—Elephant Conservation Center — Sayaboury, Laos
Discovery
2 days / 1 night
An immersive overnight introduction to ethical elephant conservation in Laos, where your visit funds real welfare, science and forest protection.
Your first, unforgettable step intot he world of Asian elephants. An immersive overnight introduction to ethical elephant conservation in Laos. Two days and one night on the shores of the stunning Nam Tien Lake – welfare, science and respect: your visit funds real conservation.
Highlights
- Observe elephants walking, foraging, socialising and bathing, inside 540 hectares of tropical forest
- Visit the nursery and Laos’ only elephant hospital, from a hands-off distance
- A delicious culinary experience and a conservation talk by international experts
- Sleep in a lakeside bungalow, a forest house or a deluxe lodge
Day by Day
Two days, one night. The pace is the elephants’, not a tour clock.
Day 1
Arrival & first encounter
Your day starts in Luang Prabang with a minivan transfer, then a boat across Nam Tien Lake to the Center. After settling in, a guide takes you into the forest and past the enclosures where the herd lives, followed by a family-style Lao lunch on a lakeside platform.
In the afternoon you watch bath time at the nursery, the forest area reserved for our youngest elephants and their mothers, then visit the elephant hospital, where our Lao vet team or biologist explains common and uncommon injuries and treatments. Bath time is how elephants socialise and strengthen bonds – and an important part of their recovery.
As the herd walks back into the forest with the mahouts, enjoy the viewpoints or paddle a canoe or kayak on the lake. At 6:00 pm a short film on ECC's conservation work opens a Q&A with our elephant specialists, followed by dinner and an evening at the bar.
Overnight: Accommodation — Classic, Premium, Forest House or Deluxe
Day 2
Return to the forest & departure
After a night in the forest, meet the elephants again for another bath and an unhurried walk – watch them forage, scratch and socialise, and listen for a trumpet or two.
Then visit the Socialisation Area, a natural space where the elephants interact freely during much of the day. From the raised platforms you can see how a new herd is taking shape. Lunch is served at the Center before your minivan back to Luang Prabang, arriving around 5:30 pm.
Accommodation
The programme is the same whatever the room. Each accommodation choice has its own charm.
Classic Bungalow
Lakeside or garden terrace, double or twin, shared bathroom nearby.
From $220Premium Lakeside Bungalow
Lakeside terrace, double or twin, shared or private bathroom.
From $240Forest House
At the forest edge, looking onto the teak grove. Private bathroom.
From $230Deluxe Lodge
A panoramic view from your large veranda overlooking the lake. More privacy. Private bathroom.
From $390Included
What’s included
- Scenic transfer from Luang Prabang and the boat crossing to the Center
- One night in your chosen accommodation
- Guided forest walks and observation of the elephant nursery and bath time
- Visit to the elephant hospital and Information Center
- Lao dinner and a conservation talk
- English-speaking team on site
- Set menu meals: lunch and dinner on day 1, breakfast and lunch on day 2
- Unlimited drinking water refill
What’s not included
- International flights
- Visa
- Travel insurance
- Bank transfer fees
- Drinks beyond the included meals
- Anything not listed as included
Info
- No elephant riding, and no bathing with the elephants. Observation only.
- Walking is light to moderate, on forest paths that can be muddy. Activities vary in the rainy season (May–September).
- Medical care and training are carried out by ECC's qualified vets only – guests observe from a safe distance.
- Pick-up in Luang Prabang at 7:30 am; back around 5:30 pm on day 2.
- Children: 1–4 years free, 5–10 years 50% off, when sharing a bungalow with parents; over 10 years full price.
- Bring: cap, sunscreen, refillable water bottle, long trousers and long sleeves, a backpack, good trekking shoes, a rain jacket (June–November) and mosquito repellent.