Best Ethical Elephant Sanctuary Phuket

Best Ethical Elephant Sanctuary

FREEDOM

ELEPHANT RESERVE

Freedom Elephant Reserve Phuket is an ethical elephant sanctuary whose dream is to provide retired working elephants with love and care, with limited human interaction on an observation-only basis.

Our ethical elephant sanctuary in Phuket prioritizes the well-being of our elephants by allowing them to be free-roaming and live as naturally as possible. We limit human interaction and avoid activities that exploit elephants for entertainment.

My daily needs

Water

100 to 200 liters of water

Food

74 to 200 kilograms

Love

A cup full per day

Freedom Elephant Reserve

Best Ethical Elephant Sanctuary Phuket

Freedom Elephant Reserve Phuket is located in Chalong, Phuket.

Our reserve is nestled in a valley with a river flowing down from the surrounding mountains, and features monuments and ancient walls that appear to be from a time long since lost.

Freedom Elephant Reserve’s dream is to provide retired working elephants with love and care, with limited human interaction on an observation-only basis, which is why we follow The Five Freedoms for Animals standards.

Our guests will be able to observe the natural behavior of our rescued elephants in an ethical manner, as they walk alongside the herd through the valley and grasslands of the reserve, taking in their naturally friendly and playful personalities, which make our elephants our world, and why we need to help save more of them.

Join us on our journey as we strive to become the best ethical elephant sanctuary in Phuket.

PLEASE, SELECT YOUR EXPERIENCE

and embark on a new journey of understanding ethical elephant conservation without the need for excessive interaction.

Together, we can be the change.

12% Off

The Feed Me Experience is for those who do not have much time but would...

CHALONG, PHUKET

~~฿900~~ ฿790

18% Off

The Ethereal Nature Walk allows guests to observe in a more prolonged experience. During this...

CHALONG, PHUKET

~~฿1700~~ ฿1400

18% Off

The Ethereal Nature Walk allows guests to observe in a more prolonged experience. During this...

CHALONG, PHUKET

~~฿1700~~ ฿1400

18% Off

elephant in tall grass

The Ethereal Nature Walk allows guests to observe in a more prolonged experience. During this...

CHALONG, PHUKET

~~฿1700~~ ฿1400

16% Off

The Ethereal Nature Walk allows guests to observe in a more prolonged experience. During this...

CHALONG, PHUKET

~~฿1900~~ ฿1600

16% Off

The Ethereal Nature Walk allows guests to observe in a more prolonged experience. During this...

CHALONG, PHUKET

~~฿1900~~ ฿1600

16% Off

The Ethereal Nature Walk allows guests to observe in a more prolonged experience. During this...

CHALONG, PHUKET

~~฿1900~~ ฿1600

CERTIFIED, BY ASIAN CAPTIVE ELEPHANT STANDARDS

At Freedom Elephant Reserve, we are proud to provide the highest standards of elephant welfare, supported by compassionate care, experienced staff, enriching natural habitats, and a strong commitment to our local community.

Every visit helps support a future where elephants are respected, protected, and free to thrive.

VISIT OUR BLISSFULLY BEAUTIFUL ETHICAL ELEPHANT SANCTUARY IN THE STUNNING SOUTH OF PHUKET

15 minutes from the Big Buddha Hill
20 minutes from Rawai
25 minutes from Phuket Town
25 minutes from Karon and Kata
40 minutes from Patong

HOW YOU CAN HELP!

SPONSOR AN ELEPHANT

The average elephant consumes between 150 – 180kg of food daily, which is a huge amount of food! By sponsoring our herd, you will be directly helping us to buy pineapple grass and long grass. Fruits, like bananas, pineapple, watermelon, and sugar cane, as well as pellets packed full of vitamins and minerals, which will keep the herd’s digestive system happy, healthy, and strong.

With your support, we will be able to focus our funds on helping to save more elephants like Saul Nui from hardship and pain, and together, we will be the change.

ELEPHANT PROVISIONS

Elephants are keystone species. Therefore, we simply must do everything in our power to ensure the survival of this unique species.

