.png)
Following Giants Review: An Ethical Elephant Sanctuary in Koh Lanta, Thailand
- Andrew Schofield
- 1 day ago
- 8 min read
When we visited Thailand in 2006, riding elephants was considered a normal tourist activity. Since then, attitudes have changed significantly. Nearly two decades later, travelling with our kids, we wanted them to experience elephants up close, but only in a way that was ethical and respectful of the animals.
That's when we discovered Following Giants, a no-touch ethical elephant sanctuary on Koh Lanta, Thailand.
It turned out to be one of the most impactful experiences of our 100-day trip, and we didn't choose it lightly. We spent weeks researching ethical elephant experiences across Thailand before deciding on this one, and we'll explain exactly why below.
If (like we were) you're wondering which elephant experiences in Thailand are genuinely ethical, rather than simply marketed that way, this guide covers everything you need to know. We'll share what to expect, what it costs, and why Following Giants is the experience we'd confidently recommend to any family visiting Thailand.
This post may contain affiliate links. If you click through and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. We only ever share honest reviews of products and experiences we genuinely love.
Table of Contents
Why We Chose Following Giants
Ethics around animal tourism is something we think about far more now than we did on our backpacking trip in 2006, when riding elephants didn't really cross our minds as a moral question at all.
Attitudes have shifted significantly since then, including our own. Even "bathing" with elephants, which for years was marketed as the ethical alternative to riding, is now understood to still be stressful for the animals.
We wanted our kids to experience elephants because they are such remarkable animals, but we also wanted to ensure the experience put their welfare first.
Once we knew we wanted an elephant experience to be part of our time in Thailand, we tried to separate the operators that genuinely put the elephants first from the ones simply using the word "ethical" as marketing.
Following Giants kept coming up as one of the best, including gaining recognition from World Animal Protection, Responsible Travel, as well as Reddit and Tripadvisor reviews.
Following Giants also operates a second sanctuary near Krabi, which gave us additional confidence in their long-term commitment to ethical elephant tourism and rescue work.
They are also transparent on their website that profits from visitor experiences directly fund their ongoing elephant rescue efforts, helping to support the sanctuary's growth.
In fact, the consistently positive reviews were one of the main reasons we chose Koh Lanta as a base for a week during our travels.
The experience was ethical, accessible enough for my parents to join us, and provided another great opportunity to educate the girls about responsible travel. It's a topic we've written about before, as our approach to ethical travel has evolved significantly over the years as a family.
What Makes Following Giants Genuinely Ethical
Following Giants' tagline is "letting elephants lead the way," and it's not just a slogan.
There's no riding, no bathing, no feeding, and no posing for selfies with the elephants. Instead, you simply walk alongside them through the forest at a respectful distance while they go about their day.
The sanctuary sits on around 45 acres of forested land bordering Mu Koh Lanta National Park and provides a home for rescued elephants.
The site itself used to operate as a trekking camp, with elephants saddled up for tourist rides, before the current owners transformed it into an observation-only sanctuary in collaboration with World Animal Protection.
It's a genuinely good example of how far this kind of tourism has come.
Most of the elephants had previously worked in logging or riding camps, and our guide shared each elephant's individual story as we walked. Some had visible leg injuries, while others had holes in their ears from the hooks that had once been used to control them.
Mahouts stay close to each elephant, but only to step in if one wanders too near a visitor, not to direct or control them.
Hearing those stories while watching the elephants roam freely was both heartbreaking and uplifting at the same time.
It was a powerful reminder of what these animals had endured, and it made the experience feel far more meaningful than simply ticking "seeing elephants" off of our travel itinerary.
Program Options & Pricing
Before you book, it's worth knowing there are a few different program lengths, each with different inclusions:
2-hour program (around 1,800 THB per adult, 1,000 THB per child): covers the jungle walk and elephant observation only.
Half-day program (around 2,750 THB per adult, 1,750 THB per child): adds the seed ball activity and the buffet lunch on top of the jungle walk. This is the one we did.
Full-day program (around 3,850 THB per adult, 2,850 THB per child): goes further still, adding a visit to the elephant education centre plus a cave and waterfall hike through the national park.
A multi-week volunteering option is also available for anyone wanting a deeper level of involvement.
It's worth considering how much time and energy you want to commit, especially if you're travelling with younger kids. We found the half-day option struck the right balance between effort and enjoyable activities for our family.
What to Expect on the Half Day Program
We booked the half-day program, so this section walks through what that specifically included.
Hotel Pickup
Hotel pickup is included and will take you to the sanctuary in the south of the island. After confirming our booking, we received a list of approximate pickup times for each location. If you prefer, you can make your own way there, but you are asked to notify the sanctuary in advance so they do not wait for you at the designated pickup point.
Once you arrive, you'll meet your guides and get a safety briefing before heading out. It had rained heavily in the weeks before our visit, so the paths were fairly muddy. Thankfully the sanctuary has free rubber boots available to borrow, as well as umbrellas if it is raining (it wasn't when we visited).
