Elephant Hills Thailand: Family Of Five Review + Photos & Tips
Considering An Elephant Experience And Family Adventure In The Thai Jungle?
Thailand is a natural paradise and home to one of the world’s largest animals, the Asian Elephant. Although you can still see these gentle giants in the wild, Elephant Hills, Thailand, provides an opportunity for you to contribute to their care and conservation.
We knew that travelling in Thailand with kids over Christmas would be a uniquely special experience, and the Elephant Hills Resort, Khao Sok, ticked all the right boxes for our family. The sustainable luxury tented camp was an opportunity to stay in comfortable accommodation and to have an authentic jungle experience.
Elephant Hills is suitable for couples, solo travellers, families, friends and seniors, with options available to suit individual preferences.
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Elephant Hills Thailand – 2-day, 3-day and 4-day luxury tented camps
Day 1 Elephant Experience & Canoe, Day 2 Cheow Larn Lake & Kayak, Day 3 Explore Mangroves & Kayak, Day 4 Jungle Trek & BBQ
Elephant Hills: Overview
Elephant Hills camps are much more than just resorts with elephants. They are immersive experiences that aim to make you feel at one with the beauty of nature.
All guides are passionate about conservation and promote ethical and responsible tourism. As a result of their efforts, they have earned the title of the most ethical elephant sanctuary in Thailand.
Meeting the chain-free elephants, rescued from the logging and tourism trade, is the primary draw to Elephant Hills. In line with their pledge for sustainable and responsible tourism, you will never find any bathing or riding activities at Elephant Hills!
The camps support local communities through eco-friendly projects and employment. Local school children perform traditional dance and music. Their eco-friendly practices include waste reduction measures and energy-efficient lighting.
What Is Elephant Hills?
Elephant Hills is a group of luxury, ethically operated eco-camps in the heart of the Thai jungle. They bring together nature, adventure and guilt-free tourism in a harmonious camp to support the conservation and well-being of Asian Elephants.
There are two elephant camps in Khao Sok, The Tented Camp and The Rainforest Camp, and one in Chiang Mai, The Bush Camp. Each setting offers distinct and unforgettable family adventures, including an ethical elephant experience, jungle safari, kayaking, trekking, informative presentations and cultural interaction set in the Thai Jungle.
** It is worth noting that you will need good mobility and be over four to participate in all activities.
Elephant Hills Tented Camp
All Khao Sok guests begin their stay at Elephant Hills tented camp in Southern Thailand. The camp has 66 tents and accommodates guests for 1, 2 or 3 nights. There are several structured activities and time to relax in the jungle setting each day, followed by evening entertainment. There is no option for an Elephant Hills single-day trip.
Guests observe and learn about elephant behaviour before participating in an interactive session during their elephant experience. For this experience alone, it is worth visiting Elephant Hills.
Other activities include a canoe safari down the Sok River, a speed boat ride, a mangrove swamp canoe trip and a jungle trek to prepare an authentic BBQ feast. Depending on the season, you may see various wildlife, including water buffalo, monkeys, boars, and, if you’re really lucky, wild elephants!
Rainforest Camp Elephant Hills
Elephant Hills Rainforest Camp immerses you in the untouched beauty of Khao Sok National Park.
A traditional longtail boat will take you across the Cheow Larn Lake, which is surrounded by towering limestone karsts. The camp floats amidst the lush greenery, offering a unique experience for families with children over seven. Activities include access to kayaks, swimming and guided jungle treks.
Note: Whilst most packages visit the Rainforest Camp on Cheow Larn Lake, only the 3-day, 2-night Jungle Lake Safari includes a stay. However, alternative Khao Sok National Park floating bungalow options exist like 500 Rai Floating Resort and Panvaree The Greenery.
Elephant Hills Bush Camp
Elephant Hills Chiang Mai is the newest Bush Camp experience in Northern Thailand. Their all-inclusive 2-day, 1-night and 3-day, 2-night adventures allow ethical interaction with their elephants. In this safe jungle environment near the Ping River, the rescued elephants are provided with care and the freedom to roam, much like in Khao Sok.
As well as their elephant experience, the activities on offer include kayaking, jungle trekking, learning about elephants and their mahouts and making paper from elephant poo!