We need funding to help procure our herd’s daily food intake, medical supplies for when they’re sick, and help to find elephants in need and bring them to the best ethical elephant sanctuary in Phuket..

ELEPHANT SUPPORT

Elephants are keystone species. Therefore, we simply must do everything in our power to ensure the survival of this unique species.

We need funding to help procure our herd’s daily food intake, medical supplies for when they’re sick, and help to find elephants in need and bring them to our reserve.

01

ELEPHANT CARE PACKAGE

Bunch of bananas

02

ELEPHANT CARE PACKAGE

Watermelons for every elephant

03

ELEPHANT CARE PACKAGE

Truck loaded with pineapple grass

AN AUTHENTIC ETHICALLY RUN ELEPHANT SANCTUARY

Our awe-inspiring ethical elephant sanctuary is nestled in the foothills of Chalong, Phuket, and it’s where our herd calls home, which are all rescued from riding camps and the tourism industry.

Thanks to our patrons and the support we receive from those we have often never met, our herd is now able to wander and ramble through the grasslands and the river that flows through our ethical elephant sanctuary.

NO RIDING NO BATHING

Our approach is shaped by our commitment to advancing elephant welfare and supporting a future where elephants can thrive in environments that respect their natural behaviours and individual needs. Rather than comparing our practices to others, we focus on demonstrating that meaningful and enriching elephant experiences can be created by placing welfare, respect, and long-term wellbeing at the centre of every interaction.

WHY IT'S UNETHICAL

Stress and anxiety

Elephants can develop behavioral and psychological problems like stress and anxiety from bathing, showering, and riding.

Unhygienic

Bathing elephants can be unhygienic and harmful to both the elephant and the tourist due to a build-up of bacteria in the pools.

Safety risks

Bathing elephants can be dangerous for tourists and mahouts.

The Five Freedoms of Animals standards

The Five Freedoms are a set of internationally recognized standards that describe the minimum conditions animals should experience when under human care. The freedoms are:

Freedom from hunger and thirst: Animals should have access to fresh water and a diet that keeps them healthy.

Freedom from discomfort: Animals should have a comfortable resting area and shelter.

Freedom from pain, injury, and disease: Animals should be treated quickly if they are injured or become ill.

Freedom to express normal behavior: Animals should have enough space, facilities, and the company of their own kind.

Freedom from fear and distress: Animals should be treated in ways that avoid mental suffering.

The Five Freedoms were developed in 1965 by the Farm Animal Welfare Council of the UK. They are used as a guideline by many governments, industries, and NGOs to develop animal welfare standards.

The Five Freedoms of Animals standards

The Five Freedoms are a set of internationally recognized standards that describe the minimum conditions animals should experience when under human care. The freedoms are:

Freedom from hunger and thirst: Animals should have access to fresh water and a diet that keeps them healthy.
Freedom from discomfort: Animals should have a comfortable resting area and shelter.
Freedom from pain, injury, and disease: Animals should be treated quickly if they are injured or become ill.
Freedom to express normal behavior: Animals should have enough space, facilities, and the company of their own kind.
Freedom from fear and distress: Animals should be treated in ways that avoid mental suffering.

The Five Freedoms were developed in 1965 by the Farm Animal Welfare Council of the UK. They are used as a guideline by many governments, industries, and NGOs to develop animal welfare standards.

The Five Freedoms of Animals standards

The Five Freedoms are a set of internationally recognized standards that describe the minimum conditions animals should experience when under human care. The freedoms are:

Freedom from hunger and thirst: Animals should have access to fresh water and a diet that keeps them healthy.
Freedom from discomfort: Animals should have a comfortable resting area and shelter.
Freedom from pain, injury, and disease: Animals should be treated quickly if they are injured or become ill.
Freedom to express normal behavior: Animals should have enough space, facilities, and the company of their own kind.
Freedom from fear and distress: Animals should be treated in ways that avoid mental suffering.

