Back to the Wild · Conservation Expedition

8 days and 7 nights in nature, immaculate

An immersive, mission-led journey into the true homeland of Lao elephants.
Back to the Wild is an 8-day conservation expedition designed for travellers who want their presence to actively support elephant protection in Laos. Small-group, science-led and ethically grounded, the programme combines fieldwork, cultural exchange and wilderness exploration in some of the country’s most remote landscapes.

A mission, not a tour

• Join ECC’s rewilding and monitoring teams in the field

• Trek through elephant habitat and assist with non-invasive health checks

• Deploy and check camera traps in wild elephant corridors

From the Elephant Conservation Center on Nam Tien Lake, the expedition moves off-grid into the vast Nam Pouy National Protected Area, home to Laos’ second-largest wild elephant population. Days are spent trekking, observing, collecting data and camping beneath the forest canopy, while evenings bring shared meals, briefings and time with mahouts and local communities.

Where science, culture and wilderness meet
Participants gain a rare insight into elephant behaviour, rewilding protocols and human–elephant coexistence, while also engaging with local schools, sacred forest sites and traditional mahout culture. Every activity is designed to balance learning, safety and conservation impact.

Back to the Wild is a raw, demanding and deeply meaningful experience — ideal for conservation-minded travellers seeking purpose, authenticity and real contribution.