Elephant Hills Thailand Review: Our 4-Day Nature Safari Experience
As we were staying over Christmas, we chose the 4-day Nature Safari at Elephant Hills to maximise our time in this unique setting.
Our experience started with a private transfer, provided by Elephant Hills, from Krabi to Khao Sok National Park. The transfer took 3 hours from our hotel in Ao Nang and included a short comfort break. Bottled water was freely available in the comfortable, air-conditioned vehicle. We arrived on Christmas Eve, where, to our surprise, the Christmas spirit was in full swing with dancing, music, decorations and food.
Day One: Elephant Experience & Canoe Safari – Christmas Eve
We arrived at Khao Sok around 1100hrs for welcome drinks before being shown to our tents (one double & one triple). We explored the camp before an authentic Thai buffet lunch with the other guests.
The transfer to our elephant experience was a short, 10-minute drive for twenty guests. Once there, we watched an introductory documentary about Asian and African elephants. Our guide led us from the lodge to the resident elephants.
Although the elephants were free to roam, it was evident that they knew they would get food as they waited impatiently near the protective wooden barrier.
We each prepared a meal of fruit and vitamins before hand-feeding them. This resulted in a lot of play as they attempted to eat it faster than we could take the food from our baskets!
Once the elephants retreated into the grounds, some bathed in the pond or scratched themselves against trees while others walked freely. We observed them from a distance. Guests do not ride or bathe the elephants. This is your only elephant encounter (average 60 to 90 minutes), so make the most of it before returning to the main camp.
Our second activity was a relaxing safari canoe trip down the Sok River. The two-guest canoes were stable and paddled by a guide. The imposing limestone mountains and karsts are the perfect backdrop for the stunning lake. We saw limited birds, fish, and monkeys.
High tea and time to swim entertained at camp before our evening meal. A Thai dance performance and cooking demonstration followed a wildlife documentary as we awaited the dinner buffet. Alongside the traditional Western Christmas food, we also had traditional Thai cuisine, topped off with a visit from Santa!
Day Two: Cheow Larn Lake & Kayaking – Christmas Day
A traditional bronze gong woke us at 0730 for a sumptuous buffet breakfast before our 60-minute transfer to the Rajjaprabha hydro dam. After taking some photos of the stunning scenery, we boarded a long-tail boat to explore the man-made Cheow Larn Lake. The imposing limestone karsts made for some impressive scenery before arriving at our destination, the Rainforest Camp, Elephant Hills.
We had free time to relax, kayak or swim at the floating bungalows before a buffet lunch. We repeated the journey to return to the main camp. Half the guests stayed overnight on the lake as part of the Jungle and Lake Camp Safari Package.
Once again, high tea and evening entertainment (a documentary, dance performance and cooking demo) were available, followed by a buffet meal.
Day Three: Mangrove Tour – Boxing Day
Following another long minibus transfer (over three hours return) to Takua Pa on the West Coast, we boarded speed boats with two other families to navigate a mangrove forest. We had several monkey and snake sightings, although the forest itself was less appealing than the jungle we had left behind.
We boarded a classic Burmese junk for lunch and explored a mangrove creek by kayak. Apart from a large spider appearing on a kayak, there was not a lot of wildlife evident, although this may have been down to the time of year. There was then time to relax on the Junk (or repeatedly bomb into the river if you are a kid at heart!) before heading back to Elephant Hills main camp.
High tea was followed by the evening entertainment (another documentary, dance performance and cooking demo), followed by a buffet meal and our final night in the luxury tented camp.
Day Four: Jungle Trek & BBQ
We headed into the jungle directly from the camp on our final morning at Elephant Hills. A short canoe crossing to the opposite river bank brought us to a guided jungle trek with the two families we spent day three with. Our guide, Tor, explained the ecology of one of the world’s oldest rainforests and showed us some huge trees that towered above the rest of the canopy. We were on the lookout for gibbons, monkeys, snakes and birds, and although we saw little wildlife, the experience was very enjoyable.
The trek brought us to a remote hut. We cooked and ate our Thai BBQ lunch. Back at camp, there was time for a shower before departing Elephant Hills.
