Phuket Half-Day Safari Tour

Phuket, Thailand

It's fun for the whole family on this half day combination tour on Phuket island. Admire the unspoiled scenery from the back of an elephant and canoe the calm surrounding waters. Ride a local farmer's cart and inhale fragrant aromas at a Thai cooking demonstration. There's monkey shows, an optional cruise on a junk and a lesson on how to pick coconuts from the trees. You'll be amazed and enteratined - there's something for everyone!

You'll be picked up from your Phuket hotel and travel by four wheel drive into Chalong highlands to Chalong. Arrive at Siam Safari elephant camp on the top of a mountain. Meet Siam Safari's elephants and learn about them and their carers, the mahouts. Also learn about Thai elephant conservation and how you can help. See how young elephants are trained, you can even touch them and feed them bananas. This elephant camp is the only one in southern Thailand to have attained the Thai government standard award. Take a trek on an elephant's back in the Chalong highlands with good views over Chalong bay and out to Phi Phi island.

Later see how Thai jungle curry is made and try some if you dare. See how rubber trees are tapped to produce natural rubber latex. Watch how monkeys are trained to pick coconuts and see them in action. Learn about buffaloes, you can try to sit on one and take a ride on a wooden cart pulled by a buffalo. Also see how coconuts are processed to make coconut milk and oil.

If you have chosen the option including a junk boat ride, then cruise on a traditional wooden junk in Chalong bay where you can see great views of Phuket and surrounding islands. The tour ends with a delicious buffet lunch prepared with fresh ingredients and with a selection of Thai dishes that are not too spicy. Return to your hotel after an active, educational and rewarding adventure.

USD $70.24

Review by: Gareth J	April 2012
This trip is great and something you will always remember. They give you an insight into how they used Ox to plough the land, how the Coconut is important to the Island with various demonstrations of their uses. They show you various ways they make Curry and ask you to try some and also demonstrate how Rubber is collected and used from the large ammounts of Rubber trees in the area. The best bit is obviously the Elephant ride and not only is the ride good some of the views you are shown on the route are stunning. The day is great but don,t just expect an Elephant ride as there are other things that take place. Do not also think that the educational things are boring as you move from one thing to another at a fair old pace so Children won,t get bored as the guide is excellent and makes the stops interesting and involves all. You get to taste, smell, touch various things. I would reccomend this trip to all ages.

Review by: Gareth J	April 2012
This trip is great and something you will always remember. They give you an insight into how they used Ox to plough the land, how the Coconut is important to the Island with various demonstrations of their uses. They show you various ways they make Curry and ask you to try some and also demonstrate how Rubber is collected and used from the large ammounts of Rubber trees in the area. The best bit is obviously the Elephant ride and not only is the ride good some of the views you are shown on the route are stunning. The day is great but don,t just expect an Elephant ride as there are other things that take place. Do not also think that the educational things are boring as you move from one thing to another at a fair old pace so Children won,t get bored as the guide is excellent and makes the stops interesting and involves all. You get to taste, smell, touch various things. I would reccomend this trip to all ages.

Review by: Ian H	March 2012
Enter your review here. Great trip all well organised. Worth the money and the tour guide called WI was excellent.

Review by: jewelshayden	March 2012
Excellent trip. You are able to do most everything at the same place that several places will try and charge you for each item.

Review by: Vicki burn	February 2012
Again a great day out! Many activities, great elephant trek, much to see and learn. A very productive outing, learning Many things about Phuket and traditional Thai ways. Much more than expected on this tour. Highly recommend., great value!

Review by: Patrick S	February 2012
Our tour guide Joy was lovely and always had a smile on her face even when there was a problem. Very well organised, location was perfect and clean, transfers were on time and all the people very friendly. Would recommend to others no worries

Review by: Jan A	January 2012
We had some good photo ops but the program was just a little to "canned" for my taste.

