Elephant Hills

Phuket, Thailand

Star rating

The Elephant Camp
The Elephant Camp
The Elephant Camp
The Elephant Camp
The Elephant Camp
The Elephant Camp
The Elephant Camp
The Lake Camp
The Lake Camp
Cooking class
Nature Safari Tour
Jungle Trekking
The Lake Camp
The Lake Camp
A video preview image
The Elephant Camp
The Elephant Camp
The Elephant Camp
The Elephant Camp
The Elephant Camp
The Elephant Camp
The Elephant Camp
The Lake Camp
The Lake Camp
Cooking class
Nature Safari Tour
Jungle Trekking
The Lake Camp
The Lake Camp

The hotel

Thailand’s first luxury tented jungle camp, Elephant Hills, combines the camp aspect of an East African safari with the Thai tropical rainforest. Located in Khao Sok National Park, Elephant Hills is just a couple of hours north of Phuket or Krabi and with complimentary transfers from most beach hotels in the region, it’s an easy combination and an unmissable experience. With a strong focus on elephant welfare and environmental conservation, Elephant Hills offers responsible and interactive experiences that are 100% chain-free, hook-free, and riding-free, allowing elephants to live peacefully in their natural environment.

Amenities

  • Safari
  • Bar
  • Evening Entertainment
  • Internet Access
  • Restaurant
  • Swimming Pool
  • Near National Park

Where is it

Elephant Hills is located in Khao Sok National Park in Thailand's Surat Thani Province. The Tented Camp is set in Thailand's tropical jungle environment and The Rainforest Camp floats on Cheow Larn Lake. Transfers available from Phuket, Krabi and Khao Lak and even Koh Samui. Because of their remote (and rather fabulous) location, the luxury tented camps can only accept cash payments on-site. That includes any drinks you fancy or souvenirs you fall in love with. So, be sure to bring enough Thai Baht (THB) to keep the good times flowing.

Hotel information

The Elephant Camp is the main camp with 66 spacious tents with 1 king-size or 2 double beds sleeping a family of 4 people, with 2 adults and 2 children. All tents are bugproof and have electricity, en-suite bathroom with toilet, shower and hot/cold water and a fan. Set amongst the rainforest, the camp has a swimming pool with superb view of the spectacular limestone cliffs, an open-air restaurant and bar to share your traveller’s tales. Dinners include movie presentations, dance and cooking demonstrations to keep you entertained and there is even WiFi to show all those at home what they’re missing.The Lake Camp features 20 rainforest tents each with 1 queen-size bed, or twin beds, sleeping 2 adults and 1 child. They are located over the Cheow Larn Lake, making it one of the only floating tented camps in the world. The spectacular lakes are surrounded by rainforest and towering limestone cliffs. Designed to be at one with nature, the camp is powered by wind and solar energy and uses responsible waste management, so no WiFi here, just total peace and relaxation.

Full Board includes: breakfast, lunch and dinner. All the activities in the itinerary. Soft drinks and alcohol are available at extra charge.

Restaurant and bar. Swimming pool. Evening entertainment includes traditional Thai dances from local school children, film documentaries and Thai cooking demonstrations. Fantastic range of activities including responsible and interactive elephant encounters that are 100% chain-free, hook-free, and riding-free, canoe trips on the Sok River and jungle treks. 

Complimentary WiFi at the Elephant Hills Camp (main camp).

Elephant Hills is proud to announce that they have once again passed Global Spirit’s independent animal welfare audit for 2024–2026. 

Since their first audit in 2017, Elephant Hills have remained a leader in elephant welfare. They were the first elephant camp to achieve 100% compliance with the minimum requirements, now known as Core Criteria. 

In 2019, they took a further step by undergoing the Exceeds Requirements assessment. By 2024, they had surpassed all key criteria, reaching Level 5 completion—the highest score across all assessed areas.

Jungle Safari

Elephant Experience • Canoe Safari • Jungle Trekking

See the highlights of Southern Thailand’s natural beauty with this short 2-night itinerary.

Day 1: Arrive in time for lunch, then depart on a jungle river canoe trip down the Sok River passing the Limestone Mountains and tropical vegetation to the elephant sanctuary. Here you can see, feed and learn about the elephants and the conservation project as well as meet and learn the secrets of the mahout. Overnight at The Elephant Camp. 

Day 2: Leisurely breakfast before exploring the secluded Cheow Lan Lake by long-tail boat, the 60 km lake has more than 100 islands. Enjoy the spectacular scenery with time to dip into the lake’s emerald water and lunch at the local raft house. Overnight at The Elephant Camp.

Day 3: Guided walk to explore the ecology of one of the world’s oldest rainforests with lunch served in the rainforest, cooked in bamboo, an old tradition of jungle explorers. Afternoon transfer.

Rainforest Nature Safari

Elephant Experience • Traditional Junk trip

Day 1: As per Day 1 of the Jungle Safari itinerary.

Day 2: Enjoy the mangroves by speed boat looking out for local wildlife along the way. Board a traditional Burmese Junk for lunch and explore the mangroves by canoe. Overnight at The Elephant Camp.

