Hidden Forest Elephant Reserve

Hidden Forest Elephant Reserve

Hidden Forest Elephant Reserve
5
9:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Monday
9:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Tuesday
9:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Wednesday
9:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Thursday
9:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Friday
9:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Saturday
9:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Sunday
Closed
About
A genuine ethical elephant sanctuary in Chalong, Phuket that puts the welfare of our elephants first. We operate under the 5 freedom principals for animals, giving our elephants the freedom to exhibit natural behaviour in our peaceful forest home. Set up by elephant specialists Louise Rogerson, Mr Russell and Mr Kong.
Duration: 2-3 hours
Meets animal welfare guidelines
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  • Swadboy2
    Swadlincote, United Kingdom133 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Highlight of our holiday
    Probably the highlight of a wonderful holiday. The team here are so passionate about ethical sanctuaries and looking after the elephants it is infectious. Lunch provided was amazing. 100% ethical which was so important to us. It’s a fantastic place to visit
    Visited February 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 23 February 2024
  • Jonna L
    13 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    The most ethical place to see Elephants. Amazing!
    Once in a lifetime experience. Most ethical place in Phuket to see Elephants. The four female elephants really seemed to enjoy the time in reserve. They all had their own personalities. We had a heartwarming day. Definitely I would recommend to everyone.
    Visited March 2024
    Travelled with friends
    Written 12 March 2024
  • Kay M
    Billericay, United Kingdom18 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Ethical Elephant sanctuary on Phuket
    Now I understand why bathing and touching elephants is stressful for them. Elephants are not for riding, trunk kissing or hugging nor are they meant to walk a tightrope they not for bathing with either when an elephant enters water it stimulates their bowels so they poop in the water you are standing in. Elephants keep them selves cool by mud bathing and every time a tourist bathes with them they are removing their sunscreen. Hidden Forrest puts the elephants welfare at the forefront of what it says on the tin ‘Ethical’ you have an education briefing and have time to view these stunning animals from a fairly close but safe distance , the elephant is guided by their mahot with voice control not a bull hook in site, the tour is led at the elephants pace, you can feed them and then observe them in their natural surroundings and watch them bathe in their pond, while you enjoy a delicious lunch, taxi service to and from your restore is also included. Anyone who is a genuine animal lover will appreciate this beautiful place of pease, calm and kindness.
    Visited March 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 14 March 2024
  • Betton
    Stirlingshire, United Kingdom7 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    What an amazing experience!
    I’m so glad we stumbled across this place looking for an ethical way to meet some elephants in phuket. The transfer was an air conditioned mini van which took us directly to the venue and same again at the end, no long detour stopping off at every hotel which was nice. Plenty of water was provided throughout, the food was great and the staff were all amazing. The experience of feeding the elephants and observing them in a natural environment was fantastic. I really couldn’t recommend this enough, a must do trip!
    Visited March 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 14 March 2024
  • William M
    Limerick, Ireland38 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Incredible work undertaken by Louise and her team in this elephant sanctuary
    A sanctuary for elephants rescued from a life of misuse and Louise and her team provides a natural habitat for their recovery - most commendable and worthwhile work. This is the correct way to see elephants in a natural setting and not allowing unnecessary human interactions to capture a quick photo op for their own gratification. Animals like elephants should be respected and treated well by humans and not used as circus acts for entertainment. The objectives of this sanctuary is to allow all to experience elephants is a safe and respectful manner and is highly recommended. Keep up the great work and hope you have continued success with rescue elephants 🐘.
    Visited March 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 17 March 2024
  • Harleydog
    San Diego, California309 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Impressive
    Our family went there today and it looks like finally someone is doing it right . We had great relaxing time just watching these incredible animals , no need to touch them or wash them . A reasonably short walk around the park to several viewing points which had plenty of shade and cold water . Up the top you have lunch which is vegetarian and is also very good . This is where you see the elephants in the water , so cool. Please keep up the standard that we saw today , well done .
    Visited March 2024
    Travelled with family
    Written 22 March 2024
  • Lynne T
    Geelong, Australia34 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    An amazing experience
    I was looking for an ethical elephant tour and so glad I found this one. It made me realise that not all elephant experiences are in their best interest. We spent the afternoon feeding and watching the elephants in their habitat. The facility is fairly new, so the elephants are still settling into their new home. One had only been rescued in the last couple of weeks. The afternoon ended with a Thai vegetarian lunch which was delicious. Another positive was that the pick up from our hotel was also included in the price. Best to wear cool clothes, a hat and comfortable shoes. There is plenty of shade and water.
    Visited March 2024
    Travelled with family
    Written 25 March 2024
  • Ston
    34 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Amazing experience
    This is a wonderful ethical sanctuary ( no touching the elephants) in a tranquil setting. We were able to feed the elephants bananas and the rest of the morning involved watching them from a safe distance as they enjoyed sugar cane, bathing in the pool and covering themselves in mud. The founders, Louise and Russell are very informative, engaging, and clearly devoted to the wellbeing of the elephants. The vegetarian lunch was also superb.
    Visited March 2024
    Travelled with family
    Written 26 March 2024
  • Claire J
    3 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    A true ethical sanctuary
    From the moment you step foot into this serene sanctuary, you are transported into a world where time slows down, and the rhythm of the forest takes over. The reserve's commitment to ethical elephant tourism shines through in every aspect of the experience. The interaction with the elephants is truly special; visitors are given the opportunity to observe these magnificent creatures in their natural habitat. The emphasis here is on respect and conservation, ensuring the well-being of both the elephants and their environment. The knowledgeable guides provide invaluable insights into elephant behavior, their habitat, and the conservation efforts being undertaken to protect these majestic animals. Visitors are encouraged to observe, learn, and appreciate the beauty of these gentle giants without disrupting their natural routines. The facilities at the reserve are well-maintained, with an emphasis on sustainability and eco-friendliness. Visitors can relax and unwind in harmony with nature, knowing that their visit supports the conservation efforts of this vital ecosystem. The whole service, from collection to lunch was absolutely fantastic. Thank you for the opportunity to see these beautiful ladies!
    Visited March 2024
    Travelled with family
    Written 29 March 2024
  • kerry c
    9 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    The ‘truly ethical’ elephant experience.
    It’s not easy trying to find a truly ethical experience, especially when elephants are concerned. An experience when sanctuary is just that, not being bathed, ridden or chained. Louise and her team have nailed the what it is to be ethical. The six stars of the day are six females, rescued from logging, and the tourist trap. These majestic ladies wonder around at their will, with their mahouts trailing behind, friendly guiding them to food, water and shelter. This is what you want to see when visiting sanctuary’s, safe and contented animals living in peace. What an amazing day, amazingly informed guides and unforgettable setting. If you are still dreaming of ‘bathing an elephant’, (even though it is a distressing occurrence for them) after reading my view and considering going elsewhere where, here’s a fact for you; water aid elephants to poo/urinate so happy bathing to you, enjoy!
    Visited April 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 1 April 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

