Elephant Retirement Park Phuket
Elephant Retirement Park Phuket
5
7:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
7:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
7:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
7:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
7:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
7:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
7:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
7:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Full view
About
The Elephant Retirement Park Phuket is a caring wildlife sanctuary for retired & rescued elephants that are free to roam, graze & swim in the natural surroundings. The sole focus is to promote the well-being of the elephants. Strictly no abuse policy & absolutely no riding. We welcome you to come visit for a truly amazing time and experience the joy and excitement of walking, feeding, bathing & learning about the wonderful elephants! Thank you
Phuket, Thailand
Meets animal welfare guidelines
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Elephant Retirement Park Phuket
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
5.0
706 reviews
Excellent
636
Very good
38
Average
11
Poor
9
Terrible
12
Giulia Cancarini
Calcinato, Italy7 contributions
Nov 2023 • Friends
this was one of the best experience in my life, not only for the elephants care but also for staff, so kind! and the lunch was great! thank you so much ❤️❤️❤️
Written 29 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Shelly
Navan, Ireland204 contributions
Oct 2023 • Couples
Ok what wasn’t to like here even when it was torrential rain at the end of the day it didn’t take the shine off .
You get to feed ( want to give milk you pay extra not a lot but just be aware ) the elephants bananas and sugar cane , go into the water with them and wash them , make up a bug scrub ( smells
Like a delicious curry 😂) and slather them with it .
It is just a fun interactive day that hopefully benefits the elephants. The don’t look to be chained up or look to be submissive to mimic too many reactions for travellers . ( yea they give you a hug but it seems to be for a treat than being beaten into it like you get a feel from some places I saw .
You also get fed a meal and get a t shirt free . They will try and sell you a video and photos of your day but not pushy about it .
You get to feed ( want to give milk you pay extra not a lot but just be aware ) the elephants bananas and sugar cane , go into the water with them and wash them , make up a bug scrub ( smells
Like a delicious curry 😂) and slather them with it .
It is just a fun interactive day that hopefully benefits the elephants. The don’t look to be chained up or look to be submissive to mimic too many reactions for travellers . ( yea they give you a hug but it seems to be for a treat than being beaten into it like you get a feel from some places I saw .
You also get fed a meal and get a t shirt free . They will try and sell you a video and photos of your day but not pushy about it .
Written 6 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lee
Bangkok, Thailand9 contributions
Sept 2023 • Family
Hands down this is a must do experience. These are rescued elephants and they are just beautiful. We did the half day tour , that gives you up close and personal with the elephants, you get to feed them(you purchase the milk as it is not included), then you change and then get to get in the water and bath them and lastly get a lesson in mixing up a bug concoction to paint on them. There is a great lunch supplied and lots of iced cold water and face towels. There is a free singlet shirt which is good to wear in the water. Just remember to take towels for after your shower if you forget you can purchase towels there. If there is one thing you do in Thailand it is this, we have made a moral decision to never ride an elephant and contribute to their pain.
Written 18 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Marci T
Sarasota, FL104 contributions
Sept 2022 • Couples
You must do the VIP encounter. It is more fun just picking what you want to do and for how long. It was great to create the paste for the elephants too and rub them with it. The little one was a little crazy and even ran over a tourist at one point, but the staff seems to treat them very well and handled the situation well. Very cool to walk through the wooded area with 3 of these beautiful creatures. They are allowed to stop and eat and play without interference from the staff which was great!
Written 22 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
tonsi s
2 contributions
Aug 2023
Great Phuket exploring tour with Elephants.
Great and caring staff!
Perfect hospitality!
Unforgetable trip!
Great and caring staff!
Perfect hospitality!
Unforgetable trip!
Written 9 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Zeyn W
4 contributions
May 2023 • Friends
First off they pick you up and drop you off from your hotel which is so nice. When we got there, the elephants are just walking around and not cooped up, they are just roaming around doing elephant things. We got to feed them, they love bananas, and they take it right out of your hand. You get to pet them, they are so gentle and majestic. After lunch we went on a little stroll through the bush to find where the mother elephant and her baby went which was cool, although I stepped on an ant hill which kinda sucked but it wasn't too bad, I expected them to hurt much worse. After we made an elephant oil mud bath and got to apply it on the elephants to keep their skin free of parasites, then got in the water with them and cleaned it off. So essentially we gave the elephants a massage and spa day.
There is absolutely no riding here, most of the tour guides are volunteers and do it strictly for their own love for the elephants. This 100% is an elephant sanctuary and retirement village, and your ticket and donations go towards caring for the elephants and buying other ones from logging camps and circuses so they can retire and live in the jungle like they are supposed to. If I go back to Phuket, ill go again to see Cherry grown up (she was around 3 when I was there). I cant stress enough that you should go here and donate to a good cause. Everyone was so nice and they email you all the photos they take of you for free. I am in love with this place. There are so many places to ride elephants that keep them chained and this is not one of them. Thank you so much to our guide and everyone involved in the process it was amazing.
