Samui Elephant Spa

Transport was excellent. Elephants looked really well looked after. They had some fun stories to tell. You get to make the food for them and looks like a good healthy meal. There was a mix up with the time on the email so we had to cut it a little shorter and didn't get to try the food cooking as we had something booked in the afternoon. They take you to wash the elephants where you use a brush to clean them and they spray you with water. They take photos that are quite good which are a little on the expensive side (500 baht pp or 1000 for a couple) but they don't stop you taking your own photos. And if you take photos for each other within your group, you will have plenty. Very accommodating and worth a trip.

Absolutely amazing day and an unforgettable experience! The elephants were beautiful, gentle, and easy to interact with. The staff was incredibly friendly, interesting, fun, and really made the whole experience even better. Bathing with the elephants was truly something I’ll remember for a lifetime. The lunch soup at the end was honestly one of the best I’ve ever had! And the official photos turned out amazing — it was great to just enjoy the day without worrying about taking pictures. Highly recommend this place to anyone visiting Samui! 🐘💚

I visited this place believing I was supporting an ethical sanctuary. Unfortunately, what I experienced did not match the claims made. I only did my research after the tour when I observed alot of red flags. Elephants were kept with ropes around their necks, and I personally witnessed guides scolding them in loud voices and even pulling their ears. At one point, handlers made elephants squeal on command for tourists. These are not the actions of a facility prioritizing dignity and welfare. While the staff shared emotional stories of rescue and recovery, including operations and rehabilitation, the reality of the visit was centered on staged tourist experiences. Elephants were “parked” under shelters like stables and brought out mainly for photo opportunities. Guests were encouraged to hug, kiss, and pet the elephants, bathe with them in the mud, and then upsold on purchasing photographs. True sanctuaries endorsed by World Animal Protection and Save Elephant Foundation do not allow this kind of forced, direct contact, because getting elephants to comply with human touch and performance requires harsh training methods. I left disappointed and misled. I thought I was contributing to a better life for elephants, but what I saw was another form of exploitation dressed up as ethical tourism. A genuine sanctuary should allow elephants to roam and behave naturally without being put on display or forced into close interactions. If you care about elephant welfare, I would recommend reconsidering a visit here and instead researching observation-only sanctuaries where elephants can truly just be elephants. Sharing this review and hope everyone who has the same mindset as me sees this, before they decide.