thailand elephant safari

Elephant Hills

Elephant hills 3-day jungle safari, a complete guide.

Nestled deep in the heart of Khao Sok National Park is Elephant Hills Thailand, the country’s first luxury tented camp. Elephant Hills offers a unique once in a lifetime experience by combining luxurious glamping accommodations with unforgettable nature and adventure tours. 

Elephant Hills Thailand is built on a passion for sustainability and conservation. Every aspect of the experience and project has been carefully considered to ensure that local people, animals and the environment are protected and supported in every way possible.

Adventures & Activities at Elephant Hills

Elephant Hills offers a wide range of immersive experiences that take you beyond the elephant sanctuary and into the natural habitat of Khao Sok National Park. Start by paddling a canoe down the winding jungle river, looking out for monkeys in the trees above. Next, trek deep into the jungle and learn about the local flora and fauna. Start the next day with a boat trip through the beautiful mangrove forests that play a vital role in supporting the planet’s biodiversity. You can even spend a day and/or night at the floating lodges on the lake. Here you can kayak around the magnificent limestone rocks that are unique to this special part of the world.

Safari Tour Options

There are several adventure tour packages to choose from. The tours range from 2 to 4 days in duration. Each package combines a selection of well organised and executed activities including kayaking, hiking and everything in between. Of course, every safari tour at Elephant Hills includes an unforgettable elephant encounter.

Elephant Encounters

Ethical, educational, and so much fun.

The elephant encounter at Elephant Hills is safe for the animals and allows you to assist in bathing them and providing lunch for them. Don’t expect to ride the elephants, as the animals here are respected rather than exploited. An elephant encounter experienced in this ethical way is definitely worth adding to the top of your bucket list  during a trip to Thailand.

The elephants are loved and cared for in a responsible way. In fact, the staff work for the elephants, and not the other way around. When you look into the eyes of the elephants here you can see that they are happy, at peace, and well looked after. You can sense the wisdom, the charm and the cheekiness.

The Elephant Hills experience

During your elephant encounter at Elephant Hills you’ll come face to face with the magnificent creatures. You will learn about the history of Elephants in Thailand, and what we can all do to help protect them. After a friendly introduction, sit back and relax as your new friends have the time of their lives playing in their natural muddy swimming pool.

Getting Involved

Let’s get messy.

After watching the elephants enjoying the water it’s time to get hands on. The elephants love to put dry dirt on their heads and backs to keep them cool under the sun. Add muddy water to the mix and you’ve got one mucky elephant! Help them get clean with a shower and a coconut husk scrub – getting wet is all part of the fun! The elephants will let you know when they’ve had enough of bath time as they wander back into the field. It’s times like this that you start to see the personalities of these beautiful creatures.

Time for lunch

Now that they’re clean, the elephants are ready for their lunch. Help to prepare a selection of healthy foods and snacks for the elephants before dispersing them among the hungry crowd. Watch out for the cheeky ones! They’ll have their trunks in your banana basket if you’re not careful. Unsurprisingly, the elephants absolutely love lunch time, and we can guarantee that you will too. Engaging with such playful and gentle creatures is a life changing experience that you won’t soon forget.

Khao Sok National Park

Khao Sok National Park is one of the oldest rainforests in the world. This protected nature reserve spans an impressive 739 square kilometres and is home to around 400 species of animals. The wildlife is so diverse. Everything from tiny ants to spectacular leopards live within the region. The land comprises of towering limestone karsts and luscious greenery, in addition to waterfalls, rivers, and a mystical lake that are all waiting to be explored.

An adventure tour with Elephant Hills gives you the opportunity to explore these epic landscapes. It’s also a great opportunity to get a feel for life in the region as you visit local markets, lakes and other points of interest.

Ethical & Sustainable Tourism

An experience at Elephant Hills is incredibly fun, but also highly educational. The team are keen to share the history of Asian elephants and their unique place in Thai history and culture. Informing and educating guests is a critical component in helping people understand the importance of conservation and environmental protection. Hopefully this will allow future generations to enjoy the biodiversity in this corner of the planet.

Elephant Hills support several projects in the local area, with education remaining at the heart of everything they do. Current projects include funding schools, providing jobs, and protecting and conserving wildlife. These values are based on the belief that people will want to do more to protect the planet when they have the knowledge to see why it is so important to do so.

Featured Host

Elephant Hills Camp

Sustainable Practices

Everything at Elephant Hills is environmentally friendly. Firstly, the camp is completely plastic-free. One way they achieve this is by offering guests a reusable bottle at the start of their stay. Further to this, rainwater catchment systems and solar-power systems are in place helping to reduce the camp’s carbon footprint. Moreover, the camp is made from locally and ethically sourced materials and has been built in harmony with the beautiful natural surroundings. As a result, as much as possible of the native plant life is maintained and can be enjoyed by all.

Luxury Tents

The tents are cleverly designed to provide all the comforts of a hotel room whilst being under canvas in the middle of the jungle. Indeed, all the wonders of camping from the fresh air to the sounds of cicadas and birds, are enjoyed from a comfortable king sized bed. The rooms include electric fans for hot nights, and en-suite bathrooms with hot water for those who like their home comforts. Complimentary bathing products made with natural ingredients ensure the surrounding eco-system is unharmed. Furthermore, the rainwater supply helps to preserve the earth’s most vital resource.

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Elephant Hills Thailand – Our Experience, Review & Tips

By Author Jurga

Posted on Last updated: April 14, 2024

Are you looking for a truly unique travel experience in Thailand ? Something different than the busy cities, crowded markets, ornate temples, or popular vacation islands… Or maybe you stumbled upon our website when looking for sustainable tourism or ethical animal experiences in Thailand? On our recent trip to Thailand, we discovered a place that ticks all these boxes. Find out!

When researching our Thailand trip itinerary, we were also looking for a bit more unique, yet typically Thai travel experience that would make our vacation more memorable. We were looking for something really special and offbeat, but had no idea what exactly… Till we stumbled upon Elephant Hills Resort in Khao Sok National Park .

No matter whether you are looking for beautiful nature or animal encounters, whether you are interested in an exclusive honeymoon getaway or a very unique family trip… you’ll find it all at the Elephant Hills luxury resort. Find out!

Disclosure: We received a discount for our stay at Elephant Hills , but this article wasn’t part of the agreement and is not sponsored. It’s a place that we fell in love with, the best experience of our 2-week trip in Southern Thailand . I want to tell you all about it, because I think it is one of the absolute best things you can do in Thailand!

Khao Sok National Park – what to expect

Planning a trip to Khao Sok might look a bit overwhelming at first. After all, this National Park is nothing but a giant rainforest; hundreds of square kilometers of jungle. You will find untouched nature, stunning scenery with mountain formations typical to Asia, and rainforests that are home to more animal species than you could ever imagine…

There are many ways to discover Khao Sok National Park , including lake tours or  organized day trips (usually from Khao Lak). But if you take the time to look at the map, you’ll see that this place is huge, so in one day you’ll hardly scratch the surface…

If you only have the time for a short day trip to Khao Sok, then, by all means, book a day trip. If you are interested in an ethical elephant experience, take a look at this amazing day tour . It will be worth it! However, if you have a few days to spare, consider staying inside the Khao Sok National Park and getting to know this unique place a bit better.

For the most unique experience in Khao Sok National Park, I strongly suggest that you look into one of the different tour options offered by Elephant Hills . All you have to do is show up; they will take care of all the rest. (If you find this option too expensive, see if you can find a suitable multi-day tour here – either way, don’t miss Khao Sok).

Below, you can read all about our experience at the Elephant Hills . It’s a full review of our 3-day Elephant Hills tour Jungle Lake Safari with kids and I’m sure it will give you a good idea of what to expect. Find out!

Elephant Hills luxury resort – the gem of Khao Sok National Park

Our trip to Elephant Hills resort started in Krabi where we were picked up for a 2,5 hr transfer to the Elephant Hills luxury camp. All Elephant Hills tours include transfers to/from the wide surroundings, including places like Phuket, Khao Lak or Krabi, but also from Khanom, Surat Thani, or Don Ak Pier (with direct access to Koh Samui). 

From the moment they pick you up till the minute they drop you off again – everything is thought of and extremely well organized.

The trip we booked, Jungle Lake Safari , is probably the most varied of all the Khao Sok itineraries offered by Elephant Hills. The entire trip was just 2 nights/ 3 days, but a variation of activities and accommodations made it feel much longer. We spent one night at the Elephant Camp and one night in the Rainforest Camp – luxury floating tents on Cheow Lan lake. 

