FAQ

Have a question about our elephant tours or visiting Sen Monorom? You’ll find answers below. If something isn’t covered here, get in touch — we usually reply within a few hours.

The Mondulkiri Project is Cambodia’s only elephant sanctuary offering one and two-day jungle treks.  Here’s what sets us apart:

  • Our elephants are never ridden. Every interaction happens entirely on their terms.
  • Our guides are indigenous Bunong people who have lived alongside these forests and elephants their whole lives. Their knowledge of the land is irreplaceable.
  • We are a registered Cambodian NGO, 100% locally owned. Every dollar you spend supports elephant welfare, Bunong livelihoods, and forest conservation.
  • We sit 800m above sea level in the eastern highlands — noticeably cooler and more remote than anywhere else in Cambodia.
  • We have a 100% safety record since opening in 2014.
  • A natural jungle waterfall is part of the experience on our tours.

We offer five tours to suit different fitness levels, time frames, and budgets:

Not sure which to choose? Contact us and we’ll help you decide.

Book directly via mondulkiriproject.org — don’t wait until you arrive in Sen Monorom. Some dates fill completely, especially from November to February. Booking directly means more of your money reaches the elephants and our Bunong guides rather than middlemen.

Payment is made on the morning of your tour at the Mondulkiri Project office. We accept US Dollars, Cambodian Riel, and credit cards. Credit card payments carry a 2% surcharge.

Tours depart from the Mondulkiri Project office in Sen Monorom. We also offer pickups from several guesthouses close to town. Your confirmation email will include pickup locations and times.

Yes — every day of the year, including weekends and public holidays.

Yes. We run tours in all weather. Pack a raincoat, or we can lend you a poncho. The forest is at its most atmospheric in the rain — and elephants love it. Expect mud on the longer treks and embrace it.

Yes. Email us as soon as you know and we’ll do our best to accommodate you. See our Tour Terms & Conditions for full details.

Absolutely. Many of our guests visit alone and find it a great way to meet like-minded travellers. Our group sizes are small enough that you’ll always feel part of the experience.

Yes, for groups of 10 or more. Contact us directly to discuss pricing.

We provide all meals (apart from breakfast on day 1), unlimited drinking water, and a poncho if it rains.

Bring with you:

  • Enclosed footwear for jungle treks. Sports sandals are fine for the 1-day elephant visit, but ants may disagree.
  • Swimmers and a towel — there’s a waterfall on all tours.
  • Sun hat and sunscreen.
  • Insect repellent.
  • Raincoat (or use ours).
  • Camera.
  • Small snacks for the longer treks if you like to graze between meals.
  • Plenty of energy — the 1.5-day, 2-day, and 3-day treks are genuinely demanding.

Please note: drones are not permitted at the sanctuary as they distress the elephants.

  • Children aged 6–11: 50% discount.
  • Children 5 and under: free.
  • Minimum age for 2-day and 3-day tours: 8 years old.
  • Minimum age for 1.5 day tour: 6 years old

Our meals are prepared fresh each day 

  • Lunch: soups or stir fries, white rice, and tropical fruit. There is always a meat option and a vegetarian option.
  • Dinner (overnight tours): traditional Bunong soup cooked in bamboo over a campfire.
  • Breakfast (overnight tours): pancakes.
  • Unlimited drinking water is included throughout.

If you are vegan, or have any food allergies, please let us know when you book.

Yes. We offer a 1-day jungle trek ($35) for guests who prefer to explore without the elephant encounter. In dry season we sometimes run a 2-day jungle trek ($80). Minimum two people. Start time 7:30am.

It depends on which tour you choose:

  • 1-Day Elephant Adventure: no significant trekking — suitable for all fitness levels.
  • 1.5-Day tour: includes a 7km jungle trek. Moderate fitness required.
  • 2-Day and 3-Day tours: up to 17km of trekking a day with steep hill sections. You need a solid fitness level. In wet season the trails can be muddy and more demanding.

