Nong Khiaw and Elephants!

Nong Khiaw is a 4+ hour drive on bad roads so we took a boat halfway.
Not in the flatlands any more!
One day we visited a village museum where people lived in caves to survive the US bombing.  The hikes still have signs warning you to stay on the trail due to unexploded ordinance.
The boat ride seating tweaked my back (recovered quickly) so while Noel went downriver to villages and waterfalls I went uphill for views and some new birds in the forest.
On the drive back to Luang Prabang our driver organized a group to move a pickup that had created a roadblock.
Next up - Elephant Conservation Center and it may be our favorite of the trip.  Another rough drive, but it's a peaceful place
The ECC gets rescued elephants and works to rewild and breed them.  Tourist visits cover 70% of expenses and are well-organized.  We walked with elephants and their mahouts twice a day between locations and elephant activities like bathing, socializing and vet visits.  No touching, riding, or feeding by the tourists, but we were really close.  Then back for a last Luang Prabang sunset before heading to Koh Rong Sanloem, a Cambodian island.

Comments

  1. Ellen M.February 5, 2026 at 9:19 AM

    A tear-inspiring post with both the horror of the past and the peace of the elephants. What a journey.

    ReplyDelete

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