Elephant Hills With Kids
Elephant Hills is the perfect destination for a short family holiday or an addition to a longer trip (we visited Krabi before and Phuket after). With a packed schedule of activities, elephant encounters, inclusive meals (high tea is especially good!) and the adventure of sleeping in a tent in the jungle, there is no question as to whether its worth it for families. Our kids often recall their ‘Christmas with the elephants’.
Elephant Hills is very family-friendly, from its various activities to its accommodation and staff. Our kids liked having the same friendly guide for our entire stay. Nothing was too much bother for them to try to help with.
Due to its jungle location, unfortunately, kids under four years old are not permitted to book with Elephant Hills. Also, guests must be seven years old to stay at the Elephant Hills floating camp.
Information For Visiting Elephant Hills Resort
Elephant Hills is an all-inclusive resort that meets all your needs for a luxury jungle stay with kids.
Activities At Elephant Hills
Elephant Experience – meeting, meal prep, feed & observing elephants
Wildlife Canoe – Spot jungle wildlife on a guided boat tour
Kho Sok National Park Floating Tent Camp – Kayak, swim and jungle trek
Mangrove Experience – Speedboat through mangrove, lunch on a Thai junk boat and kayak safari
Jungle Trek and BBQ – A guided jungle hike to learn about plants and wildlife
*Activities vary depending on your booked package with Elephant Hills.
Downtime Entertainment
Elephant Hills Main Camp has a small swimming pool available during your stay. A selection of books, crafts, and board games are available in the reception area.
A well-stocked jungle bar operates for hot, soft, and alcoholic drink purchases and a small selection of snacks and ice creams from the souvenir shop. Water was always freely available from bottled water dispensers.
The evening entertainment starts after 1900hrs and includes an elephant and jungle documentary, local school children performing traditional Thai dances and a cooking demonstration of Thai specialities.
There are no facilities close to Elephant Hills Camps.
Tip: Consider bringing children’s entertainment and snacks for travel and downtime.
Food Buffet – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
The Elephant Hills gong sounds to summon you to your mealtime feast.
A selection of traditional Thai food and international buffet-style food is available for breakfast (07.30-09.30), lunch (to suit activities and location) and dinner (20.00-22.00). The food is locally sourced with fresh ingredients.
A high tea snack (fresh popcorn) was also available – and much enjoyed by the kids. This was especially appreciated as dinner was not served as early as they would have liked!
Dietary requirements are carefully considered and provided as an individual portion, with the buffet labelled too.
We enjoyed the food during our stay. Christmas dinner was a bonus, but our favourite was the jungle BBQ we helped prepare on day four. It aligned with what we would expect for a luxury camp.
The main banquet hall at Elephant Hills Tented Camp was very busy for dinner. With over 100 guests, a disorganised dash for food commenced each night.
Tip: Consider bringing snacks. Although the set buffets have a lot of variety, kids may still get hungry outside of meal times!
Elephant Hills Tented Accommodation
Elephant Hills offers luxury tented accommodation in keeping with the natural surroundings. The spacious tents and comfortable beds have all the comforts of a decent hotel, with en-suites and a private veranda. Each tent can accommodate up to three people.
We stayed in neighbouring tents (#50 & #51) in the main camp. Apart from a few small lizards, the tents remained free of jungle critters! It really felt like we were glamping in the jungle with the sounds of nature, and despite a road close to the camp, we were not bothered by road traffic noise.
Tents are similar at Elephant Hills Rainforest Camp, apart from opening onto the lake.
Best Time To Visit Elephant Hills, Khao Sok
The jungle around Khao Sok National Park flourishes as it is in one of the wettest areas of Thailand. The weather is unpredictable, with rain and sun possible on any given day. Rain showers tend to be short-lasting but can be welcome, with temperatures consistently above 25°C and averaging 35°C.
For many visitors, the best time to visit Elephant Hills is during the dry season, typically from December to April. With lower humidity, outdoor activities such as jungle treks, kayaking, and boat excursions on Cheow Larn Lake are more comfortable. Alternatively, the Monsoon Season, or Green Season, from May to October, sees fewer guests with a higher chance of spotting wildlife. Temperatures are also more comfortable. Elephant Hills Resort is good to visit all year round, and your choice of when to go ultimately comes down to preference.
Mosquitoes were not an issue in December, but it is always worth being prepared. Make sure you check the risk of dengue fever and malaria before you travel and pack accordingly.
