Canopy Walkway Tour
A 90-minute guided walk on Thailand's longest canopy walkway, watching elephants roam and bathe below. It includes a visit to the elephant hospital, snacks and an iced soda, and suits all ages.
Phuket · Experiences & tours · Since 2016
Phuket Elephant Sanctuary
A retirement home for rescued elephants in northeast Phuket, where guests observe the herd from a canopy walkway and forest trails.
Photo © Phuket Elephant Sanctuary
- WherePa KhlokPaklok, northeast Phuket
- Experiences & toursEthical elephant sanctuaryObservation-only tours, canopy walkway, volunteering
-
Opening hoursMorning 09:30–13:00
Afternoon 13:30–17:00 - Contact+66 76 529 099Phone and WhatsAppOfficial website ↗
Why go
About Phuket Elephant Sanctuary
The sanctuary sits on 30 acres of jungle next to Khao Phra Thaeo National Park and gives retired working elephants a permanent home. It was founded by Montri Todtane, a former elephant camp owner, with guidance from the founder of Elephant Nature Park in Chiang Mai. Thirteen rescued elephants now live here.
Visits are observation only. Guests walk along Thailand's longest canopy walkway, follow forest trails and visit the on-site elephant hospital, while guides tell each elephant's story. Bathing and feeding interactions are not offered, so the animals can behave naturally. Programmes range from a 90-minute walk to a full day or a volunteer stay.
Main services
What Phuket Elephant Sanctuary offers
Services from the official website.
Half Day Program
A morning or afternoon of about 3.5 hours: an introductory video, the elephant hospital, the canopy walkway and forest trails, then a vegetarian Thai meal. Shared transfers from hotels are an option.
Full Day Program
A 7.5-hour programme with observation, learning sessions on elephant communication and habitat, and preparing supplementary food for the herd. Light breakfast, vegetarian lunch and dinner, and shared transfers are included.
Volunteer Programs
One-day, three-day and one-week programmes for adults aged 18 and over, helping with food preparation, cleaning and maintenance around the sanctuary. No earlier volunteering experience is needed, only enthusiasm and good fitness.
Elephant hospital visit
Included in the main programmes, the visit shows how the on-site hospital provides veterinary care for the resident elephants and for others from across Southern Thailand. Guides explain how the team supports their health.
Photo © Phuket Elephant Sanctuary
Services and facilities
Good to know at Phuket Elephant Sanctuary
- Wheelchair-accessible canopy walkway
- Luggage lockers
- Vegetarian and vegan food
- Shared and private transfers
- Infants and toddlers welcome
- Open in the rain
Gallery
Inside Phuket Elephant Sanctuary
Photo © Phuket Elephant Sanctuary
Photo © Phuket Elephant Sanctuary
Photo © Phuket Elephant Sanctuary
Photo © Phuket Elephant Sanctuary
Photo © Phuket Elephant Sanctuary
Practical information
Phuket Elephant Sanctuary: address, opening hours and contacts
Address
Pa Khlok, Thalang, Phuket 83110
Phone+66 76 529 099
Opening hours
Hours from the official website:
| Day | Morning | Afternoon |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 09:30–13:00 | 13:30–17:00 |
| Tuesday | 09:30–13:00 | 13:30–17:00 |
| Wednesday | 09:30–13:00 | 13:30–17:00 |
| Thursday | 09:30–13:00 | 13:30–17:00 |
| Friday | 09:30–13:00 | 13:30–17:00 |
| Saturday | 09:30–13:00 | 13:30–17:00 |
| Sunday | 09:30–13:00 | 13:30–17:00 |
Location
- Contacts
- Contact the business directly by phone, WhatsApp, email or its website. Holiplanet does not take bookings or payments for it.
Getting there
How to get to Phuket Elephant Sanctuary
From Phuket Old Town
About 15 km in a straight line: by taxi, Grab or Bolt.
From Patong
About 18 km in a straight line: by taxi, Grab or Bolt.
From Phuket International Airport
About 13 km in a straight line: by taxi, Grab or Bolt.
Straight-line distances from OpenStreetMap data (© OpenStreetMap contributors); road distances are longer and walking times are approximate.
