Home - Elephant Conservation Center

—Elephant Conservation Center

Welcome to Sayaboury, the homeland of Lao elephants

Set on the shores of Nam Tien Lake, the Elephant Conservation Center is Laos’ leading site for ethical, science-led elephant conservation. Here, elephants live in forest landscapes, cared for by veterinarians, biologists and Lao mahouts working side by side.

Visitors are immersed in real conservation work: observing herds in their natural habitat, discovering the country’s only elephant hospital, and seeing how rescue, research and rewilding come together. Every stay directly supports the herd and the forest.

Plan your visit Introduction Video

540Hectares of protected forest and lakefront.
26Elephants living in the forest.
61 Elephant hospital – the only one in Laos; 3 Labs; 2 Mobile clinics.
4Elephants released into the wild in 2019. A first in Laos.

—Three ways in

Stay, Support, or Study with us

Lodges on the peninsula of Nam Tien Lake

Your visit

Stay by the lake

Lakeside bungalows, forest trails and the herd at your doorstep. From two days to a full week, every programme is guided by the people who care for the elephants.

See the programmes

Three elephants at the edge of the water

Support elephants

Sponsor an elephant

Choose one of the herd and receive a certificate in your name, with the elephant’s name and photograph. A beautiful gift for a birthday or for Christmas.

Meet the herd

ECORE

Learn in the field

School days, student expeditions, research internships and a veterinary workshop – inside Laos’ only elephant hospital and its three labs.

Discover ECORE

Twenty-six elephants.
One forest.

Every night you spend at the Center funds the hospital, the herd's wellbeing and the forest's regeneration.

—Stay with us

Choose the way you want to stay with us

Each programme follows the rhythm of the herd. Pick the one that fits your days – the elephants set the rest.

2 days / 1 nightFrom $220

Discovery

Your first, unforgettable step into their world

An overnight to witness the difference: no rides, no shows, just elephants living as elephants in their natural habitat.

Explore this stay

3 days / 2 nightsFrom $310

Exploration

Go deeper into the herd's world

A third day changes everything: you meet ECC’s free-roaming bull elephants, cared for nowhere else in Laos.

Explore this stay

7 days / 6 nightsFrom $990

Elephantology

Think like a scientist, not a tourist

Seven days of ethology, vet science and endocrine lab work, alongside the team that studies this herd.

Explore this stay

8 days / 7 nights$1,990

Back to the Wild

Off the beaten path, entirely

Eight days from the herd to the forest: health checks, camera traps and camping in Nam Pouy National Park.

Explore this stay

6 days / 5 nightsFrom $770

Yoga for Elephants

Stillness for you, purpose for them

Breathe deeply, stretch under open skies, and reconnect with nature, all in the company of Asia’s gentle giants.

Explore this stay

3–5 days$264 / $332 / $391

Student Experience

A field trip students actually remember

Three to five days of hands-on field learning for school groups, from the elephant hospital to the forest.

Explore this stay

Compare all programmes

—Our work

Our mission in seven steps

From the day an elephant arrives to the day some return to the wild, the work follows the same seven steps.

—The herd

Every elephant has a name

Sponsor one of them and receive a certificate in your name, made for that elephant – with their name and their photograph.

View all elephants

—In the press

What others say

“The 4th best place to observe elephants worldwide.”

Wanderlust

“ECC is a bright light in an increasingly dark landscape for wildlife conservation in the region.”

Lonely Planet

“Through a partnership with the Smithsonian Institute, the ECC has established a successful breeding program.”

The Diplomat

“Meet and interact with elephants the ethical way at the Elephant Conservation Center.”

The Independent

“ECC mahouts genuinely care for their elephants’ survival.”

The Outdoor Journal

“The ECC team works to protect the Asian elephant from extinction.”

NHK World

      EXCELLENT  
   Based on 531 reviews 
    
 
 
 
   
 
 
