Overview:
Embark on an eco-adventure unlike any other at Elephant Valley Project (EVP)! Delve into the heart of ethical elephant conservation as you witness these magnificent creatures roam freely in their natural habitat. With no tricks or stress, EVP offers a hands-off experience for true elephant lovers. From educational jungle trekking to observing the elephants in their homeland, every moment at EVP is a chance to connect with nature and have a meaningful impact. If you’re looking for a real ethical elephant experience, you’ll find it at EVP.
Itineraries:
HANDS-OFF! 🚫✋🐘 Elephant Valley Project does not allow tourists to touch the elephants.
Half Day (4.5 hours, no lunch) – Cost: $47.50USD
- Perfect for those on a budget and short on time.
- Half-day experience from 7:30 to 12:00.
- Morning hike of 3-4 km into the forest.
- Encounter elephants in their natural habitat.
- Witness elephants being elephants!
- Free drinking water refills.
Full Day – Ele Lover (Morning & Afternoon Elephants) – Cost: $100USD
- Ideal for elephant enthusiasts!
- Full-day experience from 7:30 to 17:30.
- Hike 5-8 km through the beautiful Cambodian jungle.
- Observe two different elephant herds in their natural habitat.
- Witness elephants playing, grazing, and navigating their forest home.
- Gain insights into elephant conservation and local indigenous culture.
- Enjoy a Khmer-style buffet lunch included plus free drinking water refills.
Full Day – Explorer (Morning Elephants & Afternoon Trekking) – Cost: $75USD
- Perfect for hiking enthusiasts!
- Meet one group of amazing elephants in their natural forest habitat during a morning hike (approx. 3-4km).
- Indulge in a delicious Khmer buffet-style lunch plus free drinking water refills.
- Explore the community forest on another jungle trek in the afternoon (around 4-6km).
- Meander through the lush jungle alongside your guide, admiring ancient trees and observing waterfalls and wildlife (no elephants).
- Swim in a waterfall in the jungle.
Children – 12 yrs and under get a 50% discount (3 years and under go free). If you are a family with children, please contact us via the additional information box.
Food
At Elephant Valley Project, visitors are treated to a blend of local and Western cuisine, skillfully prepared by a team of talented local chefs. Each meal, served in the open-plan kitchen and dining area with breathtaking valley views, offers a variety of dishes including stir-fries, curries, salads, soups, and stews, complemented by fresh fruit.
Dietary preferences and restrictions such as vegan, vegetarian, gluten or lactose intolerance, and allergies to peanuts or pineapple are gladly accommodated upon prior notification.
To reduce plastic waste, complimentary water refill stations are provided, while soda and local beer are available for purchase.
What’s Included
Includes:
- Return transport from Sen Monorom to EVP and back
- Meals as stated
- Drinking water refills
- Accommodation (if applicable)
- Elephant experiences (as stated)
- Volunteering sessions (if applicable, as stated)
- Jungle trekking (if applicable, as stated)
Does Not Include:
- Fizzy/alcoholic drinks
- Snacks
FAQs
- What should I pack for a day trip? Water, suncream, insect repellent, rain jacket, refillable water bottle, passport.
- What should I wear? Appropriate footwear (e.g. walking boots, trainers – no flip-flops!) Trekking clothes (e.g. long trousers and shirts – no short shorts or visible cleavage to be sensitive to the indigenous communities and staff)
- What should I pack for an overnight trip? All of the above, plus reading material, flashlight and warm jumper for the evening.
- Where does my money go? Day-to-day running costs of EVP, elephant care and treatment, elephant research, community vet care, forest protection and community support.
- Is there a malaria risk in Sen Monorom? Yes, Mondulkiri is in a malaria zone and it is recommended you take antimalarials. These can be purchased in your home country or at pharmacies in Southeast Asia. All visitors should practice bite avoidance and wear repellent, ideally with DEET content.
- What are the prices for children? Children under 3 are free, children under 12 half price. Please let us know if you are a family with children in the additional information section when booking.
Hi, I’m Nikki. I started this website in 2008 after my first solo backpacking trip to Asia. A trip that changed my life. My vision was to create a travel diary for everyone – a place for all travellers to share their experiences. After living in Southeast Asia for over 10 years, I saw the opportunity to provide backpackers with the kind of experiences that I’d treasured myself in the region.
I loved my experience at EVP! I was really keen to see elephants while in Southeast Asia and wanted to do this in the most ethical way possible.
I really like that EVP has a hands-off policy meaning that guests aren’t allowed to touch the elephants. Our small group were able to watch two females as they went about their day, eating, bathing and cooling off. It felt so special to see these beautiful animals in their natural environment and to get close to them without disturbing them.
I opted for the Explorer visit, so after lunch (my vegan diet was catered for and the food was surprisingly good!) we went on a hike through the jungle to a waterfall where we could swim and relax. We were the only people there and being in the middle of the Cambodian jungle enjoying the refreshing pool was a magical moment.
If you want to see elephants in Asia, I would highly recommend a visit to the Elephant Valley project. You won’t regret it or forget it!
Full disclaimer – I work at South East Asia Backpacker website but I paid full price for this tour.
I visited EVP on their ‘Ele Lovers’ full-day tour. Wow, what a day! In the morning, we did a short trek with two of the project’s female elephants which was a wonderful experience. Seeing them wander freely through the forest was a real privilege and something I won’t forget.
After lunch, we were signed up to see more elephants so headed into the forest in a small group to see Hen, the bull elephant that EVP had rescued. Learning about the differences between the work female and male elephants had been forced to do in SEA was fascinating and hearing Hen’s story really moved me.
Pick up was well organised (though the journey was a bit bumpy!) and lunch was delicious. I am veggie and was well catered for.
Having previously visited other elephant sanctuaries that allowed tourists to wash and feed the animals, I am so glad that I opted for a hands-off experience this time. Now I’ve seen how happy the elephants are, doing their own thing in their natural environment, I wouldn’t ever go back. This is freedom in as much as reality allows and it’s really refreshing to see.
While EVP is undoubtedly one of, if not the most, expensive elephant sanctuaries in the area, I was very happy to pay the extra. The elephants and staff both seemed very well cared for and happy, plus EVP funnels a lot of money into the local community, an important factor in sustainable tourism initiatives. I couldn’t recommend them more highly.