Nestled in the heart of Thailand, the Hidden Forest Elephant Reserve provides a sanctuary for elephants, focusing on conservation and ethical experiences. Visitors can engage with these majestic creatures as they roam in their natural habitat, ensuring a meaningful connection while supporting wildlife protection efforts.
Located at 38/1 Village No.5 in Thailand, the Hidden Forest Elephant Reserve serves as a sanctuary dedicated to the care and conservation of elephants. This unique destination highlights the importance of wildlife protection, fostering a deep appreciation for these magnificent animals. Guests can immerse themselves in the serene surroundings of the forest, witnessing the elegance of the elephants in their natural habitat. Educational programs and interactive experiences allow visitors to learn about elephant behavior and the conservation efforts necessary for their survival. The reserve embodies a commitment to ethical tourism, encouraging practices that promote animal welfare and environmental sustainability. With its stunning landscape and tranquil atmosphere, the Hidden Forest Elephant Reserve provides an unforgettable experience that nurtures a profound connection between visitors and these gentle giants while emphasizing the importance of preserving their natural home.
Hidden Forest Elephant Reserve (ฉลอง, ไทย) - รีวิว - ThailandAgoda.com
Attractions
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0.32 miles
0.76 miles
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Hidden Forest Elephant Reserve is perched on a picturesque hilltop overlooking 38/1 Village No.5, 83130, Thailand
From start to finish we were blown away buy the care and attention given to these beautiful elephants. So nice to see them roaming free and left to their own devices. We had a fantastic morning with them and will definitely be coming back later this year
So impressed with this sanctuary. No riding, bathing, touching yet you still feel like you’ve had an intimate experience walking close to the elephants. The owners get a 10/10 for their passion and love for these gentle giants. They were informative and told us stories of all their 8 elephants (7 were on site as 1 of them is getting treatment in Krabi for its legs as she was so weak). It’s so sad to hear the what the elephants had to endure before being rescued and you can see their scars (logging, riding, being stripped from their babies, getting stabbed to make them perform tricks) so places like this make the world of difference. They also play a brilliant video at the start of the tour. I really enjoyed feeding them lots of banana and watching them bathe in the mud while eating lunch (it’s important to note that they weren’t touched by a human once – if they didn’t want to go in the mud then they didn’t and on our visit 2 didn’t and the rest did but we’re not forced). They also had no signs of rope/ chains etc and paid close attention to the needs of each individual elephant. Just blow alway with the work they do here. Perfect experience. Don’t even consider a tour on get your guide. Go here and book via their website. ???
This place is amazing in what they do for these poor elephants. A genuine and compassionate place. A must if visiting Phuket. Good to see the elephants being able to live the life they should and not be used for entertainment.
We booked this in advance of our trip based upon the ethical principles of the sanctuary and the pick up / drop off from the hotel facility. We were From the intial talk before you set off to see the elephants you can see how much “the girls” are loved by their handlers known as mahouts and the lovely guides who talk you through their daily routines. The park is literally in a forest / jungle, so wear your bug spray. We didn’t realise a Thai buffet was provided, so that was a lovely surprise. To be able to be so close to the amazing elephants was absolutely amazing, however at the same time, respecting their space. It is literally their park, and we were just following them. Fabulous experience. The only thing that spoiled our day was 2 guys that had taken a taxi from Patong to the sanctuary decided to negotiate a cheaper way to return to Patong, paying the shuttle driver for a return to their hotel. So instead of a 1 hour trip to our hotel it took over 2 hours because he dropped them off before us. The guides from the Hidden Forest organised this with the driver and the 2 guys, so that’s why I’ve not given 5 stars.
