LAOS – Luang Prabang – Therapeutic Elephant Trek

A unique experience to interact with and learn about elephants, and how they live alongside people in Laos.

Theme

Classic, Family, Sustainable

Country - City

Laos - Luang Prabang

Market segment

Thematic Leisure

Price Level

$$$$

Level of difficulties

LEVEL 0

Max pax

8

Seasonality

All Year Round, may be very slippery during rainy season

Arrival city

Luang Prabang

Departure city

Luang Prabang

Description

A visit to MandaLao Elephant Camp on the outskirts of Luang Prabang is guaranteed to make everlasting memories. This amazing place dedicates itself to taking care of these majestic creatures, as well as teaching people about them, in order to further conservation efforts and awareness. The morning begins with an in-depth introduction of elephant behavior and communication, before crossing the river to meet these amazing animals in person. A walk through the lush jungle with the elephants, along a stream, gives travelers the opportunity to spend some quality time with these friendly, curious, and gentle giants. Upon returning back to the camp, a delicious lunch of freshly picked produce will await travelers (with snacks for the elephants too, of course).

Can be combined with

Thematic Leisure

Selling points

  • Suitable for FIT leisure groups looking for a unique wildlife experience around the city.
  • No elephant riding-sustainable activity that gives travelers a better understanding of elephants and the challenges they face as a species today. 
  • Intimate, unique and ethical interactions with free-roaming elephants. 
  • A half-day morning activity not far from Luang Prabang.
  • A chance to enjoy stunning scenery along the Nam Khan River and eat delicious food from the restaurant at the camp. 

Level Of The Excursion

Medium – This activity offers tangible positive contributions to the local community, culture and/or environment

The Impact Of This Excursion

Social/cultural Impact

Cultural Conservation

Empowerment and education

Environment Impact

Involving Wildlife

Economic Impact

Local individual benefits

Community benefits

Time And Transportation

From To Km By Duration Road condition
Night Market MandaLao Elephant Camp 15 kilometers Car 25 minutes Good

 

Duration

  • Morning Half-Day + Lunch
    • 08:30-Pick-up time for join-in 
    • 09:15-Pick-up time for private groups 
    • 13:30 (approximately)-Return to Luang Prabang

Min pax

1

Max pax

8

How to sell it

  • Can be done before an evening flight.
  • A good choice to include for families wanting to meet elephants with children 8+.
  • A good choice for FIT, mid- and high-end markets, soft adventure, small groups of no more than 8 pax.
  • No elephant riding-sustainable activity that gives travelers a better understanding of elephants and the challenges they face as a species today. 
  • An opportunity to experience unique and ethical interactions with free-roaming elephants. 

Why this activity

  • Developed as an alternative to the Baby Elephant activity which has been discontinued.
  • Promoted by Easia Travel as a sustainable wildlife activity without elephant riding.
  • Gives travelers a strong insight into sustainable development and animal preservation.
  • An ideal product for families with children 8+.
  • An interactive and informative educational experience.

Good to combine with

  • It is half a day tour and can be followed by a city tour, relaxing at the hotel, or a visit to Tad Se Waterfalls which are also reachable by boat from MandaLao.
  • It is also possible to combine with activities in the late afternoon such as a Baci Ceremony or a Sunset Cocktail on a Terrace.

Do not combine with

  • Kuang Sy Waterfalls or Pak Ou Caves – located away from the city in the opposite direction. 

Market suggestion

AUSTRALIA

CANADA

FRANCE

ITALY

SPAIN

PORTUGAL

BENELUX

SCANDINAVIA

CEE

US

GERMANY

UK

BEST FOR FIT

BEST FOR GIT

Competitor comparison

  • This activity can be offered by other DMCs.

Pros

  • Can be done before an evening flight.
  • A good choice to include for families wanting to meet elephants with children 8+.
  • A good choice for FIT, mid- and high-end markets, soft adventure, small groups of no more than 8 pax.
  • No elephant riding-sustainable activity that gives travelers a better understanding of elephants and the challenges they face as a species today. 
  • Easy to organize – the supplier takes care of everything except the transfer, which we provide.
  • The supplier is helpful and reliable.

