We are thrilled to announce that Phuket Elephant Nature Reserve has been honoured with the Tour Operator of the Year award at the prestigious TDM Travel Trade Excellence Awards – Thailand for 2025! This award is a true testament not only to our team’s hard work and dedication but to our visitors who have supported our ethical Phuket Elephant Tours and Activities.
As a leading elephant sanctuary in Phuket, this award is a recognition of our commitment to transforming wildlife tourism in Thailand for the better. You can learn more below about the TDM awards and their significance, as well as what makes us the Tour Operator of the Year for 2025! And if you have any questions for us as you read, please feel free to get in touch with us.
About the TDM Travel Trade Excellence Awards
Travel Daily Media is a respected industry publication and media platform focused on travel, tourism, hospitality, and related sectors across Asia and beyond. Each year, they host the TDM Travel Trade Excellence Awards, recognizing achievements in hospitality, tour operations, technology in travel, sustainability, and innovation.
In 2025, the Thailand edition of the awards brought together leaders from hotels, resorts, airlines, cruise operators, booking platforms, travel agencies, and tour operators. The winners were chosen for their elevated service standards and contributions to the ever-evolving travel industry.
Receiving Tour Operator of the Year means Phuket Elephant Nature Reserve has been recognized for delivering ethical elephant experiences and advancing tourism in Phuket! It now joins our other numerous accreditations and awards that affirm our work.
You can see the full list of winners from Thailand here if you want to support other changemakers during your visit!
Why Phuket Elephant Nature Reserve Stands Out as a Tour Operator
At Phuket Elephant Nature Reserve, we believe that travel should be a force for good, not only for people, but for animals. In Thailand, elephants have suffered immensely from the pressures of tourism, resulting in their abuse and exploitation.
As a sanctuary first and foremost, we are dedicated to rescuing elephants from these horrendous conditions and giving them a new lease on life. Through our tours, we are able to offer people educational and safe encounters with our elephants that support their welfare and conservation.
Here are our guiding principles as a sanctuary and tour operator:
Ethical Elephant Encounters
At our sanctuary, you will not find elephants being forced to perform, carry tourists, or submit to unnatural interactions. Instead, our animals roam freely on 30 rai of lush jungle, enjoying space to socialize, splash in water holes, and rest in comfortable shelters. There are no chains or bullhooks here, and no visitor may touch or bathe with our elephants.
We operate with strict guidelines for welfare, nutrition, and veterinarian care, which you can learn about during both our Short 90-Minute Elephant Adventure in Phuket and our Half-Day Elephant Adventure in Phuket. Our tours are designed to be educational, inspiring, and respectful of the elephants’ dignity.
Meaningful Guest Experiences
Visitors who join our activities learn about the broader context of elephant conservation in Thailand and experience nature in a way that supports its preservation. During our tours, our guests can walk in the jungle alongside the elephants at a respectful distance, and also enjoy hands-on activities like dung recycling. By being immersed in the elephants’ world, visitors can better understand these gentle giants and our relationship to them. You can read more about The Role of Sanctuaries in Elephant Conservation Efforts in Thailand with our blog.
Commitment to Animals and People
Our rescued elephants are directly owned and managed by the sanctuary. They are not rented out, pressured into jobs, or treated as props for tourism. We invest in their health and ensure they are free to behave as nature intended.
We also invest in our mahouts and staff, ensuring they enjoy sustainable livelihoods outside of an exploitative tourism industry that many turn to out of desperation. Through our tours, we are contributing to a better future for all.
What This Award Means for PENR
Winning the Tour Operator of the Year award is a huge honor. It validates our model of ethical elephant tourism and motivates us to continue expanding and rescuing more elephants from a life of exploitation.
For our visitors, it also means you can book with confidence knowing that you are supporting an operator dedicated to not only quality but also welfare!
Thank you to all of our supporters for being on this journey with us. We can’t wait for what comes next! If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us.