Absolutely unbelievable experience here. Owned by an English couple whose passion and unconditional love for the elephants is so clear to see. They are just doing everything right and putting elephant welfare at the forefront of everything they do. No riding, no bathing, no touching. And it totally still felt intimate and beautiful to spend time with the elephants. We fed them bananas, watched them from several observation areas (some closer than others and none felt intrusive for the elephants), were shown a video about why elephant tourism needs to be ethical, learned about each elephants past and observed them around their amazing grounds. They have around 30 acres of land to roam around between 8 elephants and it just felt like they could do whatever they wanted and weren’t forced to do anything (even their mahouts didn’t seem to touch them once). AThere were several water stations throughout which was great (plastic free so bring a bottle). Lunch was absolutely insane, watching them play in the water and mud and seeing their characters come out was amazing (2 of them didn’t seem to want to get in the water and were just left to wander off up the hill and around the surrounding areas, which was amazing – just felt natural and left feeling so happy and like we’d made the right choice). The group was intimate and it was amazing to have little side conversations with the owners Russel and Louise, hearing their background and why they’re so passionate about what they do – amazing people and an amazing place to spend some time. YOU HAVE TO GO HERE!! ????????
Louise and her team made us feel very welcome at the reserve. The passion and commitment the whole team has for rescuing and caring for the elephants is fantastic. The half day tour explains the history of elephants in Thailand, the cruel treatments they have been subjected to, how the reserve has developed and elephants rescued. The elephants here are well cared for and not treated as tourist attractions. You get to stand close for photos and hold food out to them to take willingly. They explain how the decided touching and bathing with the elephants are not natural behaviour for them and often causes them stress. An amazing and educational experience of seeing these amazing animals up close. In fact it is great to see them being treated with such thoughtfulness and respect. The reserve is completely funded from visitors’ donations and sales from the shop. No grants, etc. So please consider this reserve if you want to see elephants whilst in Thailand as very ethical.Lunch is included in the cost of the visit and was vegan and to a high standard – 8 of us in our group and we all enjoyed it, even the none vegans.Thanks for an amazing experience.
Researched an ethical elephant sanctuary & hidden forest kept coming up, I visited this morning & oh wow it was incredible. All the staff are very informative & knowledgeable about all the elephants they have with them ( all rescued) . Spent good amount of time in each feeding/ viewing station no rushing round, all the guides are about for any questions, the area is stunning forest with water available & toilets. Each elephant has a story in what life was like before they were rescued & each one has a carer to make sure they are ok at all times. Lunch is provided very delicious spread & the elephants bathe & roll in the mud while you watch. I’m really impressed with the hidden elephant place it is definitely a highlight of my visit here & I recommend it for a trip.
An absolutely incredible experience. I would recommend this to anyone looking to visit a truly ethical elephant sanctuary. We got to observe them bathing and eating, we even got to feed them some bananas at snack time. The guides are so knowledgeable and lovely. The food is good too and you get the most incredible view of watching the elephants bathe whilst eating. An overall great place, with fantastic people!
The sanctuary is a beacon of compassion and care, where the dedicated staff creates an unforgettable experience. Visitors can delight in watching magnificent elephants roam freely across 28,000 acres of lush forest while maintaining a respectful distance. It’s a joy to witness these gentle giants savoring delightful treats amidst their natural habitat, making every moment special. Sharing a delicious lunch while observing the elephants enjoying their baths is a memory that will forever remain etched in my heart.
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This elephant sanctuary was the most ethical and well run sanctuary there is to see in Thailand. The life of the elephants was put before anything else with education before seeing the elephants followed by the best time feeding them. The small groups made the experience more peaceful as we watched the elephants go about their daily routine with the such a delicious buffet lunch.
Absolutely phenomenal experience and an incredibly ethical activity! The staff did an amazing job talking us through the process of rescuing the elephants. Explaining the former harrowing captivity and the ongoing issues surrounding ethical tourism in SE Asia. The local guides, mahouts & Louise all do a fantastic job, ensuring the elephants are safe and stimulated. The lunch buffet had lots of options and was very well prepared. I would 100% recommend this activity to anyone in Thailand. Some constructive criticism: Maybe a little more sign posting in the surrounding area would be helpful. The abandoned firing range entrance is a touch unnerving, (if arriving early and by personal transport). As the elephant statues are hidden by foliage and we didn’t see any signposting through this site into the Elephant Sanctuary car park. Other than that, everything was exceptionally well established and one of the best activities we’ve done in SE Asia.