Phuket is home to a number of elephant sanctuaries where the gentle giants are treated with love and affection.

An exceptionally gorgeous island, Phuket is a must-visit destination for animal lovers. Over the years, its elephant sanctuaries have gained a lot of popularity among tourists, both domestic and international. These parks provide shelters to elephants, most of whom are rescued from tourism and several other industries. Here, the majestic creatures roam freely and get proper medical care as required.

On a visit, you can spend hours interacting with the gentle giants and go home with memories to cherish for a lifetime.

Below, we have described the five most popular elephant sanctuaries that you simply cannot afford to miss in Phuket.

Phuket Elephant Sanctuary

Bordering Khao Phra Thaeo National Park, the Phuket Elephant Sanctuary is a retirement home for the old, sick, or injured elephants who have been mistreated for years. This sanctuary was the first to start ethical elephant tourism on the island.

The entire area is packed with lush green forests where the majestic animals enjoy their lives safely and with freedom. Here, you can opt for a daily tour and spend some quality time with them.

Elephant Jungle Sanctuary

Elephant Jungle Sanctuary has 4 separate venues – Phuket, Chiang Mai, Pattaya, and Koh Samui. In Phuket, their half-day program is one of the cheapest on the entire island. Here, you can touch, feed, and hang out with the elephants for hours.

Also, you can give an elephant a mud bath and then help it rinse in the river.

Elephant Retirement Park

Strictly dedicated to the well-being of the beautiful animals, Elephant Retirement Park offers tours for visitors in small groups, with no riding and flash photography. However, it offers multiple packages that you can choose from depending on your budget and schedule.

Here, you get an amazing opportunity to do a lot of activities with the elephants, including giving them a mud bath.

Elephants Retirement 9DEE Phuket

The Elephant's Retirement 9DEE Phuket treats the rescued elephants with proper care and then frees them in the wild jungle once they get healthy. Here, along with interacting with the animals, you also get a chance to learn several things about their lifestyle. The money raised from the visitors is mostly used for the food and medicine for the elephants.

Phang Nga Elephant Park

Located at a short distance from Phuket town, this is a family-run sanctuary where the elephants are treated with utmost care. Here, along with feeding and bathing the elephants, you can also ride on their necks, which is less harmful than riding on their spine. Also, the sanctuary offers a “Kids Elephant Experience” for children under the age of 7.

So, next time you plan a trip to Phuket, include at least one of the above-mentioned sanctuaries on your bucket list.