Our first introduction to Khao Sok National Park was the main lodge of the resort, Elephant Camp. It’s located in such a spectacular setting and reminded us of safari lodges in Africa. And just in case you get worried, this place isn’t a camping, but a wonderful glamping experience.

Elephant Hills tented accommodations are really luxurious. They have comfortable beds, private bathrooms, and even terraces with chairs and hammocks. In addition, there is a big main area with a restaurant, bar, souvenir shop, and also a small swimming pool.

After checking in into our luxury tents and a plunge in the pool, we had the whole afternoon for some amazing activities in Khao Sok National Park.

Ethical elephant experience in Thailand

Without a doubt, one of the main highlights of the stay at the Elephant Hills is meeting the elephants . Elephant Experience includes a short introduction to Asian Elephants and the history of elephants in Thailand. This is followed by interaction with Asia’s largest wild animal: feeding the elephants and observing them bathing in the mud pool.

In the past elephants were mainly used to transport heavy logs. However, when elephant labor was forbidden in Thailand in 1989, thousands of animals were left homeless. As you can imagine, the cost of keeping an unemployed domesticated elephant that eats some 250 kg of food and drinks 200 liter water per day is just too high… 

We were told that tourism helped to preserve Asian elephants from extinction. However, even nowadays, many elephant sanctuaries in Thailand keep their elephants chained and offer elephant riding experiences to tourists. Elephant Hills is very different!

Update: Elephant Hills have recently contacted us to say that even the elephant-washing experience has now been discontinued. So your experience will be slightly different than when we visited and which is described in this article.

The 12 elephants that live here are mostly domesticated animals that have been adopted when their owners couldn’t keep them anymore. The oldest elephant is 75 years old and the youngest just 13.

Elephant Hills has won multiple awards for sustainable tourism and animal welfare. From everything we saw and read about this place, they seem to take pride in how they treat the elephants. The animals live in a big protected area in the middle of Khao Sok jungle, where they roam freely.

Of course, you have to remember that these are domesticated animals in captivity and not in the wild. But you have to keep in mind that none of these elephants would be able to survive in the wild and tourism money helps to preserve Asian elephants from extinction.

After meeting the elephants and watching them bathe, we went on to prepare some food for them. Kids loved feeding the elephants ! And boy, they do eat… Buckets of pineapples and bananas were empty in no time.

One of the most special experiences for us was washing the elephants. Scrubbing an elephant’s trunk while standing eye-in-eye with her was a surreal experience, one I’ll never forget. This is such a wonderful way to interact with the elephants, a thousand times better than sitting on an elephant!

Once again, this is no longer available (and it’s probably better for the elephants too, especially considering the exponentially growing number of tourists).

Anyway, if you are looking for an ethical elephant experience in Thailand, you’ll be glad to know that people at Khao Sok are really doing their best!

Canoe safari through the jungle of Khao Sok NP

Our second activity at the Elephant Hills was a canoe safari on Sok River . It’s a real jungle with snakes lying in the trees and all… I was really glad we had a local guide to do the paddling for us. In the meantime, we could enjoy the scenery without having to worry about bumping into any snakes along the river shore.

I didn’t really know what to expect from this canoe tour, but the scenery blew us away. Completely different than anything else we have ever seen! And so untouched, that it’s almost surreal.

I don’t think I have ever been to a place that felt as remote and at the same time full of life as Khao Sok National Park. You almost feel as an intruder in this untouched jungle. You’re constantly surrounded by so many animals, but most of the time you can’t see or even hear them. And yet, you are very well aware that they are there…

New Year’s Eve at the Elephant Hills

Our first evening at the Elephant Hills was the 31st of December and we had no idea what to expect. I mean, the jungle isn’t really a place where you’d find loud parties and fireworks…

There was also a short movie about the Elephant Hills, a Thai cooking demonstration, and girls from a local school came to perform a few traditional dances. If I understood it right, this is something you’ll experience at the main camp of Elephant Hills every evening. It’s their way of giving back to the local community – the children that are performing here all get paid. It’s a great way for the kids to earn some pocket money and also to practice their English.

The resort really did their best to turn it into a special evening for all the guests and staff. There were beautiful food buffets decorated for New Year and all kinds of little details that made the dinner more festive. They even let the bar open past midnight, whereas it normally closes at around 10 pm. And yes, there were fireworks, but not organized by the resort – they said they’d never do it as it scares the jungle animals to death. However, there are quite some local villages nearby and so also fireworks in the jungle…

To tell you the truth, we never made it till midnight since the kids were exhausted from all the activities. On top of that, there was another very active day waiting for us the next morning…

Waking up in the jungle

Luckily, we went to bed somewhat in time the previous night, because the jungle really wakes up at dawn !

The gibbons seem to be up first and they are loud! So we were also wide awake around 4am. I quickly got used to the sounds of the jungle and could still get some sleep, the kids didn’t even notice anything, and my husband went on to finish reading his book…

If you are looking for peace and quietness in its literal sense, then the jungle is probably not the best place to be. But if you are looking for a unique place where you can escape from the hustle and bustle of your everyday life and busy tourist destinations, then you’ll love staying in Khao Sok National Park!

A visit to a local market

On the second day in Khao Sok National Park, we were set to drive to Cheow Larn Lake. As I said, the park is huge and the lake is quite far from the main lodge. So to break the long drive, they stopped for a short visit at a local market in Takhun.

It was quite fun to see a truly local market. Our guide bought one of those pink ‘hundred-year’ eggs that there for sale everywhere here, so we could try one.

From what I understood, it’s kind of marinated and the egg turns completely black inside and pink on the outside. The taste was something in between jelly and pickles… Let’s just say, we didn’t immediately feel the need to rush and buy some pink eggs ourselves.

Cheow Lan Lake

Cheow Larn Lake was formed after building a dam and it’s huge (185km 2 (71 sq mi)! The scenery here is really beautiful, you’d never think it’s a man-made lake…

The little harbor at Cheow Lan Lake (sometimes also Cheow Larn lake) reminded me of any other touristy place in Asia. There were big buses and tour groups of people coming for a boat ride on the lake. It felt like the most touristy place in the entire Khao Sok National Park and it was hard to believe that this place is a gateway to the beautiful remote glamping experience we were expecting to find…

But the moment we stepped into a long-tail boat and took a somewhat different route than most of the other boats, we were back in the untouched jungle.

Rainforest Camp – Elephant Hills’ floating tents accommodation

Deep in the jungle, along the shores of the lake, was our accommodation – Elephant Hills Rainforest Camp .

It’s not like any lodge we have ever stayed at. This luxury tented accommodation is floating on the lake! It was love at first sight – one of those places that are so special that you know you’ll remember it for years to come.

There are 20 tents at the Rainforest Camp, each with a terrace with incredible views. It’s glamping at its absolute best!

Every tent is equipped with a double bed, a shower room, and a toilet. If needed, they can put an extra bed and accommodate 3 people in a tent, so we had two tents for our family of 5.

There isn’t all that much to do here, but that’s exactly what makes this place so unique. No TV, no radio, no Wi-Fi – so you can really unplug and just enjoy the moment… They do have a restaurant with a bar and some board games in case you get bored.

We spent hours kayaking on the lake and spotting monkeys in the jungle. You can also jump right into the lake straight from your terrace and go for a swim.

The lake is swarming with huge fish and the kids just couldn’t resist feeding them. Afterwards they would jump into the water trying to catch the fish with their bare hands… Kids had so much fun here – our twins spent the entire afternoon feeding the fish and swimming among them…

Good to know: There are several floating camps in this area . If you are mostly interested in this part of the experience, then you’ll have more options to choose from. For example, our friends recently spent some time at the 500Rai Floating Resort . Here you can read about their experience staying at this Khao Sok floating bungalow .

Update: One of our readers told us that they were warned by their doctor about some type of parasite (that can cause schistosomiasis and other diseases) in the waters of this lake. But hundreds of people go swimming here daily and have no issues (and neither did we). After reading more , I found a list of 20 diseases that one could potentially be exposed to in this and other major lakes and rivers all over Thailand. So it’s your decision if you want to go swimming here. Frankly, once you start reading about all the possible risks anywhere in the world, you will never want to leave your house again…

Jungle trek in Khao Sok National Park

Next on the program was jungle trekking , deep in the rainforest of Khao Sok National Park. Since there was no way we could get the younger boys out of the water, my husband stayed in the floating camp with them. And he was happy to relax and do nothing :).

