Top Things to do in Phuket
Things to do in Phuket, Thailand: The Best Nature & Wildlife Areas
Thailand’s largest island is an international magnet for beach lovers and serious divers, who enthusiastically submerge themselves in the Andaman Sea. Blue lagoons and salmon sunsets make for a dream-like atmosphere, and indeed, a vacation here can feel a bit surreal. Watersports are the most popular activities, though once you’ve had enough sun there’s still plenty to explore at the island’s aquariums, gardens, and Buddhist temples.
Restaurants in Phuket
1. Soi Dog Foundation
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1,283 reviews
Soi Dog Foundation is S.E. Asia’s largest rescue organisation for vulnerable street dogs and stray cats. For 16 years, supported by generous donations and global volunteers, SDF has worked tirelessly to reduce animal suffering through CNVR (Catch; Neuter; Vaccinate; Return) programmes. For animals unable to be returned safely to the streets, SDF provides sanctuary, as well as local and international adoption services. Rather than a “pound”, SDF is a haven where sick and vulnerable dogs and cats receive world-class medical care, and love. SDF is working in several countries to help end the inhumane and barbaric dog meat trade. SDF is also committed to environmental sustainability and has several ongoing green initiatives. Please feel free to enquire during your tour. Guided tours available Monday-Friday at 10:00am and 13:30pm. Following the 40-minute tour, visitors are encouraged to socialise with our lovely cats and dogs.
Reviewed By timtA6918AZ - Salisbury, United Kingdom
Simply an amazing and rewarding experience - we gave five days of our time volunteering, which primarily involved walking the dogs and then hours of playful interaction. We were so sad to leave at the end, but recommend it to the many travellers who pass through Thailand.
2. Green Elephant Sanctuary Park
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1,464 reviews
In the Elephant Sanctuary Park you can experience elephants in the most natural way. In their natural environment, where they are free and simply wonderful! It is important to us that you can experience the daily life of the animals. And that you can approach them when feeding or bathing. Briefly: it is a wonderful experience that you will remember for a long time. How much do you want to bet?
Reviewed By BridgitM9 - Singapore, Singapore
It was an AMAZING EXPERIENCE!! Highly recommended to all who want to see how they look after the elephants and they are all such gentle magnificent animals ????????????????????????????????The hosts and people are wonderful!❤️
3. Phuket Elephant Park
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 168 reviews
Experience exclusive close encounters with Phuket Elephant Park's rescued elephants with this half-day morning ecotour. Here, you can hand-feed these magnificent creatures in a stress-free, natural environment while supporting their cause to rescue more elephants in captivity. The eco-tour fee of 3,000 Baht includes hotel-Park return transfer within Phuket island, vegetarian lunch and light Thai snacks upon your arrival.
Reviewed By DebbieC1225 - Bournemouth, United Kingdom
I am so glad I did my research first, and chose this ethical elephant sanctuary, where they take care and protect the elephants. My experience here was truly amazing, from their office, the trip to the sanctuary, our arrival, the facilities, a plentiful breakfast, interaction feeding the elephants and viewing them in the grounds. The Thai lunch afterward was exquisite, so tasty! The staff in the grounds and in the office were lovely, friendly and so helpful. They also provided us with a private taxi to other places of interest, at a decent price, so we could visit 3 further places, with peace of mind that we could return to our apartment safely. Thank you for making our visit to Phuket and to your elephant sanctuary a memorable experience, one that I am grateful to have had.
4. Phuket Elephan Ssanctuary Village
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 5 reviews
We are small Sanctuary with 4-5 elephants members. In Thailand, Elephant is a nation noble symbol. Since the past Thai people live close with the elephants. They are part of Thai people daily life. When time change, the elephants were abandon and left behind. Only in some small village that people and elephants still live together as they use to be. At Phuket Elephant Sanctuary Village, we are a h
5. Phuket Nature Elephant Reserve
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 4 reviews
Located near the famous beaches on the west coast of Phuket Thailand, the Phuket Nature Elephant Reserve is an educational, sustainable and eco-friendly elephant sanctuary providing a safe home to overworked and tired elephants rescued from the Thailand tourist industry. At the Phuket Nature Elephant Reserve, we invite visitors to come and learn about our beautiful gentle giants, observe and look after them at our stunning natural jungle elephant sanctuary in a sustainable manner that eliminates stress while providing a real connection and experience to our visitors. The Half-Day Elephant Safari Experience covers: - Meet & feed the elephants - Hydrotherapy pool - Mud & sand spa - Herbal treatment - Elephant life & vet care - Elephant Dung Recycling Centre - Nature Jungle Hike to a lookout with the elephants - Lunch with free cooking demonstration - Free stainless steel water bottle - Hotel pick up and drop off Thank you
Reviewed By S5252CRannae - Phuket, Thailand
What a great experience! Very special walk trough a hilly trail with the Elephants brings you close to them in a safe environment! Loved every minute to be in the Nature Reserve!
