Samui Elephant Sanctuary (Koh Samui)

Inspired by Elephant Nature Park, Samui Elephant Sanctuary brings ethical tourism to the Gulf of Thailand. With two locations (Bophut and Chaweng Noi), they offer a safe haven for elephants retired from the hard labor of the tourism industry. The highlight is walking alongside the gentle giants and watching them enjoy their custom-built mud pits and pools. It is the only certified ethical sanctuary on Koh Samui, winning multiple awards for animal welfare.

How to get there:

• From Chaweng/Fisherman’s Village: They offer free hotel pickup in their open-air safari trucks. Private cars are not permitted to enter the sanctuary grounds to protect the peace of the animals.