In the meantime, my older son and I decided to join an organized jungle trek with our guide and a couple of other guests.

A long-tail boat brought us to a hiking trail not too far from the Rainforest Camp. Two local guides joined us on this jungle walk and gave us some explanation of the plants and the animals we saw around us.

Most jungle animals actually sleep during the day, so we didn’t see any monkeys or bigger wildlife here. But we saw frogs, spiders, some birds, and a big variety of very interesting plants. We were also deafened by the noise of cicadas and other animals – there was no doubt we were in the rainforest.

The short but rather steep hike ended at a huge cave. We had seen many stalactites and stalagmites caves all over the world before, but visiting a cave in the wilderness was a totally different experience.

There were no explanatory panels or lights here. We were each given a small pocket light and went deep inside the caves. It’s quite slippery here, so you really need to wear shoes with a good grip.

The last cave we visited was pitch dark and full of bats. We switched off the lights and stood in complete darkness with shrieking bats all around us… It’s difficult to describe how it feels to explore a place like this; it’s something you really have to experience for yourself!

Glamping at its best

Probably the best moment of our stay in Khao Sok was waking up to the most spectacular sunrise at the Rainforest Camp . The jungle was wide awake and we could hear gibbons in the distance, but the lake was completely quiet. Like a mirror, reflecting the beautiful morning light and the stunning scenery around us.

Sitting there on the terrace of our tent watching the world quietly wake up – it’s as good as it gets!

We skipped the morning shower and jumped into the lake instead. I could definitely get used to mornings like this…

Kayaking and wildlife

After breakfast, we took kayaks once again and set to explore the lake and the jungle on our own. We didn’t see many animals that morning, but back at the camp, we saw a couple of monkeys playing on the lakeshore.

Just before we left, we also saw a couple of gibbons swinging from tree to tree just next to the Rainforest Camp. That’s how it often goes with wildlife – you find it when you least expect it…

I also regretted I didn’t take my zoom lens, so I only have this picture of a monkey, taken from our kayak, just next to the camp.

Saying bye to the Rainforest Camp and the Elephant Hills

The Jungle Lake Safari package we booked at Elephant Hills included just 2 nights/ 3 days and so the morning at the floating Rainforest Camp was also the last one of our stay… Despite the fact that we had to leave in the afternoon, everything was so well organized that the morning felt like a vacation day rather than ‘pack your bags and get out of here in time for the check-out’ experience.

As I said, we had a very relaxing morning, followed by a quiet breakfast and kayaking. Afterwards we still had plenty of time to go for another swim in the lake, take a shower, pack our bags, and have lunch.

After lunch, a long-tail boat came to pick us up and bring us back to land, where there was a minivan waiting to bring us to Phuket.

We spent just two nights at the Elephant Hills, but it felt like a real vacation in itself. These three days were the absolute best of our two-week stay in Southern Thailand. A unique place and an experience we will never forget.

Elephant Hills with kids

In case you wonder if Elephant Hills is the right place for a family holiday, I hope that our experience already convinced you that it definitely is. Your kids will absolutely love unique tented accommodations and all the fun activities here.

Elephant Hills is a very family-friendly place , but it’s also a place in the jungle with lots of outdoor activities, therefore they don’t allow kids under 4 years.

Please also note that children have to be at least 7 years old if you want to stay at the Rainforest Camp. A floating tents camp in the middle of the jungle is definitely not the best place to bring a young child. 

If you want to stay at Elephant Hills with younger kids, you can choose from two other tours that they offer, which don’t include a stay at the Rainforest Camp. Here you can find all the practical information about the available tours .

What to wear and what to pack for Khao Sok National Park

• We wore shorts, t-shirts, and trekking sandals all the time. It was perfect for pretty much all activities. 
• Water shoes or flip-flops are really handy for kayaking.
• UV t-shirts are nice to have for kayaking and swimming, especially for kids who stay in the water for a long time.
• You should always pack your swimwear, sun hat, sunglasses, and a rain poncho or a light rain jacket as well.
• For the jungle trek, it might be nice to have long pants (just remember that it’s HOT) and walking shoes. We hiked in shorts and sandals and it was just fine.
• Don’t forget sunscreen lotion and mosquito spray.

Practical information for visiting Elephant Hills in Khao Sok National Park

• It rains a lot in Khao Sok National Park – it’s a real rainforest. The park is at its wettest in the heart of the rainy season, between June and November… Probably the best season to visit is from January to April, but you can expect rain any time of the year. We had dry weather all three days, but apparently, it’s more an exception than the rule. 
• If you are traveling in high season, especially around New Year, you have to book your stay at the Elephant Hills months in advance.
• Please keep in mind that all the activities you do at the Elephant Hills happen in a small group of 15-20 guests and local guides. For the rest, there is nothing around you, just an endless rainforest.
• We expected to find many mosquitoes in Khao Sok NP, but were positively surprised that there were fewer mosquitoes here than on some of the islands we came from. Still, we used mosquito spray all the time.  
• There is no ATM at Elephant Hills and they don’t accept credit cards for on-site payments. So make sure you bring some cash for drinks and souvenirs. Food and all activities are included in your stay rate. Drinks and souvenirs are quite cheap, pretty much as in most mid-range hotels in Thailand.

Here is a beautiful video of the Elephant Hills resort in Khao Sok NP. Take a look – it will give you a good idea of what to expect.

TIP: Wondering how to plan a trip to Thailand, but are not sure where to start? Here you can find our 2-week Thailand island hopping itinerary . It covers all the must-see islands in Southern Thailand and, of course, the Elephant Hills. Take a look for tips and inspiration on how to plan your own dream trip to Southern Thailand!

Some travel inspiration & information for Bangkok:

• Bangkok in 1 Day
• Where to Stay in Bangkok
• Bangkok Canal Tour

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Paige Humphrey

Monday 14th of August 2023

I only have a day trip to see the Elephants but I want to make sure we book an ethical elephant experience, I found the experience below, please could you inform me whether this tour would be?

@Jurga, thank you! Riding Elephants has always been a big no for me, its not fair and not what they should be doing, in my opinion its no better than the logging industry! However, I know these tours offer a win win for the Elephants and tourists as we get to interact with them and they get the funds to be looked after, I just want to ensure I'm giving my money to a company that takes good care of their elephants and support the companies that care so they can rescue more! I hope this makes sense, it just makes me sad when animals are exploited/ uncared for and it's not something I wish to see ever, but especially on my honeymoon! Thank you for your advice :)

Hi Paige, it's always a bit of a difficult question what is ethical or not, and the definition of that is a thin line. It all comes down to animal welfare and how they are treated. This tour looks amazing and - among other things - you also get to interact with elephants. They say that you can bathe with them, feed them, etc. and it looks ok to me. Let's hope that the people running the place also treat them well, but that is something you'll never know 100% as a tourist. Also, bathing (with) elephants or even feeding them is something that could be interpreted in any way, depending on how often and how it's done... However, as I said in this article, elephants that you meet in these places have been 'domesticated' for decades after the whole industry that exploited them for heavy labor collapsed. They are much better off now than when they had to pull heavy longs, plus, they could never survive in the wild anymore. So offering experiences like this is usually the only way to be able to support them. So while everyone will have different opinions on what is ethical, I'd say read the tour description and the reviews carefully and decide for yourself whether you feel comfortable taking a specific tour. Just please don't do tours that offer riding on elephants. Have a great trip!

Sunday 19th of March 2023

I'm glad i came across this post as I started researching these tours. Did you go in December? I want to book for December but their website only goes to October 31 and their website is confusing; one part says they're open year round, 1 part says tours through Oct. Thank u for any insight!

Monday 20th of March 2023

Hi Su, yes, we visited in December - at New Year. And yes, as far as I know, they are open all year and the holiday season is the busiest time. The best way to find out when they start bookings and ask any questions you have is to simply send them an email and ask.

Friday 24th of February 2023

Wow! My gang and me are visiting Elephant Hills just for 24hrs in June, but your write up on it has really made me excited about our trip there. Thanks also for the tips on kit to wear etc...🙂👍

Sunday 26th of February 2023

Glad to help. Enjoy your trip, Rob!

koen de boeck

Saturday 31st of December 2022

Hello, after reading your rave review we will also go to Kao Sok in January 2024. We are a family of 5 with 3 kids, they will be 9-11-13 in 2024. I am still hesitating a bit to take your 3 day-trip or else the 4-day trip including the mangroves. any ideas on that?

