If you come to Luang Prabang in Laos, one thing you should definitely try is the “Mahout (elephant keeper) experience.” I joined the half-day course this time, but honestly it was so amazing that I regret not choosing the full-day course. ✅ Highlights of the experience ・Not just riding – you really connect with the elephant Instead of sitting on a tourist seat, you learn how to sit directly on the elephant’s neck. Feeling the elephant’s warmth, its powerful movements, and its big ears gently flapping against your legs completely changed my image of elephants from what I knew at zoos. ・Communicating with elephant commands You learn the commands used by mahouts in Laos, like “Pai” (go) and “Hao” (stop). The moment the elephant responds to your voice is unforgettable. ・Bathing together in the Mekong River You go into the river with the elephant and scrub it with a brush. Sometimes the elephant sprays water from its trunk and everyone gets completely soaked. It feels like being a kid again. ⚠️ If you are deciding between the half-day or full-day course I chose the half-day course, but if you’re unsure, I strongly recommend the full-day course. Half-day: Just when you start feeling close to the elephant, the experience ends. I left thinking, “I wish I could stay longer.” Full-day: You can walk in the forest with the elephant and learn deeper ways to communicate with it. Spending lunch near the elephants also sounds like a very special experience. 💡 Advice for future visitors 1️⃣ Clothes are provided. Since you will go into the river, it’s best to wear a swimsuit underneath. Sandals that won’t easily come off are also recommended. 2️⃣ Protect your phone or camera from water. You will get very wet during the bathing part. However, the mahouts are used to taking photos for visitors, so if you give them your phone in a waterproof case, they will take great pictures. 3️⃣ Elephants love bananas 🍌 Feeding bananas before the experience is a wonderful moment for both you and the elephant. 🏁 Conclusion The mahout experience in Luang Prabang is not just sightseeing. It feels like a real connection with a magnificent living being. Even the half-day course is fantastic, but the full-day course would probably become a once-in-a-lifetime memory. If you visit Luang Prabang, choose the longer course and spend as much time as possible with these amazing elephants! 🐘

The pickup worked wonderfully, the driver was friendly, and the car was in good condition. The transfer to the boat also went smoothly. Our guide was very kind, and the complimentary beer was a pleasant surprise that I really appreciated. The hike, in my opinion, wasn’t strictly necessary, as most guests eventually arrive anyway. Perhaps it would be worth considering offering the tour without the hike, but still including a short stop in a village. One point of criticism: it is not acceptable that the lunch plates were washed in the river using river water. European stomachs don’t always tolerate that well, so this should definitely be improved.

Special experience:)

The Boattrip was very good and our Guide was very nice. At the Elefant Camp the Buffet was very very good and Mr. Pong was very good to. His laughter was so infectious and we got many Informations.

我们和大象的活动时间很短，然后工作人员就把我们放在用餐区不管我们了，中途我看到其他国家的客人都有关于大象的讲解什么的，但是我们一整批来的这个客人都没有这个过程，与简介上的活动介绍也不符合，很草率，不会向任何人推荐manifa营地了，并且会劝大家也别参加。