FAQs

Answers to Most Frequently Asked Questions

Payment / Currencies

You can pay either by master card, visa card or by cash ($, € or Kip)

Contact & Useful Links

  • Luang Prabang Visitor Center: Manthatoulat Road (Mekong Riverside), Ban Pakham, Luang Prabang | Email: [email protected] | Tel: ‪+856 (0)20 96 59 06 65
  • ECC (Nam Tien, Sayaboury Site): Ban Nonesavanh, Nam Tien Reservoir, Sayaboury District, Sayaboury Province | Email: [email protected]
  • Website: www.elephantconservationcenter.com | Facebook: Elephant Conservation Center | Instagram: #elephantconservationlaos

How do you ensure welfare & safety (mahouts, tools, chains, safeguarding, insurance)?

  • ECC follows the Five Freedoms and minimises public contact (Freedom from hunger and thirst; Freedom from discomfort; Freedom from pain, injury, or disease Freedom to express normal behaviour; Freedom from fear and distress). Positive‑reinforcement training is standard. Visitor riding is not offered. Mahouts may occasionally ride elephants—especially bulls or during musth management—for safety when moving through the forest.
  • At night, elephants may be secured on ~50‑meter chains (rotated locations) to prevent crop‑raids (and possible retaliation from angry farmers) and injuries, while allowing natural foraging and rest on soft ground. Elephants are not chained during daytime activities.
  • Guests must have personal travel insurance and sign a waiver. ECC enforces a strict Safeguarding/Code of Conduct covering staff, volunteers, partners and visitors; concerns should be reported to senior management.

What should I bring?

  • Mosquito repellent
  • Refillable water bottle
  • Light trekking shoes
  • Long trouser and a light long-sleeved shirt
  • Rain coat
  • Personal first aid medications

Where will I sleep and what facilities/food are provided?

  • Accommodation options: ‘Standard’ and ‘Premium’ Lakeside Bungalows (shared bathrooms), Forest House (private bathrooms), and Deluxe Lodges (private bathrooms, A/C). All feature private balconies with lake/forest views; the setting is low‑impact, remote and eco‑resort in feel.
  • Facilities: shared dining room (set menus of fresh Lao cuisine; vegetarian/vegan options on request though rural ingredients can be limited), bar with soft/alcoholic drinks, Wi‑Fi (encouraged to disconnect!), free drinking water. Tap water is not drinkable. Towels and eco‑friendly toiletries provided.

How much walking is involved? Is it suitable for all ages?

  • Light‑to‑moderate walking with frequent stops: Day 1 ≈ 45 minutes total (spread out); Day 2 ≈ 1 hour 15 minutes across ~4 hours; Day 3 short walks. We can adapt/skip longer sections when needed.
  • A normal physical condition is recommended. Families and guests of all ages are welcome; please tell us about any special diet, medical conditions or allergies in advance and bring any necessary medication.

What will I actually see and do with the elephants?

  • A hands‑off, observation‑led programme: follow elephants in the forest, observe socialisation, watch them during bathing, and visit the Nursery, Hospital, Plantation/Bamboo Garden and Information Centre.
  • Learn from guides, vets and biologists (e.g., elephant talks, observed medical checks and target training). Activities are flexible and may shift based on elephant welfare and where the herd rested overnight.

How do I get to ECC?

  • Daily minivan departs Luang Prabang Post Office at 07:30 (approx. 2.5–3 hours by road) to our Sayaboury pier, then a short boat transfer to the Center. Return to Luang Prabang is usually 16:30–17:00 on your final day.
  • Alternatives: from Vientiane or Vang Vieng, take the Laos‑China Railway to Luang Prabang and connect with our minivan the next morning; flights to Luang Prabang are also possible. If you are already in Sayaboury, we can pick you up around 10:00. Self‑drive directions are available; allow for mountain roads and changing conditions. From Vientiane, Lao Skyway operates several flights to Sayaboury weekly.

How do I book and pay? What’s your cancellation policy?

  • Cancellation up to 15 days before arrival: 100% refund (excluding bank fees)
  • Cancellation between 14 and 5 days before arrival: 50% refund (excluding bank fees)
  • Cancellation less than 5 days before arrival or no-show: no refund
  • Season note: ECC is closed for 4 days during Lao New Year (April). We recommend booking early in high season (November–May).

Which experiences can I book — and what’s included?

  • Experiences: 2 days / 1 night (Discovery), 3 days / 2 nights (Exploration), and a 7 days / 6 nights Eco‑Volunteering programme (seasonal; minimum 8 participants; suitable for ages 16+; not offered between 1st November until 31st March). Day visits are not offered so that we can deliver a complete, welfare‑friendly programme. extra nights may be added if available.
  • Tailor‑made: not offered to protect elephant routines and welfare, but stays can often be extended on site subject to availability.
  • Included: round‑trip transfer from Luang Prabang, boat to the Center, accommodation, all meals, drinking‑water refills, scheduled activities, and a local English‑speaking guide (some information/videos are available in French; a French‑speaking guide may be present in high season, subject to availability).
  • Pricing reference: the 2‑day experience is US$220 per person (subject to change; see your booking confirmation for current rates).
  • Children: ages 1–4 free (sharing room), 5–10 years 50% discount, 11+ full rate.

What makes ECC different — and is it truly ethical?

  • ECC brings you to elephants in their natural habitat rather than bringing elephants to tourist hubs. Our approach is observation‑first to protect the animals’ welfare and keep public contact minimal.
  • ECC rescues, rehabilitates, reproduces, re‑herds and rewilds elephants in Laos. Our work includes the country’s only Elephant Nursery & Hospital, scientific research Labs, rewilding programme and ranger patrols in the Nam Pouy Protected Area.
  • We follow internationally recognised welfare standards (Five Freedoms) and rely on positive reinforcement training. Visitor riding is not offered; medical procedures and any target training are observed only and performed by qualified vets/mahouts.

Can I come to the Center as a volunteer?

We do offer a 7-day/6-night Eco-Volunteering Program designed to immerse participants in our conservation work and ongoing projects.

However, please note that the program requires a minimum of 8 participants to be confirmed

Seasonal departures apply, and this program is suitable for participants aged 16 and over.

Please note we do not offer the programme from 1st November until 31st March.

If you’re travelling alone or in a small group, we recommend our 3-day visit, which still offers a rich, hands-on experience.

Our Eco-Volunteering Program begins with our 3-day, 2-night Exploration package, followed by several days of supporting meaningful activities at the Center. These may include:

  • Contributing to the elephant socialisation area (e.g., clearing, grass cutting, tree protection)

  • Bamboo planting and handicraft workshops

  • Photography and creative projects

  • Observing and recording elephant behaviour

The full program includes:

  • Shared bungalow accommodation (Forest View)

  • All meals

  • Transport to and from the Center

  • 24/7 support from our team

To learn more or express your interest, please contact our team directly at elephantconservationcenter@gmail.com

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