Thursday 5th of January 2023

Hi Koen, the 4-day trip is a bit different not just because of the mangroves but because you don’t stay in the floating camp (just visit it for a day). For us, that part of the experience was the most memorable, and it was also the main reason we opted for the 3-day trip. Check all the itineraries on their website and pick the one that looks right for your family. You can’t go wrong either way! Our kids still talk about this place as one of the best travel experiences ever.

Friday 9th of April 2021

How early did you book? We will be there around January 10, 2022 and I am not sure how early I should book.. thanks!

Saturday 10th of April 2021

Hi Samantha, I had to dig deep in my emails to find this. :) We traveled at New Year and we booked this stay in May, so about 7-8 months in advance. I also see that the dates we initially asked were not available, so they offered us other alternatives and we rearranged the rest of our trip so that we could stay at KhaoSok (and I'm very glad we did). If you are certain about your travel dates, I'd book it soon. On the other hand, everything is different these days and January 10 is already past New Year which is the highest season, so it might be easier to secure a reservation even on shorter notice. But that also depends on how many tents you need. It will always be easier if you just need one rather than two, as we did. The biggest issue now is the uncertainty with covid, so if you do book, ask them about the cancelation policy, just in case. PS Just today, we were talking about our stay at Elephant Hills. It's such a special place, one of those experiences that you'll remember for many years!

Elephant Hills Thailand: From Floating Lodges To Ethical Elephant Encounters

Elephant Hills Thailand is an immersive outdoor experience that combines ethical elephant encounters, tented camps, and floating lodges.

Located two hours from the island of Phuket, Elephant Hills in Thailand is one of the highest-rated ethical elephant experiences in the country. Beyond that, this luxury tented jungle lodge experience combines the best of luxury tented glamping with magical floating lodges amongst the serene environment of Khao Sok National Park.

Our Elephant Hills Thailand adventure took place midway through our Thailand itinerary. We had flown down from Chiang Mai to Sarat Thani and made the hour-and-a-half trip to the Elephant Hills tented jungle camps on the edge of Khao Sok National Park by a transit van provided by the Elephant Hills resort.

We knew that we were in for something special, but we had no idea that the three days and two nights that we spent at this Thai nature camp would be among the most memorable of all of the places we visited in Thailand .

What Is Elephant Hills Thailand?

Elephant Hills is Thailand’s first luxury-tented jungle camp and ethical elephant sanctuary and rehabilitation center. The camp is situated within the bounds of Thailand’s vast Khao Sok National Park both in and near Cheow Lan Lake in southern Thailand.

This luxury Thai eco-resort is made up of two very unique camps. The Elephant Hills tented jungle camp, located in the jungles of Khao Sok National Park, and the Elephant Hills floating rainforest which sits on the waters of Cheow Lan Lake itself.

Both camps include accommodations in luxurious canvas tents with comfortable beds and all of the amenities that you would expect from a 4-star hotel room. Both our jungle stay and our floating lodge stay were among the most comfortable nights of sleep that we had in all of Thailand .

About Khao Sok National Park

Sprawling across a vast 459 square miles (739 square km), Khao Sok National Park is home to some of the world’s oldest rainforests. Dotted with magnificent limestone mountains and centered by the man-made Cheow Lan Lake, Khao Sok National Park is, quite simply, magnificent.

The lush landscapes of the park are pristine and cover a diverse range of biomes that include tropical rainforests, rolling hills, and limestone cliffs. Khao Sok has gained a reputation for having some of the most breathtaking scenery in Thailand thanks to the wide waters of Cheow Lan Lake dotted with towering mountaintops.

Khao Sok is home to some of the most incredible wildlife in Thailand including elephants, tigers, leopards, bears, and gibbons. It’s also known to birdwatchers thanks to the over 300 species of birds that call the park home, including the rare and beautiful Great Hornbill , of which we saw several.

While the landscape of Khao Sok National Park dates back thousands of years, and it has been inhabited by humans for almost 10,000 years, the scenery took a drastic turn in 1987 when the Thai government built the Ratchaprapha Dam, flooding much of the northern portion of the park and creating Cheow Lan Lake.

Khao Sok National Park is home to several jungle lodges and floating lodges that give visitors an opportunity to experience its majesty firsthand. Among these lodges are the famous Elephant Hills tent camp and floating lodge.

Elephant Hills Tented Jungle Tents

The Elephant Hills tented jungle tents are the main accommodations in the Elephant Hills eco-resort experience. Whether you’re visiting for several days, or just doing an overnight trip, this is where the entire Elephant Hills experience in Thailand starts.

From the moment that we arrived, it was clear that Elephant Hills Thailand thinks of everything. Everything from our transportation from Sarat Thani to the check-in, tours, and our transport out to Phuket was professionally organized, courteous, and handled without issue.

The main lodge on the edge of Khao Sok National Park is beautiful. The property features a community pool with jaw-dropping views of the nearby mountains, and large canvas tents setup up in a tree-top configuration where one tent is on a lower level while the other sits above it.

It’s a fabulous upscale glamping experience with stunning views, comfortable beds, a large bathroom with shower, toilet, and sink, and a wide deck to soak in the views of the mountains of Khao Sok NP.

Food at Elephant Hills

The food at the resort was delicious, but I do recommend getting to the meals early, as some of the more popular items had a tendency to run out towards the end of the meal.

The meals were almost always accompanied by a show. During our visit, local schoolchildren came to perform traditional Thai dances. It was a very similar setup to our time in the floating lodges in Kanchanaburi where we saw the Mons dance performances.

The meals are all served at the main lodge where you can find a shop, fresh water, and the list and schedules for all of the tours.

Elephant Hills Ethical Elephant Experience

The main lodge is where all of the Elephant Hills tours depart. Many visitors opt for the multi-day package that includes a visit to the floating lodges. While those who choose to stay for just one night typically spend their time at the Elephant Hills Thailand ethical elephant encounter.

The elephant experience was the highlight of our visit. We were bussed out to the Elephant Hills sanctuary, one of the most highly rated ethical elephant experiences in Thailand.

This soft adventure tour brought us up close to the elephants. We had the opportunity to watch them enjoy an extensive bath in the park’s large elephant mud pool. We even had the opportunity to prepare special meals for the elephants and feed them.

These massive animals require over 440 lbs (200 kg) of food each and every day, so keeping and rehabilitating the elephants is a lot of work. There are no elephant rides or bathing with the elephants offered at Elephant Hills. These practices are not safe for the animals and if a tour operator offers those services, you would be best served looking for somewhere else to have your elephant encounter.

My favorite experience was feeding the oldest elephant at the sanctuary. This 87-year-old cow is blind and has no more teeth, but the other elephants at Elephant Hills help to guide her towards the feeding areas and ensure that she doesn’t get lost in the free-roaming enclosure.

Elephant Hills River Float

The elephant experience at Elephant Hills is paired with a river float where guided canoes float down a scenic river past farms, jungles, mountains, and massive trees filled with monkeys. We kept our eyes open for snakes, birds, and many other beautiful Khao Sok wildlife.

The river float lasted about an hour and was a peaceful and beautiful experience that helped wash away all of the stress of the long days of travel over the past week.

Elephant Hills Rainforest Floating Camp

Deep in the bays of Cheow Lan Lake floats the second of the Elephant Hills accommodations, the beautiful Elephant Hills Rainforest Floating Camp.

We were transported to Chow Lan Lake on the morning of our second day at Elephant Hills. The hour-and-a-half drive went by in a breeze and included a stop at the massive Ratchaprapha Dam, the ambitious hydro-electric project that flooded the landscape of Khao Sok National Park creating the Cheow Lan Lake.

There are twenty tents at the Elephant Hills Rainforest Floating Camp. While children are welcome, it’s worth noting that the tents are each only designed for two people. The boys stayed in one tent while Christina and I enjoyed some privacy at the tent next door.

Each of the Elephant Hills floating glamping tents had some solar-powered electricity during the daytime. There were full bathrooms that included sinks, flush toilets, and a large shower as well. The rooms were large and comfortable with plenty of places to keep your gear.

The first part of our visit was a ride through the narrow channels and waterways between the mountaintops. It was truly impressive to see just how much water was being stored in the reservoir to leave just the tips of these huge rockfaces jutting from the water’s surface.

