MandaLao Elephant Conservation
MandaLao Elephant Conservation is a Laos-based non-profit that operates intimate, non-riding elephant tourism experiences near Luang Prabang for international visitors, with revenue from small-group half-day tours, private tours, and an on-site restaurant, and donations routed through The Intrepid Foundation.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2016
- HeadquartersLuang Prabang, Laos
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What MandaLao Elephant Conservation does
MandaLao Elephant Conservation is a Laos-based non-profit tourism and conservation operator founded in 2016 and headquartered approximately 20 kilometers outside Luang Prabang. The organization runs intimate, non-riding elephant experiences built around education and elephant welfare rather than riding or performance. Its single-site product set comprises four tour products: the New Beginnings half-day trek (up to six guests joining a young elephant and an adult elephant on a 2.5-kilometer walk through jungle and rice fields), the Therapeutic Trek (up to eight guests with two adult elephants on the same route), the Communicating with Elephants afternoon tour (up to eight guests who prepare treats and walk briefly with two adult elephants), and Custom/Private tours that offer behind-the-scenes experiences with the owners and managers for groups and events. All tours include a Lao lunch at the on-site riverside restaurant, which also functions as a standalone add-on. Group sizes are deliberately capped at six to eight guests to preserve the educational, low-impact character of the experience.
The business operates a direct-to-consumer model: bookings flow through the MandaLao website, which is powered by Trekksoft, and guests receive hotel pickup and drop-off in Luang Prabang. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and is obtained on inquiry or through the booking platform. Demand generation is anchored on earned international press — coverage in CNN, South China Morning Post, Vanity Fair, SilverKris, and TripAdvisor — supplemented by organic social channels (Facebook, Instagram, YouTube) and a TripAdvisor featured listing. The company also sits on The Intrepid Foundation's contribution platform, giving it a donation channel from Intrepid's global traveler base. Ownership and management rest with founders Kellen Johnson and Michael Vogler (Founder and CEO), and the company has no disclosed institutional investors, parent entity, or funding rounds. The mission explicitly frames the work as preserving both captive and wild elephants and promoting ethical treatment across Laos and beyond, financed through the combination of tour fees and charitable contributions.
Revenue mechanics are simple and asset-light in software terms but operationally intensive: a single physical site, a fixed elephant and mahout roster, capped daily tour capacity, and an embedded restaurant. There is no disclosed revenue, no disclosed headcount trend beyond a 101–250 employee band, and no proprietary technology beyond the booking platform integration. The principal growth lever visible in the data is brand and channel — leveraging international press, Intrepid Foundation traffic, and inbound Luang Prabang tourism — rather than product diversification or geographic expansion beyond the existing site.
MandaLao Elephant Conservation firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- MandaLao Elephant Conservation
- Legal name
- Mandalao Elephant Conservation
- Website
- https://mandalaotours.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2016
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- MandaLao Elephant Conservation is a Laos-based non-profit that operates intimate, non-riding elephant tourism experiences near Luang Prabang for international visitors, with revenue from small-group half-day tours, private tours, and an on-site restaurant, and donations routed through The Intrepid Foundation.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
MandaLao Elephant Conservation industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Wildlife Conservation Tourism
- NAICS
- Tour Operators (561520), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (71219)
- SIC
- Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Safari & Wildlife Adventure Tour Operators (Land-Based) (THAAADAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Rainforest & Jungle Ecotourism Tours (THAAAEAF), Eco-Adventure Multi-Day Expeditions (Trekking, Hut-to-Hut, Pack Trips) (THAAAEAJ)
Keywords
Where MandaLao Elephant Conservation is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Luang Prabang
- HQ country
- Laos
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices1 record
Markets served
MandaLao Elephant Conservation business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Others
Revenue model
- Tour Experiences: Revenue generated from half-day and custom elephant tours including the New Beginnings tour, Therapeutic Trek, Communicating with Elephants, and Custom/Private tours. Tours include lunch at the riverside restaurant and are limited to small groups (6-8 people).
