Fodor's Expert Review Boon Lott's Elephant Sanctuary

Imagine waking near rice fields to an elephant call at sunrise, or hiking beside an entire elephant family as they traverse acres of lush forestland. You can do that and more at Boon Lott’s Elephant Sanctuary, a delightful haven for endangered Asian elephants who have been injured and abused while being used as transport in the logging and tourist industries. The sanctuary is comprised of teak guesthouses with wraparound porches and modern bathrooms nestled in a grove of banana trees where visitors can participate in a variety of activities including gathering food for the elephants, bathing them, and interacting with mahouts from the nearby village. Founded in 2005 by Katherine Connor, who left a successful career in the United Kingdom to move to Thailand and dedicate her life to the rescue and rehabilitation of Asian elephants, the sanctuary is a registered nonprofit, entirely dependent on funds generated by visitors and donations from foundations.