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5.0
5.0 of 5 bubbles138 reviews
Excellent
136
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Jo S
Worcester, UK159 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2024 • Family
Booking an ‘ethical’ elephant experience was a must do for us whilst in Thailand & many claim to be just that… but how ethical are they really?
We absolutely know that riding is a no no…. But so is bathing & the staff at Hidden Forest explain why… do you want to be forced to bathe every hour? Have someone scrubbing your sensitive bits? Be unable to express yourself naturally for fear of injuring humans that are too close? Not to mention elephants poo & wee in water!! If bathing with people their behaviour is closely monitored & constrained.
Hidden Forest says it is the only truly ethical elephant sanctuary in Phuket. Their eles are allowed to just be elephants. They eat.. they walk , they bathe if they want to (without people) they scratch, they trumpet, they cuddle their friends & demand up to 5 sugarcane treats at a time!! They are transfixing and it is humbling to be in their presence.
All of the elephants here are rescued & the guides explain all of their stories. Some have had very hard lives & it’s wonderful to see them relaxed… happy and loving life at the pace nature intended. The staff clearly love their job and their care for the girls shines through.
The pace of your tour here is elephant pace. There is so much time given to just observe their natural behaviour at close (but safe) quarters. The mahouts are as relaxed as their charges. It’s so special to see them interacting, scratching their bottoms on rocks… wandering off path for some juicy foliage, submerging themselves in the lake and eating contentedly.
Vegetarian lunch was delicious. The view of two muddy bottoms wallowing in the mud bath while we were eating is something I will never forget. As was the baby of the group clambering up the hillside toward the restaurant for some tasty grass completely oblivious to our squeals of delight!!
If you are within travelling distance of Hidden Forest there is no other choice of elephant experience. Respect the elephants, support their ideology, and be a
better, kinder human. This was a day none of us will ever forget. A life affirming experience. If only all elephants enjoyed life in the same way that these beautiful girls do.
Written 31 August 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Smcfedries
1 contribution
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2024 • Couples
This experience was truly amazing. We met two of the British owners who saved these 6 gorgeous female elephants. Lots of information provided on the lives before these elephants were rescued from the logging and tourist trade and how they have settled into their new home free to roam and enjoy plenty of lovely food (no cages or shackles) and all their different personalities as they learn to ease into their new environment. Watch the elephants bathing as you have an extremely tasty lunch and feed the elephants plenty of bananas. No bathing or touching, (we learned they push nails into the elephants to keep them standing still at tourist bathing excursions!!) if you love animals and want an truly ethical experience then please book this excursion instead of the others. I was booked into another one and cancelled after reading some of the horrendous reviews. you won’t be disappointed. And there’s a lovely gift shop which all proceeds go towards conservation of the elephants.
Written 22 November 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

