Guests depart from Luang Prabang (morning) or Pakbeng. In Tha Souang pier they are transferred by car to Hongsa (1hour). They stay in a local Guesthouse. Dinner. Options: Baci ceremony in mahouts village (Tai Lue) for guests arriving from Pakbeng
|
 |
Early morning breakfast and visit of local market. Guests then walk to Sibounheuang village (10 min) where the elephants are waiting for them. Guests are invited to load their bags onto the elephants and to climb in the chairs. The caravan departs along ricefields in the direction of Ban Then, 4 km eastwards. The elephants pass through a beautiful village and cross a small river. Then, the path narrows and the vegetation
becomes thicker. Guests are surrounded by nature. They ride up a hill and then down to the Nam Tap river. Then, they continue to Ban Nam Tap along a trail that rejoins the
Hongsa/Tha Souang road. In Ban Nam Tap, they take their elephant to the river and then into the forest where the animals will stay for the night. The camp for the human riders is in the village and 2 options are proposed to them: homestay or camping. Food is brought to Ban Nam Tap by car from Hongsa (for 3 PAX+) or directly along with the elephants (for 1-2 PAX). Guests visit the village, bath at the nearby river and have dinner.
 |
 |
Guests have breakfast and can go and pick up their elephant in the forest and take it to groom and bath. Then, everybody treks on foot during the morning as there is a steep hill to climb. On top of the hill, we have a quick lunch and enjoy a beautiful panorama on the valley below and the mountain rice fields. We then go down the hill to a small non-industrial logging camp where we can meet other elephants and mahouts. Mahouts will demonstrate their skills by pulling and moving logs. Guests can observe how agile and powerful the elephants are and have a direct perception of the expertise of their mahouts. A small river, the Nam En, runs along our path and takes us to a tiny K’hmu village of only 5-6 houses surrounded by fruit trees and a small rice field. There are
waterfalls in the environs which can be discovered on foot. Guests can bath in the clean little river. Overnight either in the villagers’ houses or camping. Dinner around the campfire with the villagers and learning of elephant commands.
 |
 |
Guests have breakfast at the camp and are offered to go and pick their elephant up and to bath it. Guests can now ride their elephants by themselves (the mahout stands either behind the guest, in the chair, or walks near the elephant). The route is along the Nam En river in beautiful natural surroundings. There is no special difficulty. The walk is quite short and guests arrive at the village before lunch time. At the Ban Kheng En village, time is taken for a short “elephant driving test” in the main yard of the village. Each guest shows to his/her mahout how he/she masters the commands and drives the elephant. The test consists of a series of commands such as: go, stop, back, right and left. At the end of the test, guests receive their “Basic Mahout Course Certificate”. Elephants are taken to the Mekong for a big bath. Then, we set up the camp on the Mekong river banks (or homestay if preferred). Lunch and visit of the village and the school. Refreshments on the Mekong. Dinner with mahouts and overnight stay.
Options: Baci ceremony can be organised.
 |
Breakfast on the Mekong river banks. In the morning, as guests are preparing to get into the boat, the elephants arrive on the Mekong banks to bid farewell to the guests. They all knee simultaneously – as a salute – when the boat starts leaving. Lunch is taken onboard for guests going to Luang Prabang. For the others, lunch is taken in a local restaurant in Pakbeng.
Individual travellers or small groups (6 PAX max) willing to discover the elephant-lore of
Laos and enjoy a true meeting with mahouts and elephants in an untouched natural
environment. Guests must be open-minded and looking for authenticity. Given the exclusive aspect of this elephant caravan, and the quality of the service, the product shall be advertised as fairly up-market.
| PRICE LIST |
| 2 PAX : |
$1320 |
| 3-4 PAX : |
$935 |
| 5-6 PAX : |
$800 |
