We are incredibly proud to share some exciting news — Phuket Elephant Nature Reserve has received the TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice 2026 award. This recognition places us among the top 10% of travel experiences worldwide, based entirely on reviews and ratings submitted by travellers over the past year. That’s now four consecutive years that PENR has been in this elite tier of global attractions!
In a destination as rich and diverse as Thailand, and in a sector as competitive as travel and tourism, that means a great deal to us. Most importantly, this award reflects the experiences of our guests who visit us for ethical elephant activities in Phuket. Every review, recommendation, and kind word has helped us reach this milestone, and we are deeply grateful to everyone who has visited and supported our sanctuary.
For us, the award is also recognition of something bigger: the growing demand for ethical, respectful, and educational elephant experiences in Thailand. Scroll down to find out more about this and our latest prestigious honour.
What is the TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice Award?
The TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice award is given to businesses that consistently receive excellent reviews from travellers around the world. Awards are based on millions of genuine reviews submitted over a 12-month period, making them one of the travel industry’s most recognised indicators of visitor satisfaction.
Unlike judged awards or industry panels, the Travellers’ Choice Award comes directly from the people who matter most — guests who have experienced our sanctuary for themselves.
To be recognised in the top 10% of attractions worldwide is something we are extremely proud of, particularly as an independent, ethical, hands-off elephant sanctuary focused on long-term welfare rather than entertainment.
For visitors researching trusted wildlife experiences in Phuket, awards like this provide reassurance that they are choosing a sanctuary with a strong reputation for care, professionalism, and authenticity.
Why This Award Matters to Phuket Elephant Nature Reserve
At Phuket Elephant Nature Reserve, our mission has always been centred around elephant welfare, education, and responsible tourism. Receiving this award confirms that visitors value those principles too.
In April 2024, PENR became a fully hands-off sanctuary, the very first sanctuary in Phuket to do so and still the only sanctuary, moving entirely towards observation-based experiences. This means no bathing, no touching, and no forced interaction. Instead, our guests observe elephants behaving naturally in a peaceful environment designed around their needs.
This approach is a major part of why many visitors choose PENR. Increasingly, travellers are looking for ethical wildlife experiences that prioritise the well-being of animals rather than close interaction or staged activities.
Our article Why Observation is Better Than Interaction in Elephant Tourism explores this shift in greater detail, explaining how observation-based tourism allows elephants to express more natural behaviours while giving visitors a more meaningful understanding of these remarkable animals.
This award shows that ethical experiences can also be unforgettable experiences.
What Makes Phuket Elephant Nature Reserve Different?
Every elephant at PENR has their own story, personality, and routine. Rather than asking them to perform or engage with visitors, we allow them the freedom to live naturally within our 30-rai sanctuary.
You may see Lotus wandering through the trees at her own pace, or Bow cooling off in the pond during the heat of the afternoon. Thonglor and Nong Tang often forage side by side, while Mae Boon Lai and Tub Tim explore different areas of the habitat. These moments are unscripted, quiet, and genuine.
As an observation-only sanctuary, the focus is on learning through watching. Guests discover how our elephants communicate, socialise, and interact with their surroundings without constant human involvement.
Education also plays a major role in every visit. Our guides share the rescue stories of each elephant while helping visitors better understand elephant welfare, conservation, and the realities of ethical elephant tourism in Thailand.
For many guests, it is this calmer and more respectful atmosphere that leaves the biggest impression. Rather than feeling like spectators at a performance, visitors become observers of natural elephant behaviour.
A Growing Reputation for Ethical Elephant Tourism in Phuket
This recognition is just the latest of many important milestones for PENR in recent years.
We are proud to be a strategic partner of World Animal Protection Thailand, reflecting our shared commitment to improving elephant welfare standards. You can read more about this in our blog on the partnership and what it means for the future of ethical tourism.
PENR is also a member of the WISE Network (Welfare Initiatives for Sustainability of Elephants), a programme dedicated to promoting better welfare practices across Thailand’s elephant tourism industry. PENR is also a strategic partner with World Animal Protection (WAP) Thailand, which places us at the very top of ethical elephant sanctuaries in Thailand.
Alongside this, the sanctuary has received strong accreditation scores from organisations such as SGS Thailand and ACES, while our recent recognition as Tour Operator of the Year at the TDM Travel Trade Excellence awards acknowledged the wider visitor experience we strive to provide.
And the above is only the start! Find out more about all of our accreditations and awards.
What Visitors Say About Our Ethical Elephant Experiences in Phuket
One of the most rewarding parts of receiving the Travellers’ Choice Award is reading the feedback shared by our visitors. We have a five-star rating from well over 500 reviews, making us the #2 attraction in the Thalang District!
In reviews, our guests often mention the peaceful atmosphere of our sanctuary, the knowledge and warmth of our guides, and the opportunity to see elephants behaving naturally without pressure or performance. Many also appreciate the fact that the experience feels educational as well as emotional.
For some, visiting a hands-off sanctuary changes the way they think about elephant tourism altogether. Instead of focusing on interaction, they leave with a greater understanding of elephant behaviour, welfare, and conservation.
Those responses matter deeply to us because they reflect the values we work hard to uphold every day. But don’t just take our word for it! Read our reviews to see what our previous guests have to say in their own words.
Here’s a snippet of what you can expect!
“𝗜𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗹𝘆 𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗽𝗵𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘀𝗮𝗻𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲, 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝘁 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲!”
— Tyler L, May 2026
“𝗩𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗽𝗵𝗮𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝘄𝗵𝗶𝗰𝗵 𝘄𝗲 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗱. 𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝘁𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗴𝘂𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄𝗹𝗲𝗱𝗴𝗲𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲! 𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗹𝘆 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗱!”
— Inspire, May 2026
“𝗔𝗻 𝗮𝗺𝗮𝘇𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘀𝗲 𝗮𝗺𝗮𝘇𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗽𝗵𝗮𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗮𝗻 𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗲𝗻𝘃𝗶𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁! 𝗜𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂’𝗿𝗲 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮 𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗽𝗵𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗣𝗵𝘂𝗸𝗲𝘁, 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗻𝗼 𝗳𝘂𝗿𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿!”
— Sarah H, May 2026
Why Ethical Travel Choices Matter in Phuket and Beyond
Tourism has the power to shape the future of animal welfare. Every booking, review, and recommendation influences the types of experiences that continue to grow in popularity.
By supporting ethical sanctuaries, travellers help encourage higher welfare standards across the industry. Demand for observation-based experiences shows that visitors increasingly value respect, education, and conservation over entertainment.
This shift is already changing elephant conservation and tourism in Thailand for the better, and we are proud to be part of that progress.
Choosing responsible experiences also helps support the long-term care of rescued elephants, including food, veterinary treatment, habitat maintenance, and ongoing welfare improvements.
Book Your Visit to Phuket Elephant Nature Reserve
To everyone who has visited, supported, reviewed, or recommended Phuket Elephant Nature Reserve, thank you. Being recognised among the top 10% of travel experiences worldwide is an incredible honour, and it motivates us to continue raising standards for ethical elephant tourism in Thailand.
If you are looking for a trusted, respectful, and unforgettable elephant experience in Phuket, we would love to welcome you to our sanctuary. Come and experience elephants the way nature intended — free to roam, socialise, and simply be elephants.
Browse our full range of ethical elephant activities in Phuket, and please feel free to contact us if you have any questions.