When Chow Lan Lake was created, it left thousands of animals that were unable to swim completely stranded on these new islands. As a result, the Thai government was forced to launch the “Gibbon rescue” where countless monkeys and other animals were moved off of islands that could not support them and brought to the mainland. Unfortunately, the rescue was not particularly successful, and many animals ended up perishing as a result of the dam’s construction.

When we arrived at the Elephant Hills Rainforest Floating Camp, we knew that we were in for a treat. Unlike our floating lodge in Kanchanaburi, the Elephant Hills lodge was not resting on a shallow riverbed, it was truly floating out away from the shore, with no nearby village to support it.

Activities At Elephant Hills Rainforest Floating Lodge

Khao sok mountain hike.

The first item on our agenda was a mountain hike to a hilltop cave. It involved a short journey by longtail boat followed by an hour-long hike on a mountain trail. The hike was challenging due to the steep angles that we were walking, but the most notable part was just how much the high humidity of southern Thailand had us sweating. By the end, I could have rung out my shirt and filled a bucket.

The cave at the top of the mountain was awesome. We love visiting caves with our kids, and this remote spot was exactly what we love, a natural cave full of bats and cool rock formations. It wasn’t a difficult cave to explore, but it wasn’t so easy that going through it was boring either.

Upon our return to the floating lodge, we all immediately jumped into the water to enjoy the cool waters and clean off all of that sweat. We all took a swim while the sunset washed over the nearby mountains.

All swimmers at Elephant Hills Thailand have to wear life jackets that are provided by the resort. Personally, I’m not a big fan of swimming in life jackets, but I understand that this is sometimes required due to insurance reasons. Luckily, I can easily flip a life jacket over and use it as a pair of shorts, which means the jacket still keeps me afloat without getting in the way!

The next morning we woke up casually and enjoyed some more swimming before preparing for the last adventure of our Elephant Hills Thailand visit. We would spend three hours kayaking through Khao Sok National Park.

As we wound our way among the mountains we were greeted by monkeys, watched water buffalo stroll along the water’s edge, and experienced the peaceful surroundings of what is one of Thailand’s most beautiful parks.

Visiting Elephant Hills Thailand With Kids

My boys, who were 9 and 11 at the time, absolutely loved every second of their time at Elephant Hills Thailand experience. I wouldn’t say that it is the most family-friendly lodge in Thailand, most notably due to the lack of family rooms in the floating lodges, but if you don’t mind separating parents or housing kids in a separate room, it’s fantastic.

Our Elephant Hills Thailand Video

If you’d like to dive deeper into our experience at Elephant Hills in Thailand, check out our YouTube video covering our entire three-day itinerary from Chiang Mai to the Elephant Hills jungle lodge and the Elephant Hills floating camp in Khao Sok National Park.

Don’t forget to hit those like and subscribe buttons!

How To Explore Khao Sok National Park For Yourself

Elephant Hills books up quickly. But if you’re not able to book with the resort itself, that doesn’t mean that you can’t experience the wonder of Khao Sok National Park for yourself.

There are some absolutely amazing day and multi-day tours of the park, and Elephant Hills is not the only floating lodge on Cheow Lan Lake. You can also find similar experiences at 500 Rai Floating Resort .

There are day tours of the park as well including this full-day Cheow Lan Lake tour that includes a longtail boat ride, a jungle hike, and a visit to one of the floating lodges. For something even more relaxing, you can join this full-day bamboo rafting experience through Khao Sok NP.

There are few opportunities in Thailand where you can completely escape the hustle and bustle of the cities and breathe pure, fresh air with no noise or light pollution to bother you. Elephant Hills and Khao Sok National Park are pure bliss.

If you love family travel as much as we do, please join our  Family Travel Support Group on Facebook . You can connect with more family travelers just like you who love to explore the world.

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JUNGLE LAKE SAFARI – 3 Days & 2 Nights

Jungle lake safari – 3 days & 2 nights – a honeymoon favourite.

Tour code: EH-JLS3 (Daily departure all year)

Important note: New luggage guidelines for lake overnight stay. Please click here for more detailed information!

Day 1: An awe-inspiring Elephant Experience.

• Collection from your hotel or airport and journey to Elephant Hills in Khao Sok National Park.
• Immerse yourself in our award-winning Elephant Experience. Feed and interact with Asian elephants in their natural environment. A day you’ll never forget in an unspoiled oasis.
• Explore the Sok River by guided canoe safari. Sit back, relax, and enjoy.
• An authentic Thai dinner and choice of movie presentation, cooking demonstration or dance performance.

Day 2: The beautiful Cheow Larn Lake.

• Glide along Cheow Larn Lake on a traditional longtail boat.
• Enjoy lunch and optional canoeing at award-winning, Rainforest Camp.
• Intrepid afternoon trekking through the Khao Sok rainforest.
• Wind down with dinner and evening activities at the overwater Rainforest Camp.

Day 3: Nature at its finest.

• Opportunity to see more wildlife on a guided canoe safari.
• Swimming and lunch at Rainforest Camp.
• Goodbyes to new friends before your onward transfer.

  Please note: All of our activities are weather dependent and rely on local conditions. As such, they may be subject to change.

Full Itinerary

Settle in for the trip of a lifetime. One of our friendly drivers will collect you from your hotel or airport in Phuket, Krabi, Khao Lak, Surat Thani, Phang Nga or Koh Samui, before whisking you away to Khao Sok National Park. Marvel at the beauty that Southern Thailand has to offer as you travel across the countryside to Elephant Hills.

Make yourself at home. You’ll be welcomed to The Elephant Camp by your guides, where buffet lunch awaits you. Sample a variety of authentic Thai food, cooked freshly on site by our wonderful team of cooks. Take note of any favourite dishes as you’ll have the opportunity to learn some culinary secrets later this evening. Find your bearings around camp and explore your luxury canvas tent before getting ready for adventure.

Travel through time by canoe. Ready to see more of the stunning rainforest? There’s no better way than by boat. Take a seat in one of our canoes and look for tropical wildlife while a local river guide paddles you down the Sok River. You’ll be venturing into areas of primary rainforest, some of which has changed very little over thousands of years and is thought to be the oldest in existence.

An Elephant Experience like no other. From your canoe on the river, you’ll head to the chain-free elephant park where you’ll learn more about Thai elephants and our Elephant Conservation Project, before heading into the park to meet the pachyderms up close. Here, you’ll not only get to see one of these gentle giants but have the opportunity to touch and feed them in a respectful, ethical setting.

The elephants here live in a natural environment and are not forced to entertain or perform. Instead, you’ll prepare and feed them their lunch, then observe them playing with each other and splashing in their elephant pool. This once-in-a-lifetime experience is sure to leave you spellbound.

Time to relax. After an action-packed day of exciting activities, retire to your luxurious safari tent at Elephant Camp for a well-earned hot shower. Optional entertainment this evening includes a dance performance by children at the local school, a movie screening, or a chance to improve your kitchen skills with a Thai cooking demonstration.

Alternatively, put your feet up and relax on your private porch, soaking in the vista of the tropical rainforest and mountainous jungle. The Jungle Explorer’s Club Bar will be open for business this evening, so if you want to add a cocktail into the mix, you’ll be in good hands.

Prepare for tomorrow’s adventures. At 8:00 pm you’ll enjoy dinner, set in the idyllic jungle-side location of the camp. The atmosphere is incomparable to anything you have experienced before. With that fantastic end to your evening, you’ll be ready to retire to your safari tent, where a deep, linen-bedecked bed awaits you.

Luxury in the rainforest. Your room comes with all of the comforts you’d expect from a hotel, including hot water, a private en-suite with a Western toilet, reading lights, and tea/coffee making facilities. All tent openings are equipped with mosquito nettings in addition to canvas flaps, so you can rest easy knowing you won’t have any insects joining you overnight; snuggled under layers of warm blankets, you can truly experience the best of wild tropical rainforest and luxury accommodation, combined.

A new day dawns. Forget the intrusive alarm clock, this morning you’ll be gently woken by birdsong and the sounds of the rainforest awakening. Pour yourself a tea or coffee to enjoy on your verandah before having breakfast at your leisure.

Cheow Larn Lake: the adventure awaits. Today you will venture out by long-tail boat to explore everything that Cheow Larn Lake has to offer. Traverse the turquoise waters and marvel at the towering, rainforest-covered mountains that line its shores. This lake is the life source for much of the native wildlife, so keep a close eye out in case of a chance spotting of an Asian ox, wild elephant or clouded leopard.

If you cast your gaze into the canopy above, you’ll be treated to a bird-watchers paradise; with a huge array of tropicals birds and monkeys that call this area home, you will marvel as the treetops come alive before your very eyes.