terry1366
Lowestoft, UK22 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2024 • Couples
Well what can I say . . ..? Absolutely blown away with the care of the elephants that is given by all the staff that look after these beautiful animals , we were greeted and offered refreshments before a 10 minute video I was in tears before it ended and yes I’m a 58 year old grown man !
How can anyone treat these and any other animal in such an appalling way , but this new concept of looking after elephants is the absolute way it should be , the staff that look after these beautiful animals are 100% dedicated to looking after them , no chains no bathing with them , no shower with them , they are free to do exactly what they should be able to do , we booked a trip with another so called elephant sanctuary so we could have a shower with the elephants, after doing extensive research I contacted the agent I had booked with and asked them to contact the sanctuary to ask if their elephants were restrained in anyway , to my horror I was told yes with chains ,I cancelled immediately and got a full refund , please please if you want to see elephants in their near to perfect habitat book the hidden forest reserve you will not be disappointed , another tip book direct the sanctuary recieves more to look after these beautiful animals and cuts out the middle man . We were unaware that lunch was included which was such a welcome extra while watching the elephants bathe in the muddy water getting clean , only to come out and then to shower themselves with more mud to use as a sun protection, we spent 3 and a half hours watching and even then I didn’t want to leave hopefully one day in the future all elephant sanctuaries where ever they are in the world we be just like this one .
We were on another trip on the island and on the bus we passed another so called elephant sanctuary and as we passed this elephant was enclosed in a small area and chained by one of its feet and he/she was swaying side to side we could tell that this elephant was in distress which prompted me to recheck the original booking we had made .
If you book a trip to see elephants please look on trip adviser as even trip advisor displays a sign all Brit small that they do not condone to sell tickets to some of these sanctuaries,
Also I must mention that the mahuts ( elephant companion) and their own families do an absolutely fantastic job . It’s the best experience of our whole holiday and hope this concept spreads rapidly across the world .
The English lady from Manchester will remember me as she admired my brightly coloured shirt ! I walk with a walking stick due to numbness in my leg and foot and the staff all made sure I was ok , a big thank you to you all . I will certainly be signing up to sponsor an elephant or the mahouts and their family
Written 28 September 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Bruce B
2 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2024 • Couples
Excellent activity with a unique experience. Despite the wet weather, which did not impact the tour at all, Louise was fantastic, engaging , knowledgeable and passionate. Everyone was able to feed, view and experience the elephants without disturbing or stressing them. To see them act naturally and not in a circus or tourist trap was a unique life experience.
Highly recommended.
Written 25 June 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Tracey W
6 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2024 • Couples
This remarkable place created and run by inspiring people gave us the afternoon of a lifetime.
We chose the “afternoon with elephants “. We were collected from our hotel in a comfortable, air conditioned van and transported to the Hidden Forest Elephant Sanctuary.
The wonderful and informative staff ( Anna , sorry if the spelling is wrong, spoke intelligently and humorously about their beautiful “ladies “, all the resident elephants are female, and answered everyone’s questions with the same knowledge and amusing anecdotes).
I could go on forever about these majestic matriarchs and how humbled I felt to be in their presence and to learn about the decades of hard labour they experienced in both the logging industry and tourist elephant riding camps, how they along with many others were torn apart from their babies so these can be sold on ( this goes on still ).
Please visit and support this remarkable oasis of elephant heaven so they can grow and continue to support their charges as they learn how to be elephants again…….just elephants, no hundreds of tourists touching them constantly, day after day, no bathing with them or clutching at their trunks. J…U…S….T elephants.
What else do you need?
Written 26 November 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Rochelle S
5 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2024 • Family
Russ and the team were amazing, you could feel the joy, passion and deep respect they have oozing for the 6 Elephants currently at the sanctuary. Recognising each Elephant's likes and dislikes and giving them space to become comfortable with their relatively new surrounds in their own time.
I have sent the link to their page to friends that frequent Thailand as these are the people that truly deserve (& need) recognition and support for the work they do.
I mentioned to Russ that I had decided I wouldn't visit Elephants while in Thailand as I don't agree that they are as ethical as advertised, until we came across these guys and they proved to me that there are still genuine groups out there that really want what's best for these gorgeous girls!
Also the BEST food we had our entire holiday in Thailand!!
We'll be back and will be spreading the word.
Thanks again Russ and team
Written 29 May 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Julie H
18 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2025 • Couples
After some research online we chose to visit here as we were wanting an experience that wasn’t harmful to the Elephants.
We had an amazing trip from the very beginning. Communication was great even arranging a private transfer for us as we were not on a pick up point.

