnificent creatures may be soothing. Elephant trekking holidays - right or wrong? Elephants are thought to be among the most intelligent creatures, yet tragically, unfriendly humans frequently mistreat them. There is a buffet lunch for both vegetarian and non-vegetarian visitors s part of the package. We put the welfare of our elephants first and do not offer bathing, rides, shows, mud bathing, trunk hugging, elephant kisses, sitting on or lying on the elephants, loud noisy groups, or people constantly crowding around the elephants. From the moment you arrive you are greeted with a big array of snacks and beverages before you embark on a tour of the grounds. Tickets for the Phuket Elephant Sanctuary can be purchased online through their official website or through third-party travel agencies. Stroll around or sit quietly observing the elephants at a respectful distance. Not only it will be an eye-opening experience to visit an elephant sanctuary, but it will also be an informative session that will enable you to know unique things about them. You will learn about them,prepare food for them, feed them, give them mud spa, bath them then give them sand spa and shower them. The Phuket Elephant Care program allows visitors to interact with elephants in a natural and ethical environment. Id love to inspire you to do the same, so come along for the ride! This includes a wide array of activities ranging from giving them a mud bath to feeding them their favourite food. Reviews Elephant sanctuaries which we do & don't support Although the ideal place for elephants to live is in the wild, this is not always possible. Other recommended sanctuaries include the Boon Lott's Elephant Sanctuary and the Elephant Hills sanctuary. Visit the best ethical elephant sanctuary in Phuket. Montri heard about Chiang Mais Elephant Nature Park (ENP), one of the most ethical animal sanctuaries in the world according to National Geographic, alongside Libearty Bear Sanctuary in Romania. This cannot be good for the elephants if everyone gets a proper chance to feed them?? as long as the animals feelcomfortable with it. Here you can prepare a meal for the elephants (fancy hauling a ton of bananas?!) Sri Nual is 44 years old and grew up working in the tourism industry here in Phuket. Phuket Elephant Sanctuary It is the pioneer of ethical sanctuaries that introduced the concept of ethical elephant tourism in this region. This guide will introduce you to the 3 best ethical elephant sanctuaries around Phuket. PHUKET'S FIRST & MOST ETHICAL ELEPHANT SANCTUARY Where Elephants Roam & Bathe Freely A Half Day Program (Morning or Afternoon) Book Now! However, do you know how much an elephant eats in a day and how much that costs the Sanctuary? Find out why. Volunteer with the Big Five in South Africa. Disclosure: This post has been created as a partnership with the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT). Brogan Abroad is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Are you going to ride an elephant? Elephant trekking and captive elephants are complex issues. AU$130.84. Are you wondering why we have added the word ethical to the elephant sanctuary in our article? Read our, Magical day with elephants and amazing staff. In 2007, we looked into Pinnewala Elephant Orphanage to find out if it really was an ethically-run sanctuary. Well, that is because not all sanctuaries in Phuket are ethical. It is an ethical elephant sanctuary in Phuket that work diligently to create an environment that is as natural-friendly as possible for visitors and the animals. Phuket Elephant Home - Phuket Elephant Home Your actions will be recorded, and All Sanctuary will give you free round-trip transportation and images! Aside from the moon in Thai, Jan Jao is also the name of our lovely 40 year-old elephant at the sanctuary. However, you will have the opportunity to connect with them through activities that are enjoyable for both of you! As a result, our tour was definitely shorter than what it would have otherwise been. Baan Yen was a very clever elephant, named after the 'Four o'clock' flower. