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.


Jungle Safari (2 nights)

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.

Jungle Safari (3 nights)

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 (2 nights)

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.

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.

Rating summary

  • Location Image of the Tripadvisor rating
  • Sleep Quality Image of the Tripadvisor rating
  • Rooms Image of the Tripadvisor rating
  • Service Image of the Tripadvisor rating
  • Value Image of the Tripadvisor rating
  • Cleanliness Image of the Tripadvisor rating

Traveller rating

  • Excellent (2817)
  • Very good (283)
  • Average (80)
  • Poor (27)
  • Terrible (15)
Image of the Tripadvisor rating As my son described it : class

Jun 17, 2026 karenLcork Glanmire, Ireland

What a fabulous experience. The perfect way to end our trip to Thailand. Elephants hills looked after their customers so well. The experience with the elephants was far better than we could have hoped. Then a guided kayak down a river to see monkeys and snakes. 4 of us did share a tent on the 1st night and it was tight for space.. loads of food..… Read more
What a fabulous experience. The perfect way to end our trip to Thailand. Elephants hills looked after their customers so well. The experience with the elephants was far better than we could have hoped. Then a guided kayak down a river to see monkeys and snakes. 4 of us did share a tent on the 1st night and it was tight for space.. loads of food.. then after our first night we headed to the lake camp. As my 10 year old described it .. it was class.. a fab Guided longboat trip around the national park and then onto the camp.. a warm welcome form the staff. A fab lunch and then onto the accommodation, it was fab.. and straight into the lake for a swim and paddle board.. my partner did the hike and enjoyed it. It was tough in the heat and the mosquitoes were the worst part but he said it was so worth it. Lovely food the evening and a video on the National park which was very good.. it was great being away from phone and being one at nature and spending quality time as a family.. we loved it but it would not have been possible without our amazing guide kong, she was unbelievable , she looked after us so well, she educated us on so much and went out of her way to make sure we all enjoyed it. I would highly recommend elephant hills. We traveled from koh samui and it was a long journey but so so worth it Read less
Image of the Tripadvisor rating Really great experience but there is an ‘elephant in the room!!’

Jun 1, 2026 678stevenn Kirkham, United Kingdom

Hoping to write a balanced review as there is so much to enjoy about our 3day 2 night stay at Elephant Hills. However starting with the ‘elephant’ in the room.. It’s called elephant hills for a reason, which creates a picture of seeing elephants at the resort or plenty of interaction with them. It’s not the case anymore.. The sanctuary itself is… Read more
Hoping to write a balanced review as there is so much to enjoy about our 3day 2 night stay at Elephant Hills. However starting with the ‘elephant’ in the room.. It’s called elephant hills for a reason, which creates a picture of seeing elephants at the resort or plenty of interaction with them. It’s not the case anymore.. The sanctuary itself is 10 minutes down the road. They have also made big changes since May 1st whereby visitors prepare food only and the mahout gives it to them. We had colleagues staying in April who could feed them and interact v freely. It’s a v expensive part of the trip and many other sanctuaries allow feeding, walking, bathing etc for little money.. (not that we agree with bathing with them). The website says it’s due to monitoring diets but we are preparing the food they’re eating and they eat 100s kg a day! For elephants who have been there for decades. In addition you only get 1 small opportunity to see the elephants and we felt the itinerary should allow longer periods / visits during the stay. It did take something from the experience and was commented on by all in our group plus others staying at the resort. The rest however is so positive… the resort is great, really clean and v friendly and helpful staff. We had 2 guides who were really good! The tents are a unique experience especially to hear gibbons during the night plus other wildlife. Given a can of spray to use around the zipped entrance was different but fun! The food we felt was great and v varied. All food was included and we like the 3 bongs to say the mealtime was open. It was my son’s birthday during the stay and the efforts they went to were really appreciated - especially the cake with his name on it. The river raft ride was amazing and we also saw monkeys, venomous snakes, monitor lizards, frogs and birds. The guides also got out to help a baby monkey trapped in some nets but the canoeists taking guard from a potentially angry mother monkey. We went to the lake camp the next day via the dam which was a great day and met some who were staying at the lake camp. The opportunity to kayak, swim, paddle board after an hour in a long tail boat was really good and plenty of wildlife in the forests behind us. The trek was good on our final day and dodging the rain was fun! The transfers to and from were really good also. It’s a really well planned itinerary and a great experience.. it would have easily been a 5 star rating had it not been for the elephant experience which is kind of the main point of going / staying here and was the case when we booked it. Read less
Image of the Tripadvisor rating An Amazing Experience

