Samui Elephant Sanctuary, Koh Samui Overview

Located on the tropical island of Koh Samui in southern Thailand, the Samui Elephant Sanctuary is a home for the rescued elephants. Morning and afternoon guided tours with professional guides are available and include interactions which the elephants and feeding sessions.

The animals that you will see in the sanctuary have all previously endured numerous difficulties, and have been mercilessly employed in strenuous activities such as logging, elephant rides, performing in circuses, begging on the streets, etc. The Samui Elephant Sanctuary offers a sharp contrast to this life led in despair and suffering- here you will find the elephants freely expressing their instincts, playing around in the green surroundings, and also having a good time in the pool and mud pit that has been custom-built for them. Visitors at the sanctuary can enjoy not just sights of these carefree elephants, but also enjoy elephant tours which will enlighten them about the importance of elephants in the various biological cycles, and also given them a golden opportunity to walk with the elephants and feed them.

Elephant Tours at the Samui Elephant Sanctuary

Elephant tours guided by English speaking tour guides at the Samui Elephant Sanctuary offer visitors with the dual opportunity to observe the elephants in their natural habitat from a distance, and to also interact with them in their surroundings. These tours are half-day programs specially designed to offer a memorable experience to the visitors and to also teach them about the importance of the largest land mammal on the Earth.

A typical tour at the Samui Elephant Sanctuary follows the following schedule:

Guests are picked up from their respective accommodations on Koh Samui.
Following a warm welcome, an introduction video is played for the guests, which talks about the sanctuary and its goals
Visitors then take part in preparing food for the elephants, following which they finally meet these gigantic creatures to feed them.
The real tour begins at this stage. Guests are allowed to walk with the elephants and also to observe them in their natural setting. The caretakers at the sanctuary realise that the elephants have been through a lot, and thus, they make all conscious efforts to let the elephants enjoy a calm and peaceful existence. Therefore, visitors are also expected to respect the personal space of the elephants, and to not invade too much.
Elephant interactions are followed by a vegetarian Thai buffet with complimentary drinks. Visitors are free to sit back and relax or explore the beautiful sanctuary before transferring back to their hotel.

Things to Carry

Remember to carry the following documents and objects to enjoy your visit to the sanctuary:

A photocopy or a soft copy of your passport
Personal travel insurance
A water bottle that you can refill along the way (the shelter has large chilled filtered water dispensers at various places throughout)
Sunglasses and a cap to protect yourself from the sun
An insect repellent

Also, make sure that you wear clothes that you don’t mind getting dirty and closed-toe shoes/trainers.

Tips

The sanctuary prohibits visiting guests without booking confirmations, or those who arrive outside of the tour schedule.
Make sure that you book a tour well in advance. During the peak season between December and April, it is advisable to book at least a week in advance.
The sanctuary authorities do not tolerate any activity that jeopardises the welfare of the elephants. Thus, events like elephant rides, elephant bathing, trunk hugging, etc. are prohibited. Make sure that you do not indulge in any kinds of these activities.
Make sure that you wear clothes that are respectful to the local culture of Thailand. Refrain from wearing too short or revealing clothes.
Flying of drones for recording is strictly prohibited since it scares the elephants.

How To Reach Samui Elephant Sanctuary

The Samui Elephant Sanctuary is located on the island of Koh Samui in the southern part of Thailand. Your entry and tour fee at the sanctuary includes pick up and drop off services from and to your hotel, and AC minivans will be there to transport you, so you don’t have to worry about travelling.