Laos Wildlife Sanctuary
Join the incredible team at Laos’ first wildlife sanctuary and help care for animals rescued from the illegal wildlife trafficking trade.
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Activities
Itinerary
Day 1 - The Adventure Begins:
After arriving at Vientiane International Airport, you will be collected and transferred to the project site (approximately 2 hours away), stopping at a Western-style shop along the way to pick up any snacks that may not be available in the smaller town where the sanctuary is located. Once you have arrived, you will be shown to your room to settle in before being taken on an orientation tour of the grounds to learn more about the facilities and resident animals.
Day 2 to 14 - Project Days:
These are your project days, which typically run from 7am to 4pm. Each morning will begin with a briefing to discuss the day’s schedule, which will include some time to feed the animals and clean their enclosures. The remainder of your day will consist of construction activities or special projects, such as enrichment, and you will enjoy a 1-hour lunch break at around midday. Sundays are elected as days off, and you are free to spend this time as you wish!
Day 15 - Final Day:
Today is your final day at the project, so after saying goodbye to your fellow volunteers, the staff and the animals at the sanctuary, you will be transferred back to Vientiane International Airport in time for your return flight home, or to continue with your onward travel plans.
Durations & Prices
Accommodation
Accommodation
During your time on the project, you will stay in one of five bungalows located on-site. Each bungalow will be shared on a same-sex basis (with the exception of couples, friends or families), with two people allocated to each. All rooms come equipped with fans and electrical outlets, and fresh linens are provided. Laundry facilities are also available free of charge. Just a few steps away from the bungalows, there are shower blocks that are separated by gender and fitted with western toilets and both a hot and cold shower.
Meals & Beverages
All meals and beverages are provided during your stay at the Laos Wildlife Sanctuary. You will prepare your own breakfast using the items bought in for you by the sanctuary team (such as bread, eggs, cereal and milk), while lunch and dinner will be cooked for you at a local restaurant and delivered each day. You will have a range of traditional Laos and Thai dishes to choose from, all of which are vegetarian, and drinking water is also readily available throughout the day.
Project Details
When is the best time to volunteer?
As this project is based at a wildlife sanctuary, there are animals here year-round, which means there is no favourable time to volunteer regarding wildlife. That said, the weather may impact your decision on when to travel, and the seasons are explained in more detail below.
March to Mid-June: This period is considered the hot season, and you can expect temperatures of up to 33°C (91°F) and high humidity levels which reach approximately 75-90%.
June to October: This is considered the wet season, and though brief but heavy rain showers can be expected, temperatures are still high at up to 32°C (90°F).
November to February: This is the cooler season and is also the driest, with temperatures of around 28-30°C (82-86°F) during the day and dropping further below at night.
Getting there
You will need to fly into Wattay International Airport (VTE) in Vientiane, where you’ll be met in the arrival hall between 11:30am-12:30pm by a member of the project staff and transferred to the sanctuary. Transfers are only available during this time.
As flights are limited, we strongly recommend booking a flight that arrives the day before your start date and spending the night in Vientiane. Your transfer to the sanctuary can then be arranged from your accommodation.
For your departure, you will need to book a flight from midday to allow enough time for your transfer and flight check-in.
Visa Requirements
To join this project, you will need a tourist visa and most nationalities are able to obtain a 30-day tourist visa on arrival into Laos or apply online through the E-Visa Portal. You must bring two passport-sized photos with you and pay US$50 dollars for this visa if arranging on arrival.
If you join the project for longer or plan to be in Laos for more than 30 days, you can visit the immigration office in Vientiane and extend your tourist visa twice to a maximum of 90 days.
Fitness & Skills
As a large focus of this project revolves around construction and maintenance, we recommend that all volunteers taking part have a moderate level of fitness. No specific skills are required but we do ask that you arrive with a willingness to get involved with every activity, that you aren’t afraid to get your hands dirty and that you have a respect for the wildlife and sanctuary staff who you will be working alongside.
Vaccinations
There are no other specific vaccination or medical requirements needed to join this project and as such, any other vaccinations you require will depend on your medical history. We, therefore, recommend that you consult your GP/Doctor regarding your own vaccination needs.
No Contact Policy
The sanctuary has a strict ‘No Contact Policy’ and anyone found touching any of the animals will be asked to leave immediately. This policy is in place so that the team can ease the integration of wildlife with their own species, facilitate future releases back to the wild, and ensure the safety of the staff and volunteers.
