Elephant Camps & Sanctuaries

Intimate sanctuary with maximum 6 visitors per day. Elephants roam freely in forest habitat with hands-off observation only.

Small community-run sanctuary in the Mae Chaem hills offering observation-only experiences with rescued elephants.

Transformed with World Animal Protection support from a riding camp to an observation-led venue where elephants behave naturally.

Sister location to ChangChill View Doi, offering hillside observation experiences with the same elephant-friendly standards.

Forest sanctuary allowing elephants to forage and socialize naturally with visitor observation from a distance.

Ethical elephant venue on Koh Lanta island focused on observation and education without direct tourist contact.

Krabi location of the Following Giants network, offering hands-off elephant observation in a natural setting.

Community-based sanctuary in the mountains of Mae Chaem where elephants roam freely and visitors observe from a distance.

Living In the Forest with Elephants Wildlife Heritage Area — elephants live in the forest with minimal human interference.

Remote Umphang project where elephants live in vast forest areas with observation-only tourism supporting local communities.

First ethical elephant sanctuary on Phuket. Observation-only model; phasing out hand-feeding by April 2026 per WAP assessment.

Sanctuary and foundation dedicated to elephant welfare and conservation education in Kanchanaburi province.

Cambodia's first elephant sanctuary in the Mondulkiri highlands. Elephants roam freely in forest with observation-only visits.

Nepal's first elephant-friendly lodge near Chitwan National Park, offering observation experiences without riding or performances.

Pioneering rescue sanctuary founded by Lek Chailert. Over 100 rescued elephants. Temporarily removed from WAP elephant-friendly list due to legal investigation.

India's leading elephant rescue organization. Rescued circus and street elephants rehabilitated at the Mathura care centre.

Government-supported centre dedicated to rescue, breeding research, and reintroduction of Asian elephants to the wild.

Anantara resort foundation supporting rescued elephants with veterinary care and mahout training programs.

Jungle sanctuary on Phuket's west coast rescuing overworked elephants from the tourism industry.

Ethical sanctuary on Koh Samui following the Phuket Elephant Sanctuary model with observation-focused visits.

Sanctuary near Khao Sok National Park offering elephant experiences with improving welfare standards.

Pioneer in ethical elephant tourism on Phuket, guided by international welfare standards for captive elephants.

Multi-species rescue centre including elephants, with focus on rehabilitation and anti-wildlife-trade advocacy.

Conservation project near Luang Prabang with elephants in a natural river valley setting.

Elephants rescued from Angkor temple rides now roam free in natural forest. Revenue supports conservation across Cambodia.

50-hectare forest park combining ecotourism with elephant rescue, veterinary care, and sustainable mahout wages.

First ACES-certified sanctuary in Krabi, promoting education and responsible elephant management.

Ethical home where elephants roam freely. Visitors observe and learn with respect and compassion.

Chiang Mai sanctuary where elephants live in open wild space as part of the family, focused on conservation in action.

Family-run park with 150+ years of elephant care heritage. Small rural Thai village setting with 30 residents.

Over 30 rescued Sumatran elephants in an enriching environment near Ubud. ACES Gold certified conservation facility.

Wild elephant observation from safari vehicles during the famous gathering season. No captive elephants involved.

Jeep safaris through UNESCO World Heritage park. Observe wild Asian elephants in one of the world's most biodiverse reserves.

Conservation center for critically endangered Sumatran elephants with rehabilitation and release programs.

ACES Gold camp in the hills of Phuket. Joint Karen hill-tribe and Thai initiative established in 2014 with six elephants aged 4–26.

ACES Gold certified EJS location in Chiang Mai. Ethical and sustainable elephant camp created as a joint Karen hill-tribe initiative.

ACES Gold ethical camp near Pattaya offering education-focused experiences. Guests feed, bathe, and observe elephants with trained staff.

ACES Gold sanctuary on Koh Samui with dedicated veterinary team. Mission to Protect, Connect, and Inspire through professional elephant care.

ACES Gold eco-friendly camp surrounded by forest, natural mud pools, and open space. Emphasizes stress-free elephant environment.

ACES Gold expansion location in Kathu opened 2023. Peaceful mountain landscape where elephants live freely in a stress-free environment.

ACES Silver eco-friendly centre run by a 6th-generation elephant-caring family with 160+ years of heritage knowledge.

ACES Silver sanctuary certified by Thailand's Department of Livestock Development. Immersive programs with elephant welfare as the priority.

WAP elephant-friendly volunteer and observation program supporting ethical elephant welfare standards in northern Thailand.

Luxury tented camp near Khao Sok National Park. WAP high-welfare venue with some hand-feeding over barrier.

Karen hill-tribe community foundation supporting ethical elephant care and conservation education in Chiang Mai province.

Chiang Mai eco-tourism operator offering ethical elephant trail experiences with welfare-first approach.

Nepal community association near Chitwan offering improving elephant welfare experiences. WAP high-welfare with hand-feeding over barrier.

Community lodge in Sauraha near Chitwan National Park. CTC secondary recommendation — good welfare with some scheduled feeding.

Sauraha-based elephant welfare organization promoting ethical treatment and observation-led tourism near Chitwan.

First ethical elephant tourism model in Vietnam. Elephants roam Yok Don National Park with observation-only visits — no riding, bathing, or feeding.

Caretaker-style experience outside Chiang Mai. Many elephants here were rescued from logging — feeding and bathing are how visitors participate in daily care, not a performance.

Sri Lanka's best-known elephant institution — part orphanage, part tourist destination. River bathing draws large crowds daily.

Retirement home for former logging and trekking elephants in a large forest enclosure near Kanchanaburi.

Small-group rescue centre north of Chiang Mai. Half-day programs with feeding and river time. Popular with families; books out quickly in high season.

Day programs where visitors help prepare food and accompany elephants to the river. Founded as a retirement home for old, injured, and disabled elephants.

Family-operated camp in the Mae Taeng valley offering mahout-for-a-day experiences and forest walks with elephants.

Royal-sponsored centre and hospital in Lampang. Home to the King's white elephants. Education, shows, and hospital tours — a window into Thailand's official elephant institution.

Learn-to-be-a-mahout programs with bathing and feeding. Elephants live in a forest valley between visitor sessions.

Phuket sanctuary focused on feeding and mud spa experiences in a jungle setting. No riding; small group sizes.

Island sanctuary offering half-day feeding and observation programs for rescued elephants.

Luxury resort camp at the Thailand-Myanmar-Laos border. Walking with elephants through jungle; supports Golden Triangle Asian Elephant Foundation rescues.

Community project in Cambodia's elephant heartland. Jungle walks alongside Bunong mahouts and their elephants — no riding, no tricks.

32,000-acre conservation project partnered with Save Elephant Foundation. Weekly volunteer programs in jungle habitat north of Angkor Wat.

Siem Reap sanctuary offering observation and gentle interaction with rescued elephants in a forest enclosure.

Small village-style camp where visitors learn traditional mahout skills and daily elephant care routines.

Small sanctuary focused on retired trekking elephants. Observation-first with limited feeding interactions.