6 Days Laos Elephant Conservation Camp and Heritage Tour

Learn about the Asian elephant

Meet the veterinarians

Sleep in a traditional Lao way and eat a variety of Lao foods in the camp

Tour the heritage site ~ Luang Prabang

6 Days Elephant Conservation Camp & Heritage Tour in Laos

6 Days / 5 Nights
Grade: Easy
Opens: Whole Year

This program is established to give participants from around the globe the opportunity to visit a number of underprivileged countries and to participate in a tailor made program consisting of volunteer work and nature tourism. Our philosophy is all-inclusive and the participants are accompanied at all times by our team members.

The core program is generally of 3 days / 2 nights duration in the Elephant Conservation Centre and extended tour to visit the heritage, and culture Laos. By experiencing this package, you will help the Elephant Conservation Center to develop.

You will be able to help the mahouts, to meet the veterinarians and to learn about the Asian elephant through our English-speaking guides. You will observe the elephant bath and discover the baby elephants in the nursery. You will sleep in a traditional Lao way and eat a variety of Lao foods with all the staff, in family style.

Day 1: Arrive Luang Prabang
Day 2: Luang Prabang – Elephant Conservation Camp by van & boat
Day 3: Elephant Conservation Camp
Day 4: Elephant Conservation Camp – Luang Prabang by boat & van
Day 5: Full Day Luang Prabang Heritage Tour
Day 6: Depart Luang Prabang

Itinerary (Subject to changes) 

Day 1: Arrive at Luang Prabang
Upon arrival at Luang Prabang International Airport, our friendly guide will meet and transfer you to hotel for check and and refresh.

Accommodation: Sanctury Hotel or similar
Transport: Minivan

Day 2: Luang Prabang to Elephant Conservation Camp (BLD)
Morning proceed to meeting point, where you will be met by the driver from ECC and travel together with other tourist(s) to Sayaboury Province, On arrival pier at Nam Tien Lake, transfer by boat to ECC. Check in to your room before lunch is served.

After enjoying a Laotian style meal, your guide will take you for an orientation of the place and about the projects undertaking. You will then observe the elephants’ daily bath and learn more about our giant guests’ playful characters.  You will then meet our mahouts, who are the keepers of our elephants. You will then have the opportunity to interact with the elephants with the mahouts at your side. You will walk with the elephants to their nightly resting ground where you will witness the unique bond between the mahout and his elephant. Before dinner, take some time to take in the surroundings, go for a swim in the lake or visit the museum. During meal time, feel free to ask your unresolved questions to the staff or share one of the Lao style cocktails!

Accommodation: Simple budget at the centre
Transport: Share minivan
Guides: English Speaking at the centre

Day 3: Elephant Conservation Camp (BLD)
After breakfast, meet the elephants in the forest for their bath. Enjoy strolling together with these magnificent creatures in their natural environment. Follow the guide around the perimeter to learn more about the elephants. Take your time on the different platforms to see how a new herd is being formed. This rare opportunity will bring you closer to their natural life, something which is very special about our program and difficult to find anywhere else in Laos.

Lunch is served at one of the viewing platforms. After lunch, visit the resident mother and baby at the nursery. Afterwards, board our boat for a trip back to the center in time to see the afternoon bath. You will meet our veterinarian or biologist again as they will conduct a target training session. All our elephants are being trained using ‘positive reinforcement’ techniques to facilitate any necessary treatments. We offer you the chance to follow their work from a safe distance. Afterwards you can walk the elephant back to the forest.

Accommodation: Simple budget at the centre
Guides: English Speaking at the centre

Day 4: Elephant Conservation Camp – Luang Prabang (BL)
After breakfast, our guide and biologist will explain the enrichment activities. Enrichment is a dynamic process for enhancing animal environments within the context of the animal’s behavioural biology. We are providing cognitive enrichment in the form of hidden food, toys, a mud bath etc. to give the elephants mental stimulation and avoid boredom. Take part in this amazing experience by helping our team to prepare the socialization area: cut and hide the food, create elephant toys etc. to give the elephants a challenge. Once they arrive, you will have the opportunity to observe how the elephants interact with what you have created! This is a novel and unique way to interact with our elephants, contributing directly to their well-being. After Lunch, bid farewell and proceed back to Luang Prabang.

Accommodation: Sanctury Hotel or similar
Transport: Share minivan
Guides: English Speaking at the centre

Day 5: Full Day Luang Prabang Heritage Tour (BL)
Alms Giving: If you wish, rise at 05:00 to take part in the age-old tradition of giving alms to monks, also known as Tak Bat. At sunrise, your guide will escort you to a spot on a nearby street where you can participate in greeting a procession of monks as they make their way to homes and shops to receive their daily rice. Return to your hotel for breakfast and relax.

Royal Palace: Visit the Royal Palace Museum, originally built during the French colonial times as a residence for King Sisavang. This fascinating museum features the original royal chambers, paintings depicting traditional Lao life, a throne room, and four of the old royal cars, including an Edsel.

Monasteries: Visit the buddhist temples in the town such as Wat Xieng Thong, Wat Sene and Wat Visoun where you will have the opportunity to meet with the novice monks.

Ban Phanom is a village steeped in traditional textile making with all families in the village working their looms to provide goods for sale at the night markets. The woven products were once supplied to the royal family and weavers today use the same techniques and patterns, resulting in a distinctly old-fashioned look.

The Tadsae waterfall is only really interesting to see during the rain season, or during the few weeks following this period; as it has a very unequal flow, which is sometimes even non-existent, for the rest of the year. We will replace will Kuangsi waterfall if it is not in season.

Hmong Night Market: Enjoy a postprandial stroll through the nearby Hmong Night Market, where local hill-tribe people sell their textiles and other handmade creations every evening. Laos is known for its amazing, vibrant textiles and other unique pieces still made by and such as fine jewelry, delicate paper lanterns and silk.

Accommodation: Sanctury Hotel or similar
Transport: minivan
Guides: English Speaking

Day 6: Depart Luang Prabang (B)
Enjoy your breakfast in hotel before transfer to airport for your flight home

6 Days Elephant Conservation Camp & Heritage Tour in Laos

LAND Cost per person in SGD  (Tour Code: LAO-ECCH-06)

Pax SGL 2 3 4 5 6 & above
High Season  +250 888 838 818 808 798
Low Season  +160 788 738 718 708 698

High Season: 01 Nov ~ 31 Mar
Low Season: 01 Apr ~ 31 Oct

Price is subject to changes without prior notice.

Price Includes:

  • Return airport transfers and all other transfers as mentioned
  • 3 nights hotel in Luang Prabang 3-star Sanctuary Hotel Superior twin/double Room with breakfast or similar, 2 nights simple budget accommodation in Elephant Conservation Camp (share room with shared bathroom)
  • 1 full day tour in Luang Prabang including entrance fees
  • All meals as per itinerary
  • Briefing prior departure

Price does not include:

  • Travel insurance
  • Air tickets + taxes
  • Laos Visa (if applicable)
  • Meals not mentioned
  • Optional tours
  • Personal gears and expenses
  • Tipping
  • All expenses due to medical evacuation