6. Gibbon Rehabilitation Project
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,128 reviews
We're a unique animal welfare and conservation project working to rehabilitate unwanted or confiscated gibbons from the pet trade and tourist industry. Come visitor our centre at Bang Pae waterfall and learn about the fascinating lives of gibbons and how you can help these highly endangered animals! Open 9am - 4.30pm (except Thursday, 9am - 3pm) our centre is free of charge however entrance to the national park area where we are located is 200 Baht per adult. For information about volunteer opportunites visit our website. Please note: GRP is an active conservation project and the majority of our animals are part of an ongoing reintroduction program. A select number of gibbons can be seen from our public viewing area but visitors are not able to feed them or otherwise interact with them.
Reviewed By hansgruber420 - Sydney, Australia
This project is an incredibly worthwhile place to visit to support a magnificent cause. The project works with local authorities to rescue captive gibbons, typically stolen from the wild as young for the illegal pet trade, with the poachers killing their family groups in the process. Once in the projects care, the gibbons healed and rehabilitated before their eventual re-release into the wild. So far, this project has returned about 50 gibbons to the wild, and seen many of them give birth to young in the wild. Animals under stress or in inadequate conditions rarely mate and give birth successfully, so this is a sign of this project's success in providing incredible care for these animals. I visited for the first time as a kid in the mid-2000s and remember that visit fondly. Returning for a second time over a decade later, it is great to see that the work has continued so successfully to repopulate Thailand's rainforests. It is important to note that this is not a zoo, it is something better. The focus is not on you getting close with the gibbons, rather those are the conditions that they are fighting against. The gibbons in rehabilitation receive minimal human contact, both from their carers and visitors. The ones that you are able to see are those that are unable to be released, including severely disabled and non-native individuals. There is a strong focus on education and promoting ethical tourism. Visiting this noble cause is free, excluding the low park-entry fee, and well worth your time. The project does not receive funding from the national parks or any portion of the park's entry fee. It relies instead on the generosity of our donations, sponsorships, purchases at the gift shop, and support from volunteers. With that in mind, I would discourage people from visiting completely for free because I am confident that visiting would convince you it is deserving of a donation. I would strongly recommend visiting for anyone headed to Phuket.
7. Monkey Hill
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,095 reviews
Reviewed By kellyaW5010SR - Springfield Lakes, Australia
I loved it, my wife and 4 year-old found it a bit intimidating as they are wild animals and there are signs at the bottom of the hill you have to walk unless you have a scooter. I do recommend taking food and if you're carrying a water bottle it will most likely get stolen right out of your hands. All in all, well worth the walk.
8. Elephant Care Park Phuket
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 34 reviews
A hundred years ago,there were about 300,000 wild elephants in Thailand. But today,just fewer than 1,500 wild elephants and 3,500 domesticated elephants.With the development of tourism at the end of the last century, highly intelligent and sociable Thai elephants began to become exhibition animals, performing in circuses or carrying tourists.After years of carrying heavy loads, elephants are faced
Reviewed By PavanS34 - Singapore, Singapore
This was a great visit for anyone and everyone! The guides are wonderful, the food was delicious but of course the most magnificent things were the beautiful elephants- all well cared for- no chains or instruments to beat them. You can feed them and shower with them (literally!) and there’s full showering facilities after- all clean with shower gel etc. What a great trip!
9. Elephant Family Phuket
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 98 reviews
Visit The Giants. G' Day Guys...Just pop up this place seem those Giants happy and relax to be free around on this Elephant Family Phuket. I had been around all the camp in Chiang Mai so this pretty good as the same aswell. I would recommend this place , Please checking on you will know what is going there with those super giants. Good experience with Elephants. Have Fun All. T
Reviewed By mlindsay09 - Newcastle, Australia
My partner and I took part in the half day elephant care morning program. I couldn't recommend this company highly enough. The whole experience was fantastic. All the staff were increadibly friendly and offered to take photos for us throughout the day. As soon as we got there we were taught about how they care for the elephants, the history of the Karen tribe and the life of an elephant carer. We then fed the elephants and spent time with them.Throughout the day we prepared healthy snacks for them and soaked herbs to put on their skin. After bathing with the elephants and having a mud bath with them we were taken to the bathrooms where we could shower. This tour included a basic but good lunch. This experience will stay with us forever.
10. Merlin Butterfly Sanctuary
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 28 reviews
Phuket Marriott Resort & Spa, Merlin Beach has established the Merlin Butterfly Sanctuary – a unique conservation project in collaboration with partners at the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Butterflies are essential pollinators for a wide variety of decorative and wild flower plants as they cross-pollinate flowers separated by large distances.
Reviewed By Nidhigupta2013 - Bangalore District, India
my children loved the butterfly stuart and learned a lot ,they were thrilled with the vast varieties of butterflies there
