# Is the Khao Lak Safari from Phuket Worth It? Yes, if you want a full day on the mainland with elephants, a jungle river and a cave temple, and you're happy to get soaked at least once. The Khao Lak safari picks you up at 06:50 and heads back to the hotels at 16:50, with the full elephant programme including a ride, bamboo rafting, Thai lunch and national park fees in the price. It suits families and first-timers who want variety without a boat, and suits less well anyone after a quiet day or a beach. ## Tours and prices in Thai baht - [Khao Lak safari: jungle, waterfalls and elephants](https://phukeo.com/en/tours/kao-lak-safari-1-day) · [md](https://phukeo.com/en/tours/kao-lak-safari-1-day.md) — One day, around ten hours · Adult 1,650 THB · Child 4–9 1,450 THB - [Rafting and the elephant spa](https://phukeo.com/en/tours/rafting-spa-1day) · [md](https://phukeo.com/en/tours/rafting-spa-1day.md) — One day, nine hours or more · Adult 1,550 THB · Child 4–9 1,350 THB - [Phang Nga and Samet Nangshe: viewpoint, mangroves and an elephant spa](https://phukeo.com/en/tours/phang-nga-samet) · [md](https://phukeo.com/en/tours/phang-nga-samet.md) — One day, 06:30–17:30 · Adult 2,050 THB · Child 4–9 1,650 THB Prices come straight from our booking system. Children under four join free on most trips — each tour page says so. ## The day, hour by hour Pickup is at 06:50, and the route runs north through rubber and fruit plantations into the Khao Lak Lam Ru reserve. At 09:20 you're at the monkey cave and the Suwan Kuha temple, a temple inside a stalactite cave with bats overhead. The zoo follows at 11:20, and at 12:05 the elephant spa: mud treatment, bathing and showering the elephants, the baby elephant show and a ride, all included. At 12:50 the group goes down the jungle river by bamboo raft or canoe. Thai lunch is at 13:50 at a local restaurant, after a stretch past the plantations with the guide explaining what grows there. The afternoon is the turtle farm at 14:50, a waterfall at 15:00, and the Sarasin bridge viewpoint and the fruit market at 16:20, where the guide makes you taste things. At 16:50 you head back to the hotels. Khao Lak beyond the safari, the Similan pickups included, is on [Khao Lak from Phuket: what to expect](https://phukeo.com/en/guide/khao-lak). ## Why it's worth it Variety, and an elephant ride already in the price. The elephant programme here is complete: mud treatment, bathing, a shower, the baby elephant show and the ride, with nothing to add on the spot. Not every land day has the ride; on the Avatar world day, for example, you bathe the elephants but don't ride them. The other reason is the pace. Nothing lasts long enough to drag: a cave, animals, a river, lunch, a waterfall, a market. The card calls it one of the easier days for a family, with no early start, and the 06:50 pickup is indeed late next to the sunrise boat days, which collect people between 04:00 and 05:00. ## Why it might not be You will get wet. Between the elephants, the raft and the waterfall you'll be soaked at least once, so a change of clothes is not optional. It's also about ten hours, with most of the movement by road, and there's no beach on this route at all. Some things aren't covered: drinks with lunch, extra food and snacks, souvenirs, professional photo and video, and temple clothing hire if you need it. The card also asks you to bring your own rain jacket in the wet season. And if you'd rather spend quiet time with elephants than ride one, the elephant beach day or the Avatar world day fits better. ## What's included, and what you pay on the day Included: hotel transfer both ways, the guide, insurance, Thai lunch, national park entrance fees and the full elephant programme with bathing and riding. The card's list of extras has nothing else that you would pay for at the zoo, the turtle farm or the raft. Not included: drinks with lunch, extra food and snacks, souvenirs and personal spending, professional photo and video, and temple clothing hire. Bring a towel and swimwear, sunscreen and a hat, a change of clothes, a camera, and something covering shoulders and knees for the temple. The tour price is in the table on this page, in baht. ## Who it suits Families with children, first: the elephants, the zoo, the turtle farm and the raft are what kids talk about afterwards. Children aged 4 to 9 pay the child price, and from ten the adult price applies. It also