Unfortunately, most of the animals at the sanctuary have already had too much contact with humans as most are victims of the illegal wildlife trade. Due to this, some may look like they want attention, but it is important that you do not touch them. Animals appearing to give social interaction are NOT trying to be friendly and in the majority of cases, this behaviour is a sign of significant stress and submission. There is also a very real risk of disease transmission, some with obvious symptoms (if you have a cold or cough) and some without.
Gallery
News & Stories
1
Bears in a Bath!
UPDATE | May 2025
Volunteers at the Laos Wildlife Sanctuary are often treated to sights that make them smile, and recently, it was two bears in a bath! While bears in the wild are less likely to form friendships due to competing for resources, bears in sanctuaries and zoo settings can form friendships - these two are a great example.
2
Checking In With Pearl
UPDATE | Apr 2025
Pearl was rescued from the illegal wildlife trade last year, weak and emaciated at just 1.6kg. Through the unwavering dedication of the sanctuary team, she is now thriving at 3.4kg and growing stronger every day. Watching her regain her strength and natural behaviours is a powerful reminder of how hope and compassion are essential to recovery
1
Pangolin Rescue & Release
UPDATE | Mar 2025
Another pangolin saved! This time, a Sunda pangolin was found after falling from a truck in Vientiane. Thankfully, compassionate locals stepped in and took it to the sanctuary, ensuring this endangered creature received the necessary care. After a full health check, it was given a clean bill of health and safely released back into the wild where it belongs!
Reviews
The new site at the Laos Wildlife Sanctuary is amazing. We assisted in building a new enclosure for a leopard cat kitten so she can stay wild and be released when old enough to care of herself. I painted a wall of planters for a new tortoise habitat. I had a knee replacement 3 months before going on this trip of a lifetime and it turned out to be physically harder than my knee could handle but the staff and other volunteers at the sanctuary were amazing and worked hard to include me in what I could do and come up with meaningful work for when I couldn't (like working on uneven ground). Amber the volunteer coordinator and Jeremy the facility's director went above and beyond to make the experience fun and rewarding. If you want to work with ensuring a variety of local wildlife have the best lives possible, this is the place to volunteer. The volunteer cabins were well built, the volunteer centre (our kitchen & resting area) was beautiful, washrooms clean and working, food good, and the eco centre next door was amazing to visit after work and on our days off. I was lucky enough to... The new site at the Laos Wildlife Sanctuary is amazing. We assisted in building a new enclosure for a leopard cat kitten so she can stay wild and be released when old enough to care of herself. I painted a wall of planters for a new tortoise habitat. I had a knee replacement 3 months before going on this trip of a lifetime and it turned out to be physically harder than my knee could handle but the staff and other volunteers at the sanctuary were amazing and worked hard to include me in what I could do and come up with meaningful work for when I couldn't (like working on uneven ground). Amber the volunteer coordinator and Jeremy the facility's director went above and beyond to make the experience fun and rewarding. If you want to work with ensuring a variety of local wildlife have the best lives possible, this is the place to volunteer. The volunteer cabins were well built, the volunteer centre (our kitchen & resting area) was beautiful, washrooms clean and working, food good, and the eco centre next door was amazing to visit after work and on our days off. I was lucky enough to experience enrichment, cleaning and feeding for 3 types of deer, crocodiles, tortoises, 3 types of monkeys, 2 types of bear, a hornbill, a leopard cat kitten, and a binturong named Richard. (Show More)
Laos Wildlife Sanctuary does amazing work to protect and save wildlife in Laos. What a fantastic experience!! I volunteered for 2 weeks and the once in a lifetime experiences became almost a daily routine - releasing several animals, seeing croc eggs hatching, making enrichments that entertained the animals. The staff and the other volunteers became my family instantly, and we had such a great time, both on and off work. Cannot recommend this place enough! I miss it already.
This was a life awesome trip! I enjoyed every moment of it and there is NO WAY I could have even guessed how much I would love it and what I would experience.
Download Project Guide
What's Included
- Accommodation
- Three meals per day & drinking water
- Airport transfers
- An English-speaking facilitator
- A donation to the project
- Laundry facilities
- Wi-Fi
What's Not Included
- Flights
- Travel insurance
- Visas
From
$1,690.00€1,014.00£845.00$1,099.00
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Up to 10 Persons
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All Meals Included
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7 - 84 Nights
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Starts Every Sunday
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Minimum Age 18 (Or From 16 Years Old With An Adult)
