Become a mahout for the day, bathe with an elephant, or ride one of these beautiful beasts through the jungle. There are many elephants camps, with different ethical approaches, to visit in Luang Prabang. But the country is home today to fewer than 1000 Asian elephants, and many traditional mahout families, once dependent upon the timber industry, can no longer afford to feed or care for the animals.
Elephant Sanctuaries and Centres provide veterinary care and a way for mahouts to earn money for their families and keep elephants alive and healthy. Many of the centres offer opportunities for you can bathe, watch, feed or ride these majestic animals; along the way, you’ll witness the intimate and incredible relationship between mahouts and elephants. There are many, many opportunities to experience Asian elephants during a visit to Luang Prabang.