The Five Freedoms were developed in 1965 by the Farm Animal Welfare Council of the UK. They are used as a guideline by many governments, industries, and NGOs to develop animal welfare standards.

OUR BEAUTIFUL HERD

Som Jai

Som Jai (Content heart) was born in the south of Thailand and spent her childhood, teenage, and early adult years going from logging camp to logging until she was used for riding at a riding camp in Phuket.

HER STORY

Nammom

Nammon is still a young elephant and never knew the hardship of working in the logging camps unlike Dok Mai and Som Jai. She started her working life working for a well-known hotel. Where she would greet guests by bowing to them, raising her truck, and shaking her head in a fashion that would be perceived as dancing at the reception of the hotel.

HER STORY

Dok Mai

Dok Mai likes to live life in the slow lane, never rushing to guests, even if they have a handful of bananas, and is happy to take her time wherever she goes, and can often be found putting her trunk in her in Nammom’s mouth.

HER STORY

Som Jai

Som Jai (Content heart) was born in the south of Thailand and spent her childhood, teenage, and early adult years going from logging camp to logging until she was used for riding at a riding camp in Phuket.

HER STORY

Nammom

Nammon is still a young elephant and never knew the hardship of working in the logging camps unlike Dok Mai and Som Jai. She started her working life working for a well-known hotel. Where she would greet guests by bowing to them, raising her truck, and shaking her head in a fashion that would be perceived as dancing at the reception of the hotel.

HER STORY

Saul Nui

Saul Nui likes to live life in the slow lane, never rushing to guests, even if they have a handful of bananas, and is happy to take her time wherever she goes, and can often be found putting her trunk in her in Nammom’s mouth.

HER STORY

Nadia

No one really knows when or why the mahout trusted with her care started to abuse her, and for how long it went unnoticed, until Nadia's owner saw her in this shocking state and immediately took action to save Nadia, and asked Freedom Elephant Reserve if we had the resources to nurse her back to health.

HER STORY

OUR MATRIARCHS

      EXCELLENT  
   Based on 1955 reviews 
    
 
 
 
   
 
 
       Posted on Google  
   
   Chiara Bellodi 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Beautiful experience we had the guides just for our group and highly recommend the 1.5h walk in the nature where you see the elephants in their environment. Jonny Walker and the whole team were very knowledgable and kind made us feel safe!
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   David Still 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Un moment très agréable en famille merci pour l'accueil sur place 🙏🙏
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Georgia Farquharson 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. amazing experience with the elephants! the staff were so friendly, highly recommended!!!
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Ben Jacques-Parr 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. It was amazing. The elephants are very happy and well looked after. We learnt loads about elephants, the guides were very kind and helpful. We will definitely come again if we are in Phuket.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Kristina DC 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We had a fantastic experience at Freedom Elephant Reserve!

The elephants - Nam mon, Dok mei and Som jai - were beautiful. They are all rescues from elephant industries and are currently living a life of well-deserved luxury. You can tell the handlers and guides care for them deeply. We were only allowed to touch the elephants if they wanted to. They were free to walk away from us anytime they wished.

The guides were friendly and engaging. They also spoke English which was much appreciated.

I recommend this place to people who want to support ethical animal tourism.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Porparn Wiu 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. The elephants have plenty of freedom to roam around here, and they look so happy. I especially love watching them play in the water.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Larissa Mannhöfer 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Great ethical elephant sanctuary. Fantastic tour and the elephants are treated very very well.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Liam Wells 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Unreal experience with lovely elephants
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Callun Purchase 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Awesome experience, super informative and you can tell elephants are really well looked after.

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FREEDOM ELEPHANT RESERVE

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freedomelephantreservephuket@gmail.com

Subdistrict, 14, Subdistrict 2, soi supa temple, Chalong, Mueang Phuket District, Phuket 83130

Thai - 095-616-2887

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888/8 Moo 6 Chalong district Ampher Mueng, Phuket 83000

freedomelephantreservephuket@gmail.com

Thai - 095-616-2887

WhatsApp

LINE

Terms and Conditions

Privacy Policy

About Us

Contact US