Cambodia Elephant Sanctuary Visitor Guide: Schedule, What to Bring and How to Book

Cambodia Elephant Sanctuary is in Banteay Srei district, about an hour’s drive from Siem Reap town. It is home to elephants that spent years working in tourism and logging, now cared for by veterinarians and experienced mahouts. This guide covers everything you need to plan your visit: how the day runs, what to bring, current prices and how to book.

Quick facts

• Time with the elephants: about 2 hours
• Hotel transfer: pick-up and drop-off in the Siem Reap area, roughly 1 hour each way
• Pick-up rounds: morning 7:30–8:00 or afternoon 12:30–13:00
• Location: Khnar Sanday, Banteay Srei, Siem Reap
• Booking: online, with secure payment by card or PayPal

How your visit runs, step by step

The program is a hands-on experience of around two hours. Times below are approximate; your guide sets the pace for the group and the elephants.

1. Hotel pick-up

The sanctuary’s roofed pickup truck collects you from your hotel in the Siem Reap area. The drive takes about an hour through the countryside towards Banteay Srei.

2. Introduction from your guide (25–30 minutes)

Your guide introduces the elephants, explains where they came from and shows you how to behave safely around them.

3. Preparing the elephants’ food (about 20 minutes)

In the Elephant Cooking Activity you mix steamed rice, rice bran, ripe mangoes, ripe bananas and a pinch of salt into a meal that supports the elephants’ digestion, then hand it out yourself.

4. Mud bath (about 15 minutes)

Next you join the elephants for a mud bath. Mud helps protect elephant skin from the sun and insects, and it is usually the moment everyone starts laughing.

5. River bathing (20–30 minutes)

Then it is time to rinse off together in the river and help bathe the elephants. Read more about why elephants need to bathe.

6. Fruit and rest (about 30 minutes)

The program ends with seasonal fruit and drinking water. Shower rooms are available so you can change into dry clothes before the drive back to your hotel.

Morning or afternoon round?

Both rounds include exactly the same activities. Morning pick-up is between 7:30 and 8:00 and the program starts around 9:00, when it is usually cooler. The afternoon round picks up between 12:30 and 13:00, which works well if you want to visit temples in the morning.

What to bring

• Swimsuit
• Change of clothes
• Towel
• Sandals you don’t mind getting muddy
• A bag for wet clothes

We also suggest sunscreen, a hat and insect repellent. See our full what to bring list.

Prices

How to book

Booking online in advance is the easiest option. The sanctuary is deep in the countryside and hard to find on Google Maps, so the booking form asks for your hotel and room number and our driver collects you on your chosen date. You can pay securely by card through Stripe or by PayPal.

Hotel transfers cover the Siem Reap area. If you are staying further out, please contact us before booking. Book your visit online.

Good to know

• Please follow your guide’s and the mahouts’ instructions at all times.
• Pregnant guests are welcome, but some forest paths are uneven, so please take extra care.
• Programs are non-refundable except for sudden illness (with a medical certificate) or flight delays and schedule changes (with proof from the airline). See the full terms.

Frequently asked questions

How far is the sanctuary from Siem Reap?

It is in Banteay Srei district, about an hour’s drive from Siem Reap town each way. Hotel pick-up and drop-off in the Siem Reap area are included.

How long does the visit take?

Around two hours with the elephants. Including transfers, plan for about half a day.

Can I ride the elephants?

No. The sanctuary does not offer elephant riding. You meet the elephants on the ground: preparing their food, joining the mud bath and bathing them in the river.

Can children join?

Yes. Children aged 4 to 10 pay a reduced child rate and children under 4 join free. See the current prices above.

What should I wear?

Wear a swimsuit or clothes that can get wet and muddy, plus sandals. Bring a change of clothes and a towel; shower rooms are available.

Have a question before you book? Call +855 86 903 008 or message us on Facebook.