Can you ride the elephants here?

No. The sanctuary enforces a strict no-riding policy, with no seats, bull-hooks or chains anywhere on site. Its elephants were rescued from logging, circuses and the trekking trade, so the day is spent feeding, bathing and walking with them rather than sitting on them.

Does it work for young children and older parents?

Yes. Children take to the hand-feeding and the mud-spa quickly, and older travellers can keep to feeding and watching the herd at their own pace. Nothing on the visit requires riding or physical effort. If anyone in the group prefers a shorter, calmer session, the one-hour Feed Me programme is the easiest.

Will there be vegetarian or Indian food?

The Feed and Bath and Half Day Visit programmes include a meal, usually a Thai-style spread, along with snacks and drinks. Vegetarian dishes are normally available, and we can pass on a veg or Jain request to the sanctuary when you book over WhatsApp. The one-hour Feed Me programme has no meal, so if you choose that option it is worth eating before the 30 to 45 minute drive out of town.

Where is the sanctuary, and is transport arranged?

It is in the Khao Mai Kaew hills, about 7 km and a 30 to 45 minute drive from central Pattaya. Return transport is part of every programme, and pick-up is free for guests staying within Pattaya City and along Jomtien Beach. Hotels beyond those zones may carry a small surcharge, which we will quote when you message us.

Will we get wet, and are photos included?

On the Feed and Bath and Half Day programmes you will, since both include the river bath and mud-spa; bring a change of clothes, a towel and flip-flops. Those two programmes also include professional photos of your session, so you can focus on the elephants while the team records the visit.

Thailand › Pattaya › Pattaya Elephant Jungle Sanctuary

Pattaya Elephant Jungle Sanctuary

Rescue sanctuary with a strict no-riding policy: no seats, hooks or chains
Three programmes: Feed Me (1 hr), Feed and Bath (1.5 hrs), Half Day Visit (2.5-3 hrs)
Hand-feed, bathe and join the mud spa with the rescued herd
Free pick-up across Pattaya City and Jomtien Beach

Pattaya

Opening hours · Daily pickups 6:30 AM - 10:00 PM · 1 hr to 3 hr programmes

Free cancellation & date change up to 72h
Instant WhatsApp confirmation
Mobile voucher accepted
TAT-registered operator
Trusted by 1,700+ travellers

About this tour

The Elephant Jungle Sanctuary is a rescue home for elephants taken out of logging camps, circuses and the trekking trade. It runs on a strict no-riding policy: there are no seats, no bull-hooks and no chains. A visit is built around feeding, bathing and walking with the herd, not performing with them. For families who want time with elephants without supporting riding or shows, that focus on welfare is the main reason to come.

The sanctuary lies in the Khao Mai Kaew hills, roughly 7 km and a 30 to 45 minute drive from central Pattaya, and we handle the transfer both ways. During the session you hand-feed bananas and sugarcane, join the mud spa and river bath, and see how the team turns elephant dung into paper. There are no tricks or staged routines, only direct contact with the animals.

Three programmes are available, and the right one depends on how much time you have:

Feed Me (1 hour): meet the herd, hand-feed them and hear how each elephant was rescued. Covers transport, an on-site sanctuary guide, insurance and elephant food. The best fit if you have very young children or a tight schedule.
Feed and Bath (1.5 hours): everything in Feed Me, with the added mud spa and river-bathing session, professional photos, snacks, drinks and a meal (lunch or dinner). This is the option most families choose.
Half Day Visit (2.5 to 3 hours): an unhurried session of feeding, bathing and mud-spa, also with photos, snacks, drinks and a meal included.

The bathing and mud-spa parts of the day will leave you wet and muddy, so pack a change of clothes. Pick-up is free for guests staying within Pattaya City and along Jomtien Beach; hotels outside those zones may incur a small surcharge, which we will quote on request. The sanctuary's own guides run the session, while the Trip Dust team handles Hindi and English support and confirms your exact pick-up time on WhatsApp the evening before.

Please note: Free pickup zones: Pattaya City and Jomtien Beach hotels. Outside these zones a small surcharge applies — contact us for a quote.

