Duration
5 to 7 hours door to door; about 3 hours at the sanctuary
Bangkok · experience
Living Green ethical elephant sanctuary
Feed, observe and optionally bathe rescued elephants living on open, unfenced land outside Bangkok, with a Pad Thai lunch included — an ethical alternative to riding or performance camps.
5 to 7 hours door to door; about 3 hours at the sanctuaryMaximum 40 travellers, in small groups with a guideFrom €45
The experience
A no-fences elephant sanctuary outside Bangkok, with feeding, bathing and a Pad Thai lunch.
Living Green is a genuine rescue sanctuary rather than a riding camp: its elephants were bought out of circuses, logging work and riding operations, and now live across open, unfenced land where they cannot be released into the wild but are no longer made to work or perform. A guide introduces each elephant by name and history before the group moves into feeding, close observation and, for anyone who wants it, bathing alongside them in a shallow watering hole.
The visit runs at a relaxed pace over about three hours — feeding with bananas and sugarcane, a walk through the sanctuary to meet elephants at rest or play, and time in the water — followed by a Pad Thai lunch prepared on site. The drive out and back, roughly 90 minutes to 2 hours each way, is part of the day rather than an inconvenience: it passes through Chonburi countryside well outside the city.
Guests planning to enter the water should bring a full change of clothes and a towel; sturdy, closed shoes suit the walk through grass and mud better than sandals.
Group
Maximum 40 travellers, in small groups with a guide
Languages
Certified English-speaking guide
Format
Air-conditioned vehicle to the sanctuary, roughly 90 minutes to 2 hours each way depending on traffic
Meeting point
Wat That Thong parking lot (BTS Ekkamai, Exit 3), or hotel pickup
Pickup and drop-off
Hotel pickup and drop-off available; pickup time confirmed based on your hotel location.
Who this suits
A good choice when it matches the way you want to use the city.
- Travellers who want elephant contact without contributing to riding or performance tourism.
- A full but unhurried day away from central Bangkok, with genuine countryside in between.
- Families — the sanctuary welcomes most ages, with feeding and bathing suited to a range of comfort levels.
Itinerary
The route at a glance.
The guide and exact sequence are confirmed on the day. Times below are a useful indication of how this visit is normally structured.
- 1Morning or midday departure
Pickup or meeting point
Wat That Thong parking lot, or hotel pickup within Bangkok.
- 2About 90 minutes to 2 hours
Drive to the sanctuary
Air-conditioned vehicle through Chonburi countryside.
- 3About 3 hours
Feeding, observation and bathing
Guided time with the elephants, followed by a Pad Thai lunch.
- 4About 90 minutes to 2 hours
Return to Bangkok
Drop-off at the meeting point or your hotel.
What the visit includes
The practical detail before you choose a date.
Highlights
- Hand-feeding elephants bananas and sugarcane at close range
- A guided walk through open, unfenced sanctuary grounds
- Optional bathing alongside the elephants
- A Pad Thai lunch prepared on site, included in the price
Included
- ✓ Certified English-speaking guide
- ✓ Elephant food and snacks
- ✓ Air-conditioned vehicle transport
- ✓ Pad Thai lunch
- ✓ Bottled water
- ✓ Insurance
Not included
- • Gratuities (not mandatory)
- • Personal expenses
Before you go
A few essentials for the day.
- Not recommended for travellers with back or heart problems, or for pregnant guests.
- The sanctuary is not wheelchair accessible.
- Bring a change of clothes, closed walking shoes and a towel if you plan to bathe with the elephants.
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the tour.