Once there the information about the elephants previous lives was explained info about the individual elephants and a video ( have a tissue handy )
We then moved onto the first station and watched all the elephants walk down to be fed treats by us. It was a wonderful experience and couldn’t believe how much they eat. So funny to watch them articulate a whole bunch of bananas so delicately .
It is all very organised to cause no stress to them.

The second station we stopped at one of the elephants stopped so close to us for ages eating her sugar cane with such calm and we were mesmerised ,didn’t even take a photo. It will stay in our memories forever.
There is such obvious love and care for these beautiful elephants the mahouts are there caring and watchful but never forcing them on - everything is at the elephants pace. The staff were all lovely and answered any questions while walking round. We also met Louise - co owner -on our walk answering every question we had and obv has such love for the Elephants ,staff and the entire project they are running.

There are 4 stations you stop at to observe the elephants but not to touch. The last being our food station. You are served a wonderful vegan Thai meal and tea and get to watch the elephants deciding whether to bathe or mud bath. We got to see both those events which was perfect.

If you are in Phuket and like animals this trip is a must. Such a wonderful way to see Elephants close up but in a safe managed and calm environment
.
Also have rescued cats one with kittens and an adorable Goose named Grace.

So glad we found this reserve. Thank you to all at The Hidden Forest for making this such a memorable visit.
Written 16 January 2025
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Ryan S
9 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2025 • Couples
Absolutely unbelievable experience here. Owned by an English couple whose passion and unconditional love for the elephants is so clear to see. They are just doing everything right and putting elephant welfare at the forefront of everything they do. No riding, no bathing, no touching. And it totally still felt intimate and beautiful to spend time with the elephants. We fed them bananas, watched them from several observation areas (some closer than others and none felt intrusive for the elephants), were shown a video about why elephant tourism needs to be ethical, learned about each elephants past and observed them around their amazing grounds.

They have around 30 acres of land to roam around between 8 elephants and it just felt like they could do whatever they wanted and weren’t forced to do anything (even their mahouts didn’t seem to touch them once). AThere were several water stations throughout which was great (plastic free so bring a bottle). Lunch was absolutely insane, watching them play in the water and mud and seeing their characters come out was amazing (2 of them didn’t seem to want to get in the water and were just left to wander off up the hill and around the surrounding areas, which was amazing - just felt natural and left feeling so happy and like we’d made the right choice).