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. At the end of the tour we got to feed the elephants fruit and take pictures with them which was really cool!! There are also parks called "eco-friendly," "ethical," or "sanctuary," but in reality, they are not and just use these words for marketing purposes. Each elephant needs 300 kilos of foraging plants every day. We explain why Responsible Travel no longer promotes elephant rides in sanctuaries or in national parks, based on recommendations by holiday companies and wildlife charities. One can choose from a few packages to explore the many activities offered here. These elephant sanctuaries in Phuket are a wildlife refuge for the rescued and retired elephants. Another good choice is the Elephant Jungle Sanctuary Phuket. You can only feed certain elephants who doesn't scared of humans. Finally, Thailand has some truly ethical elephant sanctuaries that treat animals with respect, care for the elephants properly, and don't offer unethical elephant experiences. We'd be delighted to welcome you. Phuket's Most Ethical Elephant Sanctuary | Located in Paklok| If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. It is undoubtedly a unique experience when you give an elephant a mud bath and then help them wash off in the river. How ethical is the elephant 'sanctuary' you're visiting? Visitors enjoy an up-close encounter with our beautiful elephants during the feeding program, then we walk with the elephants, stand back and observe as they roam, bathe, play, and socialise naturally, free from human touch. By Phuket Elephant Sanctuary. We give our elephants back their lives and their dignity, and in doing so, our guests get to learn about how incredible the largest land mammal on earth truly is. Inspired by Elephant Nature Park in Chiang Mai, Phuket Elephant Sanctuary is a new and final home for elephants who have worked their entire lives in the logging and tourism industry. Really surprised by the tour being so nice. Another thing to look out for is whether the mahouts (the elephant keepers) use bullhooks, punish the elephants in any way, or whether they force the elephants to do something they do not want to do. I would urge you to avoid pseudo-sanctuaries, as well as other visitor attractions that use elephants (or any other animals) for human entertainment, and choose to visit an ethical sanctuary like PES that has the interests of the elephants at its heart. This Phuket elephant tour includes some incredible experiences. Are you going to see elephants perform tricks? 8 Best Vegetarian Restaurants in Phuket for Some Green Delights, 15 Halal Restaurants in Phuket For Muslim Travellers in Thailand. PES carries out two daily guided tours, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. 5 years ago. However, when his former employer decided to change his business model and started killing snakes for soup for Korean tourists, Montri, who did not agree with this practice decided to move back to Phuket which had started to recover in 2006. Our tours offer Education, Interaction, and Observation. The program ends with a buffet lunch that prepares for both veg and non-veg guests. Elephants: Covid and ethics reshape Thailand's tourism industry But when seeing them in the wild is not possible, the best alternative is to visit an ethical elephant sanctuary. Originally from the Ranong province bordering Myanmar, she spent decades in the logging industry carrying logs as heave as her own body. Phuket elephant sanctuary borders Khao Phra Thaeo National Park. Holidays that you view will be shown here. The 3-day version costs 20,000 baht, or $650, but theres no better way to get up and personal with these gentle giants. Full of passion and humor and before leaving you are treated to a lovely little buffet lunch. A half-day ticket costs 3,000 THB (~ 68 / 95 USD). Montri says if she was still alive he would buy her back to live at Phuket Elephant Sanctuary. Date. I visited Phuket Elephant Sanctuary (PES) and I was really impressed by the work they are doing rescuing and looking after their elephants. Make sure to take a tonne of special photos with these enormously attractive creatures. Elephant pants, elephants in the Chang Beer logohow could you NOT want to see some elephants up close and personal while in Thailand?! Phuket's Most Ethical Elephant Sanctuary | Located in Paklok| Teresa is an award-winning travel blogger based in London. Your tour guide will gladly tell you the history of each elephant you pass while leading you around the sanctuary. Upon arrival PES provided clean socks & rubber boots for the tour and a locker. Elephant Jungle Sanctuary - ethical? - Phuket Forum - Tripadvisor A haven for rescued and retired elephants, as the name suggests, Elephant Retirement Park, Phuket, Bangtao Beach, provides freedom to these creatures and ensures that they get to live in a space which resembles their natural habitat. The Elephant Retirement Park Phuket is exactly what it sounds- a retirement complex for