We build in rest stops and a long lunch break. If you’re unsure which tour suits you, contact us before booking.

On the 2-day and 3-day tours, you sleep at our Jungle Lodge inside the sanctuary.

Accommodation is hammocks with mosquito nets.

Blankets are provided — no sleeping bag needed.

There is a cold shower and a western toilet.

There is no WiFi or reliable mobile signal at the lodge, which most guests find a welcome switch-off.  If you walk 100m up the hill you might get a signal

No. We have a locked storeroom at our office in town where you can leave anything you don’t need on the trail. Bring a small day pack with your essentials and a change of clothes.

Mobile signal is generally not available during the tours. Once you’re in the jungle on overnight tours, there is no reliable 3G or WiFi — the Jungle Lodge has no internet connection. Most guests welcome the break.

From Phnom Penh: daily minivans, approximately six hours. Book your seat online in advance — seats fill quickly in peak season.

From Siem Reap: approximately ten hours by minivan.

From Ratanakiri or Kratie: three to four hours. Your local guesthouse can arrange the booking.

There is a night bus between Phnom Penh and Mondulkiri in both directions. There is no night bus connecting Siem Reap to Mondulkiri.

Yes. You’re welcome to use the bathrooms and toilets at the Mondulkiri Project office. Just let us know in advance and we’ll make sure someone is there to help you.

We don’t offer bus station pickups. Tuk-tuks outside the station will take you to our office in town for $2–$3.

It’s hard to recommend a specific company — the quality of individual drivers varies more than the company name. Our own staff travel on Virak Buntam Express when heading to Phnom Penh, for what it’s worth. Whichever you choose, book in advance online rather than on the day.

We work closely with several guesthouses in town. Our team will mention these when they confirm your booking

No. Our elephants are never ridden. No one sits on their backs and no heavy objects are placed on them. This is non-negotiable.

Many elephant attractions in Asia still use riding as a way to generate income — it is damaging to elephants’ spines and requires breaking their spirit to make them compliant. At the Mondulkiri Project, the elephants set the terms of every interaction.

All three of our elephants — Happy, Comvine, and Princess — were either born in captivity or spent decades working before being rescued and relocated here. They have never had the chance to live wild. Our role is to give them the best possible life in human care.

Every decision about how our elephants spend their day is guided by the Five Freedoms of Animal Welfare — the internationally recognised standard adopted by the World Organisation for Animal Health and welfare organisations worldwide.

1. Freedom from hunger and thirst Our elephants have a large jungle sanctuary with an abundant natural food supply — bamboo, leaves, roots, and grasses — and a river for fresh water throughout the day.

2. Freedom from discomfort The sanctuary is shaded highland forest. The elephants move through their jungle home freely and rest where they choose.

3. Freedom from pain, injury, and disease Never ridden. No sticks. The elephants are health-monitored every day, and if any shows signs of illness, one of Cambodia’s senior vets travels from Phnom Penh immediately to treat them.

4. Freedom to express normal behaviour Space to roam, forage, wallow in mud, and interact with each other — or find solitude — entirely on their own terms. Never forced.

5. Freedom from fear and distress Retired from work. Not chained. Not loaded. Free to walk the sanctuary every day.

Of course. Most of our guests haven’t. Our Bunong guides will lead you through the experience at whatever pace suits you. There’s no pressure to do anything that makes you uncomfortable.

Our mahouts assess each elephant’s mood and behaviour every morning before tours begin. If an elephant shows signs of stress or discomfort, we adjust the day accordingly — the schedule works around the elephants, not the other way around.

Yes. Our mahouts are full-time, salaried members of the Mondulkiri Project team. They are indigenous Bunong people with lifelong relationships with these elephants and this land. Your visit directly supports their livelihoods and their community.

Sponsor an elephant from $10/month and help fund their food, healthcare, and daily care.