Phuket Hidden Forest Elephant Reserve Tour with Lunch
Activity provider: Discova Thailand
Highlights
- On arrival, enjoy complimentary refreshments before an informative introduction video
- Free cancellation
- Instant confirmation
Discova Thailand’s Hidden Forest Elephant Reserve tour runs 3 hours 30 minutes from Phuket hotels in Patong, Chalong, Nai Harn, Kata and Karon, and centers on four elephants the operator states were rescued from the riding industry and now roam a hillside forest rather than following a fixed route. Guides describe the format as following the elephants rather than a set path. The day opens with an introduction video, moves into feeding, then a forest walk with stops at bamboo observation huts overlooking the valley toward Big Buddha, and closes with a vegetarian Thai buffet lunch beside a pond.
Bathing with the elephants and tipping are both excluded from the price, and the operator states the visit supports its elephant rescue and rehabilitation work, a claim from the tour listing rather than an independent welfare assessment. Medical restrictions are extensive: the operator advises against joining with spinal injuries, pregnancy, poor cardiovascular health, recent surgery, or serious knee or ankle problems, and the forest trails aren’t wheelchair accessible; babies need a carrier rather than a stroller. For a shorter, cheaper alternative without lunch at a different reserve, the Elephant Nature Walk tour runs 3 hours at Freedom Elephant Reserve Phuket.
- Duration: 3 hours 30 min
- Group size: max 30 people
- Operator: Discova Thailand
- Includes: vegetarian meal, transport, entrance fee, water, hotel pickup/drop-off, English-speaking guide
- Excludes: tipping, bathing with elephants
Watch out: The operator lists several medical exclusions: spinal injuries, pregnancy, poor cardiovascular health, recent surgery and severe knee or ankle problems are all flagged as unsuitable, and the forest trails aren’t wheelchair accessible.
Insider Tip: Hotel pickup only covers Patong, Chalong, Nai Harn, Kata and Karon. Guests staying elsewhere in Phuket should confirm transport before booking.
Itinerary
On arrival, enjoy complimentary refreshments before an informative introduction video. Guests then meet and feed the elephants before a scenic walk through the forest, observing and learning about their history, stories, and personalities. There is no set route: the elephants are free to roam and forage, and if the elephants stop, the group stops. Relax in the bamboo observation huts as the elephants graze, play in the mud or bathe nearby, with views of the forest and across the valley to Big Buddha. There are plenty of photo and video opportunities. The visit ends with a vegetarian Thai buffet at the bamboo salas overlooking the pond as the elephants bathe and graze nearby. Visits directly support the reserve's work to rescue and rehabilitate elephants. Its key focus is to educate and bring awareness to the plight of the Asian Elephant and to lead by example with a free-roaming approach to experiencing elephants.
Included
- meals
- transport
- entrance_fees
- water
- hotel_pickup
- guide
Not Included
- Tipping
- Bathing with elephants
- Refill Bottle water
Meeting point & area
View larger map →Good to know
Cancellation
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Before you go
• Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries • Not recommended for pregnant travelers • Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health • Suitable for all physical fitness levels • Not recommended for postoperative patients • Not suitable for those with severe knee and ankle • The forest trails are not wheelchair accessible • Baby strollers are not allowed; a baby carrier is required for infants
