—Nam Tien · Sayaboury
Our Land
Tucked inside a Provincial Protected Area in Sayaboury, on the shores of Nam Tien Lake and ringed by the Elephant Mountain range, the Elephant Conservation Center sits within 540 hectares of protected forest of breathtaking beauty.
—Sayaboury
Land of the Elephants
Spreading across 540 hectares of protected forest and lakefront, the Elephant Conservation Center is set on a quiet peninsula of the Nam Tien Lake, where dense tropical forest meets open water and mountain ridgelines. The landscape is alive with birdsong, forest trails, bamboo groves and wide natural clearings shaped by elephants themselves. Paths wind between observation areas, forest viewpoints and lakeside platforms, offering an immersive sense of space, calm and wilderness at every turn.
Within this natural setting, visitors will find comfortable lakeside bungalows and forest lodges, a communal restaurant and bar, an information and exhibition center, kayaking facilities, scenic viewpoints and sunset decks. The site also hosts the Elephant Hospital and nursery, socialisation and bathing areas, research and teaching spaces, staff offices and a small shop – a self-contained conservation campus where nature, science and hospitality share the same ground.
The Forest
540 hectares of protected forest and lakefront, with clearings shaped by the elephants themselves.
The Lake
A quiet peninsula where dense tropical forest meets the Nam Tien Lake's open waters.
The Mountains
The ridgelines of the Phu Xang range, Lao for “Elephant Mountain,” rise above the lake and frame the breathtaking scenery..
—On the ground
A working conservation campus
ECC isn’t a hotel with elephants next door. It’s a place where conservation happens every day, all around you. There’s a hospital, three research labs, and three forest areas where rescued elephants learn, slowly, how to be a family again. In the nursery, the next generation is born. Nothing here is staged for visitors. You’re simply welcome to be part of it.
—Interactive map
Amenities at the ECC
Elephant care & science
- Nursery
- Female and male socialisation areas – Laos’ only male-elephant programme
- Reproduction and positive reinforcement training areas
- Elephant Hospital
- Diagnostic, endocrinology and DNA labs, biobank, elephant skeleton exhibit
Habitat
- Bamboo forest – habitat restoration project
- Elephant bathing areas
- Elephant pastures
- Forest trails around Nam Tien Lake
Guest life
- Restaurant and bar, souvenir shop
- Children’s playground, petanque, chill and gaming area
- Sunset view point, yoga and meditation platform
- Kayaks, paddleboards and boat pier
Learning & operations
- Indoor information center
- Logging museum
- Student workspace
- Admin office
Hectares of forest
Employees
Elephants
Getting There
How to get there?
FROM/TO LUANG PRABANG
From Luang Prabang ECC minivan departs from the post office on the main street daily at 7:30am and arrives at the ECC at 10:30am. It returns daily to Luang Prabang at 2:00pm, arriving around 5:00 - 5:30pm. The journey takes approximately 3 to3.5 hours.
FROM/TO VIENTIANE
In Vientiane: Sakura Minivans (Sikhay station, pass the airport).
Departures at 7:00am, 8:00am and 10:00am.
In Sayaboury: Sakura Bus Station.
Departures at 7:00am, 8:00am and 10:00am.
The journey takes approximately 7 hours.
DIRECT FLIGHT FROM VIENTIANE TO SAYABOURY: fly Lao Skyway, and our team will pick you up at the Sayaboury Airfield. The flight is both cheap and amazingly beautiful as you overlook the Nam Ngum reservoir, Muang Fuang's karst mountains and the mighty Mekong River!
FROM/TO VANGVIENG
In Sayaboury: Public Buses from the Bus Station.
Departures at 3:00pm.
In Vangvieng: Minivan from Vangvieng bus station.
Departures at 10:30am (reservation required).
- Luang Prabang Office: Manthatoulat Road (Mekong riverside)
Ban Pakham, Luang Prabang
TEL: +856(0)20 96 59 06 65 - ECC: Nam Tien Lake,
Sayaboury Province, Lao PDR
WHATSAPP: +856 (0)20 96 59 06 65
