Patong, Phuket Day 4: Phuket Elephant Sanctuary

Today we visited the Phuket Elephant Sanctuary. Last time we came to Phuket we went to what is referred to as an elephant retirement village in search of ethical animal tourism. Those places absolutely do rescue them and look after them and give them freedom…but there are also usually a lot of human interactions expected from the elephants. They aren’t hit or forced to do it but they also aren’t exactly free to roam. Which brings us to PES!

This rescue have a 600-metre-long and 6-meter-tall canopy walkway which is the only one of its kind in Phuket. It provides the elephants with maximum freedom to naturally roam, forage, bathe and socialize in the jungle below. Visitors observe them from above as well as from a safe and respectful distance whilst hiking through the 30-acre sanctuary as part of our guided tours. The elephants are free to move around wherever they like and there is no pressure for them to approach or interact with people in anyway.

We paid for the private half day tour which meant individual transport, private jungle walk and feeding for the elephants (if they felt like it) and then private vegetarian lunch. Well worth it for people like us who….don’t like other people haha.

After our walk and visits with the elephants, we went up into their canopy walk and watched them from above for awhile. Then it was lunch time! Such an amazing vegetarian feast….we were stuffed. Over lunch we were able to see the “not social” elephant in the background who has her own poolside villa. She has been at the sanctuary for 3 years but doesn’t like to leave the sleeping pen at all, she’s very scared. So they built her a big pen with her own pool.

After lunch we went back to the resort and I had some poolside reading during happy hour again.

For dinner we went up Bangla Road to the food markets there and then I finally got to go into Tiger Night club and drink! We also saw beach fireworks. Bangla Street Eats is very pushy – much more pushy than other markers we have been to for food – so I think this is a one time visit for this trip.