Paradise just got even better. After your morning spent gliding across emerald waters, it’s time to head to Rainforest Camp, Elephant Hills’ incredible floating village of luxury tented accommodation. With all of the creature comforts you experienced in Elephant Camp, Rainforest Camp also boasts panoramic views, private kayaks, and a lakeside verandah from which you can watch the world pass by. Here you’ll have a delicious buffet lunch of Thai dishes prepared fresh and in-house, before setting off for the next adventure.

Channel your inner explorer. After refuelling, it’s time to explore the jungle on foot, experiencing a part of our world practically untouched by time. While the trek isn’t strenuous, it can be steep and slippery at times, so please speak to your guide if you are feeling at all concerned. However, we can’t stress enough that this walk isn’t a test of stamina or endurance, instead, it’s a unique opportunity to observe the native ecology in one of our planet’s oldest areas of rainforest.

From giant hardwood trees to exotic orchids, palms, ferns and bamboo; to the thousands of species of wildlife that live here; a slow walk of discovery through the rainforest gives you a true insight into the natural world.

A well earned rest. As the sun starts to lower over the ancient limestone cliffs surrounding you, collapse into a deckchair on your lakeside patio to enjoy the sunset, or freshen up with one last swim, straight off your deck, before you prepare for dinner and bed. Another delicious, freshly made Thai meal of authentic local produce awaits you this evening, so enjoy the feast before retiring under the canopy of stars – photos don’t do it justice.

Day 3: Nature at its finest. An untouched paradise.

Make the most of each moment. With your time at Elephant Hills coming to an end, today is your final day to create memories of this tropical paradise to take away with you. Start your day listening to the gibbons as they call to each other in the forest canopy, then sit on your lakeside balcony with a warming tea or coffee as you watch the sunrise, clearing the settled mist from the water.

What will the day bring? How about a refreshing dip in the lake? Or exploring the lake by kayak with your loved one? Perhaps you simply want to sit and soak it all in one last time. Whatever you choose, enjoy every second.

Binoculars at the ready. After fuelling your body and soul for the day, join your guide on a canoe safari into the hidden channels of Cheow Larn Lake. Keep your eyes open as you may spot an exotic hornbill bird in the treetops, or even a leopard stalking through the trees. We can’t guarantee what animals will make an appearance on the day, but there’s certainly no shortage of wildlife in Khao Sok National Park.

Rest and reflect. With the end of your tour fast approaching, there is time for one last meal with the group, served at your home-from-home, the floating Rainforest Camp. Share food, photos, stories, laughter and contact details with your fellow travellers, before returning to the pier to be transported to your next destination.

Your holiday with Elephant Hills may be over, but the memories of your magical time spent at the Rainforest Camp will last a lifetime.

Important information

All guests undertaking a tour and staying at Elephant Hills must have personal travel insurance for the duration of their stay at Elephant Hills.

Elephant Hills tours are not recommended for children under the age of 7. Elephant Hills does not accept responsibility for children under the age of 7, pregnant women, people of ill health or anyone who is suffering from any congenital disease, sickness or injury unknown to Elephant Hills prior to arrival.

Booking Conditions

Tour Packages

All Elephant Hills tour packages are fully inclusive of accommodation, full board, activities as per chosen itinerary, a fully trained, TAT-licensed English speaking Thai tour guide as well as joint transfers to and from Elephant Hills as per our transfer options .

Not included are soft drinks and alcoholic beverages, tips and gratuities as well as personal acquisitions from our souvenir shop or the local markets.

Itineraries:

All activities as stated in our itineraries are subject to change in the order they are undertaken, depending on the local conditions on the day. Please note all activities are subject to change due to local circumstances.

100% pre-payment is necessary in order to confirm the tour. Payments are most easily made by credit card. In case of a cancelation, cancelation fees may apply as follows:

Cancelation up to 30 days before tour departure: 10% of total package price; 30-15 days before: 50% of total package price; less than 15 days before or no-show will result in a 100% cancelation charge.

What to bring:

Please bring non-slip shoes like sturdy sandals or trainers, loose comfortable clothes, sun protection and a rain coat (disposable raincoats are available to buy at our camp), swim wear for use at the pool or in the river and personal toiletries. Please also remember to bring your passport for the check in process.

It is possible to bring your entire luggage to Elephant Hills for your tour if you are changing hotels when your tour program is finished; there is plenty of room in our tents. However, if you are returning to the same hotel, it may be advisable to just bring a small overnight bag for the duration of your stay and leave your main luggage at the hotel.

Please note:

All guests undertaking a tour and staying at Elephant Hills MUST have personal travel insurance covering them for the duration of their stay at Elephant Hills.

Children’s ages: 7 -15, for children under the age of 7 parental discretion is required if you wish to bring them on our tours.

Elephant Hills does not accept responsibility for children under the age of 7, pregnant women, people of ill health or anyone who is suffering from any congenital disease, sickness or injury unknown to Elephant Hills prior to arrival.

Sales prices are based on 2 people sharing a room. Single supplements may be applicable in the event of only one person booking. For a third person sharing a tent portable beds will be used, this is charged at the same rate as twin share prices.

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All Elephant Hills Rainforest Camp, tour packages are fully inclusive of accommodation, full board, activities as per chosen itinerary, a fully trained, TAT-licensed English speaking Thai tour guide as well as joint transfers to and from Elephant Hills as per our transfer options.

Kids between 7-15 years profit from our sensational kids’ discounts. Please understand that we cannot welcome children younger than 7 years of age.

RAINFOREST CAMP ELEPHANT HILLS CO.,LTD

170 Moo 7 Tambon Klong Sok, Panom District, Suratthani, 84250 Thailand Telephone: +66 5200 1186 / +66 5200 1196 Fax: +66 5200 1186 / +66 5200 1196 Ext. 14 Email : [email protected]

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From 34,000 THB per adult, all inclusive.

From 22,410 THB per adult, all inclusive.

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Elephant Safaris in Thailand

In the past, elephants in Thailand were used primarily for logging – and while some elephants are still used in this way, even more have been turned into a tourist attraction. There are elephant safaris in several areas of Thailand, although most elephant treks are concentrated around Chiang Mai , Khao Sok National Park and on the island of Phuket . Each of these locations has something unique to see, so read about each destination before deciding where you want to take your elephant safari.

Elephant safaris can vary in length from short excursions of one day to trips of up to four days or more. Which you choose depends on both the location you’re in and the tour company you decide to go with. Many tour companies combine several activities into one four-day trip, including white-water rafting, jungle trekking, checking out local craft-making, visiting villages & holy sites… Oh, and of course that all-important elephant ride! Like the duration of these elephant treks, the cost will also vary. In most cases, the cost varies most widely due to the length of the trip, but in some cases you’ll see a really low price listed because things like transportation and lodging aren’t included, so you’ll need to be sure you’re reading the fine print about tour deals before you book. You can book a short excursion of a few hours to a day for well under $100 per person (some of which include multiple activities), or you can spend $300 or more for a multi-day trek. Most elephant safaris in Thailand are going to be much less expensive than you might think, which is one of the reasons they’re so popular – even with budget travelers.

Before you book any elephant trek, however, you should stop to consider the treatment of the animals themselves. There are some tour companies which are less reputable and which overwork and mistreat the elephants – and if you book your trip with them, you are inadvertently supporting that. In order to avoid supporting such mistreatment, be sure to book with a reputable company, many of which actually use some of their profits to help sick elephants. One of the companies that has been running elephant safaris for years and that is run ethically is Siam Safari. You can check out their website for more information on their tours.

Thai National Parks

Kui buri national park, private tour | kui buri elephant safari | half day.

Kui Buri National Park is known to be the best place in Thailand to spot elephants and relatively good chance to spot gaurs, and that sometimes in big herds. Gaurs are the biggest cattle species and the fourth biggest land-mammal species in the world. Other possible sightings during the tours include sambar deer, banteng and wild boar.

Due to strict regulations this half-day wildlife safari tour doesn't include any hiking activities apart from leaving the vehicle for short walks to viewing areas, we will only be allowed to do safari driving. During our tour we scan the forest edges on grassland areas known to be prime elephant habitat in hope to see mainly elephants and/or gaurs.

Tour itinerary

From 2:30 pm till 5:30 to 6 pm

Wildlife tours in Kui Buri National Park are strictly regulated and limited to certain hours. After a mandatory registration we will get assigned an open-air vehicle with driver and an assistant. The tour will begin by driving slowly into the reserve on the main dirt road north heading to the main grassland areas. While driving slowly, we will search for any wildlife including birds or any other smaller/bigger animals.