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels6 records
MandaLao Elephant Conservation product offering
Product offeringCore offering
MandaLao Elephant Conservation operates an ethical, non-riding elephant sanctuary near Luang Prabang, Laos, offering half-day guided tours that bring guests into close, educational contact with captive elephants. Visitors join small groups of six to eight people on 2.5-kilometer jungle and rice-field treks alongside elephants, participate in treat preparation and feeding, and are served Lao cuisine at the on-site riverside restaurant, with private/custom tours available for groups and events.
Product overview
MandaLao Elephant Conservation is a single-purpose conservation organization offering intimate, non-riding elephant tourism experiences focused on education and elephant welfare. The core offering consists of four distinct tour products: the New Beginnings and Therapeutic Trek tours (half-day morning experiences featuring jungle trekking with elephants through rice fields), the Communicating with Elephants tour (afternoon experience focused on elephant interaction through treat-making), and Custom/Private Tours (exclusive behind-the-scenes experiences with owners/managers). All tours include Lao cuisine at the on-site riverside restaurant. The organization is located 20 kilometers from Luang Prabang city center.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- New Beginnings Tour A half-day morning tour limited to six guests that pairs visitors with a playful young elephant and an adult elephant on a 2.5-kilometer roundtrip walk through jungle and Lao rice fields, including lunch at the riverside restaurant; suited to nature lovers and trekkers visiting Luang Prabang.
- Therapeutic Trek A half-day morning tour limited to eight guests that accompanies two elephants on a 2.5-kilometer roundtrip trek through jungle and rice fields, with riverside Lao lunch included; designed for travelers who enjoy moderate nature trekking.
- Communicating with Elephants Tour A half-day afternoon tour limited to eight guests in which visitors prepare nutritious treats, then meet, feed, and briefly walk with two adult elephants before returning to the property for local Lao snacks; tailored to guests who want a shorter or easier experience.
- Custom/Private Tours Private behind-the-scenes tours hosted by one of the owners/managers, offering the most comprehensive experience; available for large groups, events, and travelers seeking an exclusive customized visit.
- Mandalao Riverside Restaurant An on-site riverside restaurant serving Lao cuisine that is included as part of the tour experiences for guests.
Companies that use MandaLao Elephant Conservation
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
MandaLao Elephant Conservation technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
MandaLao Elephant Conservation partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- The Intrepid FoundationminorMandalao Elephant Conservation is listed as a supported initiative through The Intrepid Foundation's contribution platform. The Intrepid Foundation enables travelers to contribute to the conservation efforts, providing a donation/contribution pathway for tourists. This partnership helps channel charitable giving from travelers to support the elephant conservation mission.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves4 records
Expansion highlights4 records
MandaLao Elephant Conservation competitors and assessment
Company assessmentMarket position
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
MandaLao Elephant Conservation social profiles
Digital presenceMandaLao Elephant Conservation financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
MandaLao Elephant Conservation leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
MandaLao Elephant Conservation funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
MandaLao Elephant Conservation M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about MandaLao Elephant Conservation
What does MandaLao Elephant Conservation do?
MandaLao Elephant Conservation operates an ethical, non-riding elephant sanctuary near Luang Prabang, Laos, offering half-day guided tours that bring guests into close, educational contact with captive elephants. Visitors join small groups of six to eight people on 2.5-kilometer jungle and rice-field treks alongside elephants, participate in treat preparation and feeding, and are served Lao cuisine at the on-site riverside restaurant, with private/custom tours available for groups and events.
Is MandaLao Elephant Conservation a public or private company?
MandaLao Elephant Conservation is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was MandaLao Elephant Conservation founded?
MandaLao Elephant Conservation was founded in 2016. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is MandaLao Elephant Conservation based?
MandaLao Elephant Conservation is headquartered in Luang Prabang, Laos, in the Asia region.
How does MandaLao Elephant Conservation make money?
One revenue line is on record: tour Experiences.
Does MandaLao Elephant Conservation have an API?
No public API is recorded for MandaLao Elephant Conservation.
What industry is MandaLao Elephant Conservation in?
MandaLao Elephant Conservation's product category is Wildlife Conservation Tourism. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAAADAD, Safari & Wildlife Adventure Tour Operators (Land-Based), with a secondary code of THAAAEAF, Rainforest & Jungle Ecotourism Tours. Its NAICS code is 561520 and its SIC code is 7900.