Cons

  • Trek can be very slippery in the rainy season, however; they have a second trek further away from the stream for the rainy season.

Information

  • Ban Xieng Lom (same area as Elephant village camp)
  • Privatization possible.
  • For special VIP / luxury clients: Kellen, the Operation Manager and Owner, may be available to be their tour guide (for supplement).
  • Possibility to visit the organic garden at the elephant camp. All of the vegetables on site are grown here. 

Alerts

  • With English speaking clients, there is no need for guide! Their guide speaks very good English.
  • Clients will be provided with special boots for the trek but their feet may get wet.
  • Easia should provide the transfer.

Important information

  • The trek is approximately 2.5 kilometers / 1 hour 30 minutes walking.

Price range

$$$$

Quotation guideline

On ERP:

  • LAOS > Luang Prabang > Activity > Mandalao > Therapeutic Elephant Trek (Join-in) – HDE
  • LAOS > Luang Prabang > Activity > Mandalao >Therapeutic Elephant Trek (Private) – HDE

Inclusion

  • English-speaking tour guide
  • Educational talk about the elephants
  • Trekking with elephants
  • Trekking boots and socks
  • Insect repellent
  • Sun lotion
  • Fresh lunch, coffee, tea, drinking water and snacks

Exclusion

  • Non-English speaking guide
  • Transfers

Important notes

  • Transfers provided by Easia Travel at 08:30 (join-in) or 09:15 (private)

Contact

  • Contact: Kellen Johnson – Owner & Opperator, MandaLaos
  • Email: [email protected]
  • Mobile: +856 20 96 64 54 91
  • Office: +856 30 56 64 014

English

Therapeutic Elephant Trek

This morning, you will be picked up at your hotel and set off for a unique and heartwarming experience with elephants at MandaLao Elephant Camp. Upon arrival, you will get an in-depth introduction about elephant behavior and communication, before crossing the river to meet these majestic animals in person. From the riverbank, you will watch the mahouts bathe and interact with the elephants before beginning a relaxing trek through the jungle along the Huay Nok stream with your new elephant friends. Upon your return to the camp, it will be time to bid the beautiful animals farewell, and head over to the restaurant to enjoy a delicious lunch of fresh, organic produce. After lunch, you will take your transfer back to Luang Prabang.

Meals included: Lunch
Distance and duration of the trek: Approximately 2.5 kilometers / 1 hour 30 minutes walking
Note: Transfers provided by Easia. Pick-up time for join-in is at 08h30 and at 09h15 for private tour. Return to Luang Prabang around 13h30. Maximum 8 pax for join-in tour and 10 pax for private tour.

French

Randonnée thérapeutique avec des éléphants

Ce matin, vous serez pris en charge à votre hôtel et partirez pour une expérience unique et émouvante avec les éléphants au camp d’éléphants de MandaLao. À votre arrivée, vous recevrez une introduction approfondie sur le comportement et la communication des éléphants, avant de traverser la rivière pour rencontrer ces animaux majestueux en personne. Depuis la rive, vous observerez les cornacs se baigner et interagir avec les éléphants avant d’entamer une randonnée relaxante dans la jungle, le long du ruisseau Huay Nok, en compagnie de vos nouveaux amis éléphants. À votre retour au camp, il sera temps de faire vos adieux aux magnifiques animaux et de vous rendre au restaurant pour savourer un délicieux déjeuner composé de produits frais et biologiques. Après le déjeuner, vous reprendrez votre transfert vers Luang Prabang.

Repas inclus : déjeuner
Distance et durée de la randonnée : environ 2,5 kilomètres / 1 heure 30 minutes de marche

Remarques : Les transferts sont pris en charge par Easia. Pour un tour public, on viendra vous chercher à 8 h 30 et à 9 h 15 pour un tour privé. Vous rentrerez à Luang Prabang vers 13 h 30. Maximum 8 personnes pour un tour public et 10 personnes pour un tour privé.

