Boon Lott’s Elephant Sanctuary (BLES) is located in Sukhothai, Northern Thailand. BLES is a beautiful sanctuary devoted to creating a safe and natural environment for rescued and retired elephants allowing them to roam within 200 acres of forested land.

BLES promises a unique opportunity to interact closely with their elephants and share in all aspects of their world. You can help as little or as much as you wish whether its giving the elephants a morning scrub before breakfast, gathering food, walking to the forest, or simply relaxing over lunch whilst they play in the water pond... but watch out for a trunk or two looking for a snack!

BLES intentionally keeps their guest numbers low with a maximum of 6 people at any one time, this benefits the elephants, the visitors and your time with Katherine. Each elephant has their own story of their abusive past but thankfully they can now live the rest of their lives in this beautiful sanctuary. There are 13 adorable elephants to meet including pretty flower girl Lom, Grandma Boon Mee, the party girls Tong Yui, Bong Beng and Wassana, and a 2 year old cheeky baby elephant named Mee Chok which means Blessed in Thai. This year alone BLES has rescued 6 lucky elephants and with more funding, more elephants can join their happy family.

Depending upon individual interests, BLES also customizes their guests program to include additional activities beyond caring for the elephants such as helping out with other animals, visiting local temples and historical parks, befriending local villagers, and shopping in the markets. They offer the opportunity to help prepare meals with their cooks using organic and locally grown produce. The mahouts at BLES are all village locals with a basic understanding of the English language and enjoy mixing with guests, sharing their unique culture and demonstrating their BLES approach to elephant care through kindness and love.

It’s a perfect stay in a beautiful, peaceful sanctuary. BLES relies entirely on donations and funds generated by visitors, so make BLES a must on your trip to Thailand, you will have an experience of a lifetime.

Katherine Connor founded BLES in June 2005. After a successful career in retail management, Katherine left England in 2002 for a nine-month adventure in Asia. Just six weeks after her arrival in Thailand, Katherine unexpectedly found herself volunteering in an elephant conservation centre and hospital. While establishing her formative relationship with the baby elephant, Boon Lott, she realized her life’s passion and committed herself to the rescue, recovery, and retirement of abused Asian elephants.

With fierce resolution, Katherine single-handedly raised the initial funds to purchase land and establish BLES as a nonprofit organization with charity status. Her unwavering efforts were internationally recognized, and she was formally invited to The House of Lords in London to receive an award from IFAW (International Fund for Animal Welfare) for her dedication and commitment to animal welfare.

During her time at the elephant hospital she met and married Anon, a Thai mahout and her ideal partner in business and life. Now, along with their son Noah, daughter Hope, and 13 elephants, Katherine and Anon form the perfect blend of a human-elephant family.

Katherine has often said she will not turn her back on any abused animals. This creed is evident — in addition to elephants, BLES is home to a variety of rescued animals, including eight dogs, five cats, a tortoise and two cows.

The Founder of Boon Lott’s Elephant Sanctuary, Katherine Connor

BLES is perfect for stays from one day to one week and offers a unique experience for visitors of all ages. Cost per person per night is Baht 4000 including all meals and airport pick up/drop off.

For further details please visit www.blesele.org