May 29, 2026 andrewbU6911JI

Fantastic experience! Organisation was exceptional and our guide Kong, was very knowledgeable and professional. The camp is set in a beautiful location and the food and accommodation were top class. Elephants are so well looked after, unlike some other elephant 'sanctuaries' in Thailand.
Image of the Tripadvisor rating Excellent Thai Jungle Adventure

May 27, 2026 GrahamA_LA Los Angeles, California

Much is written, now, about the ethics of elephant experiences in Thailand, and so a lot of Internet research led me to Elephant Hills, where there is no riding, washing, or even touching of the animals (although they are allowed to come and sniff you which, curious creatures as they are, several of them did!). These elephants are not wild,… Read more
Much is written, now, about the ethics of elephant experiences in Thailand, and so a lot of Internet research led me to Elephant Hills, where there is no riding, washing, or even touching of the animals (although they are allowed to come and sniff you which, curious creatures as they are, several of them did!). These elephants are not wild, however any viewing or encounter is very much on their terms, and a great experience to get up close with them. All of that said, in a way it’s a shame this camp and its experiences are so firmly branded “Elephant.” Being with those animals amounts to an hour or so of your time there, with many other things to do—which fit my travel aspirations rather well. I wanted to explore the rivers, the lake, trek through the rain forest, and see as much as I could of the central Thailand jungle. Elephant Hills provided all of that, and in 3 days I experienced lots of that jungle up close—on foot, by canoe, or long-tail boat. I saw monkeys, snakes, lizards (big and small), and spectacular scenery, and my guide (Beam) was excellent. Rooms (tents) are well done, with hot water and electricity 24 hours, and everywhere is kept clean and fresh. A nice variety of food choices, for all tastes. Especially notable is how readily they take away the friction of getting there (it’s remote!) and continuing on to your next stop—picking up and dropping off at a wide variety of locations around central Thailand, included in the price. For me that meant pick-up at Phuket Airport, a 2.5-hour drive from the camp, and then at the conclusion of my visit driving me another 2.5 hrs to Don Sak, seeing me onto the ferry, and having a driver meet me at the Koh Samui dock to take me round the island to my hotel there. Made it very easy to include Elephant Hills in my larger Thailand exploration. Read less
Image of the Tripadvisor rating Incredible, best thing we did in Thailand

May 26, 2026 Willow P Holt, United Kingdom

I cannot recommend enough. It was such a wholesome trip, deep in nature and everything planned for you just fantastic. The staff are so kind and attentive, the tents are amazing. I have two children one who is a fussy eater and has sensory issues so I took lots of bits but we managed just fine and the food was beautiful, the best we have had so… Read more
I cannot recommend enough. It was such a wholesome trip, deep in nature and everything planned for you just fantastic. The staff are so kind and attentive, the tents are amazing. I have two children one who is a fussy eater and has sensory issues so I took lots of bits but we managed just fine and the food was beautiful, the best we have had so far on our trip to Thailand. I didn’t get to go in the pool as we were so busy with the trips and activity’s but it looked lovely. There are so many places to see elephants but this is truly unique. Of all my 3 trips in Thailand over the years this has been my favourite thing to do. Read less