Visited Chaweng sanctuary. Chai was our tour guide, he was very professional, knowledgeable and friendly. We prepared food, fed and then walked with the elephants. What a great experience. Saddens me to hear what these beautiful animals have been through. Thank goodness for this sanctuary! The lunch provided was amazing. Thanks to all involved! Highly recommend a visit.

Best experience you will have. Mr Tony and the staff are incredible and they love these rescued creatures with all of their heart. Walking in the pouring rain, with our supplied raincoats with these massive beasts is magnificent. Great food, great company and great new friends to meet. Recommend.

Just amazing! Great experience at all with great organization and with kind guides. First, we prepared food for elephants and after it we went to pet them gently and also give them sweets (banana, rice balls, banana sushi). The elephants were amazing, so gentle creatures with very strong and sad life stories. However, in the sancutary they seems to be really happy and finally they have nice life with good people around them. We would definitely to go there again if possible as this experience is worth the money which are btw used for food/vet care and also for savings to “buy” (save) another elephant.

Unbelievable morning at the elephant sanctuary. These elephants have been rescued from terrible conditions working in the tourism industry. The staff tell you their stories which is heartbreaking to hear, but brings so much comfort to see how they are being treated now. Any questions we had, the staff were able to answer. Super friendly staff that had great knowledge and understanding of these elephants, they have built relationships with them. Snacks and drinks were available throughout our time there and a delicious vegetarian buffet lunch was put on for us before we were taken back to our hotels. They are really relying on you to visit this place to raise enough money for the resources they need to rescue and help these elephants. With covid hitting, they have struggled, you MUST go!

We visited the sanctuary with our three kids (6/7/8) and it was an unforgettable time and ethical experience with the elephants. The kids (and also we) were able to learn a lot about elephants, preparing food, feed the elephants, walk through the sanctuary and getting close (in a respectful distance) to the elephants. Very good educational parts by the staff of the sanctuary. Not cheap, but definitely worth it!

This afternoon my family and visited this elephant sanctuary and I must say it was a very good experience. It has opened up my eyes to the abuse that so many of these elephants had to endure either here in Thailand or anywhere in the world. So before we decide to take a ride on an elephant or watch an elephant perform at circus, think about this. It's quite sad. This trip was very educational for me and my family. It's good that there is this sanctuary here for them. It's nice to see them free. During this trip, we got to make food for the elephant and feed them. Also watch them bathed and wonder around. I hope that the next time I'm here we will get to see the new hospital for these elephants. We ended our trip with dinner at the highest restaurant in Koh Samui and we got a great view of the island.

I went in 2019, I was solo traveling and decided to come here on my birthday. The sanctuary happened to have a sign-in sheet with a field for your birthday. After once lunch was served at the end of our tour the kind SES team presented me with a lovely cake and sang for me. It's such a special memory of mine and am so appreciative of the kind act the team took upon themselves. Without question, I'd go back to see the elephants and staff again.

Amazing experience! This is the elephant sanctuary to come to. It is ethical, elephant centric and kind. We were considering the “photo moment” experience of bathing with and riding on elephants but SO GLAD we chose the ethical elephant sanctuary instead. It was such a learning moment for our young kids, to make food for elephants, to hear the stories from where these beautiful creatures were rescued from (tourist traps promising unique insta moments), to feed these beautiful creatures and to walk amongst them and watch them bathe. It was educational, it was an experience that left us feeling engaged with these incredible creatures and it was a way to do some good. My son heard the stories of elephants being punished and saw the scars of the straps to hold tourists who want to ride on elephants. It changed him for the better. What they don’t tell you on the website - you’re picked up from your hotel/meeting place, a delicious vegetarian lunch is included and it’s a must see.

My wife and I did the afternoon session at Chaweng Noi and were pretty disappointed to find out we couldn't get close to the elephants like you can at the Bophut location. They are trying to keep these elephants more like they are in the wild - which I completely support! It just would have been nice for that information to be made known prior to us booking. Still a cool experience, just a heads up for those wanting to get up close and personal with these beautiful animals. P.S. Chai, our guide, was great!

We just went this morning with our two young kids and it was really great! They organized a family group for going to see the elephants, and are specifically attentive to children's needs. Strollers need to be left at the reception/dinning area, but it is close to the elephants. I would totally recommend the samui elephant sanctuary for families. The elephants looked happy and well taken care off, and it is a great opportunity to see them so close.