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About the Wild Cottages Elephant Sanctuary Resort
Located in the quieter area of Bo Phut on Koh Samui, this cottage-style resort distinguishes itself from typical island accommodations with its own elephant sanctuary. Here, guests and day visitors can observe and interact with rescued elephants in a natural and species-appropriate environment. The resort appeals to travelers seeking more than just a beach holiday, offering a meaningful nature experience alongside a well-maintained pool area, gardens, hammocks, and an on-site restaurant.
Accommodation ranges from standard rooms to private villas, and the grounds are particularly family-friendly – the resort offers a buggy transfer between reception and rooms, which guests with young children or limited mobility will appreciate. The pool area serves as a meeting point where guests can order food and drinks while watching elephants in the adjacent pasture. The dining options are international, although the choices for vegetarians may be somewhat limited.
Here in the area, on foot
Highly rated accommodations within walking distance of Wild Cottages Elephant Sanctuary Resort, the closest one listed first. The short walk is pleasantly manageable even in the heat.
Experience tips
Combine your visit. After the Wild Cottages Elephant Sanctuary Resort, you can round off your day on Koh Samui with contrasting stopovers nearby.
Google reviews
We went yesterday with a day pass and it's a beautiful place. We were able to use the pool and the gardens; there were plenty of sun loungers and even a few hammocks. We watched the elephants bathing and roaming in the pasture below and were even allowed to help with feeding them at lunchtime. We also used the spa area and treated ourselves to a 90-minute massage and treatment, which was worth every penny and left me feeling completely refreshed. We had lunch in the restaurant, and the food was fantastic—everything was absolutely delicious and beautifully presented. All the staff were friendly and attentive, and no request was too much trouble. The day pass includes a 1500 Baht credit for food and drinks. You should definitely use this credit before leaving. Otherwise, the bill will be itemized, plus tax and service charge. This was a bit confusing for us and the couple before us. Since we hadn't used the credit, we either had to pay the full amount or order food worth the credit. Since it was almost closing time, we had to place a takeaway order. This isn't a complaint, just a heads-up, as it can be annoying to find out at the end of the day that you have to pay more than planned. I don't understand what benefit you, as a company, derive from us taking more food with us. If I pay you 2500 baht and only use 800 baht of the voucher, surely you make more profit?
We traveled with our 7-month-old baby and found the accommodation very baby-friendly. Despite the rugged terrain and some hills, Wild Cottage offers two buggies that take you directly from reception to your room! We booked a family room and were delighted with the amenities! If you're traveling with a baby, you should inquire beforehand whether a cot is available, as we didn't need one and therefore didn't ask for one. The food was good, even though there's only one café. The wide variety of dishes makes you want to order more. Perfect for a short break: simply stay at the resort and enjoy the elephants and the grounds. As it's a wilderness area, you should expect mosquitoes, but Wild Cottage kindly provided mosquito repellent. We learned from the staff that more elephants will be arriving soon! We're really looking forward to it!
We booked this accommodation expecting a luxurious and peaceful stay, paying around US$1,600 for a private villa in a resort marketed as a luxury elephant sanctuary. Unfortunately, the reality was quite different. The main problem is that the villas are not properly sealed. Doors and windows have gaps, there are no insect screens, and it's impossible to seal the rooms to prevent animals from getting in. This is not a minor issue; it affects safety, comfort, and sleep. The villa itself made a beautiful first impression. It was clean upon our arrival, the view was breathtaking, and the concept was impressive. However, the inadequate sealing quickly became a serious problem. On our first night, despite the doors being closed, several geckos entered our villa, even the bedroom. The loud animal noises we heard for hours turned out to be the geckos calling from inside the room. One was removed around midnight, the second only between 2:00 and 2:30 a.m. Even after that, we continued to hear noises and feel movement in the room. We didn't get a wink of sleep until the early hours of the morning. Because of the sleepless night, we unfortunately had to miss a Muay Thai activity we had been really looking forward to. At breakfast the next morning, despite the dining room being almost completely empty, it took about 45 minutes for our food to arrive, which only added to our frustration. The hotel manager offered us an "upgrade" but initially expected us to vacate our room and manage without one until 3 p.m. Only after our protest did they agree to prepare it earlier. The so-called upgrade turned out to be essentially the same room, just located slightly higher up, with the same gaps, lack of sealing, and the same defects. No compensation whatsoever was offered. Not even a simple gesture like lunch, drinks, or a sincere attempt to acknowledge the lost night. When we brought this up, the only responses were, "That's just how it is" and "These things happen." This explanation might be acceptable for a budget eco-lodge, but not for a luxury resort in this price range. Later that same day, we had booked an off-site activity through the hotel. When we arrived at reception to be picked up, the staff and manager seemed confused, speaking Thai and laughing amongst themselves. Eventually, after we became visibly uncomfortable, the manager drove us himself but didn't arrange a return trip, so we had to walk back. Now, on our second night, we're again seeing geckos entering the villa and hearing noises, which is causing us serious concern about another sleepless night. This isn't about "nature experiences." It's about poor room design, inadequate sealing, and management that ignores problems. For the price paid, the stay was extremely disappointing. The concept has potential, but without significant improvements in room sealing, guest relations, and management attitude, this place offers a far cry from a luxury experience. We will remain at the accommodation and sincerely hope that the management will address the problems appropriately before our departure.
A selection of visitor reviews on Google. Read all 354 reviews on Google.
137/31 84320, Thailand
Other hotels and resorts nearby
Everything within a 2.0 km radius of Wild Cottages Elephant Sanctuary Resort.
Suralai Luxury Holiday Villa
Anantara Bophut Koh Samui Resort
Bo Phut Resort
NH Collection Samui Peace Resort
Tips for visiting hotels and resorts
Compare the rates of online travel agencies and direct providers.
After finding a deal on Agoda or Booking.com, you should always check the hotel's own website as well. Many Thai hotels offer a best price guarantee or extras like free breakfast when booking directly.
Location is more important than the stars
A well-located 3-star hotel is often better than a remote 5-star resort. In Bangkok, proximity to a BTS or MRT station saves hours; on islands, proximity to the desired beach is crucial.
Questions about Wild Cottages Elephant Sanctuary Resort
The Wild Cottages Elephant Sanctuary Resort has a rating of 4.5★ based on 354 Google reviews.
The best time to visit Koh Samui is from January to September, as the weather is most stable then. Peak season is from July to August and in December. Those who travel early in the day will generally encounter fewer visitors. From October to December (monsoon season on the Gulf coast), a trip should be carefully considered.
Wild Cottages Elephant Sanctuary Resort is located at 137/31, ตำบล บ่อผุด อำเภอเกาะสมุย สุราษฎร์ธานี 84320, Thailand, on Koh Samui. The usual ways to get around Koh Samui are songthaews (fixed routes around the ring road) and renting motorbikes or scooters.
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