suits a first trip to Thailand, when you want to see what the mainland looks like beyond the beaches, and anyone who gets seasick, since nothing on the route goes out to sea. It also works as the day after Phi Phi; the other options are on [day trips from Phuket after Phi Phi](https://phukeo.com/en/excursions/day-trips-after-phi-phi). - You want an elephant ride included — Khao Lak safari - You want proper river rafting — Rafting and the elephant spa - You want the bay from above, with elephants — Phang Nga and Samet Nangshe - You want hot springs at the end of the day — the Avatar world day - You want only half a day — Phuket sightseeing ## Khao Lak safari or another jungle day? The closest match is the Avatar world day, and we put the two side by side on [Khao Lak safari or Avatar world](https://phukeo.com/en/excursions/khao-lak-safari-or-avatar-world). If you're torn between animals and scenery, [elephants or Cheow Lan lake](https://phukeo.com/en/excursions/elephants-or-cheow-lan) weighs the safari against the lake day, and [Phuket jungle tours](https://phukeo.com/en/excursions/jungle-tours) lists the rafting, elephant and ATV days together. The cave temple from the first stop has its own page: [Suwan Kuha cave temple](https://phukeo.com/en/guide/suwan-kuha-cave-temple). ## Guide, children and booking Every tour in our catalogue runs with an English-speaking guide. The temple asks for shoulders and knees covered, and cover-ups can be hired there for a small fee. The programme can change with the weather. Payment is agreed in the chat after the booking is confirmed. Send the tour, the date and your hotel, and we confirm the pickup time. If you move to Khao Lak for the Similans, [Similan Islands from Phuket or Khao Lak](https://phukeo.com/en/excursions/similan-islands-from-phuket-or-khao-lak) shows what changes in the morning. ## Worth knowing Pack a full change of clothes and a towel in a dry bag. The elephant bath, the raft and the waterfall come one after another, and you'll want dry clothes for the bus back. ## FAQ ### Is the Khao Lak safari worth it with children? Yes. The card calls it one of the easier days for a family: no early start, and the elephants, the zoo, the turtle farm and the raft keep children busy. Ages 4 to 9 pay the child price. ### Is there an elephant ride? Yes. The full elephant programme is in the price: mud treatment, bathing and showering the elephants, the baby elephant show and a ride. ### Will I get wet? Yes, at least once. The elephants, the raft and the waterfall all get you wet, so bring swimwear, a towel and a change of clothes. ### Are national park fees included? Yes. National park entrance fees, Thai lunch, hotel transfer both ways, the guide and insurance are included. Drinks with lunch and extra snacks are not. ### Is there a beach stop? No. The itinerary is the cave temple, the zoo, the elephants, the river, the turtle farm, a waterfall, the Sarasin bridge viewpoint and the fruit market. ### Is an English-speaking guide available? Yes. Every tour in our catalogue runs with an English-speaking guide. ### How do I book the Khao Lak safari? Send the tour, the date, your hotel and everyone's ages in WhatsApp. Pickup is at 06:50 and we confirm the time for your hotel; payment by card online is agreed in the chat once the booking is confirmed. Children under four travel free. ## Compare with - [Khao Lak Safari or Avatar World from Phuket: Which Jungle Day?](https://phukeo.com/en/excursions/khao-lak-safari-or-avatar-world) · [md](https://phukeo.com/en/excursions/khao-lak-safari-or-avatar-world.md) - [Elephants or Cheow Lan Lake: Choosing a Land Day from Phuket](https://phukeo.com/en/excursions/elephants-or-cheow-lan) · [md](https://phukeo.com/en/excursions/elephants-or-cheow-lan.md) - [Phuket Jungle Tours: Rafting, Elephants and ATV](https://phukeo.com/en/excursions/jungle-tours) · [md](https://phukeo.com/en/excursions/jungle-tours.md) - [Land Tours from Phuket: Days Without a Sea Crossing](https://phukeo.com/en/excursions/land-tours) · [md](https://phukeo.com/en/excursions/land-tours.md) - [All tours](https://phukeo.com/en/tours) ## How to book [Ask about dates on WhatsApp](https://wa.me/66619490349?text=Hello!%20I%20found%20you%20on%20phukeo.com%20and%20I'd%20like%20to%20book%20%22Khao%20Lak%20safari%3A%20worth%20it%3F%22.%20My%20dates%3A%20) --- Canonical: https://phukeo.com/en/excursions/khao-lak-safari-worth-it