Review by: niallsmum	January 2012
Pick up from our hotel was on-time and we were taken to the elephant camp. We enjoyed free coffee and tea whilst other buses arrived from around the island. We met our guide and went to the first demonstration point. We sampled coconut pancakes with Thai sweet tea or sweet coffee. If you don't like sugar in your coffee, drink it before stirring it as the sweetened milk is at the bottom. We watched the water buffalo plough a mock rice paddi, then it was harnessed to a cart and gave us a ride. We also looked at the various stages of how rice is grown. We watched a coconut be milked and shaved. We sampled it too. The next demonstration was for making coconut oil and then a Thai Chicken Curry with rice. Samples galore and tasty too. Second helping were permitted - "Happy Hour!" our guide said. We saw tapping of a rubber tree and processing it into sheets. Then onto the young elephant training area. We watched how they were trained to pick up objects and play with their mahout, then we were allowed to take photos with the elephant (free) and feed them if we wished (a basket of fruit was 50Baht). The children were delighted with this part of the tour! We had a short talk about the mahout and elephant living together for life, and then actually climbed onto the seat on an elephants back for our trek up the hill through the forrest, to a lookout point for a spectacular view towards the east side of the island. Fabulous. Afterwards we said a big thank you to our elephant by buying a basket of fruit and feeding it. A must do experience for Phuket, never to be forgotten!

Review by: Honeymoon!	December 2011
This was a perfect combination of local education and a new and different experience. We loved the elephant show and our ride was great!

Review by: melinda s	November 2011
I have been on this tour twice this year and my most recent was even better than the first. Well organised, great guides, interesting and enjoyable content and heaps of fun. No one should go to Phuket and miss this tour. It's value for money and the boat trip is a lovely ending to the day.

Review by: Susan M	October 2011
Great day, Guide was wonderful, great knowledge and good English. Well worth the experience. The elephant trecking was great went for a good 1/2 hour. Would recommend to travellers

Review by: Stephen J	October 2011
The Safari Tour was the highlight of our trip. The tour provided a taste of the Thailand culture from Thai cooking to cultivating and planting a rice field. The ox drawn cart ride was a memorable experience as were the coconut pancakes. A truly worthwhile tour and highly recommended.

Review by: Ian B	October 2011
A great half day trip very well organised and informative.

Review by: Monica G	October 2011
very good

Review by: Rachel H	August 2011
This was an amazing experience, the elephants were gorgeous. Would recommend to anyone

Review by: Natalie B	July 2011
Very enjoyable trip except for part of the schedule missing (monkey show) that i had very much been looking forward to, me and my family very much wanted to see and meet the monkey's, a big reason for me booking this trip! Having asked the guide why no monkey show she said there are no monkey's! Probably would have gave 5 stars if it wasn't for that! But apart from that, me, my partner and our 2 year old really enjoyed it, the workers there very nice, friendly and helpful. Thai cooking demonstration and food was nice. Elephant trek and views were brilliant. This trip was both entertaining and educational, would definitely recommend!

Review by: Katie P	June 2011
This trip was a little more commerical than previous ones attended and the half hour ride on the elephant felt a little short. It was however enhanced by the encounter with the water buffalo, seeing how paddy fields are farmed and how coconut oil is produced.

Review by: elaine r	May 2011
A must for visitors to Phuket. A great insight to Thai rural background. Very educational and interesting, amazing elephants.

Review by: Amanda R	May 2011
Excellent. Very informative. we saw not only elephants but a water buffalo, saw how they cut the rubber trees and a beautiful lunch.

Review by: Susan B	May 2011
Excellent day guides! very good!

Review by: Cornelia S	May 2011
The safari tour was fantastic! Very professionally run and gave us great insight into the Thai people and their culture. The elephant ride and our mahout were fantastic. Highly recommended.

Review by: Angela M	May 2011
well organized tour...would recommend it to anybody

Review by: Jeffrey D	April 2011
Well organised trip.picked up from hotel on time. Guide very knowledgable and friendly. Boat trip and lunch well worth the extra.

Review by: Stanley C	March 2011
Fantastic trip showcasing some of the basics of Thai culture; from agriculture, to food preparation and of course the elephants!

Review by: Damsay	March 2011
Brellient day. worth going on.

Review by: NeilC	December 2010
Brilliant. Elephants and ride was fantastic. The English spoken by the tour guide could have been better, however this did not affect the elephant trek and lead up displays. The displays prior to our elephant trek were good and informative - Coconut pancakes were delicious. Lunch was Thai Style buffet lunch was quiet nice. Don’t forget your Thai Baht (money) for soft drinks and beers. Overall an unforgettable experience. Must include this on your visit to Phuket.

