Phuket City Tour & Elephant Sanctuary: Old Town, Temple, Food

You feed rescued elephants without riding or bathing them. Just quiet time in a natural setting.

A half-day Phuket city tour visits Old Town's colorful shophouses, Chalong Temple and an ethical elephant sanctuary where you feed and observe rescued elephants in a respectful environment, then ends at Big Buddha viewpoint. The tour includes two traditional local snacks, lunch at a long-established restaurant, round-trip hotel transfers, an English-speaking guide and all sanctuary food and temple activity materials. Pickup time is confirmed one day before departure.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Phuket Old Town50m
2. Big Buddha Phuket1h

Phuket city, temple, elephant sanctuary

• Taste A-Pong crispy pancake
• Explore colorful Phuket Old Town
• Taste Pao Lang sticky rice snack
• Enjoy lunch at Mee Ton Poe restaurant
• Visit ethical elephant sanctuary and feed elephants
• Experience cultural activities at Chalong Temple
• Visit Big Buddha viewpoint for island views

The experience

The day starts with A-Pong, a crispy local pancake made fresh by street vendors, then moves into Phuket Old Town where your guide walks you through colorful shophouses and explains the island's multicultural heritage. The architecture and street layout tell stories about how Phuket's communities (Chinese, Muslim, Thai) built the place together. You'll taste Pao Lang next, a grilled sticky rice with banana wrapped in banana leaf, before sitting down at Mee Ton Poe for lunch. The restaurant has been established long enough that locals know it by name. You choose from Hokkien-style noodles, Pad Thai, Phat Kaphrao, Tom Yum noodles, Sweet & Sour or Fried Rice.

The elephant sanctuary is the centerpiece. There's no riding, no bathing. The focus is on rescue and care. You feed the elephants and learn their individual stories while watching them move in a natural environment. This is what separates the experience from the riding operations elsewhere on the island. Afterward, Chalong Temple offers simple cultural activities: you can fold a lotus flower, shake a fortune-stick message (similar to a fortune cookie), and place a small sheet of gold foil as an offering. These are optional, and your guide explains how locals actually use the temple.

The tour finishes at Big Buddha viewpoint overlooking the island. Access inside the main structure is currently limited due to maintenance, but the outdoor viewpoints stay open and deliver the sweeping views people come for. Round-trip transfers from your hotel are included, along with bottled water, soft drinks, fruit juices and cooling towels throughout the day. An umbrella and sarong are provided for sun or rain. The whole tour runs about six hours.

What’s included

• Round-trip shared hotel transfers in a comfortable van.
• English-speaking guide and driver.
• A-Pong pancake and Pao Lang grilled sticky rice with banana, both freshly made.
• lunch at Mee Ton Poe with your choice of Thai dish.
• bottled water, soft drinks, fruit juices and cooling towels throughout the day.
• umbrella and sarong for sun or rain.
• elephant food for the sanctuary feeding activity.
• lotus flower, gold foil and other materials for temple activities.
• travel accident insurance.

Options for this experience

2 options

Transfer area for joining the tour (free)Guide in English · 12:00Pickup and drop-off from Kata, Karon, Patong and Phuket Town area; pickup is included

Transfer area for joining the tour (charge applies)Guide in English · 12:00Pickup and drop-off from Rawai, Ao Yon, Cape Panwa, Ko Sire, Laem Hin, Ao Por, Naiyang, Naithorn, Laya, Mai Khao, Kamala, Surin and Bang Tao area; pickup is included

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 12:00

Book up to6h before

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (4 to 11 years) · Infant (under 4): free

GroupUp to 10

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 4 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Mega Tour Phuket Co.,Ltd.

Is this one for you?Choose the shared transfer option if you're staying in a central Phuket hotel and want the simplest pickup logistics. The free transfer area covers most tourist zones, while the charge transfer area reaches properties further out. The tour suits anyone interested in ethical animal encounters and local culture over typical beach-resort activities. The pace is relaxed, and all physical fitness levels work.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 11 years); Infant (under 4): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What exactly do you do with the elephants at the sanctuary?

You feed the rescued elephants and observe them in a natural environment while learning their individual stories. The sanctuary focuses on rescue and care, so there is no riding or bathing. Just meaningful time with the animals.

Is lunch included, and can I choose what I eat?

Lunch at Mee Ton Poe is included. You choose one popular Thai dish from Hokkien-style noodles, Pad Thai, Phat Kaphrao, Tom Yum noodles, Sweet & Sour or Fried Rice. Let the operator know about vegetarian or allergy requirements when you book.

What are the two local snacks I'll taste?

You start with A-Pong, a crispy pancake made fresh by local vendors, and later taste Pao Lang, a grilled sticky rice with banana wrapped in banana leaf. Both are traditional Phuket street food.

Does the tour include hotel pickup and drop-off?

Round-trip shared transfers from your hotel are included via a comfortable van. Pickup time is confirmed one day before the tour date.

What is there to do at Chalong Temple?

At Chalong Temple, you can try simple, optional cultural activities: folding a lotus flower, shaking a fortune-stick message (similar to receiving a fortune cookie), and placing a small sheet of gold foil as an offering. Your guide explains how locals visit temples.

Can I go inside the Big Buddha structure?

Access inside the main structure is currently limited due to maintenance, but outdoor viewpoints remain open and offer sweeping views of the island for photos.