Our first stop will be a viewing area where we leave the vehicle in hope to spot wildlife, mainly elephants. We will later on continue to the next viewing area at the end of the road, best known for spotting gaurs, but also elephants and sometimes bantengs.

During the tour, your guide will give you information about the habitat, wildlife and history of the park.

The type of assigned vehicle is an open-air pick-up truck driven by locals. It is the Kui Buri National Park's policy to let locals do the driving, a policy that showed to be a success in reducing the poaching in the park.

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Copyright Thai National Parks

Where & When?

Kui Buri National Park lies about 1.5 hours driving distance from Hua Hin and nearly 4 hours from Bangkok. We can offer private transfers from Bangkok, Hua Hin or other destinations. The park is open all year round.

Tour details in short:

• Duration: half day
• Type: Private tour
• Price: 1,050 to 3,500 Baht per person
• Group size: 1 or more people
• Grade: Easy
• Transport: Safari vehicle
• Start: 2:30 pm
• End: 5-30 - 6 pm (depending on time for sunset)

What to bring:

• Rain clothing
• Insect repellent
• Sunblock lotion

Our half-day safaris are private tours. You'll be accompanied by an English speaking licensed guide and no other people will join you; the best way to explore Kui Buri Wildlife Watching area!

Tour rates include:

• Entrance fees
• English speaking guide
• Drinking water

Send enquiry

Reviews from our guests

Rated 4.79 /5 based on 103 customer reviews

By: You Leong Tan | posted Tue 11 Jun, 2024

5 / 5 stars

Very enjoyable. The guide is very knowledgeable and helpful.

By: Ute Schweizer | posted Sat 25 May, 2024

It was a Great experience for us to see all the different animals, especially the elefants and the gaurs. Our Guide was very interested and sympathic. All in all it was a very organised, interesting and funny Tour. Thank you

By: Julie COLEMAN | posted Fri 16 Feb, 2024

We loved our trip to the National park to see the elephants and we had a wonderful guide, Som who was very helpful and pointed out lots of things to us on our trip. So lucky to see a herd of wild elephants towards the end of the day. A magical day which we will always remember.

By: Karsten Andersen | posted Wed 7 Feb, 2024

A very interesting and exiting day, with a lot of views of elefants and gaurs. We were blessed with a very good guide (Som) and we had a very good day - all the time and money where spent in the right place. Thanks a lot.

By: annemarie mekenkamp | posted Sun 4 Feb, 2024

Very well organized. Friendly and helpful guide. Would recommend

By: Matthew Woolf | posted Sun 28 Jan, 2024

Brilliant tour that was well organised by TNP. Great wildlife watching (how many other places are you pretty much guaranteed to see wild Asian elephants with every visit), and loved having a local private guide who was able to tell me about the history of the park, how her local community has lived alongside elephants for decades, the wildlife the community lives alongside etc, and elephant behaviour. 10/10 brilliant day

By: Jeremy Pauli | posted Fri 26 Jan, 2024

We didn’t see many elephants and they were far away. Despite this, our guide Som was always trying to help find the best angle for me to take photos and was always in communication with others trying to find more animals. You could tell she loves being out there in the park and I would gladly take more tours with her

By: Nikki | posted Sun 21 Jan, 2024

We loved this tour - plus our guide (who spoke English)! A great experience if you're in the Hua Hin area.

By: Denise Wagener | posted Fri 12 Jan, 2024

Wonderful! Song was a fantastic tour guide!! And we were so lucky to see elefants, even a baby!!! Thank you for everything!!

By: Asher Teren | posted Wed 3 Jan, 2024

Our guide was fantastic. She was very friendly, interesting and knowledgeable. We saw lots of elephants and other fauna and flora.

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  Elephant Hills Jungle Safari  

This unforgettable three-day experience is a must-add to a Phuket, Khao Lak or Krabi holiday. Break up a relaxing beach escape with an adventure into the jungle to see more of Thailand’s diverse landscapes and meet its beautiful national animal, the Asian elephant.

You’ll have the privilege of spending time with these gentle giants at an award-winning elephant sanctuary tucked away in Khao Sok National Park. Plus, you’ll get to explore one of the world’s oldest rainforests and take a long-tail boat ride on otherworldly Cheow Larn Lake.

Recommended itinerary

Transfer to Khao Sok National Park in the Phang Nga province, passing through rural landscapes along the way. Arrive at Elephant Hills Camp, set in jungle-clad hills. After lunch, head out with a guide on a relaxing canoe ride down the Sok River. Drift past towering limestone mountains, lush jungle and ancient rainforest. Then it’s time to visit the sanctuary and meet the elephants. Learn about the conservation and responsible tourism efforts and have the rare opportunity to spend time up close with these magnificent creatures. Watch them bathe and help prepare their food while hearing about their overall wellbeing. After an adventurous day, enjoy a memorable dinner in the rainforest.

Elephant Experience at Elephant Hills Luxury Tented Camp Khao Sok National Park

Elephant Hills Khao Sok National Park

Wake to the sounds of the wild and tuck into breakfast. Today’s main activity is a trip to lesser-visited Cheow Larn Lake – a huge man-made lake with lush limestone peaks rising out of the water. Hop into a local long-tail boat to see this remarkable landscape up close – you can even swim in the warm waters. For lunch, you’ll stop at Rainforest Camp, where you’ll have some free time. Back at Elephant Hills Camp, swap stories while enjoying a delicious dinner.

Elephant Hills Rainforest Camp Cheow Larn Lake Khao Sok National Park

Khao Sok National Park

Enjoy a morning of activities and explore one of the world’s oldest rainforests on a leisurely jungle trek, where your guide will introduce you to tropical flora, and help you to spot a variety of wildlife. A buffet lunch will be waiting for you back at camp and there will be time to refresh before heading to the pier to travel on to Phuket (approx. 3½ hours by car), Khao Lak (approx. 2½ hours by car), Koh Samui (approx. 5½ hours by car and ferry) or Krabi (approx. 3 hours by car).

Blue Winged Pitta Bird, Elephant Hills Khao Sok National Park

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Elephant Hills Holidays

Surrounded by rainforest-clad mountains, Elephant Hills is one of the most unique places to stay in Thailand. Plus of course, you’ll get to meet its star residents! At FREEDOM we offer:

• Two to four day stays at Elephant Hills, with activities included
• A range of Thailand holidays combining Elephant Hills, city and beach
• Tailor made itineraries to Elephant Hills, Thailand and wider South East Asia

Read on to discover more about Elephant Hills, and then get in touch with our team of Asia Experts to plan your own jungle adventure!

Talk to one of our travel experts

Talk to our enthusiastic team of travel experts who are happy to offer their help and advice.

Call 0333 234 3112

Holidays to elephant hills.

Popular itineraries that can be booked as they are or tailored to suit your plans.

Thailand’s Elephants & Islands

Koh Samui | Khao Sok National Park | Khao Lak

Bangkok, Elephant Hills & Beach

Bangkok | Khao Sok National Park | Phuket

Thai Wildlife Adventure

Koh Samui | Khanom | Khao Sok | Krabi

Ask us to design an Elephant Hills holiday, just for you.

Elephant hills safaris.

One to three night stays at Elephant Hills to include in your Thailand itinerary.

Elephant Hills Jungle Safari

Khao Sok National Park

Elephant Hills Jungle & Lake Safari

Elephant Hills Nature Safari

Elephant Hills Bush Camp

Chiang Mai Region

View More…

Thailand Holidays

Private Tours

Rail Journeys

Hotels & Resorts

Free Planning Service

Our Asia Experts have all travelled throughout Thailand and would be delighted to a tailor made holiday for you, including your choice of Elephant Hills safari.

call us on 0333 234 3112 or

Holidays to elephant hills, khao sok.

Elephant Hills is an incredible addition to any Thailand holiday.

An African-style safari camp in the heart of Khao Sok National Park, you’ll wake up to look out on mist covered peaks of rainforest-clad, limestone mountains, before enjoying action-packed days including canoe trips, jungle trekking and of course the chance the meet Asian elephants, up-close.

At FREEDOM, we offer a choice of three Elephant Hills safari packages, as well as longer, multi centre Thailand holidays including a stay at the award-winning camp.