Around the area
Near Phuket Elephant Sanctuary: sights, restaurants and hotels
City Guide · Things to do
Sights near Phuket Elephant Sanctuary
Phuket beaches, temples and viewpoints with their own Holiplanet page, nearest first.
12.5 km away
Beach
Banana Beach (Bang Tao to Nai Thon)
A half-hidden rocky cove between Bang Tao and Nai Thon
15.2 km away
Museum
Phuket Thai Hua Museum
A 1934 Chinese school that explains how tin and migrants built Phuket
15.3 km away
Market
Sunday Walking Street (Lard Yai)
Thalang Road closes to traffic every Sunday evening for Lard Yai
15.3 km away
Old town
Phuket Old Town
Tin-fortune shophouses, shrines and a Sunday night street market
16.9 km away
Beach
Mai Khao Beach
Phuket's longest beach: wild, quiet, with planes gliding in overhead
17.4 km away
Beach
Patong Beach and Bangla Road
Phuket's busiest resort beach and its after-dark walking street
20.3 km away
Temple
Wat Chalong
Phuket's best-known temple, home to the Luang Por Chaem hall
20.5 km away
Beach
Freedom Beach
Hidden white-sand cove south of Patong, by boat or steep trail
20.8 km away
Beach
Karon Beach
Phuket's second-longest beach, calmer than Patong, made for sunset walks
→
All things to do
On the Phuket map
City Guide · Where to eat
Restaurants near Phuket Elephant Sanctuary
Phuket restaurants with their own Holiplanet page, nearest first.
6.1 km away
Farm-to-table, live fire
JAMPA
A lakeside restaurant in Phuket cooking farm-grown ingredients over live fire, with sustainability at the centre.
8 km away
Since 2010
Suay Cherngtalay
A family-run garden restaurant in Cherngtalay where Chef Tammasak cooks Thai ingredients with European technique.
12.1 km away
Southern Thai cooking
Black Ginger
A Thai restaurant in a traditional mansion above a lagoon, cooking old local recipes in an inventive way.
12.3 km away
Community-to-fork cooking
PRU
A chef-led dining room inside Trisara where cooks and guests talk openly and local ingredients take centre stage.
15.1 km away
Since 2020
Day & Night of Phuket
A vintage-style, two-storey café, restaurant and bar set in a converted old building on Dibuk Road in Phuket Old Town.
15.2 km away
Since 2010
Blue Elephant Phuket
Southern Thai and Phuketian cooking served in a restored Sino-Portuguese governor’s house in the old town.
19.8 km away
Southern Thai seafood
Ta Khai
Southern Thai and seafood dishes shared family-style in a rustic fishing-village setting at Rosewood Phuket.
25.1 km away
Thai and international
The Boathouse Restaurant
A beachfront restaurant on Kata Beach serving southern Thai and international dishes from breakfast to dinner.
Indian, Turkish and Thai
Zuri Restaurant
A beachfront table in Patong where Indian spices, Turkish grills and Thai flavours share one menu.
→
All restaurants
On the Phuket map
City Guide · Where to stay
Hotels near Phuket Elephant Sanctuary
Hotels, resorts and villas with their own Holiplanet page, nearest first.
9.2 km away
Layan
Villoft Zen Living
Pool villas
12.1 km away
Nai Yang
The Slate
All-suite
12.3 km away
Nai Thon · Layan
Trisara
Ocean-view pool villas and suites on a secluded cove of Phuket's north-west coast
12.3 km away
Nai Yang
Nai Yang Beach Resort & Spa
Family-friendly resort of garden rooms and bungalows a few steps from Nai Yang Beach
12.9 km away
Pansea Beach · Surin
The Surin Phuket
Beachfront resort on Pansea Beach
14.7 km away
Kamala
Kamala Beach Estate
One- and two-bedroom holiday apartments in mature tropical gardens on the coast at Kamala
14.9 km away
Kamala
Keemala
Rainforest wellness retreat in the hills above Kamala
15 km away
Phuket Old Town
Book a Bed Poshtel
Design hostel on Dibuk Road in Phuket Old Town with an outdoor pool
15.4 km away
Phuket Old Town
The Memory at On On Hotel
Heritage boutique hotel in a 1927 Sino-Portuguese building on Phang-Nga Road
→
All hotels
On the Phuket map
City Guide · Experiences
Tours and experiences
Diving, sea canoeing, cooking classes and nature trips with their own Holiplanet page.