Review by: Rochelle E	November 2010
Siam Safari guides were great, mahouts were very helpful in taking photos of us. Enjoyed the experience very much!

Review by: Christopher G	October 2010
An excellent safari.Our guide, Jeab was friendly, humorous and knowledgable. I very much recommend the safari.

Review by: Alwyn K	October 2010
A great tour. I can recommend this tour over others, as you so much more for your money.

Review by: Glenda C	September 2010
excellent day everthing was well planned and you couldnt have asked for more well worth one of the best tours i have had

Review by: Brad S	August 2010
Fantastic outing that both my wife & I plus our 2 children aged 6 & 10 thoroughly enjoyed. Activities included riding the elephants and a water buffalo, seeing how the rubber trees are tapped & rubber made, sampling local thai cooking & seeing how they make their curries. it was topped off by a boat cruise whilst enjoying the local cuisine for lunch. Our host Joy was very knowledgeable, and fantastic with the kids. Would do it again.

Review by: Adam H, Australia	June 2010
Very well organised. Found it very interesting fun, and cultural.

Review by: Hendrika W M S, Canada	June 2010
Interesting and enjoyable program provided by guides who are knowledgeable and truly enjoy their work. Good value for money with plenty of photo opportunities in true safari style.

Review by: Rhodi P, United Kingdom	May 2010
Again, well organised and all pick ups exactly on time.

Review by: Anonymous	April 2010
Tour was educational and entertaining, well-organised and comfortable even for young children. It is recommended for people of all ages looking for short safari adventure and to commune with nature. Our guide did well by keeping everyone interested and entertained during the tour. Good way to spend the morning before hitting the beachpool!

Review by: Peter B, United Kingdom	March 2010
Very well organised and informative, especially as it was a half day trip. We found it very enjoyable. The elephant ride was fun and the boat trip was relaxing with good food.

Review by: Phillip S, Australia	March 2010
Just Awesome!

Review by: Paul M, United Kingdom	March 2010
A good all round trip with several highlights. Well coordinated and good value for a half day trip.

Review by: Anonymous, Australia	March 2010
We absolutely loved this tour! Our guide was very funny & made sure we were all having a good time. It was very interesting to see the different stations on rubber, coconut, etc & the elephants were magnificent! Then it was all topped off with lunch on the junk boat.

Review by: Andrew M	March 2010
A good all round trip with several highlights. Well coordinated and good value for a half day trip.

Review by: Tahirova G, Singapore	February 2010
Excellent.

Review by: Sidney R	February 2010
Mass production tourist processing. Staff seemed unengaged and distant. Somewhat disorganized as compared to past times we took this tour. It seems the young generation even in Phuket has been infected with lack of service, lack of caring and money oriented attitudes.

Review by: Anonymous, Canada	January 2010
First thing we did when we arrived at Phuket was the Safari Tour. Our guide was very funny, knowledgeable and made sure everyone was having a good time. You get to do a lot of things like riding a bull and an elephant, as well as a watching a monkey show. You also get to watch monkeys and eat yummy food! Highly recommended!

Review by: Vivek P	January 2010
Great trip for those who want to fit in plenty in one excursion. Not much time on the Elephant Trek, approximately 20-25 mins, but there are loads of other things that you do on this trip. Baby Elephant show, watch how rubber is extracted, watch trained monkeys pick coconuts - just to name some of them!

Review by: Anonymous	December 2009
This trip was great. I loved the elephants.

Review by: Lee P, United Kingdom	November 2009
The trip was very well organised and the people all very friendly. Only problem we had was that it was pouring with rain on the day that we went. If it had been sunny it would have been perfect.

Review by: Amy G, Australia	September 2009
This was a great tour!

Review by: Scott P, Australia	July 2009
What a great way to spend the day. A little bit of everything. Elephant ride was great and the other displays and activities were enjoyable and informative. Our guide made the day, I though she was terrific. Highly recommended.

Review by: Amanda E, Australia	June 2009
This tour was fantastic. Well organised and really interesting. The Thai curry cooking demo was great and the elephant ride through the jungle was superb. The staff were friendly and really knew their information.

Review by: Neil N, Australia	June 2009
Pickup was fine, safari was highlight of trip.