Absolutely, Kanha! Here’s a deeper look into each of the top 5 elephant sanctuaries in Thailand — perfect for your storytelling or travel planning 🐘✨
🌿 1. Elephant Nature Park – Chiang Mai
- Founded by: Lek Chailert, a renowned elephant rights advocate.
- Location: 60 km north of Chiang Mai city in Mae Taeng District.
- Size: 250 acres of lush valley.
- Activities:
- Half-day, full-day, and overnight visits.
- Walks with elephants, feeding, and observing natural behaviors.
- SkyWalk canopy experience for a bird’s-eye view.
- Other animals: Home to rescued dogs, cats, buffalo, and more.
- Booking: Must be done in advance via their official site.
- Fun fact: They’ve rescued over 200 elephants and helped transform other camps into ethical sanctuaries.
🌄 2. Elephant Haven – Kanchanaburi
- Location: Sai Yok, near Sai Yok National Park.
- History: Former trekking camp turned ethical sanctuary in 2015.
- Experience:
- Prepare food, feed elephants, walk through the jungle, and bathe them in the river.
- Half-day and full-day programs available.
- Atmosphere: Peaceful riverside setting with forest trails.
- Booking: Via Elephant Haven Thailand.
- Note: Visitors rave about the genuine care and freedom the elephants enjoy.
🌴 3. Samui Elephant Sanctuary – Koh Samui
- Locations: Bophut and Chaweng Noi.
- Established: 2018 (Bophut) and 2020 (Chaweng Noi).
- Programs:
- Morning and afternoon 3-hour tours.
- Feed, walk with, and observe elephants in natural enclosures.
- Ethics: No riding, no bathing, no tricks — just observation and gentle interaction.
- Booking: Through Samui Elephant Sanctuary.
- Highlight: Custom-built pools and mud pits for elephant playtime.
🌊 4. Phuket Elephant Sanctuary – Phuket
- Location: Bordering Khao Phra Thaeo National Park.
- Size: 30 acres of tropical jungle.
- Unique feature: Thailand’s longest canopy walkway for observing elephants from above.
- Programs:
- Half-day and 90-minute tours.
- Learn about each elephant’s rescue story and observe them roam, forage, and bathe.
- Booking: Via Phuket Elephant Sanctuary.
- Bonus: Phuket’s first elephant hospital is located here.
🌿 5. Boon Lott’s Elephant Sanctuary (BLES) – Sukhothai
- Location: Si Satchanalai, Sukhothai Province.
- Founded: In memory of a baby elephant named Boon Lott.
- Experience:
- Intimate, immersive stays with limited guests.
- Walks with elephants, forest foraging, and deep storytelling.
- Mission: Rescue elephants from abuse and allow them to rediscover natural behaviors.
- Booking: Through BLES official site.
- Note: Guests often describe it as life-changing and deeply emotional.
