Ethical Vietnam elephant tour

At Yok Don National Park in central Vietnam, “Elephant Experience” day tours allow visitors to observe elephants without encroaching on their personal space. The four elephants, once ridden by park visitors, now roam freely. With an English-speaking guide, up to five tour members will ride mountain bikes or motor bikes, then hike in search of the elephants and watch and learn about them from a distance. 

A full-day tour costs $60 per person and a half-day (2-2½ hours), $35. Must book in advance at yok donnationalpark.vn/tour/elephant-experience-half-day-tour. The park’s deciduous forests are home to 89 species of mammals, 305 species of birds and 48 species of reptiles.