What's included

Round-trip transport from your hotel (free within Pattaya City & Jomtien zones)
On-site sanctuary guide
Insurance
Elephant food (fruit & sugarcane to hand-feed the herd)
Professional photos of your session (Feed and Bath & Half Day Visit)
Snacks, drinks & a meal — lunch or dinner (Feed and Bath & Half Day Visit)

Hotel pick-up & drop-off for guests staying outside Pattaya City / Jomtien Beach (optional — on paid request)
Meals & drinks on the Feed Me (1 hr) programme
Personal expenses, souvenirs & tips

Good to know

Free cancellation or date change up to 72 hours before your activity — full refund or free reschedule.
Booking confirmed instantly on WhatsApp — show your mobile voucher on arrival.
Wear clothes suited to the activity and weather. Bring water, sunscreen and a little cash for extras.

Pattaya Elephant Jungle Sanctuary – Itinerary

Feed Me (1 hr)

EJS Pattaya office meet

Transport, guide, insurance, elephant food. Meeting point: EJS Pattaya office.
Feed and Bath (1.5 hr)

Feed, bathe & mud-spa

Transport, guide, insurance, photographer, elephant food, snacks & drinks, lunch/dinner.
Half Day Visit (2.5-3 hr)

Full jungle experience

Transport, guide, insurance, photographer, elephant food, snacks & drinks, lunch/dinner.

Quick tips for your trip

Best time to go: Morning sessions tend to be the most comfortable, since the elephants are active and the midday heat has not built up. The cool, dry months of November to February are the easiest stretch for the jungle and the river bath. Current session and pick-up timings are confirmed on WhatsApp.
What to bring and wear: Choose light clothes you do not mind getting muddy. Pack a change of clothes, a towel, flip-flops, sunscreen and insect repellent, as the bathing and mud-spa sessions get you thoroughly wet.
Choosing a programme: Feed Me works for very young children or a short window. Feed and Bath adds the bathing and mud-spa session and suits most families and couples. Half Day Visit gives you the longest, slowest version of the day with a meal included.
Photography: Professional photos are part of the Feed and Bath and Half Day programmes, so you are free to set your phone aside. If you do shoot, bring a waterproof pouch or case for the bath, and use the softer morning light during feeding.
Time to set aside: Budget about 1 hour for Feed Me, 1.5 hours for Feed and Bath, or 2.5 to 3 hours for the Half Day Visit, plus roughly 30 to 45 minutes of travel in each direction from central Pattaya.
Pick-up: Send your hotel name and room number on WhatsApp the night before. We reply with the exact pick-up time so the morning runs to schedule.

On the ground

Booked & run by our own team in Thailand

TAT-registered and reachable on WhatsApp 8 AM–8 PM Thailand time — the price we quote is the price you pay, with no surprises at the gate.

Please select your journey date.

Feed Me

Adult ฿600 Child ฿600 Infant Free

Feed and Shower

Adult ฿1200 Child ฿960 Infant Free

Half Day Visit

Adult ฿1680 Child ฿1440 Infant Free

Watch Me

Adult ฿1680 Child ฿1440 Infant Free

One Day Elephant Care

Adult ฿2520 Child ฿2040 Infants
not allowed

Volunteer

Adult ฿7080 Children
not allowed Infants
not allowed

Booking Summary

Date: — Time: —

Total ฿ 0.00

Frequently asked questions

Can you ride the elephants here?

No. The sanctuary enforces a strict no-riding policy, with no seats, bull-hooks or chains anywhere on site. Its elephants were rescued from logging, circuses and the trekking trade, so the day is spent feeding, bathing and walking with them rather than sitting on them.
Does it work for young children and older parents?

Yes. Children take to the hand-feeding and the mud-spa quickly, and older travellers can keep to feeding and watching the herd at their own pace. Nothing on the visit requires riding or physical effort. If anyone in the group prefers a shorter, calmer session, the one-hour Feed Me programme is the easiest.
Will there be vegetarian or Indian food?

The Feed and Bath and Half Day Visit programmes include a meal, usually a Thai-style spread, along with snacks and drinks. Vegetarian dishes are normally available, and we can pass on a veg or Jain request to the sanctuary when you book over WhatsApp. The one-hour Feed Me programme has no meal, so if you choose that option it is worth eating before the 30 to 45 minute drive out of town.
Where is the sanctuary, and is transport arranged?

It is in the Khao Mai Kaew hills, about 7 km and a 30 to 45 minute drive from central Pattaya. Return transport is part of every programme, and pick-up is free for guests staying within Pattaya City and along Jomtien Beach. Hotels beyond those zones may carry a small surcharge, which we will quote when you message us.
Will we get wet, and are photos included?

On the Feed and Bath and Half Day programmes you will, since both include the river bath and mud-spa; bring a change of clothes, a towel and flip-flops. Those two programmes also include professional photos of your session, so you can focus on the elephants while the team records the visit.