When you roam around the streets of Thailand, one thing that you’ll find common across the country is elephants. You’ll find them etched in clothes, coins, modern art and many other things. This is because of the cultural values and respect they have towards these gentle giants. That’s why the Elephant Jungle Sanctuary bordering Khao Phra Thaeo National Park, located 10 km from the main Phuket city should be on one’s bucket list. The Elephant Jungle Sanctuary in Phuket is one of the four Elephant Jungle sanctuaries in Thailand with other branches being located in Chiang Mai, Pattaya and Samui. The jungle sanctuary in Phuket also offers the cheapest half-day visit package in Phuket. If you’re someone who loves elephants and is curious to know more about their lifestyle and understand their natural behaviour and their communication pattern, then the most ethical sanctuary of Phuket is the right place. Allow us to take you through what you should be doing in Elephant Jungle Sanctuary.

Why one must visit Elephant Jungle Sanctuary

Considered to be an ethical sanctuary, the Elephant Jungle Sanctuary is also an eco-friendly tourist spot. This sanctuary offers an immersive experience for one to understand the life of these elephants and also offers a sustainable solution for tourists to interact with the giants. They not only act as retirement homes for the older elephants but also as rehabilitation centres for rescued elephants that had to go through cruelties in the form of circus shows, street begging, elephant riding and so on. The Elephant Jungle Sanctuary endeavours to raise awareness and enlighten people about the importance of elephant care.

Best time to visit the Elephant Jungle Sanctuary

Just like every other tropical nation, the land of the smiles is also influenced by seasonal monsoonal winds. Intense monsoonal rains can be witnessed from June to November while December to May is characterized by summer and pre-monsoon season, thereby making the period from December to May the best time to visit the Phuket jungle sanctuary.

Things to do in the Elephant Jungle Sanctuary

Feed the elephants through the “Feed me” Programme

The first thing that you would be doing once entering the jungle sanctuary would be feeding our friendly giants. You would be made to offer a basket full of fruits like bananas, watermelon, and sugarcane for each elephant. You would also be made to offer a rice ball mixture mixed with rice, tamarind and pumpkin for improving their digestion system.

Spa time with giants

Just like how we humans use sunscreen to protect our skin, elephants use mud as a cooling mechanism from this tropical heat. In Elephant Jungle Sanctuary, we have the opportunity to witness this process close not as a bystander but to take bath along with the mammoths. It would be a fun experience to be a part of this experience where families with their children could spend time playing with them.

Let’s swim with mammoths

Elephants naturally love to be clean, they do this by enjoying bathing in the river or mud spas. Mahouts believe that bathing along with elephants is a great way for humans to build trust and communication with the elephants. This is one of the key reasons why tourists are allowed to be a part of this sustainable project by allowing them to help elephants bathe in the nearby pond within the sanctuary.

Elephant showers

Finally, elephants are made to take a shower to get rid of minute fleas, pests and dust. It would be a delight to watch the young baby elephants taking a shower spraying water on everyone, occupying the entire tub and playing with elder elephants.

Available Packages in Elephant Jungle Sanctuary

1. Half-day packages: Visitors can avail of either the Morning visit or Afternoon visit packages where they would be allowed to feed the elephants, take mud baths and shower with elephants and take pictures with them. You’ll also be offered traditional Thai cuisine and some souvenirs as complimentary as a part of the package.
2. One-day walk with the elephants: Here visitors will undergo a holistic experience where they would be made to go for a mini trek across the lush green forests of Phuket. You’ll get a first-hand experience of what elephants would be doing in their natural habitat. This would cover almost half a day and the remaining half would be similar to afternoon half-day packages.
3. Feed and shower programme: This package includes feeding the elephants and participating with them in the cool-down process. You’ll also be educated about know-how about the elephants and their habitats by the local trainers
4. Feed me programme: This package is beneficial for those who are short on budget or time but still wanted to have some insights about elephant's habits.

Things to do near the Elephant Jungle Sanctuary

Visit Kathu falls

The Kathu Waterfalls in Phuket is an attractive tourist spot for adventure lovers. It’s located 2km away from the Elephant Jungle Sanctuary. The entry for this fall is free and it’s open 24hrs. The waterfall is divided into 3 sections, in the first region, you’ll find a small pool suited perfectly for kids and families. The second region is a bit deeper and a bit narrower compared to the first one but it would be the ideal spot for teens to hang out and take pictures. The final one is further deeper but it needs some rock climbing and it suits perfectly for thrill lovers.

Challenge yourself with Flying Hanuman

Flying Hanuman, situated a few kilometres away from Elephant Jungle Sanctuary, is for the brave hearts. They offer intense and thrilling experiences through zipline adventures. Covering almost 80,000 square feet across the forest, the zip wire is located at a maximum height of 40m and the longest distance of 400m. Expect some laughing, shouting and screams when you go through this experience. They are safe with experts guiding us throughout the entire journey.

Visit nearby Beaches

The island city of Phuket is surrounded by many crystalline beaches like Nai Thon Beach, Kamala beach, Patong beach, freedom beach and many more. Most of them can be accessed within 30-40 mins from the Elephant Jungle Sanctuary thus making a perfect spot for one to spend the remaining day after a tiresome day with our friendly giants.

With so many things to offer in one place, planning might be a herculean task. Don’t worry, we at PickYourTrail are here to help you out. We offer customized plans at budget-friendly prices and help you cover more places around Phuket. Feel free to contact us and we promise to make your Thailand trip memorable!