elephants that used to work in the tourism and logging trades. A few years ago it was all the rage to jump on an elephants back and take a jungle tour, but nowadays we know that this causes a huge amount of stress and harm to these gentle giants. This is the way to experience elephants, with care and respect. Tubtim, another one of his elephants also started suffering from a hind leg injury. Exquisite Villas In Phuket For A Comfortable Thai Vacay! Another famous and TripAdvisor's 5-Star Rating sanctuary, Green Elephant Sanctuary Park has its solid vision of animal welfare. This sanctuary is different, they really do care about the elephants, this isn't an attraction for hoards of people and the welfare of the elephants is very much put first. Elephant Jungle Sanctuary Phuket Experience - Klook NO. Your Thailand trip would become even more adventurous and appealing by adding at least one elephant sanctuary to your itinerary. If youre heading here then make sure you bring a waterproof camera for all the you-and-the-elephants selfie opportunities! Where can I buy Phuket elephant sanctuary tickets? The family has taken care of elephants, and every generation had the opportunity to learn something new about the Asian elephant. One key thing to remember when trying to identify whether an elephant sanctuary in Phuket (or anywhere else) is ethical, is that a true sanctuary never buys, sells, trades, exploits or profits from elephants. Although the ideal place for elephants to live is in the wild, this is not always possible. Each elephant has a dedicated mahout that accompanies them for safety. Have quality time with gentle giants in their natural home. Phang Nga Elephant Park in the small, rural village of Phang Nga. As always, all views are my own. Many elephants have been rescued from temples, zoos or circus-style attractions; they may have been orphaned or injured, and it is rarely safe or feasible for them to be returned to the wild. Due to the short distance and the scenic surroundings, including beautiful agricultural regions, beaches, and hills, the trip to the Elephant Jungle Sanctuary will be enjoyable. Phuket elephant sanctuary borders Khao Phra Thaeo National Park. Phuket Elephant Sanctuary: Address, Phuket Elephant Sanctuary Reviews: 5/5, Phuket Elephant Sanctuary is the first and only ethical elephant sanctuary in Phuket where elephants roam around, bathe . PHUKET ELEPHANT SANCTUARY - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go You'll be assisting with tasks around the sanctuary and immersing yourself in the elephant's life. Of all the elephant sanctuaries in Phuket, this one has the most attention to detail. Performing elephants, chained elephants, ivory, zoos and howdahs all make for very sad images, which we really don't want on our memory cards after a holiday to Southeast Asia. Free cancellation. Ok, this one is not so innovative, but if you are looking to visit an ethical elephant sanctuary in Phuket, visiting Phuket Elephant Sanctuary is the best way to support them. With 12 elephants in its care, PES focuses on rescuing older elephants that can no longer work in the logging industry and whose owners no longer have a function for them. There are plenty of well-run, trustworthy elephant parks in Phuket for you to choose from. Phuket Elephant Sanctuary: Ethical Elephant Tourism 2023 - Viator The ticket includes a delicious Thai lunch, and you will be provided with mosquito spray, wellies and socks if its muddy and wet, umbrellas for the rain or the sun, and rain coats. HI - I am thinking of visiting next month but concerned about the amount of reviews saying there are 100's of people there every day. You will receive sugarcane and bananas to feed the elephants. Seven year old SanMueng was rescued almost 3 years ago, from a zoo in Phuket where he had been forced to perform for tourists since the age of 2. Visitors are also permitted to feed and pet the inmates of this facility. Vanda, previously known as Somboon was born in the Nakhon Si Thammarat province of Southern Thailand. Where the Elephant Jungle Sanctuary differs from the Phuket Elephant Sanctuary is that you can touch the elephants here, as you wash them in the river. It includes details about what to expect, how to get there, and why you should only consider visiting an ethical sanctuary and avoid elephant camps. Phuket's Most Ethical Elephant Sanctuary | Located in Paklok| I was touched by the gentle connection each mahout (elephant carer) has with his elephant.

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