Wildlife Volunteering in Sayabouly: An Unforgettable Week of Eco Adventures with Elephants

On the second day, you will meet up with the elephants in the forest. After spending the night in the jungle, it is time for another bath. Enjoy strolling together with these magnificent animals in their natural habitat. Watch them walk, forage, scratch, and socialize. If you’re lucky, you’ll hear them trumpet with excitement! What are they saying?

After bath time, it’s on to the Socialization Area. This is an area where our elephants can freely interact during much of the day. Here, we have created a semi-natural living environment where our elephants can enjoy being elephants. Follow our guide around the perimeter to learn more about the elephant group’s fascinating dynamics. Spend time on the different raised platforms to see how a new herd is being formed. This rare opportunity will bring you closer to understanding elephants’ natural lives, a special learning experience rarely found in Asia.

Lunch is served at the Center. You will visit our Bamboo Forest and elephant food plantation. Upon returnng to the Center, you can observe the elephants having their afternoon bath.

You will then meet our mahouts and vet team again as they will conduct a “Target Training” session. All our elephants are being trained using ‘positive reinforcement’ techniques to facilitate any necessary treatments and to reduce the stress that these treatments or routine checks can give to them. We offer you the chance to follow their work from a safe distance.

After breakfast, you will visit the Male Elephants Socialization Area. This is an activity that can only be experienced at the ECC. Male elephants, ranging from massive tuskers to juveniles, form a group of bachelors, just as they would in the wild. Their majesty and power will take your breath away as you observe them quietly and safely from a raised wooden platform. Follow our guide around the perimeter to learn more about male elephants’ social dynamics in this once-in-a-lifetime experience. Once back to the Center, you will have the opportunity to improve your elephant knowledge at our Information Center, where we have created a series of displays about the Asian elephant’s biology, social life, ecology, and cultural significance. You’ll also learn about elephants’ vital role in Asian history and their symbolic associations. Time spent at the Information Center with our guide or on your own will help you better understand both the importance of elephants as a keystone species within their ecosystem and the intimate relationship they have shared with humans in Asia for thousands of years.

Lunch is served at the restaurant. After lunch, you will start your eco-volunteer experience! Your journey as a volunteer starts with helping our farmers plant elephant fodder at our plantation. Did you know Asian elephants eat 40 different plant species, including bamboo? At the plantation, you will help our farmers collect elephant food and take it to the Hospital where it will be eaten by our elephants during their daily health checks.

On Day 4, you’ll have a “Mahout Day,” where you’ll follow a mahout into the forest to meet an elephant and follow them for the day, observing their unique skills and learning about Laos culture.

Throughout the day, you can also expect to do activities such as observing the elephants during their afternoon bath, documenting their behavior for our biologist, and help maintain their socialization area and habitat. Beyond elephant-related activities, you’ll support the ECC by joining a bamboo handicraft-making course, where you’ll learn about bamboo species, create crafts, and help maintain the Bamboo Forest. Also, by producing outreach material or information for visitors. Please note: the volunteer program’s schedule may vary due to weather, staffing, and the center’s needs. We are looking for flexible and autonomous volunteers.

Throughout the day, you can also expect to do activities such as observing the elephants during their afternoon bath, documenting their behavior for our biologist, and help maintain their socialization area and habitat. Beyond elephant-related activities, you’ll support the ECC by joining a bamboo handicraft-making course, where you’ll learn about bamboo species, create crafts, and help maintain the Bamboo Forest. Also, by producing outreach material or information for visitors. Please note: the volunteer program’s schedule may vary due to weather, staffing, and the center’s needs. We are looking for flexible and autonomous volunteers.

On your final morning you will complete your volunteering session and then, after lunch, the boat will return you to the Nam Tien Lake pier, where our minivan will be waiting to take you back to Luang Prabang or to drop you off at the Sayaboury bus station for your next destination.