Elephant Conservation Center

Laos was once called the land of a million elephants and the working population is now counted in hundreds, with the captive animals ageing and breeding too slowly to replace themselves. The centre on the Nam Tien reservoir in Sayaboury works on that specific problem: a breeding programme, veterinary care, a socialisation programme for animals coming out of logging work, and a herd released into the surrounding forest. Visitors stay two or three days, walk with the herd and watch the veterinary and bathing routines, and are not offered rides.

What you actually see

• The herd - elephants in forest and water rather than in a line, observed from a distance.
• The socialisation programme - animals brought out of logging work being reintroduced to a herd.
• The hospital - veterinary facilities and treatment routines explained by the staff.
• The lake - the Nam Tien reservoir the centre sits on, crossed by boat to reach it.

When to go

November to March is dry and comfortable. The wet season is green and quieter but the tracks are heavy going. Programmes run to fixed start days, so arrival dates are set by the centre rather than by you.

Honest expectations

No riding and no bathing with the elephants, which disappoints some visitors and is the reason the place is worth supporting. Stays are multi-day packages at a real cost, not day visits. Sightings are of animals living at their own distance, which means some sessions are quiet.

Nearby

Sayaboury town is nearby, and Luang Prabang is a few hours east by road.