Jungle Walk
From there, you head out on the jungle walk, which typically lasts around two hours, with plenty of stops along the way.
It only took us a few minutes of walking though before we came across our first elephant. From that point on, the path winds through the trees, allowing you to observe the elephants from a respectful distance as they go about their day.
It's rated as moderate difficulty, and that felt about right. Some sections were flat and easy, while others involved steeper, uneven ground, so it's worth taking into account. It was not too difficult for our kids or my parents (in their 70's), so it should be suitable for most people with a reasonable level of mobility.
The Watering Hole
Eventually, after walking through the forest, the path descends to a lower area where there is a large water hole. Here, the elephants are encouraged to play in the water, and they genuinely seem to enjoy themselves, splashing around and occasionally squirting visitors with their trunks.
It was a wonderful part of the day, and the kids in particular loved watching the elephants spray water at people.
If you want to see a video of the elephants playing in the water, we have a video as well as lots more photos in our daily diary entry.
The Seed Ball Activity
Once the walk wraps up, you continue on to the observation deck, where the seed ball activity takes place (which is super fun)!
You're shown how to roll small seed balls out of clay, elephant dung fertiliser, and native seeds, then given a slingshot to fire them out into the forest.
It's a genuinely fun, hands-on activity for kids (and adults who are still kids at heart), and it directly supports the regeneration of the forest that provides food for the elephants long after your visit is over.
It's worth noting that this activity is not included in the two-hour walk, so I'd highly recommend doing the half day program, especially if you're visiting with children, as it was easily their favourite part of the experience.
The Buffet Lunch
The day wraps up with a buffet lunch back at the visitor area, and it was excellent. The spread included fresh pineapple and watermelon, fried rice, stir-fried vegetables, chicken curry, and chicken goujons. There was plenty of variety, so everyone in our family found something they enjoyed, and the food was delicious.
During the booking process, we were asked whether anyone in our group had dietary requirements and were told that vegan options were available if needed.
By the visitor centre, there is a small shop, which is really just a clothes rack, selling T-shirts and other clothing. We bought the kids some T-shirts as it felt like a great way to support a good cause, and they also made a nice souvenir from the day.
How to Book Tickets
This is definitely something you should book in advance.
Group sizes are deliberately kept small to protect the elephants' wellbeing, so this isn't something you can just turn up to on the day, especially in peak season (December to end of February is when it books out fastest).
You've got a few options for booking:
Direct through Following Giants' own website - the most straightforward option if you just want to book and go.
Via GetYourGuide - it's always worth checking third party pricing, and GetYourGuide is a reputable booking platform that I've used regularly on our travels. Sometimes the exact same experience can be cheaper than booking directly, so it's worth a quick comparison before you commit.
Whichever platform you use, tickets are priced per person by age (see the Program Options & Pricing section above), and hotel pickup is included as part of the price for the Koh Lanta Yai area.
Location & Practical Tips
Location: Klong Chak Waterfall Rd, Koh Lanta Yai.
Age suitability: children as young as 3 are welcome, and babies in carriers are fine too, but the sanctuary notes the jungle walk isn't suitable for 1-2 year olds who'd need to be carried the whole way.
Fitness level: moderate. Expect uneven, sometimes steep terrain, not a fully flat, stroller-friendly path.
Transfers: hotel pickup is included for the Koh Lanta Yai area; transfers to/from Old Town typically require a minimum of two people booked.
Operates year-round, in all weather, so don't rule it out even if rain is forecast, we visited shortly after a very wet spell and it didn't take away from the experience.
What is provided: Drinking water, rubber boots (wellies) for the jungle walk and umbrellas if it rains
What to bring: Socks (to wear with boots), sunscreen, a sun hat, and insect spray.
Who is the Experience Suitable For?
For our kids it was one of the highlights of our entire 100 day trip. We were a little worried our girls might find a "no touching" elephant experience underwhelming compared to the riding or bathing camps you'll see advertised everywhere on the island, but that wasn't the case at all.
Watching the elephants behave naturally, hearing their rescue stories, and getting hands-on with the seed balls gave them plenty to engage with, without needing physical contact with the animals to enjoy it.
For grandparents and older family members, it's worth noting that there are some sections of uneven, sometimes steep jungle terrain, so they might need to take it steadily. However, there were lots of stops so no-one ever got left behind. My parents (both in their 70s) managed the walk without any problems and loved every minute of it.
Our Review of Following Giants an Ethical Elephant Sanctuary in Thailand
Following Giants was one of the highlights of our entire time in Koh Lanta, and one of the moments on this trip we're proudest of choosing well.
If you're looking for an ethical elephant sanctuary anywhere in Thailand, we'd strongly encourage taking the time to research your options. After weeks of doing exactly that ourselves, Following Giants is the experience we'd recommend without hesitation.
We're a Calgary-based family that travelled for 100 days, documenting each step so other families can get an honest, real-life look at long-term travel with kids.
You can browse the full 100-day daily diary contents list here.
Comments