We experienced light rain during our stay at Elephant Hills in late December. It was also uncomfortably hot during some road transfers but fine for activities. Nights were comfortable to sleep in; there were fans in the tents if needed.
Tip: Take sun protection and raincoats, whatever the time of year!
How To Get To Elephant Hills, Khao Sok
Collection and onward travel service is included in your booking. There is no option to self-drive. Guests are transported from within a 4-hour radius of Elephant Hills.
We were collected from Krabi and forwarded to Phuket after our stay. Both Journeys took around three hours.
Cost Of Staying At Elephant Hills Resort
Booking your all-inclusive safari stay directly with Elephant Hills will get you the best price. This can include a free ranger safari shirt, an additional day or free child places.
We booked through an agent, which worked out to be more expensive. Costs will vary according to the time of year but are typically around £575 per adult and £285 per child (4-15) for the 4-day Nature Safari. Everything is included in the price except drinks and tips.
Tip: Booking directly with Elephant Hills. You’ll get the best price this way and can often find promotions for free kid’s places, a free night or a free Elephant Hills shirt.
What To Wear For Khao Sok National Park
Staying in a jungle with various activities means you will need an active wardrobe with the option to dress up for the evening.
- Shorts, t-shirts and trekking sandals are suitable for your stay.
- We wore hiking trousers and long-sleeved T-shirts in the evening and on the jungle trek to avoid being bitten, but you could use mosquito spray a dressy clothes.
- Wear footwear that can get wet for kayaking – like water shoes.
- Your activity bag should include swimwear, sun protection (lotion, glasses & hat) and raincoat. Towels are provided for each water-based activity.
Tips For Elephant Hills
Elephant Hills, Khao Sok National Park, is a dream destination to spend a night or three in the heart of the Thai jungle. To help you get the most out of your stay, follow these tips:
🌟Tip 1 – Book Your Stay Early
A limited number of lodgings fill up well in advance. To avoid disappointment, book early. You’ll also get the best price this way and can often find promotions for free kid’s places, a free night or a free Elephant Hills shirt with certain bookings.
🌟Tip 2 – Prepare for Mosquitoes
The jungle is hot and humid. Bring insect spray and/or clothes to cover your legs and arms. The area carries a low risk of dengue fever and malaria, but it is possible to contract it in Thailand.
🌟Tip 3 – Be realistic About The Luxury Experience… In the Jungle!
While it may be comfortable, don’t expect air conditioning, a butler or insect-free accommodation!
🌟Tip 4 – Prepare for Rain, Humidity and Sun
The weather can change rapidly in the jungle! Take sun-cream, a sunhat, sunglasses and a raincoat.
🌟Tip 5 – Bring Cash
There is no option to pay by card at Elephant Hills. You must take cash to purchase additional drinks, snacks or souvenirs. There is no ATM in camp.
🌟Tip 6 – Be Prepared for Long Transfers and Downtime
All transfers are included, but expect to be on the minibus for up to an hour for some trips. The transfer from your hotel may well take several hours. Take your water bottle and family entertainment. There is a lot of downtime between activities to relax, swim or socialise. A small activity station with games is available for kids.
🌟Tip 7 – Take Suitable Clothing
Swimwear is essential for every activity around water. Even if you are not swimming, you’ll feel fresher in the humidity. Hiking boots are not essential, but closed shoes are recommended in the jungle.
🌟Tip 8 – Don’t Expect to See Lots of Elephants
Other than during your elephant experience (first day), you are unlikely to see elephants again during your visit.
Final Thoughts: Elephant Hills Thailand Review
Elephant Hills is a beautiful, peaceful luxury camp that delivers on its promise of an ethical, eco-friendly elephant experience for families.
The kayaking activities and jungle treks gave us a taste of adventure while providing an interesting and educational experience. Our knowledgeable guide, Tor, was fantastic and entertained us well throughout this unique Khao Sok Rainforest experience.
It really was a magical Christmas for us at Elephant Hills. However, whilst we thoroughly enjoyed our time, we would have liked more time with the elephants and shorter transfer times. Elephant Hills is well worth visiting for its unique blend of eco-tourism and luxury in the stunning Khao Sok rainforest.
