Khao Lak Elephant Sanctuary met Rubber Plantage & Waterval

Amazing experience one of the best in Thailand! Exceeded every expectation Amazing guides driver and experience one not to be missed You should book this tour Value for money and had the best time These people really care about the elephants and there welfare

Nice to interact with the elephants. Communication from staff was at times lacking and confusing. Waterfall felt more like a filling activity. Overall a good tour!

This was an amazing and educational experience which was very enjoyable. We learned about how they care for the elephants, we made food for the elephants which was much more informative than someone showing you. We also did some Thai cooking and cut down banana trees to help feed the elephants. The trip ended with a visit to the waterfall to cool off. Our guide was very friendly and knowledgeable. This was a quality experience where we learned about elephants at a relaxed pace.

The day began with a briefing from the guide around the reserve and the half-day setup (quite ok English). Then we prepared some elephant snacks that were fed to the elephants. Then one of the elephants got a walk down to a river where it ate some and washed. We could take many pictures and the guides were happy to take pictures. After the elephant walk we went to a waterfall (Sai Rung) where there was an opportunity to cool off for a while. The last part of the waterfall is on foot for a few minutes on rocky paths. After this we went about 40 minutes to get to the sea turtle conservation center. Here there were turtles from a few weeks to several years old. The turtles were placed in tubs and pools filled with water and one or more rocks. Very spartan. Finally we went to another place (Khao lak waterside) to have lunch. Quite ok food and in very large quantities. After this we sat down again in the transfer for repatriation. In summary, we had settled for the initial visit to the elephant sanctuary and possibly the waterfall. The rest felt not worth it and consisted of 80% of transport (songthaew) which was very difficult for the children and feels quite unsafe for longer distances on major roads. Information about the transports had to be informed when ordering. The Turtle Center is recommended not to spend either time or money on. The rating is based on the overall experience. Only elephant + waterfall had given a slightly higher rating.

Excellent experience. It is heart warming to see how much they love and care for their elephants. Happy to have found a real ETHICAL and caring sanctuary. Their workers are very helpful and friendly. We had to go back to the hotel earlier than expected and one of their workers picked up us with their car and drove us back. She was very kind and really welcoming. Thank you so much! And thanks for rescuing and taking care of those elephants!

Well organised. Enjoyed the whole trip. Wel thought out. Staff very attentive and well organised. Highly recommended

Where do i start ? What a beautifull day out we were taken to a bamboo covered hut where they told us how to mix the food a mixture of Bananas and leaves ect We squalched it between our fingers to mix it completely then made into balls and fed these magnificent animals BoonLap 💕and Arathai 💕 We were encouraged to feed them by their trunks then straight into their mouth WOW !!! After that we headed down to the river we were told that it may not be possible to go in the river as we had some real down pours so i just went down in my cut offs and t.shirt then they said we could go in to scrub them with the mud thiis is protection from insects and is a sun protector for the Elephants...i was straight in wether i got muddy or not Omg it was hilarous i had mud and water all over me but wouldnt have missed it for the world a truly great trip when i got back to the people carrier we had been travelling in all day i ended up sitting on my kagool WORTH EVERY PENNY !!!! Just do it

This was a very special day for my wife and I. The whole holiday was pretty much geared around visiting an Elephant sanctuary and we were not disappointed! The Khao Lak sanctuary was a very kind and supportive team, evidently putting the needs of their elephants first. The feedback was that during COVID, the decision was made after pressure from guides, to cease the elephants carrying tourists down a hill to the feeding location and to just allow they to walk next to the guests. This then allowed the guests have photos, prepare food to feed the elephants and get to learn about their needs and support. Plus have great fun while they nuzzled you for more food. My wife and I fell in love with them and I truly appreciated the honesty of the team there when it came to donations and what have you. The sanctuary is driven by tourism and that in turn, allows them to give the elephants a good life. So, for that reason I felt it important to provide this glowing review. Unlike another local sanctuary, this one doesn't allow you to wash the elephants. For good reason, the elephants can only be washed so many times in a day! Plus, they enjoy playing in their pool to cool off. We had a show with two beauties hilariously named Lady GaGa and Beyonce! Both living up to their name and true stars! They will get to you. They melted our hearts and I hope they are well cared for ongoing. Highly Recommended. We had an incredible guide with 'Boy' who was very knowledgable and conversational. Very kind to make sure we were covered with bug spray and the like plus we had water. From there, we had an exquisite lunch after a foot massage nearby catered for by 'Boy' and it was true Michelin Star level Thai food. I understand that they 'had' accreditation before COVID and just need to go through the process again, which doesn't surprise me in the slightest. The food was marvellous. Great conversation and company too with the fellow guests. I will say, I appreciated the integrity and honesty of Boy too, we asked about donations to the sanctuary and whilst someone who was unethical would have taken this as an opportunity to potentially fleece tourists, his refreshing, honest and candid feedback to us on how best support was very welcome and kind. A truly trustworthy gentleman and I wish him and his family well. Someone who works very had for a living but with the highest ethical standards and he has my complete respect.

Worth every penny. Was not big crowd either so felt very personal. We booked a trip that had bamboo rafting g, white water rafting, quad bike safari amd zip lone the elephant sacruey so was a full day. We booked at a local tour shop in khao lak. Bathing the elephant was an unbelievable experience. They done it so just me and my partner had time with the elephant, then they done the other couple so felt very personal Excellent day 10/10

We did the half-day tour and left with mixed feelings. On the surface, it’s great that there’s no riding, bathing, or forced labor for the elephants. Most are older (45+ years), and it’s comforting to know they’re no longer subjected to harsh work like logging or circus acts. However, the sanctuary seems VERY aware of how informed tourists are about animal cruelty, and it felt like they’ve adapted to appear “ethical” more for profit than for the genuine well-being of the elephants. The elephants were beautiful, but the constant swaying (a definite sign of distress) and small pens during feeding didn’t feel right. They stood in the same spots the entire time we were there (4 hours). While the banana tree cutting was fun, they felt like padding for the experience. The waterfall was lovely, and the Pad Thai cooking class and lunch were definite highlights. Overall, it’s better than traditional elephant tourism, but the sanctuary’s intentions felt more business-oriented than truly ethical. The experience was slightly overpriced, with confusing payment terms (half upfront, half on the day). Mixed feelings—fun in parts but left feeling uneasy.