Private Elephant Sanctuary & Erawan Waterfall Day Trip from Bangkok

The elephant sanctuary in Kanchanaburi

The sanctuary lies in the green countryside of Kanchanaburi province, about three hours west of Bangkok, on land beside the river. It takes in elephants that spent years working in logging, tourism or street begging, and gives them space, food and veterinary care for the rest of their lives. Visitors do not ride the elephants; instead you help with their daily routine, which is the model that ethical sanctuaries in Thailand follow.

Your visit begins with an introduction to the elephants, their stories and the safety rules. You then cut and prepare fruit and vegetables such as watermelon, banana and sugarcane, which you will feed to them later. Is an elephant sanctuary day trip from Bangkok worth it? For many travellers this close, calm contact with these huge, intelligent animals is the highlight of their time in Thailand.

Mud bath, river bath and feeding

The most memorable part of the morning is bath time. You walk with the elephants to a mud pit, where you help spread cool mud over their skin, which protects them from the sun and insects. Then everyone heads down to the river to rinse the elephants with buckets of water while they splash and play. Expect to get wet and muddy, so swimwear and a change of clothes are essential; showers are available afterwards.

After a Thai buffet lunch you return to the elephants to feed them the food you prepared, passing it to their trunks or directly into their mouths under the guidance of the staff. The whole sanctuary programme lasts about two and a half hours plus lunch, and it is gentle enough for children who are comfortable around large animals.

Erawan National Park

Erawan National Park, created in 1975, covers forested limestone hills in the Tenasserim range of Kanchanaburi province. Most visitors come for the waterfall, but the park also protects caves, streams and a rich variety of birds, butterflies and monkeys. From the visitor centre, a well-marked trail climbs gently through bamboo and tall trees, with wooden bridges and steps between the levels of the falls.

On this trip you have about two hours in the park, enough to reach several tiers at a relaxed pace and to swim. The Erawan National Park entrance fee is included. The park opens in the morning and the upper tiers close earlier in the afternoon, which is why our driver keeps an eye on timing after lunch.

Erawan Waterfall, seven tiers of emerald pools

Erawan Waterfall drops over seven limestone terraces, each with its own clear pool whose colour ranges from jade to turquoise thanks to the minerals in the water. The falls are named after Erawan, the three-headed white elephant of Hindu mythology, because the top tier is said to resemble its heads. The lower tiers are reached in a few minutes; the higher ones need a steeper walk of up to an hour.

Swimming is allowed in several pools, where small fish come to nibble at your feet. Wear swimwear under your clothes and modest cover-ups on the trail. When is the best time to visit Erawan Falls? The water is fullest and most colourful from about August to December, while the dry months bring calmer, clearer pools.