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Live like a Mahout - Laos elephant tours

Route: Luang Prabang - Elephant sanctuary - Luang Prabang

Hidden in the lush green jungle near Luang Prabang lies the Elephant Camp. At this beautiful location, elephants have a chance to enjoy their 'golden years' in peace. During this amazing Laos trip, you'll not only travel in Laos atop an elephant's back, but you'll also have a chance to experience what it's like to be an elephant keeper. You'll assist the mahout with coaching of the elephants and after their baths you'll give the elephants their much deserved banana meals. While wobbling on the back of an elephant you'll go on a few treks through the area surrounding the elephant camp. You'll spend the night in a cosy bungalow with a view of the Nam Khan River. During the second day of your travels in Laos, you'll go on a trek through the dense jungle.

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Duration	2 days / 1 night Departs daily from Luang Prabang	Accommodation	One night in a cosy lodge with private facilities. Level 3 (see accommodation)
Price	£148 per person - based on 2 people Minimum 2 people	Includes	Transportation, accommodation, all meals at the lodge, guide and mahout-training
Transport	Minibus and boat	Excludes	Drinks and possible donation

Day 1: Elephant baths and banana treats

After breakfast, our driver will be waiting to take you to the nearby Nam Khan River. A small boat will take you to the elephant camp, a sanctuary for elephants with a hard-working past in the wood logging industry. These elephants can spend their 'golden years' in peace and quiet in this beautiful location in the dense jungle of Northern Laos.

After you bring your baggage to the bungalow, you'll get to meet the 'mahout'; this is the name for real elephant keepers. He will coach you in caring for the elephants and your Laos adventure will truly begin. It may take some practice before you can continue to travel in Laos on the back of these giant animals. The mahout will also teach you a few handy commands: 'hau' means stop, 'sai' means left and 'kwa' means right. Armed with buckets and large scrubbing brushes, you'll head towards the river where you'll clean the thick-skinned giants. Each bath offers many memorable, enjoyable, and funny moments. On your way back to camp your new friend might break a few twigs to help still his appetite; however he'll have enough room to devour a bunch of bananas a little later on. You'll probably want a bite to eat yourself by this time of day. A delightful Laotian meal will be waiting for you at the lodge.

Day 2: Trekking

It's day two of your Laos travel experience and today you can enjoy a pleasant breakfast on the terrace with a view of the river. Gradually you'll see the mist disappear and you'll see the green surroundings appear before you. Today you'll go on a short trek through the jungle with a guide. Along the way you may have to share paths with locals carrying rice or fresh produce for the market. On arrival in the Khmu village you'll be greeted by children. There aren't many tourists who visit this area; therefore the locals may seem a bit shy at first if you try to talk to them. Luckily you'll have a guide with you to help translate since hardly anyone in this area speaks English.

You'll continue to travel in Laos towards a village populated by the Hmong minority. This tribe wears brightly coloured clothing and can be recognized by their unique hats and jewellery. The women in this village will proudly show you their self-made items, which can be purchased for a small fee. Lunch will be prepared for you; a typical Laotian rice or noodle meal with vegetables and a fresh fruit dessert. After lunch you'll continue on your trek through the hill country. A truck will be waiting to take you back to Luang Prabang. After you say goodbye to your guide, your driver will take you to your hotel in Luang Prabang, where this Laos trip ends. You'll have experienced quite an amazing journey during your elephant travel in Laos- a trip you're unlikely to forget!

Tomorrow you could fly back to Bangkok or instead you could continue to travel in Laos and head on to Vientiane or to the Bolaven plateau on our Southern trip in Laos.

Elephant travel in Laos- Accommodation (click to enlarge)

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