Â
Â
Everyone makes mistakes, but the important thing is how you learn from them. That’s why after undertaking research with World Animal Protection, in 2014 we became the first global travel company to ban elephant riding on our tours.
But just because we stopped riding elephants, it doesn’t mean all the issues around elephant welfare are solved. We realise there is plenty more that can be done.
That’s why we are getting behind initiatives that practice ethical elephant tourism in South East Asia – supporting the local people who work with the elephants with training and jobs, educating tourists and of course, caring for the elephants themselves.
How you can help
Through our not-for-profit The Intrepid Foundation we are working with MandaLao, the first non-riding elephant sanctuary in Luang Prabang, Laos. MandaLao provides travellers with the opportunity to connect with the elephants who roam freely through lush forest and the Nam Khan river.
We are working to raise funds to build a second elephant night enclosure, with mahout (elephant handler) housing, as well as constructing an elephant food storehouse and leasing more land for the elephants.
Â
Wildlife trips that put elephant welfare first
Seeing elephants up close doesn’t just have to take place in a sanctuary – there also plenty of ways to see these gentle giants responsibly in the wild too.
18 Days
From
49160
Spend some time exploring Botswana, South Africa and Zimbabwe with included safari...
9 Days
From
22500
Take on a safari adventure through Hwange National Park, Matobo National Park, Kruger...
30 Days
From
60635
Travel into the heart and soul of South East Asia on this tour of Thailand, Laos,...
10 Days
From
30205
Experience Thailand’s greatest hits on a 10-day comfort adventure through Bangkok,...
8 Days
From
17175
Travel from Bangkok to Sukhothai and Chiang Mai on this scenic tour through Northern...
Tailor-Made trips
Take four or more on an exclusive trip and tailor your itinerary
8 Days
From
17175
Travel from Bangkok to Sukhothai and Chiang Mai on this scenic tour through Northern...
16 Days
From
64592
Visit Africa and travel through southern Africa's beautiful regions. Visit South Africa...
9 Days
From
19992
Visit Thailand, a country with all the ingredients for a holiday in paradise – pristine...
12 Days
From
26384
Begin in Negombo, travel north to the imperial ruins of Anuradhapura, visit off-the...
9 Days
From
19992
Visit Thailand, a country with all the ingredients for a holiday in paradise – pristine...
63 Days
From
176592
Set out on a mighty African adventure through Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Malawi, Zimbabwe...
8 Days
From
38935
Track your way across the plains of Kenya on this thrilling safari, covering Nairobi,...
9 Days
From
36359
Discover the culture, wildlife and waterways of Botswana on this upgraded adventure...
9 Days
From
34757
Travel from Zimbabwe to South Africa via Botswana. The Okavango and Beyond trip is the...
22 Days
From
44540
Discover the unique and contrasting lands of Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia and South...
40 Days
From
75504
Explore Africa on an epic wildlife-rich adventure from Tanzania to South Africa while...
20 Days
From
36492
Travel from the thundering Victoria Falls to the spice plantations of Zanzibar via...
41 Days
From
70092
See Africa on this incredible overland adventure from South Africa to Tanzania. Soak up...
30 Days
From
62024
Take a month long southern African adventure from Cape Town into Namibia, Botswana and...
15 Days
From
17564
Take on an adventure through Thailand’s best spots, including Bangkok, Phuket, Khao Sok...
29 Days
From
66834
From Johannesburg to Botswana, Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Lake Malawi and...
16 Days
From
39555
Rice paddies, coral reefs, elephants, temples and tuk-tuks, Thailand doesn’t get much...
16 Days
From
39555
Rice paddies, coral reefs, elephants, temples and tuk-tuks, Thailand doesn’t get much...
22 Days
From
50703
This Southeast Asia trip snakes its way through the delights of Thailand, Laos and...
22 Days
From
50703
South East Asia Uncovered snakes its way through the delights of Thailand, Laos and...
28 Days
From
68052
Discover East African wilderness and the animals that call it home on an adventure...
10 Days
From
21556
Visit Thailand, a country with all the ingredients for a holiday in paradise. Pristine...
48 Days
From
116115
Tour Africa's best from Kenya to Cape Town through Tanzania, Zanzibar, Malawi, Zimbabwe...
37 Days
From
88740
Travel the waterways of Botswana, the beaches of Zanzibar and the savannahs of the...
9 Days
From
15332
Travel from Zimbabwe to Botswana and South Africa on a real African adventure. Visit...
49 Days
From
92502
Experience the ultimate African adventure on this epic trip including Kenya, Botswana,...
52 Days
From
166266
Experience the waterways of Botswana, the beaches of Zanzibar, the savannahs of the...
43 Days
From
124764
Take an epic trip through eastern Africa, via Victoria Falls, the Serengeti and...
31 Days
From
108355
Take a 32-day tour through Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa, Botswana, Namibia and...
13 Days
From
16835
Take a trip to Laos, checking out Thailand’s Bangkok and Chiang Mai, then heading over...
32 Days
From
43223
Take an epic journey to Southeast Asia, including Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Luang Prabang,...
Â
Learn more about animal welfare on The Journal
Â
Mar 07, 2018
Tracking rhinos on foot in Uganda:...
Amazingly, we had encountered a large gathering of six or seven rhinos – adult...
Aug 10, 2018
There are no winners in the elephant...
There are no winners in the elephant tourism industry.
Aug 07, 2019
I rode an elephant for fun. Here’s...
There used to be this widespread belief in the travel industry that riding...
Aug 10, 2017
How you can engage in ethical...
Reading Time: 4 minutes In 2014, Intrepid ended elephant riding on all trips...
Aug 12, 2019
How a visit to Thailand’s Elephant...
Reading Time: 5 minutes It’s a year since I spent a day at Elephant Nature Park,...
Aug 29, 2017
Turtles and orangutans: witnessing...
Sabah, a Malaysian state on the northern tip of Borneo, is home to some pretty...
There's more than one way to Be Responsible
Â
Be Fair
Meet Kenya's first female truck driver, and find out what we are doing to promote gender equality, diversity and inclusion.
Be Aware
Find out why we no longer visit orphanages on our trips, and learn more about our community development programs.
Be Sustainable
Learn more about what it means to be a B Corp certified company, and our stance on the environment and sustainability.