Pattaya Elephant Sanctuary
Rob's take
"This is the elephant experience I actually recommend — no rides, no circus tricks, just feeding, washing and walking alongside rescued elephants in small groups. Book a morning session, bring a swimsuit for the bathing, and take the hotel pick-up so you're not fighting the traffic out to Bang Sare."
Pattaya Elephant Sanctuary is a thing to do in Pattaya, within the greater Pattaya area of Chon Buri, Thailand, and one of Rob's picks on this guide. It's rated 4.8★ on Google. Open daily, 9:00 AM–5:00 PM.
Pattaya Elephant Sanctuary is a welfare-focused refuge where visitors feed, wash, walk with and bathe rescued elephants rather than ride them. Open daily, it runs small, unhurried sessions with knowledgeable guides, and packages can include hotel pick-up and lunch on site. The consistent emphasis on the animals' comfort makes it a humane and memorable way to get close to these gentle creatures.
Curated in Pattaya · Last updated July 2026
What people say
- Widely praised as genuinely ethical — no rides, elephants clearly well cared for
- Warm, knowledgeable guides and friendly staff mentioned again and again
- Feeding, washing and bathing up close; bring a swimsuit for the water activities
- Small, sometimes private groups make it feel unhurried rather than staged
- Hotel pick-up and on-site lunch make for a stress-free day out
Common questions
Is Pattaya Elephant Sanctuary worth visiting?
Pattaya Elephant Sanctuary holds a 4.8★ average across 717 Google reviews, so it's well regarded by the people who go. It's also one of our hand-picked spots on Things To Do In Pattaya.
What are Pattaya Elephant Sanctuary's opening hours?
Open daily, 9:00 AM–5:00 PM. Hours can shift on Thai public holidays, so it's worth checking ahead for a special trip.
Where is Pattaya Elephant Sanctuary, and how do I get there?
Pattaya Elephant Sanctuary is in Pattaya, within the greater Pattaya area of Chon Buri, Thailand. Use the map on this page and tap "Get directions" to open turn-by-turn navigation in Google Maps.
What do visitors say about Pattaya Elephant Sanctuary?
Recurring themes from reviews include: widely praised as genuinely ethical — no rides, elephants clearly well cared for; warm, knowledgeable guides and friendly staff mentioned again and again; feeding, washing and bathing up close; bring a swimsuit for the water activities; small, sometimes private groups make it feel unhurried rather than staged.
See it in motion
Where it is
Open in Google Maps ↗Worth knowing
- Feeding Program price — adults: 700 baht per person (12 and over)
- Feeding Program price — children: 350 baht for ages 4–11
- Feeding Program price — under 4s: Free
- Feeding Program length: 30 minutes
- Morning feeding session: 9:00am – 9:30am
- Midday feeding session: 12:30pm – 1:00pm
- Afternoon feeding session: 4:30pm – 5:00pm
- Booking required: No walk-ins; visits only at the three scheduled feeding times and only with a prior booking confirmation
- Payment: Cash only on site; online bookings take a 20% deposit with the balance paid in cash on arrival
- Feeding Program payment: No deposit needed — pay cash in Thai baht on arrival
- Transport not included: You must arrange your own transport both ways for the Feeding Program
- No hotel pick-up: No pick-up is provided; the sanctuary can arrange transport by email for an extra charge
- Bring passport details: Needed to complete the insurance agreement — photo on your phone or a photocopy is fine
- Dress code: Clothes you don't mind getting dirty; no bikinis or revealing clothing
- Drinks included: Coffee, tea, soft drinks or water at the sanctuary
- Guide: English-speaking guide included
- No riding: Saddle-off sanctuary — no elephant riding or shows
From Pattaya Elephant Sanctuary's own website, read September 2026. Prices and hours change — check the source before you rely on one.
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