Travel Tips

Kok Chang Safari would have to be the best elelpant trekking place in Phuket.
All the animals are well looked after and the trek up to the summit is fantastic!

Di and I were on the oldest elephant, she was 46 and boy did she have a mind of her own, she followed her mahout only when she wanted, she would stop and decide to eat most of the way up the track, quite often she would wander off the track, maybe she couldn’t go straight due to only having one eye.

We loved this gentle giant who now has a much easier life.

One of the highlights was at the top of the hill we were told one of us could ride on the elephants head for the descent. Well that didn’t need any thinking about, of course it was going to be me.

It was sooo exciting (and a tiny it scary in places), sitting on her head, feet hooked under her ears for balance, no mahout in sight, (he also kept wandering off into the jungle, but we could hear him singing away).

One little tip and I will say this as nicely as possible, if you are going to ride on the elephants head, wear an old top!!!

As when that huge trunk comes up and over and she blows her nose all over you, all yellow and yuk, it doesn’t wash out and stains haha.

There also happens to be 2 gorgeous White Palmed gibbons there called Charley and Lum Yai.

We visited Kok Chang Safari many times on our recent visit and its a great place to spend a few hours.

There is also a nice little bar there where you can buy bottles of water, beers etc.

Plus there are good toilet facilities!

The Centre is located in the Kata Nai Harn Hills at the Southern end of Phuket Island. Once you are on the Kata Viewpoint road, about 1 kilometer south of the viewpoint, 50 meters after the elephant crossing road sign just before you begin climbing the hill to the summit. (The Kata Viewpoint is marked on all Phuket maps).


Click below for all our recent photos from Kok Chang
Cathy's Photo Pages

Prices for the one hour elephant trek to the summit are 1000baht per adult. This is the one we would highly recommend!

There is also a half hour trek for 800baht, a 20 minute trek for 500baht, with 50% off for children under 11. Money for the elephant trek is paid directly to the centre.

Kok Chang Safari have also started doing complimentary pickups from Karon, Kata and Nai Harn, the number if phoning from within Thailand is 08 959 19413 or +668 959 19413 from outside Thailand.

If you want to organize your visit through Phuket Richard the return transfers are 100 baht per person from Patong, Karon or Kata. He can be contacted on the email link below.