Samui Elephant Haven

We had the most heartwarming and unforgettable day at Samui Elephant Haven. From the moment we arrived, it was clear how deeply the staff care — not only about the elephants, but about sharing their stories with respect and compassion. This is truly an ethical sanctuary. You can see how well the elephants are looked after and how much thought goes into their care, enrichment, and wellbeing. Hearing each elephant’s history was incredibly moving and gave us a deeper appreciation for the work this sanctuary is doing. The tour was very informative and included plenty of hands-on experiences, all done in a way that clearly prioritizes the elephants’ comfort and dignity. The guides were knowledgeable, patient, and genuinely passionate. For anyone with mobility issues, there is a bit of a hill to walk, but it felt very manageable. There were always shaded areas to wait, and at almost every stop where information was shared, there was also a place to sit and rest, which was really appreciated. Lunch was absolutely delicious and thoughtfully prepared. One of the biggest highlights of the day was celebrating our friend’s birthday — we brought a birthday “cake” that was fed to the five girls (the elephants!) at the end of our visit, and it was such a joyful, unforgettable moment. This experience was educational, emotional, and deeply uplifting. If you’re looking for an ethical, caring, and meaningful elephant experience in Koh Samui, Samui Elephant Haven is a must-visit. We left with full hearts and so much gratitude for the work they do. 🐘💚

What an amazing experience. To hear all about the beautiful elephants and how and why they were rescued. Our guide Don was lovely, funny and very knowledgeable about the sanctuary. We met different groups of elephants, there are currently 12 and hoping for a 13th in 2026. Firstly you have a talk and watch a short video, you then feed 5 elephants, a couple of older ones and 2 younger ones which are more naughty. You feed them grass and fruit. You then walk around the site meeting the male elephants, mommy and 8 year old son, then we made some food for 3 further elephants, 1 being the eldest one. Finally you go to feed the last elephant by a pool, we got some amazing photos. As we booked a 3 hour tour 9-12, they collected us from the port, we had the tour and activities and finally we had lunch! They then took us back to the port. We ended up buying loads from the small gift store to try and help further in some way, but they are so appreciative of you going to visit them, it was lovely. It was truly an amazing experience we will Never forget. Bargain and 3,000 THB each.

Samui Elephant Haven is truly incredible. The elephants are treated with real respect — no riding, bathing, or forced interaction (only short feeding sessions and photo ops as they explained people would not go to this sanctuary without an activity which is sad and they hope one day will be totally hands free!!!) — just observing them living freely and naturally. What really stood out was how much detail the staff shared about each individual elephant, their history, personality, and journey, which made the experience so meaningful and educational. Our tour guide was absolutely amazing — so knowledgeable, passionate, and clearly dedicated to the elephants’ wellbeing. You can feel how much they genuinely care. I honestly wish more people would choose places like this instead of supporting non-ethical elephant attractions. If you care about animal welfare, this is the place to go.🐘💚