Spanish

Excursión terapéutica con elefantes

Esta mañana le recogeremos en su hotel y partiremos hacia una experiencia única y conmovedora con elefantes en el MandaLao Elephant Camp. A su llegada, recibirá una introducción en profundidad sobre el comportamiento y la comunicación de los elefantes, antes de cruzar el río para conocer en persona a estos majestuosos animales. Desde la orilla del río, observará cómo los mahouts se bañan e interactúan con los elefantes antes de iniciar una relajante caminata por la selva a lo largo del arroyo Huay Nok con sus nuevos amigos elefantes. A su regreso al campamento, será el momento de despedirse de los bellos animales y dirigirse al restaurante para disfrutar de un delicioso almuerzo a base de productos frescos y ecológicos. Tras el almuerzo, traslado de vuelta a Luang Prabang.

Comidas incluidas: almuerzo.
Distancia y duración de la excursión: aproximadamente 2,5 kilómetros / 1 hora y 30 minutos de excursión.
Nota: Traslados facilitados por Easia. la hora de recogida para la visita conjunta es a las 8:30 y a las 9:15 para la visita privada. La hora de regreso a Luang Prabang será en torno a las 13:30. Máximo 8 personas por visita conjunta y 10 personas por visita privada.

Italian

Escursione terapeutica con elefanti

Questa mattina verrete prelevati dal vostro hotel e partirete per un’esperienza unica e toccante con gli elefanti al MandaLao Elephant Camp. All’arrivo, riceverete un’introduzione approfondita sul comportamento e la comunicazione degli elefanti, prima di attraversare il fiume per incontrare di persona questi maestosi animali. Dalla riva del fiume, osserverete i mahout fare il bagno e interagire con gli elefanti prima di iniziare un rilassante trekking nella giungla lungo il torrente Huay Nok con i vostri nuovi amici elefanti. Al ritorno al campo, sarà il momento di salutare gli splendidi animali e di recarsi al ristorante per gustare un delizioso pranzo a base di prodotti freschi e biologici. Dopo pranzo, prenderete il trasferimento per tornare a Luang Prabang.

Pasti inclusi: pranzo

Distanza e durata del percorso: circa 2,5 chilometri / 1 ora e 30 minuti a piedi

Nota: Trasferimento offerto da Easia. l’orario per l’incontro è alle 8:30 per i tour di gruppo e alle  9:15 del mattino per i tour privati. Rientro a Luang Prabang verso le 13.30. Massimo 8 persone per tour di gruppo 10 persone per tour privato.

German

Therapeutische Elefanten-Wanderung

Heute Morgen werden Sie von Ihrem Hotel abgeholt und machen sich auf den Weg zu einem einzigartigen und herzerwärmenden Erlebnis mit Elefanten im MandaLao Elephant Camp. Bei Ihrer Ankunft erhalten Sie eine ausführliche Einführung in das Verhalten und die Kommunikation der Elefanten, bevor Sie den Fluss überqueren, um diese majestätischen Tiere persönlich zu treffen. Vom Flussufer aus beobachten Sie die Mahouts beim Baden und bei der Interaktion mit den Elefanten, bevor Sie mit Ihren neuen Elefantenfreunden eine entspannende Wanderung durch den Dschungel entlang des Huay Nok Flusses unternehmen. Nach Ihrer Rückkehr zum Camp ist es an der Zeit, sich von den schönen Tieren zu verabschieden und im Restaurant ein köstliches Mittagessen mit frischen, biologischen Produkten zu genießen. Nach dem Mittagessen nehmen Sie den Transfer zurück nach Luang Prabang.

Mahlzeiten inklusive: Mittagessen
Strecke und Dauer der Wanderung: etwa 2,5 Kilometer / 1 Stunde und 30 Minuten Fußmarsch
Hinweise: 
Die Transfers werden von Easia bereitgestellt. Abholzeit für das Join-in ist um 8.30 Uhr und um 9.15 Uhr für die private Tour. Gegen 13.30 Uhr Rückfahrt nach LuangPrabang. Maximal 8 Personen bei der Join-in-Tour und 10 Personen bei der privaten Tour.