Elephant Valley Project: a day walking with elephants
Visiting the Elephant Valley Project near Sen Monorom: half-day, full-day and overnight options, published prices, operating days and booking.
Forest near Sen Monorom in March
Bookable: run by Elephant Valley Project on published days
In short
The Elephant Valley Project near Sen Monorom runs observation-only visits: you walk through forest behind retired working elephants and watch, with no riding, feeding or swimming. A half day costs US$60 and a full day US$100 per foreign visitor, including transport from Sen Monorom and lunch. Most visits run Sunday to Friday.
Price and booking
Elephant Valley Project runs this on its published days and takes bookings directly. We check your dates, fit it into your route and give you the booking details in your proposal.
Ask about this experienceIncluded
- Guided elephant walk(s) with an English-speaking guide
- Return transport from Sen Monorom to the sanctuary
- Buffet lunch and drinking water refills
- A contribution to the local community and forest
- Overnight programmes: shared room or private bungalow and meals
Not included
- Travel to Sen Monorom from Phnom Penh or elsewhere
- Accommodation in Sen Monorom
- Travel insurance (required by the sanctuary, including medical evacuation)
- Tips and personal expenses
How the day runs
The sanctuary collects visitors from Sen Monorom at 7:30. On the full Ele Lover day you join two guided walks, morning and afternoon, following the elephants through forest as they feed, bathe in dust and mud on their own terms, and interact with each other. Lunch is a buffet at the project. You are back in town around 5:30 in the afternoon.
The half-day Quick Trip has one elephant walk and lunch and returns around 2pm. The Explorer day replaces the second elephant walk with a jungle trek. Overnight programmes add more walks, a jungle trek and optional volunteer sessions, with a night in a shared room or a private bungalow.
Published visit options
| Visit | Days it runs | Walking | Price per foreign visitor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quick Trip (half day) | Sunday to Friday | 3 to 4 km | US$60 |
| Explorer (full day) | Monday to Friday | 5 to 8 km | US$75 |
| Ele Lover (full day) | Sunday to Friday | 5 to 8 km | US$100 |
| Taste of the Jungle (2 days, 1 night) | Starts Monday to Thursday | 3 to 4 km per walk | US$160 shared / US$175 bungalow |
| Elephant and Forest Immersion (3 days, 2 nights) | Starts Sunday to Wednesday | 3 to 4 km per walk | US$280 shared / US$300 bungalow |
Fitting it into a trip
Pair it with a Jahoo gibbon trek on the next day for the strongest two days in Mondulkiri, and plan the road from Phnom Penh with a private transfer or via Kratie.
What to bring
- Closed walking shoes and long, light trousers
- Rain jacket in the wet season; a warm layer for early starts in December to February
- Insect repellent, sun hat, a refillable bottle
What we confirm before you book
- That your chosen visit runs on your date (most visits Sunday to Friday; low-season Sundays need four people)
- The current price and that payment is made at least one week ahead
- The cancellation terms (no refund within 7 days; date change or voucher for illness or emergency)
- Pickup time and place in Sen Monorom
What the providers publish
These are the facts each provider states on its own website, with the date we read them. Naming a provider here describes it; it is not an endorsement or a partnership.
Questions travelers ask
Which Elephant Valley Project visit should I choose?
The full Ele Lover day (two elephant walks, 5 to 8 km) is the classic choice. The half-day Quick Trip (3 to 4 km) suits children or tight schedules. The Explorer day swaps the second elephant walk for a jungle trek. Overnight programmes give the most time with the elephants.
Can I touch or feed the elephants?
No. The sanctuary’s published rules are no riding, no tricks, no feeding and no swimming. You watch the elephants from a respectful distance as they forage and move.
Can I visit on the day I arrive in Sen Monorom?
No. Pickup is at 7:30 in the morning, and the drive from Phnom Penh takes most of a day. Arrive the evening before.
Sources and checks
Time-sensitive details on this page (prices, schedules, travel times, access) were last checked against the sources below on 11 October 2026. They change, so any proposal reconfirms them with the provider first.
Tell us what you want from eastern Cambodia
Share your dates, what you hope to see and how you like to travel. We reply with a first view of the route and, when you are ready, a written proposal with the price, what it includes and who provides each part of the trip.
