Why should you go there and how do you do it right?

The Phuket Elephant Sanctuary opened in 2016 on a 12-hectare forested area in Pa Klok, in the northeast of the island, bordering Khao Phra Thaeo National Park. Thirteen rescued elephants live here, and the sanctuary operates on a purely observational model. Visitors are not allowed to feed, bathe, or touch the elephants. They can be observed eating, wallowing in the ponds, and socializing from the forest paths and a 500-meter-long elevated treetop walkway, which the sanctuary calls Thailand's longest canopy walkway.

The main program is the half-day tour for adults (3,000 Baht), which departs from the Pa Klok office from 9:30 am to 1:00 pm or from 1:30 pm to 5:00 pm. It includes an introductory video, a visit to the sanctuary's elephant clinic, the treetop walkway and hiking trails, and a vegetarian Thai buffet. Shared hotel transfers can be added to your booking. The 90-minute treetop walkway tour starts at 1,900 Baht, and the 7.5-hour full-day tour starts at 7,000 Baht.