There is absolutely no riding here, most of the tour guides are volunteers and do it strictly for their own love for the elephants. This 100% is an elephant sanctuary and retirement village, and your ticket and donations go towards caring for the elephants and buying other ones from logging camps and circuses so they can retire and live in the jungle like they are supposed to. If I go back to Phuket, ill go again to see Cherry grown up (she was around 3 when I was there). I cant stress enough that you should go here and donate to a good cause. Everyone was so nice and they email you all the photos they take of you for free. I am in love with this place. There are so many places to ride elephants that keep them chained and this is not one of them. Thank you so much to our guide and everyone involved in the process it was amazing.
Written 23 May 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Beth N
2 contributions
May 2023 • Family
Great experience working with trainers for 3 days. Feeding elephants, preparing their food and even got to observe visit from vet. Elephants are so well cared for and respected. Always positive reinforcement.
Written 13 May 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
judy j
1 contribution
Mar 2023 • Solo
This is by far the best elephant sanctuary in Phuket. I mistakenly when to another and there were hardly any photos and charged an extra 800bht for a video on top of the cost of the tour. I absolutely recommend The Elephant Retirement Park Phuket, so be careful that this is the one you go on. I went to The Elephaant Wildlife Sanctury, good but not as good as the retirement park.
Written 4 April 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mohammed S
232 contributions
Feb 2023 • Family
We organised an afternoon visit to the retirement park. Picked up from hotel in Patong around midday and then a 40 min drive to park. Signed in and headed off with our group leader and other visitors - there were a total of about 20. Put our stuff in lockers (100Baht deposit). We cut some cane and then got a chance to feed the elephants. You can also buy bottles of milk for 100Baht for the elephants. After feeding the elephants, we went on a bit of stroll to feed and hug other elephants. We then took the elephants off for a walk into the trees where we watched them eat grass etc. we joined a couple of them in a mud bath before jumping into the water pool to bathe them. We finally then got to prepare a mixture which we applied with brushes to the elephants. You can keep your phone and take lots of photos. They also have a photographer on hand (but I suspect you pay for those).
Lunch provided - halal option was available for me and family. Noodles, rice, chicken and watermelon. Tea/coffee also available. Soft drinks, merchandise, other snacks available to buy in shop.
Clean toilets and showers available to clean off before transport back to your hotel.
Felt safe throughout - elephants seemed well although probably overweight through lack of exercise )but I’m no expert).
Lunch provided - halal option was available for me and family. Noodles, rice, chicken and watermelon. Tea/coffee also available. Soft drinks, merchandise, other snacks available to buy in shop.
Clean toilets and showers available to clean off before transport back to your hotel.
Felt safe throughout - elephants seemed well although probably overweight through lack of exercise )but I’m no expert).
Written 15 February 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Robert F
South East England, UK32 contributions
Nov 2022
This was an excellent trip elephant’s well looked after and appeared to be happy
We would never ride elephants or watch a show with them , we fed them and walked them to a large area where they played in the water , and you can wash them down
We would never ride elephants or watch a show with them , we fed them and walked them to a large area where they played in the water , and you can wash them down
Written 20 November 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ashleyida
Pepperell, MA2 contributions
I've tried contacting the park via email to book an excursion and they're not responding. The website isn't allowing me to book directly. How is everyone else booking their excursion at the elephant park?
Coddiwomple_Travellers
Uralla, Australia56 contributions
Unsure maybe they have closed business to the public. There are other ethical elephant tours you can do.
What would be the best programme to book, we will be staying in Phuket for 2 days then going to Pattaya for 5 days then back to Phuket for 3 days?
Audra H
Houston, TX207 contributions
We did the honeymoon package, it was fantastic, so worth the little extra.
SGentleman
Denny, UK3 contributions
Hi I will be arriving at Phuket on 17 August for two weeks and during our stay I would love to meet your Elephants, we are staying inPatong beach hotel and was wondering, if it’s better we get a taxi or do tour operators.
I would love the money we spend to go to your sanctuary so what would price be from patong beach and what will price be for vip visit.
Thank you and I’m looking so forward to meeting you all
Sharon Gentleman
bleeson13
Ocala, FL5 contributions
This is one of the most rewarding trips you can take. You will fall in love with the elephants, we did. You do everything from preparing their food, feeding them, playing with them to bathing them, and yourself,. Go and enjoy.
Yunnish Au
Malaysia4 contributions
may i know where to book this half day tour (Am)?
Pete H
Exeter, UK88 contributions
You can book online, but if you go to a tourist booth you should be able to negotiate a much better price
CDC1986
Upper Darby, PA47 contributions
How far is your retirement park from Karon beach?
Thank you CDC
Kristin
22 contributions
I believe they have different parks around Phuket that they may take you to, but on their website it says they will pick you up between an hour 20 minutes and 1 hour 50 minutes before the start of the program. Of course this time includes stopping and picking up other guests along the way.
Ann Shmeleva
Krasnodar, Russia6 contributions
Добрый день. Скажите, а как туда попасть, где брали экскурсию?
Cam M
Phuket, Thailand6 contributions
Привет, вы можете забронировать через наш сайт. Спасибо :)
Здравствуйте, подскажите нсть ли у вам другие программы, просто кормление и купание со слонами? Хотим приехать с ребенком 3 лет
Cam M
Phuket, Thailand6 contributions
Да, многие дети посещают наш парк, добро пожаловать. У нас есть образование, кормление, купание, грязевой курорт, песчаный курорт, поход в джунгли Спасибо