What actually happens on the Elephant Hills Jungle Safari? Three days, two nights, and a different setting each day. Day one brings the Ethical Elephant Experience and a canoe trip on the Sok River. Day two is spent on Cheow Lan Lake. Day three is a guided walk in the rainforest. Transfers, meals, activities and a licensed guide are all included. This guide walks through the tour in order. You will know what to expect before you book.
What happens on day one of the Elephant Hills Jungle Safari?
Day one covers the transfer, lunch, a canoe trip and the Ethical Elephant Experience. You reach the Elephant Camp in time for a Thai buffet lunch at 12:00.
Pick-ups run from Phuket, Khao Lak, Phang Nga, Krabi, Surat Thani and Koh Samui. The drive takes about two hours from Surat Thani Airport and about three from Krabi. From the Phuket beaches, allow up to four hours. Koh Samui guests leave early, with the ferry crossing included. Our joint transfers are part of every tour package. Pick-up times are on the transfers page.
After lunch you drift down the Sok River in a stable canoe. A local river guide paddles, and life jackets are provided. Limestone cliffs rise on both sides. Hornbills sometimes pass overhead.
The canoe trip ends near the elephants, where the Ethical Elephant Experience begins. You help our team prepare the elephants’ daily food. The elephants then eat at feeding stations within their free-roaming habitat, at their own pace. You watch them bathe, play in the mud pool and interact with each other. Your guide explains each elephant’s story and the work of the mahouts. Any interaction happens on the elephants’ terms.
Back at camp, a hot shower waits in your tent. The evening programme is optional. There is a wildlife film and a cooking demonstration. Local school children also perform a traditional Thai dance. Dinner is served at 8:00pm beside the rainforest.
What does day two on Cheow Lan Lake involve?
Day two is a full day on Cheow Lan Lake, travelling by traditional long-tail boat. Lunch and free time follow at our floating Lake Camp. Then you return to the Elephant Camp for the night.
Breakfast is at your leisure. Gibbons often call across the valley as the morning mist lifts. Tea and coffee facilities are in your tent for early risers.
The lake stretches more than 60 km from north to south. It holds over one hundred islands. Limestone mountains covered in rainforest rise straight from the water. Visitors often compare the scenery with Guilin or Halong Bay. The boat stops for a swim in the emerald water, so bring swimwear. Towels are provided at the raft house.
At the Lake Camp you have lunch and time to relax. Self-paddle canoes are available to explore the shoreline. The camp sits inside Khao Sok National Park. Park rules mean life jackets are worn whenever you are in the water. In the late afternoon the boat heads back. A minibus completes the trip to the Elephant Camp.
The evening brings a different film, dance performance and cooking demonstration from day one. On this tour you sleep both nights at the Elephant Camp. An overnight stay on the lake is part of the Jungle Lake Safari instead.
What is the jungle trek like on day three?
Day three is a guided walk through the Khao Sok rainforest. Lunch and your onward transfer follow. It is an easy-paced nature walk, not an endurance test.
After breakfast your guide leads the group into the forest on foot. The route passes giant hardwood trees, bamboo, ferns, orchids and palms. Hornbills live high in the canopy. Gibbons can often be heard, and macaques or leaf monkeys may pass through the branches. The guide sets a slow pace and stops to explain what you see.
The ground is uneven in places, so non-slip shoes matter. A family review on our reviews page describes ten travellers aged 9 to 74. The eldest member sat out the trek and joined everything else. Tell our team if you would rather rest at camp that morning.
A Thai buffet lunch follows at the Elephant Camp. There is time for a shower before the joint transfer leaves at 14:00. Onward flights should depart no earlier than the times shown on our transfers page.
What is included in the Jungle Safari, and what should you pack?
Every Jungle Safari includes accommodation, full board, all activities and joint transfers. A TAT-licensed, English-speaking Thai guide leads the group. Drinks, tips and souvenirs are paid locally, in cash.
Your tent at the Elephant Camp has a proper bed, a wooden floor and electricity. The en-suite bathroom has hot water and a western toilet. Hair dryers are provided. Free WiFi is available in the common area. One Tripadvisor reviewer wrote in September 2026, “Tents have everything you need.” More about the tents is on our luxury tented camp page.
Breakfast is mostly western, with cereals, fruit, fresh bread and an omelette station. Lunch and dinner are Thai buffets. Vegetarian, vegan, halal and allergy-aware meals are prepared on request. Drinking water is free at refill stations. We lend you a stainless steel bottle for your stay.
| Tour | Nights | Cheow Lan Lake | What is different |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jungle Safari, 2 days | 1 night at the Elephant Camp | No lake day | Elephants, canoe trip and jungle trek |
| Jungle Safari, 3 days | 2 nights at the Elephant Camp | Day trip by long-tail boat | Adds the full lake day |
| Jungle Safari, 4 days | 3 nights at the Elephant Camp | Day trip by long-tail boat | Adds a mangrove day by speedboat and canoe |
| Jungle Lake Safari, 3 days | 1 night at each camp | Overnight in a floating tent | Sleep on the lake instead of a day trip |
Packing is simple. Bring non-slip shoes or trainers, loose clothes, sun protection, a raincoat, swimwear and your passport. A small overnight bag is enough if you return to the same hotel afterwards. Our what to pack guide has the full checklist. Travel insurance is required for every guest. The UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office explains what a policy should cover.
Children aged 4 to 15 travel at kids’ rates. We cannot accept children under 4. Two adults and two children can share one tent. More answers are on our FAQ page.
The Jungle Safari departs every day of the year. School holiday weeks and the Christmas period are booked first, so popular dates go early. Stays in May, June, September and October 2027 offer the most choice. They also carry our best offers. Book the 3-day Jungle Safari by 30 November 2026 for a stay in those months. Adults then receive a 20% discount. The offer combines with Kids Stay Free in May, June and September. Full conditions are on our promotions page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Elephant Hills Jungle Safari suitable for children?
Yes, for children aged 4 and over. Children aged 4 to 15 travel at kids’ rates. We cannot accept children under 4. Two adults and two children can share one tent, with one extra bed. Kids Stay Free applies to stays in May, June and September.
How fit do I need to be for the Jungle Safari?
A moderate level of fitness is enough. A river guide paddles the canoe, and the lake day is spent on a boat. The jungle trek is a slow guided walk on uneven ground. Tell our team if you would prefer not to walk that morning.
Do I sleep on Cheow Lan Lake during the Jungle Safari?
No. The Jungle Safari spends both nights at the Elephant Camp. The Lake Camp is visited on a day trip. To sleep in a floating tent, choose the Jungle Lake Safari. It splits the nights between the two camps.
What is the difference between the 2, 3 and 4 day Jungle Safari?
The two-day tour has one night. It covers the elephants, the canoe trip and the jungle trek. The three-day tour adds a second night and a full day on Cheow Lan Lake. The four-day tour adds a third night. Its extra day explores the mangroves by speedboat and canoe.
Thinking about three days in Khao Sok?
The 3-day Jungle Safari departs daily. The tour page shows the full itinerary and opens the booking calendar for your dates.
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