Khao Lak Elephant Sanctuary, Takua Pa Old Town & Food Tour
Description
This afternoon-to-evening tour combines ethical elephant observation, local culture, history, and food tasting in one meaningful Khao Lak experience. After hotel pickup around 2:00 PM, visit Khao Lak Elephant Sanctuary to respectfully observe elephants and learn about their daily care, natural behavior, and responsible tourism. Guests will also learn how herbal supplements are prepared as part of daily elephant care. The sanctuary visit is observation-based, with no riding, no shows, no tricks, and no forced bathing or forced interaction. The tour continues with a temple visit, Takua Pa Old Town with its Sino-Portuguese architecture, and Nam Kem Cultural Centre, a locally run museum sharing stories of the area’s community and history. The evening ends at Takua Pa Market, where local vendors sell fresh produce and street food. Five food tastings are included before returning to your hotel around 8:30 PM.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Observe and learn about elephants while creating herbal vitamins with a knowledgeable guide. Witness the elephants in their natural habitat and gain insights into their caregivers.
Takua Pa is a charming little old town with a similar upbringing as Phuket's Old Town, but it remains undisturbed and much quieter. Takua Pa Old Town is a small pocket of a well-preserved local community with several beautiful and colorful Sino-Portuguese-style houses all lined up, waiting for you to explore. Most of these houses are owned by families that have been living here since Takua Pa was still a thriving economic powerhouse.
If you are in Takua Pa on a Sunday, you are in luck. The entire Takua Pa Old Town will be turned into a Sunday Market where you can find all kinds of street food stalls, performances from local talents, and people hanging out at tea houses and vibing with the city. Unlike the night markets and walking streets in other touristy cities like Phuket, this Sunday Market is the real deal. This is as genuine and authentic as it gets, where you get to actually experience a proper market the way the locals do in Thailand. The market only happens on a Sunday from 4 PM to 8 PM, so be sure to plan your visit accordingly. It can get a little hot at 4 - 5 PM as the sun is still way up in the sky, so I recommend you visit the place around 6 PM for dinner. There is no shortage of great food here, so do empty your stomach and enjoy the culinary delights.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
Pickup is available from selected hotels in the Khao Lak area. Please select your hotel from the pickup list when booking. If your hotel is not listed, please contact us after booking so we can confirm the nearest pickup point. The exact pickup time will be confirmed after booking and may vary depending on your hotel location and the daily pickup route. Please be ready at your hotel lobby 10 minutes before your confirmed pickup time.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- This tour may not be suitable for guests with serious mobility issues, severe back or knee problems, or medical conditions affected by walking, standing, heat, or outdoor activities. Guests should be able to walk short distances and follow the guide’s instructions. The itinerary order may change due to weather, traffic, opening hours, animal welfare considerations, or other unforeseen circumstances.
Reviews(4)
Our guide Spider-Man was very knowledgeable answering all our questions, it’s abundantly clear these 6 beautiful elephants are well loved & cared for. We made treats to feed them, we didn’t feel rushed. The next stop was to the Tsunami Museum this was very emotional speaking to a young lady who had to climb a coconut tree for safety. The Wat Kongka Phimuk is a beautiful temple again Spider-Man explained the history of the temple. Our final stop was the street market, lots of food to try, school children preforming national dancing, the market has more food stalls than anything else. The day was amazing it was like a private tour just my husband & I. Thank you
Thank you for sharing your wonderful experience! 😊 It sounds like you had an unforgettable day with Spider-Man as your guide. It's heartwarming to hear how well the elephants are cared for and that you had the chance to connect with both history and local culture. From the emotional moment at the Tsunami Museum to the vibrant street market, it truly seems like a perfect, personalized tour. We’re so glad you and your husband enjoyed it! 🐘🌸🍢
Loved feeding the elephants and learning about the sanctuary. Tsunami museum and memorial was interesting. Unfortunately the market wasn't very interesting. Not enough stalls because of the rain. Tony our guide was lovely. It was just my husband and me so it was like a private tour.
Thank you for your review! We're delighted to hear that you loved feeding the elephants and learning about the sanctuary. It's great that you found the Tsunami museum and memorial interesting. We're sorry to hear that the market wasn't very interesting due to the rain. We're glad that Tony made your tour enjoyable and that you had a personalized experience with just your husband and you. Thank you for visiting Khaolak Elephant Sanctuary, and we hope to welcome you back again soon!
Wonderful tour to Elephant Sanctuary at Khao Lak, the Tsunami museum, Takua Pa Sunday Market and two amazing temples with Spaike as our great tour guide. A day with many beautiful impressions including celebrations at a stunning Wat in Takua Pa.
It sounds like you had a truly wonderful and diverse tour, exploring the Elephant Sanctuary at Khao Lak, the Tsunami museum, Takua Pa Sunday Market, and two amazing temples. Having Spaike as your tour guide must have added valuable insights and local knowledge to your experience. Celebrating at a stunning Wat in Takua Pa sounds like a memorable highlight. Thank you for sharing your positive experience, and if there are more details or moments you'd like to mention, feel free to share!