Ethical Elephant Experience

The Elephant Hills Elephant Encounter, included in all stays, is designed around the welfare of its star residents, many of which were rescued by the sanctuary after the use of elephants in the logging industry was outlawed.

You will get to prepare a nutritious, fruit-based meal for the graceful pachyderms, and feed it to them yourself. You can touch and have photos with the elephants, but not ride them, it is not what they were designed by nature for!

You will also get to see the elephants bath in their giant mud-pool and witness the special bond they share with their mahouts.

Visitor interaction with the elephants is purposefully limited to around two hours each morning, to encourage them to roam free for the rest of the day.

Staying at Elephant Hills

There are three different Elephant Hills packages, or safaris, to choose from, with activities, meals, accommodation and transfers included in each.

Jungle Safari – 2 days

A firm family favourite, the two day Elephant Hills Jungle Safari includes an overnight stay at the main Elephant Camp, as well as:

• Ethical elephant experience
• Canoe safari down the peaceful Sok River
• Evening activities, such as dance performances and cooking demonstrations
• Guided trek through Khao Sok’s ancient rainforest

The Jungle Safari is also available as a three day option.

Jungle Lake Safari – 3 days

The highly popular Jungle Lake Safari includes a night in both the Elephant Camp and the Rainforest Camp, all of the activities in the two day Jungle Safari, plus:

• Visit to Takhun local market
• Longtail boat ride to reach the Rainforest Camp
• Canoeing on Cheow Lan Lake

Rainforest Nature Safari – 4 days

The Rainforest Nature Safari includes three nights at Elephant Camp, all of the activities in the Jungle and Jungle Lake Safaris, in addition to:

• Self-paddle canoe tour through mangrove forests
• Lunch on a classical Burmese Junk
• Speedboat ride through the fabulous Takuapa fig tree channel

All three safaris are led by TAT-licensed, English speaking Thai tour guides.

Time is also built into the day to relax or enjoy the use of on-site facilities, such as the Elephant Camp swimming pool.

Lovingly curated by our team of South East Asia Experts, the following Thailand holidays include a stay at Elephant Hills:

• Thailand’s Elephants & Islands – a popular 11 day itinerary including time on the beach in Koh Samui and Khao Lak, either side of the Jungle Lake Safari
• Bangkok, Elephant Hills & Beach – explore the temples and night markets of the Thai capital before an Elephant Hills safari and 5 days in Phuket
• Thai Wildlife Adventure – spot pink dolphins in Khanom and enjoy an ethical elephant encounter in Khao Sok, then hit the beach in Krabi

You can book these itineraries as they are or alter them to suit you plans, for example adding extra nights at Elephant Hills or other destinations in Thailand or wider South East Asia .

Where is Elephant Hills?

Elephant Hills is located in Khao Sok National Park in the province of Surat Thani in southern Thailand.

The main Elephant Camp is surrounded by limestone mountains and evergreen rainforest, thought to be 160 million years old. All visitors spend at least their first night here.

The Rainforest Camp floats on the calm waters of Cheow Lan Lake, the northern shoreline of which borders the Khlong Saeng Wildlife Sanctuary.

How to get to Elephant Hills

Shared transfers from a choice of 11 locations in southern Thailand, including Surat Thani, Phuket, Khao Lak, Krabi and Koh Samui, are included in your Elephant Hills stay, with the option to arrive from one destination and depart to another.

If you would like to travel in a private vehicle, your FREEDOM Consultant can arrange transfers, and flights if needed, from any location in Thailand. They will carefully design this into your itinerary to make the most of your time abroad.

The nearest airports to Elephant Hills are at Surat Thani and Phuket, around a 2 hour and 3 hour drive respectively. The Bangkok to Surat Thani flight takes 1 hour 15 minutes, with several departures per day.

Elephant Hills 2024 & 2025

Whether you would just like to find out more about Elephant Hills or plan a multi centre holiday to Thailand , including a Jungle or Rainforest Safari, please get in touch.

Our South East Asia Experts have all travelled throughout the country and would be delighted to use their first hand experiences to help design your ideal Elephant Hills adventure.

Experience More of Asia

Include an Elephant Hills safari in a wider South East Asian adventure.

1-3 Week Holidays

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For a holiday designed for you, call 0333 234 3112 or enquire online.

14 Once-in-a-Lifetime Destinations In The World For Animal Lovers

Posted: June 28, 2024 | Last updated: June 28, 2024

Are you passionate about animals? Are you eager to see some of the rarest species in their natural habitat? Are you willing to travel thousands of miles just to spot your favorite mammal? Every country has some unique animal worth meeting, but some provide tourists with life-changing experiences every animal lover should try. If you’re planning a trip soon but don’t know where to go, this article is for you. Here are 14 once-in-a-lifetime wildlife encounters that will forever change how you look at nature.

Safari in Kenya & Tanzania

Safaris have become particularly popular in recent years. Adventurers flock to East Africa to pursue wildlife, particularly the ‘ Big 5 .’ The best countries for safari in East Africa include Kenya and Tanzania, known for their iconic landscapes, abundant wildlife, and opportunities to witness the Great Migration. Uganda, Rwanda, and Botswana also offer unique safari experiences featuring encounters with mountain gorillas. My personal favorite is Kruger National Park in South Africa.

Volunteer At An Elephant Sanctuary in Thailand

Elephant sanctuaries are all over the country, from Chiang Mai to Phuket, allowing visitors to spend a day in the life of these magnificent creatures. Tours should only offer volunteering activities such as feeding, bathing, or walking with elephants and prohibit riding, as this is abusive to the animals.

Cruise Down the Amazon River

Embark on a captivating cruise down the Amazon River, where the world’s largest rainforest unveils its wonders—from vibrant parrots soaring overhead to the elusive jaguars prowling through the lush undergrowth, offering an unforgettable glimpse into one of Earth’s most diverse ecosystems.

Meet the Komodo Dragons of Indonesia

Komodo National Park is home to nearly 6,000 of the world’s most giant lizards, offering an unforgettable experience in Indonesia. Unless provoked, they will probably enjoy a sunny nap on their native beaches, so it is best to admire them from afar.

Snorkel in the Great Barrier Reef

Australia is renowned for its biodiversity, especially off the coast! Travelers can interact with colorful marine life and striking coral on a snorkeling excursion like no other.

Spot Orangutans Swinging Around Borneo

Being their natural habitat, the rainforests of Sabah (Malaysian Borneo) are a prime location for Orangutan sightings. For an extra adorable activity, travelers can visit sanctuaries that specialize in helping orphaned babies prepare for jungle life.

Island Hop In The Galapagos

Women can walk in the footsteps of Darwin on this insanely biodiverse archipelago, discovering an array of birds, blue-footed boobies, sea lions, and giant tortoises. Swimming with whale sharks is possible on a visit to the Galapagos.

Whale Watch in The Azores

Several species of whales migrate through Azorean waters – it may even be possible to see a blue whale! In addition to the awe-inspiring possibility of encountering a blue whale, the Azorean waters host several other magnificent whale species, including humpback whales, sperm whales, and fin whales.

Explore the Costa Rican Rainforest

Women who love birdwatching will be amazed by avian life in Costa Rica’s vivid jungles. Walking through hiking trails makes seeing monkeys, sloths, and plenty of bright butterflies possible.

Wander Yellowstone National Park

Natural wonders such as volcanic springs and a broad range of animals make Yellowstone an ideal destination for connecting with nature! Visitors can also explore a variety of outdoor activities, including hiking, camping, and wildlife viewing.

Trek for Tigers in South Asia

With so few tigers left, encountering one in the wild is a treasure. Tours across India, Nepal, and Sri Lanka take travelers on a tiger trek while teaching the importance of their conservation.

Set Sail to Antarctica

Tours to Antarctica are great for women seeking a distinctive natural endeavor. Gigantic icebergs and glaciers form a wintry home for penguins, polar bears, and seals.

Gorilla Trekking in Uganda

Uganda is one of the best countries in the world if you want to meet some of our closest kin. Gorillas are herbivorous animals living in groups called troops. They are the largest living primate in the world and live from 35 to 40 years in the wild.

Lemurs In Madagascar

All animal lovers should head to Madagascar at least once to spot lemurs. These animals, only found on this African island, evolved independently from monkeys and apes and are incredibly social. While the larger species tend to be herbivorous, the smallest ones often eat fruits and insects.

Coming face-to-face with wildlife is one of the best ways to gain a greater appreciation of the planet and the many beautiful things it is home to. Even a single encounter can result in a radical yet positive change in perspective.

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