       Posted on Google  
   
   Phoebe Ward 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Visiting the Elephant Sanctuary is a great way to support the continued care and rehabilitation of these gorgeous animals.  We found our stay to be very enjoyable and informative. We enjoyed up close ethical observation and spoke to knowledgable guides, biologists and veterinarians and feel that we have gained a greater understanding for the complexity of Asia's greater animal welfare. The accommodation was simple but had everything you need, with stunning views. There is plenty of down time activities such as darts, pool table, board games, botchi and kayaking.
I'd recommend doing a 3 day two night stay as you get to experience more.
Add to your Laos travel itinerary!
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   brigitte vitté 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Realmente espectacular, lejos de todo, estas conectada con la naturaleza y los elefantes. Solo los ves,  los observas, super bien organizado, estan muy bien los bungalows,
todo el personal muy atentos, te explican muy bien de lo que hacen, como ayudan a los elefantes etc... No lo pienses, venir que estaréis encantados, una manera de ver los elefantes en su naturaleza. Estamos un grupo de 10 personas y hoy llegan mas y todo el mundo esta encantados, que paz, tranquilidad, bonito, espectacular, vale la pena. El viaje es un poco pesado pero a llegar se te olvidó todo.
No lo pensáis.
Una noche es muy poco, demasiado corto, me arrepiento no haber corrido 2 noches mas.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Robin Ungruh 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Our visit to the Elephant Conservation Center has been so amazing. Altough, with us, only 3 people have booked for this time, they arranged everything and made sure we had such a special time. We stayed for one night and our high expectations were exceeded. Mr Sou was an amazing guide. He was so fun and explained everything carefully and in an engaging way. We saw so many elephants and the best thing was to see how much genuine care they pay that the elephants live a comfortable and natural life. It felt never like we were intruding their spaces and you could really tell that their mission was not using elephants for entertainment but reherding them. We will take so many memories away from this visit. This was one of our absolute highlights!
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Stéphanie pereira mota 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Une expérience inoubliable! Je recommande à 2000% ce sanctuaire. Nous y sommes restés deux nuits / trois jours et nous ne en sommes ravis. Vous y trouverez un respect profond et un amour pour les éléphants qui ont souffert malheureusement. Les vétérinaires et les mahouts prennent soin d'eux et ils disposent d'un réel environnement à la hauteur de leur taille. Le guide est au top et y travaille depuis quasiment l'ouverture. Vous serez entourés d'autres pensionnaires le temps de l'aventure, le temps de perfectionner vos langues et d'échanger également. Allez-y; vous ne regretterez pas!
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Charles NICOLAS 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Une superbe expérience au centre : d'abord le lieu est très joli. Les explications sur les éléphants sont nombreuses et détaillées, le personnel est passionné et donc passionnant et est globalement aux petits soins pour faire passer un excellent séjour à ses hôtes.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Samia 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. On a passé deux jours et une nuit inoubliables et hors du temps.
Vous serez emmenés à bord d’un embarcadère le long du lac jusqu’au petit campement où se trouve le restaurant, les bungalows, et l’hôpital pour éléphant.
Le déjeuner sur le lac pour aller voir les mamans éléphants avec leurs petits était un moment magique.
On y observe les éléphants de très près, sans les toucher ni les perturber dans leur environnement.
Le moment passé avec le biologiste comportemental était très instructif et a suscité beaucoup de questions.
Les repas étaient délicieux et le staff adorable même si pas grand monde ne parle l’anglais.
Mr. Leh, notre guide est passionné et cela se ressent à travers toutes ses histoires sur les éléphants qu’il aime observer même pendant son temps libre.
Le kayak sur le lac au coucher du soleil avant le dîner est également un highlight à l’occasion de ce séjour.
Thais s’occupait de la réservation et a été tellement charmante.
J’ai même oublié mon ordinateur dans le bungalow et elle a tout fait pour qu’il me soit rapatrié avant mon départ.
Allez y les yeux fermés si vous êtes préoccupés du bien être des éléphants et que vous souhaitez soutenir une initiative pour que les éléphants qui ont soufferts dans la vie puisse un jour recouvrer liberté.
Seul bémol : la route pour y aller, accrochez vous c’est 3h assez intense , ça secoue !!
Bref, merci à l’ECC pour cette immersion et pour nous avoir permis d’en apprendre davantage sur cet animal majestueux et même sur la relation qu’entretient le pays avec son animal emblématique.
🩵
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Dominique Browne 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Un très heureux séjour passé au centre avec ma famille. Nous avons bien mangé, le chalet familial avec plusieurs chambres côte à côte et une grande terrasse était confortable.
Il y avait peu de moustique alors que l'on était en pleine saison des pluies.

Nous avons hésité et choisi les deux nuits. Heureusement ! la route étant compliquée pour aller au centre et en revenir depuis Luang Prabang, cela aurait été trop court et trop dur.

et bien sûr, voir les éléphants dans un  cadre très proche d'un environnement sauvage, c'était magique, reposant, pédagogique ! Mes filles ont adoré.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Evan Parker 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Such an amazing experience! We stayed in one of the air conditioned "deluxe" cabins which was nice. We got to see elephants up close both in natural settings and also in their elephant clinic where they treat them. We had great guides, we also got talk with a biologist and other staff, we asked lots of questions of them, and we learned a lot about the elephants and the conservation effort.  We did two big hikes into the forest to see elephants socializing.  The second hike (on the 3rd day) was the bigger hike and also in the rain and it was super muddy and slippery but ended up being a super fun adventure for us and our kids.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Jen Zinab 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We spent an amazing night here and truly appreciate the love and care that we saw given to the elephants here. The whole experience felt like a true adventure and will be a highlight of our month of travel in the country. This is a truly unique experience from the bumpy ride to the center to the accommodations and seeing the beautiful elephants. The staff go above and beyond to make sure you’re comfortable and the food was delicious! Seeing the elephants in an ethical way is exactly what we were looking for. Also the cost going directly back to a good cause makes it even better.