The newly opened Elephant Conservation Center marks a new era for conservation of the Asian elephant within Laos, and offers a unique experience to visitors wishing to contribute to the protection of this endangered species.
This is not just another elephant camp offering rides to hoards of tourists – rather than taking elephants from their natural home into urban tourist areas, you will be brought to the elephants in their undisturbed natural environment. Elephants at the Centre are there to rest, either waiting to give birth or recovering from an exhausting life in logging or mass tourism, and training is given to the mahouts to ensure that they offer the best possible care. With over 250 acres of protected forest and a team of professional and dedicated staff including fully qualified vets, it is clear that the well-being and the safety of the elephants come before anything else.
Our 2 and 3 day overnight trips to the Elephant Conservation Center offer a unique experience to enter the world of the elephant, and their lifetime partners, the mahouts, knowing that you are making a difference in improving the quality of their lives. Located on the far side of a beautiful lake surrounded by untouched tropical forest with stunning views over the Elephant Mountain range, the Center has been designed to resemble a traditional Lao village. Accommodation consists of basic, but authentic wooden and thatch bungalows set by the lake.
During the days you can spend time getting to know the resident elephants. They range in size, age and character, from Phy Noy, a playful and mischievous 1 year old male, and the first baby to be born here, and Mae Dok, an elegant older female of 49 year and the matriarch of the herd. She was previously used for extensive logging operations until she was rescued and brought to the Center. Under the professional guidance of the mahouts you can learn hoe to climb on and off the elephants safely, how to feed them correctly and how to ride them the traditional way – bareback. Accompany them on walks through the wilderness, help bathe them in the lake and guide them to their favourite spot for the night. Deep in the forest is the elephant nursery which focuses on providing the elephants with a safe environment fo give birth and wean their calves. Here you can see baby elephants playing, carefully watched over by mum.
This is an idyllic spot, not just for the elephants, but also for the visitors. Watch the sunset from a boat as you lazily drift across the lake, swim in the refreshingly cool water, or just relax on the shore while listening to the distant calls of the elephants.
The Center is located a 2.5 hour drive from Luang Prabang, followed by a 15 minute boat ride.
