Overview
Three hours at Samui Elephant Kingdom.
We take you from your hotel to Samui Elephant Kingdom for a relaxed, hands-on visit, with a morning or afternoon start to fit your plans.
You learn what elephants eat, help prepare their "Powerball" food and feed the herd, then watch them at the mud pit before you say goodbye.
Who runs it? Samui Elephant Kingdom is an independent sanctuary. Samui Journey supports it and brings guests there with hotel pickup, but we do not own or run the sanctuary.
Your visit
How the visit flows.
- 1Hotel pickupTimes by area further down this page
- 2WelcomeTea, coffee and snacks, with an introduction to the programme
- 3Elephant food & cultureWhat elephants eat and how they are cared for
- 4Powerball food preparationHelp mix and prepare the elephants' food
- 5Feeding timeFeed the elephants from the Skywalk
- 6Observation walkWatch the elephants at the mud pit
- 7Lunch & farewellLunch and soft drinks, then a last meeting with the elephants
- 8Back to your hotel
Ethical checklist
How to choose an ethical sanctuary.
Use this checklist when you compare elephant venues in Thailand. It is general advice based on animal-welfare guidance, not a certification.
- Watching comes firstThe best venues let you see elephants walking, grazing, dust-bathing and socialising on their own, not performing for visitors.
- No riding, shows or paintingRides, circus-style shows and elephant painting depend on harsh training. Skip any venue that offers them.
- No bathing or hands-on photo sessions with touristsWelfare groups advise against bathing with elephants and close-contact photo sessions, even when they are sold as the kind option.
- Look for free movementElephants should not be kept on short chains during the day or controlled with hooks as a matter of routine.
- Be wary of babies on showCalves offered for photos, or separated from their mothers, are a red flag. So is breeding for tourism.
- Small groups and a calm paceVisitor numbers and time near the elephants should be limited, so the animals can rest and walk away when they want to.
- Check photos, not slogans"Sanctuary" and "rescue" are not protected words. Recent visitor photos and reviews show what really happens there.
Source: World Animal Protection, elephant-friendly tourist guide. More in our guide to ethical elephant sanctuaries on Koh Samui.
What's included
Included, and what to bring.
Included
- Hotel transfers
- English and Chinese-speaking guide
- Lunch and soft drinks
Bring with you
- Sunglasses
- Sunscreen
- Insect repellent
Hotel pickup
Pickup times by area.
| Area | Morning | Afternoon |
|---|---|---|
| Bang Rak · Choeng Mon | 8:00 | 13:10 |
| Bophut | 8:15 | 13:15 |
| Maenam | 8:15 | 13:15 |
| Chaweng | 8:20 | 13:20 |
| Bang Por · Pralan | 8:20 | 13:20 |
| Nathon · Lamai · Hua Thanon | 8:30 | 13:30 |
| Phang Ka – Lipa Noi | 8:30 | 13:30 |
Gallery
Meet the herd.
Make a day of it
Pair it with the sea.
Plan your day
