Thailand Tourism Brand

Phutawan Elephant Camp

About

Discover the remarkable Phutawan Elephant Camp in 50360, Thailand, where you can connect with these gentle giants in a natural and ethical environment. Enjoy unforgettable experiences, learn about elephant conservation, and create lasting memories in this enchanting setting.

About Phutawan Elephant Camp

Phutawan Elephant Camp is a unique destination nestled in the heart of Thailand, dedicated to the care and rehabilitation of elephants in a sustainable and ethical manner. Located in the scenic landscape of 50360, this camp provides visitors with an authentic experience that fosters a deep appreciation for these magnificent creatures.

At Phutawan Elephant Camp, you have the opportunity to interact closely with elephants, learning about their habits, personalities, and the importance of preserving their natural habitats. The camp emphasizes the importance of ethical treatment, ensuring that all activities are designed with the well-being of the elephants in mind. Visitors can participate in a variety of immersive experiences, such as feeding the elephants, bathing them in the river, and even joining them on leisurely walks through the lush surroundings. Every interaction is aimed at building a bond based on mutual respect and understanding.

Additionally, Phutawan Elephant Camp provides educational programs that shed light on the challenges faced by elephants in the wild, including habitat destruction and poaching. Through engaging presentations and guided tours, visitors are encouraged to become advocates for elephant conservation, gaining valuable insights into how they can make a difference.

The camp’s dedication to sustainability is evident in its practices. The team works tirelessly to maintain a safe and nurturing environment for the elephants while promoting eco-friendly tourism. By visiting Phutawan Elephant Camp, you are not only enjoying a memorable experience but also contributing to the ongoing efforts to protect these incredible animals and their habitats.

Whether you’re seeking a soul-enriching adventure or an opportunity to learn about wildlife conservation, Phutawan Elephant Camp promises an unforgettable escape into the world of elephants. Join us in this journey and build a deeper connection with nature while creating memories that will last a lifetime.

As you plan your visit, remember that Phutawan Elephant Camp is more than just a tourist attraction; it’s a sanctuary where you can rekindle your sense of wonder and compassion. Embark on a remarkable adventure today and discover the beauty of Thailand’s most cherished creatures in an ethical and responsible setting.

The area

Full Address

50360, Thailand

Name in Thai

Phutawan Elephant Camp (เมืองเชียงใหม่, ไทย) - รีวิว - ThailandAgoda.com

#Category

สถานที่ท่องเที่ยว เมืองเชียงใหม่, Things to Do in Chiang Mai

Review area

10 thoughts on “Phutawan Elephant Camp

  1. Do not go to this “elephant camp” unless you enjoy seeing these wonderful animals in chains, looking sad, tired and treated like pack-horses. We were unfortunate to experience this as part of a package tour which did not specify details of the elephants we were to visit. In hindsight, this should’ve jumped out as a huge clue. The whole procedure felt very rushed as if to make sure we did’t have time to change our minds and not ride the elephants. If I had been able to research I would not have gone as the reviews all scream the same… do not go to Phutawan Elephant Camp.While there is a running river at the edge of the camp, the rest of the camps surroundings look dirty and un-kept. I have been to other elephants camps in Thailand where the animals and environment are in better nic than this place. I felt sad for these elephants and regret contributing to this place. (no refund once you book tickets) There are far better sanctuary’s than this.

  2. Don’t go here. We were made to go here today as part of an organised 2 day trek, even though ourselves and everyone else in our group had specified we didnt want to go to an elephant camp, especially like this. An elephant mother and child were each chained to a tree out the front to be fed and photographed by tourists. They were both pulling on their short chains trying to move and the mother was swaying and rocking back and forth and looked very unhappy and unwell. Our whole group saw how they were being treated and saw the big seats set up on their backs to ride and all refused to ride them and left as soon as possible. There was a lovely family with us whose children were so sad to see the elephants treated this way, and if you look on other reviews on trip advisor it’s even worse when they’re ridden!

  3. The elephants are not treated well. The guides are not friendly and treat you like they treat the elephants : they just don’t care.

  4. Me and some friend (group of ten) went on a three day trek (which was absolutly amazing) and a visit to the elephant camp was included. Before we booked the trek I asked if the elephants where treaded well, if they weren’t chained up, could run around free, if it was a sanctuary. They assured me it was exactly that. But upon our arriving we could see it was entirely different. The elephants were chained up and swinging there head, which is not natural behavior. They looked stressed and unhappy. Their trainers were carrying around sticks with a sharp hook at the end. I saw one trainer hitting an elephant on the head and could hear the thud from fifthy meters away. They are all kept seperate (exept for the mum and her calf). Elephants are kind social creatures that need interaction with their own kind. What I withnessed there was absolutly horrific! I can not advised this to anyone. It left me in tears and heartbroken. We ended up not riding the elephants cause of it’s onethical treatlent of the animals. Even our tourguide didnt agree with this.

