Asia Internship - Culture Immersion Programs in Asia

Elephants Caring in Laos

Laos is a is a landlocked country in the heart of the Indochinese peninsula of Mainland Southeast Asia, bordered by Myanmar, and China to the northwest, Vietnam to the east, Cambodia to the southwest, and Thailand to the west and southwest.

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Often overlooked in favour of its better-known neighbours, landlocked Laos remains one of Southeast Asia’s most beguiling destinations. Caught in the middle of the two Indochina wars and long isolated from the rest of the world, the country retains a slow, rather old-fashioned charm, and its people – incredibly laidback and friendly, even by Asian standards – are undoubtedly one of the highlights of any visit.

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Capital: Vientiane

Population: 7.1 million

Official language: Lao

Currency: LAK

Time zone: UTC+7

About Laos Program 

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The Elephant Conservation Center acts to preserve and protect the Asian elephant, a species that is on its way to extinction. Created in 2011 by a team of experts, its program is set up around the wellbeing of the animal, the reproduction, vet care, and the schooling of mahouts.

The Center only welcomes elephants that have been working in the logging industry or mass tourism.

Committed more generally to substantive work for the preservation of Asian elephants, the Center offers new working conditions to mahouts and new breeding opportunities for their elephants. Through several projects, it has the opportunity to inform the disadvantaged populations of the country, which traditionally live from the work of elephants.

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This programme is your gateway to feeling like a part of the Elephant Conservation team!  It will give you a more in-depth insight into what it takes to look after elephants. During the week, you will share in the life of the staff and learn more about the Lao culture. You may even pick up a bit of Lao language!

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Location: Sayaboury, 2 hrs from Luang Prabang 

Duration:  one week 

Accommodation: Bungalow

Meals: provided

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Explore Laos on TripAdvisor

Explore Laos on Wikipedia

Day to Day Itinerary

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Day 1: Travel from Luang Prabang by minivan – Boat trip – Walk Through the Forest – Picnic Lunch – Nursery Visit – Hospital Visit – Observe Elephants Bathing – Encounter Elephants & Mahoutss – Bring the elephants to the forest – Dinner

Day 2: Breakfast – Meet the elephants in the forest – Observe elephants bathing – Socialization Area Observation – Lunch – Bath time – Target training – Dinner.

Day 3: Breakfast – Enrichment – Lunch – Volunteer Work – Dinner.

Day 4 to 6: Breakfast – Volunteer work – Lunch – Volunteer work – Dinner.

Day 7: Breakfast – Volunteer Work – Lunch.

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Special note: Medical Care of the elephants at the Elephant Hospital is only carried out by qualified vets. Unfortunately, you won’t be able to participate in this activity. Thank you for your understanding.

Beginning of the mission: you can start your volunteer program every Monday.

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Transportation: We provide a minivan service that leaves in front of the post office at 8:00 and takes you all the way to the boat pier in Sayaboury. After your program is finished we will drop you off at the same point in Luang Prabang at 17:00. Accommodation is in a traditional Lao rosewood stilt house shared dormitory with bunk beds and shared washing facilities.

Program Fees 

Registration Fee:  $200 USD 

​This registration fee allows you to participate in any of our other program  without paying another registration fee within a period of 2 years. 

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Other destinations: China; Nepal; Cambodia; Vietnam; Bali and much more

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Note: All payment will occur a 5% transfer service fee. 

Included:

• Transfer from Luang Prabang to the Center 2 ways,

• English speaking team on site,

• Meals: Day 1 (L,D), Day 2 to 6 (B,L,D) Day 7 (B,L),

• Unlimited drinking water refills,

• Accommodation: bunk bed in a shared dormitory with communal wash facilities (hot shower),

• Tools and equipment for community work,

• Activities as described.

Not Included 

• Flights, insurance, visa

• Personal expenses (Soft drinks, snacks, tips, etc.),

• Travel insurance,

• Bank transfer fees,

• Anything not mentioned in ‘included’.

WHAT'S MORE

• 2 years' free of registration fee to participate in any of our other programs

• Job opportunity/recommendations across Asia

• 10% Discount on our other programs