The Hidden Forest Elephant Reserve is a sanctuary established to rescue elephants that previously worked in logging and riding.

Where is the reserve located?

Located around 40 minutes from Patong Beach or 25 minutes from Karon Beach, you will find the elephant sanctuary nestled in the hills of southern Phuket.

You certainly feel like you’re out of the hustle and bustle of the busy markets and beaches, and completely surrounded by nature and these incredible creatures.

Why should you support this Sanctuary?

The Hidden Forest Elephant Reserve relies entirely on visitor fees and donations for funding. As of this post, they had rescued 4 elephants since opening in December 2023. They have since rescued an additional 5 elephants.

Female elephants are designed to form lifelong bonds and remain with their natal herds throughout their lives. Other female elephants, which are known as ‘aunts’, also help care for the young. Male elephants typically leave the herd between ages 9 and 18.

Unfortunately, elephants are being used in the tourism industry for riding and performing at shows. They have also been used to assist with logging in the mountains. At the sanctuary, we learned that elephants are isolated in these industries and mistreated to ensure they do what their trainers say. To put it bluntly, it is not uncommon to use a stick with a hook at the end, which is used to jab the elephant so it learns what it is to do.

You can see the permanent lighter marks on the elephants’ backs from where the wooden chair sat. It is hard to comprehend how these animals were forced to live.

Additionally, once a female elephant has her calf, the calf is usually removed quickly, preventing it from bonding with its mother. It is truly heartbreaking.

Hidden Forest Elephant Sanctuary rescues elephants that have been used in the industry, allowing them to spend the remainder of their lives in a calm, happy environment.

Please take a look at our short video showcasing the elephants and the beautiful reserve.

How much does it cost, and what do you get to do?

You can view current pricing on the Hidden Forest Elephant Reserve website.

We opted for the morning session, which included a buffet lunch at the end of the tour, overlooking the muddy pools where the elephants may enjoy a sneaky swim to cool off!

Upon arrival, you will watch a presentation and educational video about the sanctuary. This was incredibly eye-opening and where we learned just how these animals have been treated in their past.

The first stop is an opportunity to feed the elephants. There are plenty of bananas to go around. It was so lovely to get up close and personal with these magical animals.

From there, you wander up at leisure to these very cool Bamboo Huts and enjoy watching the elephants graze and do what they want to do. Everything is on their time, and they are not forced to do anything they don’t want to do. The kids are entertained with some colouring in (of elephants, of course!) while we relax and enjoy watching the elephants.

As mentioned above, we finished our session with a beautiful vegetarian Thai buffet lunch. What makes this so impressive is the view from the table! Being able to enjoy watching these giant animals swim and play in the muddy pools was incredible.

How to get there

We were travelling as a group of 8, so we opted to book a rideshare because it worked out to be better value. However, if you are travelling alone or in a small group, you may opt for the transfer-inclusive option.

Our driver offered to wait for us, which saved us from having to organise our return journey. However, if you do this, please ensure you have agreed on the return price before leaving.

Can you visit when it’s raining?

Absolutely! Our most recent trip was during the Monsoon season. Although we were fortunate with the weather, it was only drizzling when we arrived and then it cleared up. We were offered umbrellas, and we also brought our own rain jackets.

Good to know

Lockers – Lockers are available for storing valuable items.

Mosquito repellent – Make sure you pack some mosquito repellent – you will regret it if you don’t!

If you’re in the planning phase of your trip to Thailand, please try to keep this in mind when booking activities. We had our activities booked and paid for, including Phuket Fantasea, prior to booking and visiting this sanctuary. We continued to go to Phuket Fantasea, and I wish we had cancelled. Watching the elephants perform on stage under bright lights and loud noise, knowing how they are treated and trained… I struggled to sit through the show.

Planning a trip to Thailand?

If you want ideas for other amazing things to do in Thailand or where to stay, take a look at all our Thailand posts here.