8.1 km away
Experiences & tours · Since 2004
Phuket Sail Tours
Family-run island day trips from Phuket for small groups, with hotel pickup, lunch and gear included, to Phi Phi and Phang Nga Bay.
13.1 km away
Experiences & tours
John Gray's Sea Canoe
Guided sea canoe trips into the caves and hidden lagoons of Phang Nga Bay, from Phuket, with meals and hotel transfers included.
15.2 km away
Experiences & tours
Blue Elephant Cooking School Phuket
Hands-on Thai cooking classes in a Sino-Portuguese mansion in Phuket Town, led by Blue Elephant's chefs.
22.9 km away
Experiences & tours
Aussie Divers Phuket
A PADI dive centre in Chalong offering scuba courses for beginners and professionals, day trips on its own boat and Similan liveaboards.
Experiences & tours · Since 2004
Thailand Divers
A Rawai dive centre running beginner courses, certified-diver day trips, Similan liveaboards and snorkelling tours from Phuket.
Experiences & tours
Love Andaman
A Phuket operator running small-group speedboat day trips to the Phi Phi, Similan and Surin islands and Phang Nga Bay, plus private charters.
Experiences & tours
5 Star Marine Phuket
Private speedboat tours from Phuket to Phi Phi, Phang Nga Bay, the Khai and Racha islands and more, planned around your group.
Experiences & tours
Erawan Patong Seaview Zipline
A jungle zipline course in the Patong hills with sea views over Patong Bay, plus ATV rides, for beginners and families.
Experiences & tours
Thai Cooking Class Phuket by Tony
Morning or afternoon Thai cooking classes in Phuket Town with Chef Tony, starting at a local fresh market and ending at your own cooking station.
→
All experiences
On the Phuket map
City Guide · Beyond Phuket
Day trips from Phuket
Islands and Krabi within a boat ride.
Krabi · City Guide
Ao Nang and Koh Lanta
Railay’s cliffs, the Tiger Cave Temple and the long beaches of Koh Lanta
By ferry or speedboat
Phi Phi Islands
Limestone cliffs and turquoise bays, two hours by boat
Boat or sea canoe
Phang Nga Bay and James Bond Island
Limestone towers, hidden lagoons and James Bond Island
Phang Nga Bay
Koh Panyee (Ko Panyi)
A stilt village at the foot of a limestone cliff
→
All day trips
Phuket City Guide
Holiplanet Journal
Latest from the Phuket Journal
Stories and practical guides about life in Phuket.
Holiplanet Journal
Phuket Old Town: A Walking Guide to Thalang Road, the Sunday Market and the Museums
Holiplanet Journal
Loy Krathong Festival 2026: Dates, Meaning and Where to See It in Phuket
Holiplanet Journal
Rental Market Trends in Phuket (in USD)
Holiplanet Journal
Market Prices per Square Meter for Condos and Apartments in Phuket
→
All stories
Holiplanet Journal
Straight-line distances from OpenStreetMap data (© OpenStreetMap contributors).
Questions
Phuket Elephant Sanctuary: frequently asked questions
What time are the tours?
The Half Day Program runs 09:30-13:00 and 13:30-17:00. The Canopy Walkway Tour starts at 09:30, 10:00, 14:00 and 14:30, and the Full Day Program runs 09:30-17:00. Arrive at the meeting point at least 15 minutes early.
How far in advance should I book?
Usually one week ahead, and up to two weeks in high season (November to April). Book as soon as you know your date.
Can I drive to the sanctuary?
No. There is no public access for safety and insurance reasons. Guests meet at the Paklok meeting point and are taken in the sanctuary's vehicles.
Is the sanctuary open every day?
It is open year-round except 13 April, Thai New Year. It may close for private groups or sell out on other dates, so check the booking calendar.
What is your cancellation policy?
Cancellations at least 24 hours before the start time get a full refund. No refunds are given for cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before.
Can I bathe or feed the elephants?
No. The sanctuary does not offer bathing, and it ended all feeding interactions in April 2026. Guests observe from a respectful distance.