Day 3: Leisurely breakfast before exploring the secluded Cheow Lan Lake by long-tail boat, the 60 km lake has more than 100 islands. Enjoy the spectacular scenery with time to dip into the lake’s emerald water and lunch at the local raft house. Overnight at The Elephant Camp.

Day 4: Guided walk to explore the ecology of one of the world’s oldest rainforests with lunch served in the rainforest, cooked in bamboo, an old tradition of jungle explorers. Afternoon transfer.

Jungle Lake Safari

Elephant Experience • Overnight at floating Rainforest Camp • Market visit

Day 1: As per Day 1 of the Jungle Safari itinerary. Overnight at The Elephant Camp.

Day 2: Leisurely breakfast before exploring the secluded Cheow Lan Lake by long-tail boat, the 60 km lake has more than 100 islands and is home to wild elephants, the rare Asian Ox, tropical birds, monkeys and amphibians and reptiles. Lunch at Lake Camp before a guided walk to explore the ecology of one of the world’s oldest rainforests. Overnight at The Lake Camp.

Day 3: Take a canoe safari around the small channels of the Cheow Lan Lake, a silent adventure in the heart of the rainforest. Lunch served at the Lake Camp and afternoon transfer to your onward destination.

Please note: child ages are 4 years and over for Elephant Camp and 7 years and over for Lake Camp.

Please note: due to the nature of the tours pregnant ladies are unable to participate.

Accessibility: due to the nature of the tours it is not suitable for wheelchair users or customers with mobility restrictions. Please also note, there are no on site refrigeration facilities to store medication.

Rating summary

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Traveller rating

  • Excellent (2699)
  • Very good (276)
  • Average (78)
  • Poor (26)
  • Terrible (12)
Image of the Tripadvisor rating Amazing experience

Sep 1, 2025 LynneK768 Horsham, United Kingdom

Crammed so much into our 4 night stay in Elephant Hills. All activities were arranged by professional guides; jungle trek, elephant experience, canoe ride, paddle boarding, kayaking, swimming. Food was delicious and plentiful. Highly recommend visiting this magical place. The tents have no air con, so it was hot, but everything was clean. All the… Read more
Crammed so much into our 4 night stay in Elephant Hills. All activities were arranged by professional guides; jungle trek, elephant experience, canoe ride, paddle boarding, kayaking, swimming. Food was delicious and plentiful. Highly recommend visiting this magical place. The tents have no air con, so it was hot, but everything was clean. All the staff were friendly and helpful. Read less
Image of the Tripadvisor rating Very disappointed with everything. No elephants at the camp.

Aug 31, 2025 Susan C

Not good at all. When booking the brochure shows Elephants walking around and details say you will be interacting with them. We booked 4 days at the luxury tented camp called Elephant hills. In reality the tents are dark dingy and dirty. You get taken 15 mins drive away to see the elephants for 1 hour only in the whole 4 days. You only get to… Read more
Not good at all. When booking the brochure shows Elephants walking around and details say you will be interacting with them. We booked 4 days at the luxury tented camp called Elephant hills. In reality the tents are dark dingy and dirty. You get taken 15 mins drive away to see the elephants for 1 hour only in the whole 4 days. You only get to feed them over a fence. It's totally disappointing and not at all what is advertised. It cost thousands for the flights and accommodation etc and activities. The whole thing is false advertising and we have come back very upset. Please see pics of the adverts plus our damp dirty tent. don't book thinking you are going to be spending lots of time with elephants and bathing them etc as this is not the case. Read less
Image of the Tripadvisor rating Lake camp is amazing

Aug 27, 2025 itcwinner26 Chester

We stayed for 2 nights, with one night on the Lake. The lake lodge was outstanding and our guide La La was superb. So friendly, helpful and knowledgeable. Night at the Elephant Hills lodge was OK too, but felt a bit less personal and over processed. Transfer gets you there earlier than is required as you are then just left sitting around. … Read more
We stayed for 2 nights, with one night on the Lake. The lake lodge was outstanding and our guide La La was superb. So friendly, helpful and knowledgeable. Night at the Elephant Hills lodge was OK too, but felt a bit less personal and over processed. Transfer gets you there earlier than is required as you are then just left sitting around. Trip to the elephants was great, but the lake was the highlight for us. The tents at the main lodge are not big enough for 4 beds, so this made our overnight stay very cramped. Read less
Image of the Tripadvisor rating Jam packed adventure

Aug 25, 2025 525garethr

An excellent run resort Excellent food both thai & international Very family friendly All activites well organised Our guide Moana was superb
Image of the Tripadvisor rating An Unforgettable Experience

Aug 24, 2025 DonnaH3213 Kingston-upon-Hull, United Kingdom

We had the most incredible experience at Elephant Hills! Everything was so well organised and truly unforgettable for our family. A special thank you to our guides, Saow and Tin, who were simply amazing. They were so kind and patient, especially with our son on the jungle trek. Their encouragement and support really made an impact on him, and we… Read more
We had the most incredible experience at Elephant Hills! Everything was so well organised and truly unforgettable for our family. A special thank you to our guides, Saow and Tin, who were simply amazing. They were so kind and patient, especially with our son on the jungle trek. Their encouragement and support really made an impact on him, and we are so grateful. The whole team made our stay exceptional, and we couldn’t recommend Elephant Hills more highly! Read less