  5. This was a heartbreaker and a half to experience. I didn’t really know what I was getting myself into. I should have done more advanced research and gone to a sanctuary. The handlers blatantly hit the elephants with the hook and they are in chains. While there, the mother had a freak out and started yelling and almost charged at us. She was clearly very very depressed and unhappy. Really heartbreaking to witness these beautiful, magnificent, intelligent creatures smothered and neglected. In addition, the company has falsely labeled their camp ‘happy elephant home’ so you may confuse it with the camp of that name that has amazing reviews and clearly does not abuse the elephants. It took me some research to again find the correct name for this one. This camp is a prison for elephants masquerading as a legitimate business. Shut it down and don’t make the mistake I did and give them your money. You will be left with feelings of guilt if you feel any empathy for the rights of these creatures. Do NOT recommend!

  6. My partner and I hired a motorbike to travel to Doi Inthanon national park. On the way, we came across this small enclosure next to the cafe where elephants were chained by the ankle. The chain had hardly any length at all and the elephants couldn’t even take two steps. I asked the staff at the cafe about this and they said that the elephants are like dogs and if they are not chained up then they may bite. We saw quite a few tourists dotted about other elephant based enclosures and have seen some riding elephants where they sit on a metal type frame. I’m not sure if they realise, but these cause elephants considerable amounts of injury and pain. If tourists wish to be part of something where elephants are exploited for tourism then please just ride elephants where they have a padded blanket on them!Also, one of the elephants was swaying continuously which is a sign of distress.Terrible experience and the owners should be ashamed of themselves!

  7. I am not much of an animal rights person normally but the way this place is run is a disgrace for a number of reasons.The big one if of course the mistreatment of elephants, all the bad reviews below match up exactly to our experience. We saw two elephants swaying side to side chained up for a whole day, then when we came past after our homestay the next day the same two elephants were in the same position in the same chains. It was really sad to see, they were nothing but advertising signs to stop tourists on their way up the mountain.The second one is the management, there is a guy named Charlie who is the main face of the camp, he is friendly and polite and friendly. He uses this charm to be very deceitful and will straight up lie to your face. He will tell you that elephants swaying side to side means they are happy, he will tell you that they chain the baby up so it doesn’t get trampled by other elephants, he will tell you that there is no riding here but will offer it to you on the sly afterwards, and he will tell you that they are rescue elephants. The last issue is the thug-like attitude of the other “trainers” and elephant team. They intimidate the elephants more than anything else, they have sticks and the way they grunt at them sounds more like a threat than anything else. They are all young guys who are clearly interested in the money more than anything else and they are quite rude and unfriendly to customers as well. They are a not a good reflection on their country and their people.We were naive to not notice what was going on and didn’t do our research, but seeing how great these animals are made us feel really sad once we noticed what was going on. We paid money to support this disgraceful place and it inspired us to start using our trip advisor account again. If we can help deter a couple of people away from this place then we will feel a lot better.Thanks.

  8. I read all the bad reviews, but was assured it was under new ownership and things are vastly improved. No chains on the elephants, roaming free, happy and well taken care of. NO RIDING at all. Our tour guide did a lot of research about this place after it was bought by a foreign lady about a year ago.

  9. Worst elephant camp I’ve seen, elephants are obviously scared of the owners/workers, we saw rocks thrown at the elephants, one was stabbed near the eye. If I could I’d take them away.Doesn’t deserve the required 1star

  10. We’re planning to stay in Chai Lai Orchid Hotel which is a part of this enclosure. Worst animal enclosure I’ve seen. All of the elephants have been broken and the staff are still shouting at them and hitting them with stick. We cancelled our stay and leave the premises because we feel sad and helpless. If the financial is the problem I wish they just would create a go-fund-me page or something so they can take care of this animal better rather than just a business.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Phutawan Elephant Camp

Where is Phutawan Elephant Camp located?

Phutawan Elephant Camp is perched on a picturesque hilltop overlooking 50360, Thailand



#tag

#Nature & Wildlife Areas, #สถานที่ชมธรรมชาติ/ชีวิตสัตว์ป่า

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