Planning to book Elephant Hills for 2027? Choosing your dates early gives you the widest choice of tours and tents. Our two camps in Khao Sok National Park have 86 tents in total. This guide explains when to book and which dates fill first. It also covers what to do if your first choice is not available.
How far ahead should you book Elephant Hills?
Book as early as your plans allow. You can reserve more than a year ahead, and tours depart daily all year.
The Elephant Camp has 66 luxury tents. The Lake Camp has 20 floating tents. Popular dates fill quickly, especially school holidays, Christmas and New Year.
Flights deserve attention at the same time. Kuoni notes that airlines typically release seats around 10 to 11 months before departure. Secure your Elephant Hills dates first, then plan your flights around them.
A simple planning timeline
- 12 months ahead or more: Check the booking calendar and reserve school holidays, Christmas and New Year.
- 10 to 11 months ahead: Airlines typically release seats around now. Compare flights to Phuket, Krabi or Surat Thani.
- 6 months ahead: Our Early Bird offer applies to stays in May, June, September and October.
- Before you fly: Check transfer timings and read our packing guide.
Which dates fill first, and where is there more choice?
Christmas, New Year and school holidays fill first. May, June, September and October usually offer the widest choice.
| Travel window | What to expect | Planning tip |
|---|---|---|
| Christmas, New Year and school holidays | Popular dates go first | Book as early as possible, up to a year ahead |
| Easter 2027 (Easter Sunday is 28 March) | Many UK schools break up around the end of March | Check your local council term dates, then book early |
| May, June, September and October | Smaller groups and seasonal offers | Book six months ahead to use the Early Bird offer |
| Weeks outside school holidays | More flexibility on check-in dates | Compare open dates across several tours |
Families tied to school holidays should book first. Couples, solo travellers and flexible planners often find more choice outside those weeks.
Each tour page links to our booking calendar, which shows the open check-in dates. Open dates can differ between tours, so check more than one.
Early Bird timing for May to October stays
Our Early Bird offer gives 10% off adult rates. It applies to stays in May, June, September or October in 2026 and 2027. Book six months before travel to qualify. For a stay in early May 2027, book by early November 2026.
Kids Stay Free applies in May, June and September. Solo travellers pay no single supplement in May, June, September and October. Early Bird combines with Kids Stay Free, but not with other promotions. Conditions apply, so please check our promotions page for the current terms.
What can you do if your preferred dates are not available?
You have several good options, and our reservations team can help you compare them. Email booking@elephanthills.com with your dates and group size. You can also call +66 5200 1186.
- Move your arrival by a day or two. The booking calendar shows check-in dates, so a small change may open a tent.
- Try a different tour. Open dates can differ between tours. Compare the 3-day Jungle Safari with the 3-day Jungle and Lake Camp Safari.
- Choose a quieter month. Outside school holidays, groups are smaller and offers are more likely to apply.
- Look north. The Bush Camp Chiang Mai sits on the Ping River in northern Thailand. See the 2-day Bush Camp Safari or the 3-day Bush Camp Safari.
- Add a beach stay. Our transfers run from Phuket, Khao Lak, Krabi, Surat Thani and Koh Samui. The safari can sit before or after a beach stay. Our guide to pairing beach resorts with an Elephant Hills safari explains the options.
What should you check before you confirm your dates?
Check payment, ages, transfers and insurance first, because they shape which tour suits your group.
| Topic | What to know |
|---|---|
| Payment | Full pre-payment confirms your booking. Credit card is the easiest method. |
| Cancellation | Fees may apply and rise as departure approaches. Read the conditions on your chosen tour page. |
| Ages | Children must be at least 4 years old. Lake Camp overnight stays are for children aged 7 and above. They must also be proficient swimmers. Our all-inclusive family holidays page has more detail. |
| Transfers | Joint transfers are included from Phuket, Khao Lak, Krabi, Surat Thani and Koh Samui. Check our transfers page before you book flights. |
| Insurance | Every guest needs personal travel insurance for the length of their stay. |
| Inclusions | Full board, activities, a TAT-licensed English-speaking guide and transfers are included. Soft drinks, alcohol and tips are not. |
The Ethical Elephant Experience is part of our Khao Sok tours. Guests help prepare the elephants’ food. It is placed at feeding stations within their free-roaming habitat. Guests then watch the elephants behave naturally, entirely on the elephants’ own terms.
Guests rate Elephant Hills 4.9 out of 5. The score comes from more than 6,600 reviews across Google, Facebook and Tripadvisor. You can read recent comments on our reviews page.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far in advance should I book Elephant Hills?
Book as early as you can. You can reserve up to a year ahead. Christmas, New Year and school holiday weeks fill first. Early Bird rewards booking six months ahead for May, June, September and October stays.
Which months are busiest at Elephant Hills?
Christmas, New Year and school holiday weeks are the busiest times. May, June, September and October usually bring smaller groups and more choice. Our two camps have 86 tents in total, so popular dates go first.
Which months have the most offers at Elephant Hills?
May, June, September and October carry the most offers. Early Bird gives 10% off adult rates when you book six months ahead. Kids Stay Free applies in May, June and September. Solo travellers pay no single supplement in all four months.
What can I do if my dates are not available?
Email booking@elephanthills.com with your dates and group size. Our reservations team can suggest nearby dates or a different tour. You can also look at The Bush Camp Chiang Mai in northern Thailand.
What is the cancellation policy for Elephant Hills tours?
For Khao Sok tours, cancellation fees may apply and rise as departure approaches. The charge is 10% of the package price up to 30 days before departure. It rises to 50% from 30 to 15 days before. Within 15 days, the full package price applies.
Ready to choose your tour and dates?
Pick the tour that suits your group, then check its booking calendar for open dates. If your first-choice dates are unavailable, our reservations team will gladly suggest alternatives.