Elephant Conservation Center Adventure

07:40: Gather at meeting point in Luang Prabang for join mini bus transfer to the Elephant Conservation center. Enjoy activities upon arrival.

Nursery
When you arrive at Nam Tien Lake, we will transfer you to the Center by boat.
You will have time to settle into your private bungalow before your guide takes you to the forest.
After enjoying a Laotian style picnic on a lakeside platform, you observe the elephants bathing at the nursery, an area in the forest reserved for our youngest elephants and their mothers.
Hospital
When the elephants have drunk enough and returned to the forest, you will take the boat back to the Center for the hospital visit.
Our Laotian vet assistant or our biologist will introduce you to their world and tell you more about common and uncommon injuries and their respective treatments

Elephant at the center

Elephant bath
You will then observe one of the elephants’ daily baths and learn more about our giant guests’ playful characters. The bath is a time to socialize and strengthen ties in the herd through playing together
Elephants & Mahouts
After the elephants have washed themselves, you will have the opportunity to see them up close. Their ears flapping, tails swatting while they use the trunk and the trees for a good scratching.
Meanwhile, the guide will tell you a little about the background of each elephant. They have all been worked hard before they came here.
Back to the forest
Now it’s time for them to walk back to the forest. After a short trek the mahouts will decide on a place where the elephants can graze for the night.
On the way back, our guide will show you one of our plantation and the tree nursery.
Conservation talk

Traditional bungalow

Before dinner, take in the surroundings from one of our viewpoints. You can also go for a swim in the lake, take out a canoe, or visit the museum.
At 6 pm one of the staff will give a presentation on our conservation efforts, feel free to ask your unresolved questions. After diner you can relax at the bar.

Meal: Lunch/Dinner
Accommodation: Traditional Bungalow

Forest

On the second day, you will pick up the elephants in the forest. Enjoy strolling together with these magnificent animals through their natural habitat.

After spending the night in the jungle, it is time for the morning bath.

Socialization area

The Socialization Area is an area where the elephants can freely interact during a big part of the day, recreating a semi-natural living environment. Here the elephants can enjoy being elephants.

Follow the guide to the different platforms to see how a new herd is being formed, something which is very special about our program and difficult to find anywhere else.

Watching Elephants at the center

Positive reinforcement

Lunch is served at the Center. You have some time to relax before the elephants come down for their afternoon bath.

You will meet our Laotian vet assistant or the 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 and to reduce the stress that these treatments or routine checks can give to them.

We offer you the chance to follow their work from a safe distance.

Meal: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
Accommodation: Traditional Bungalow

Enrichment
To give the elephants mental stimulation and work closely on specific relationships we provide cognitive enrichment in the form of hidden food, toys, a mud bath etc.
On the third day, our guide and biologist will explain the Enrichment Activities. It is a dynamic process for enhancing animal environments to their specific needs.
We invite you to take part in this amazing experience by helping our team to prepare this area by cutting and hiding the food. Make sure you to give the elephants a challenge.
Once they arrive, you will observe how the elephants try to find what you have hidden! This is a novel and unique way to interact with our elephants, contributing directly to their well-being.
Departure
Lunch is served at the Center.
You have some time to relax before we bring you back to Luang Prabang by minivan at 2pm. Arrive Luang Prabang at about 6pm. Manage yourself to transfer to the hotel in Luang Prabang. Trip ends.
Meal: Breakfast/Lunch
Accommodation: n/a