The group was intimate and it was amazing to have little side conversations with the owners Russel and Louise, hearing their background and why they’re so passionate about what they do - amazing people and an amazing place to spend some time.

YOU HAVE TO GO HERE!! 🐘🐘🐘🐘🐘🐘🐘🐘
Written 25 January 2025
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

glennjennifer
Sydney, Australia185 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2025 • Family
Yes, they seem ethical. Yes, they seem passionate about the animals well-being. Dealing with 40 plus people does not seem to be in their skillset. My main issue is with the style in which they impart the educational content.
We had four speakers all communicating at once to a 40-plus group. Each "guide" told a different story, and it was impossible to focus on any one "guide" as each seemed to be speaking to individuals and not to the group. The bamboo structures that housed the guests were best suited to those who were seated in the front with it impossible to hear or see from the rear.
A lot of steep walking is involved, the paths/steps are very uneven and rutted, ensure adequate footwear is worn, and pray for dry conditions . It took an hour from Kàron, our shuttle bus of 7 missed the start by a few minutes and had to sit through a "shortened" introduction.
A nice lunch was provided, but they missed a prime opportunity to talk to the group as one. No info was given over lunch unless you happen to sit beside a "guide."
Overall, it's not a bad half day attraction. it's good for kids. I wouldn't recommend it for anyone who would like to get a little more info than Wikipedia has.
Written 5 January 2025
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear glennjennifer, Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. I’m Louise, the Co-founder of Hidden Forest. I have had the privilege of running educational tours at elephant sanctuaries in Thailand for the past 9 years, working closely with and rescuing elephants for 15 years, with a key focus on raising awareness and advocating for responsible, ethical elephant tourism. While we deeply appreciate constructive feedback, I would like to take a moment to clarify a few points regarding your experience. First, we begin each tour with an informative presentation to the entire group. Unfortunately, as you mentioned, your transport arrived late, which meant you missed this part. On rare occasions when this happens, we offer a shorter introduction and immediately show the educational video, which ensures guests can join the tour without missing any time with the elephants. We pride ourselves on providing an intimate and peaceful experience, and each of our Thai tour guides engages with smaller groups, allowing for a more personal interaction where questions can also be answered. Our guides are highly experienced, have worked with elephants extensively, they share their expertise as well as their personal stories. We have not received feedback that guests had difficulty hearing the guides or seeing the elephants as our observation huts are designed to be intimate, ensuring that everyone has a clear view and can hear the guide, so I’m sorry that this wasn't your experience and we’ll look into it to make sure we can improve for future visits. Hidden Forest is situated on 28-acres featuring natural pathways and a scenic walk to our restaurant where the elephants bathe. We carefully selected this land over the course of two years to ensure it provides the best environment for both the elephants and our visitors. We’ve tailored our tours to be accessible to everyone from families with young children to the elderly, who have enjoyed the walk through our reserve and which is reflected in our 5 star reviews. For those who may find the walk more challenging, we also have a vehicle available. At the restaurant, we allow our visitors to relax and enjoy their lunch in peace whilst the elephants bathe in the ponds and mud. It’s a lovely opportunity to take photos and videos. By this point in the tour, we’ve shared a great deal of information, and we encourage guests to simply enjoy the surroundings with either myself or our guides available nearby for any further questions. Our goal at Hidden Forest is to offer a personal, relaxed, and peaceful experience, allowing guests to fully appreciate the magic of the forest and our gorgeous elephants. I’m truly sorry to hear that your visit didn’t meet your expectations but we are grateful that you chose to spend your time with us, and we value your feedback. Thank you once again, and I wish you all the best in your future travels. Warm regards, Louise Rogerson Co-founder, Hidden Forest
Written 8 January 2025
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Nicole H
3 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2024 • Friends
Most amazing experience! So cute to see the elephants up close, happy and safe. So ethical and educational, the owners are lovely and you can tell that really care about the elephants and teaching others about the animals. I learnt so much and had the best time up close to the elephants, with no guilt or shame that they were being mistreated.
Written 30 April 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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HIDDEN FOREST ELEPHANT RESERVE (2025) All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos) - Tripadvisor

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